You hear a lot of people say that people don’t go outside anymore, but whenever we go outside, whether it’s a state or national park, or just a walk around our neighborhoods, people are always out and about, enjoying nature. We hear people at work say things like, “I wish I could get outside more.” We’ve seen backyards that, while they may be a bit manicured, fall away into wide fields with views of nothing man made. It’s our experience that humans crave being outside.
So that’s what we’re talking about this week: nature!
We begin by talking about our earliest memories of nature, and then jump right into what we love best (and hate most) about nature. (Spoiler alert: Christopher hates these possibly more than stinging insects. And THIS is the most accurate image of a wasp ever created!)
After that, we discuss how important nature is in our lives — and talk about some of our favorite memories in nature. If we had complete dominion over nature, find out what we would change about it…and find out the scariest things that have ever happened to us outside. Next, we jump to our favorite natural places visited…before talking about where we would visit (and what we would do) if time and money were no object.
While it’s sometimes just “You kids get off my lawn!” curmudgeony hype, it’s true that — at least in America — kids are urged by busy parents to stay inside more. Latchkey kids were once more an exception than the norm, and we discuss what kids who don’t get to go outside frequently lose in the trade for what is often only perceived safety. And adults aren’t immune; after all, they are usually the people telling their kids to stay inside…and as busy as they are (or have at least convinced themselves they are), they also gain something by being outside. We talk about that for a bit, and at least Christopher urges you to go check out Alastair Humphrey’s blog and, ESPECIALLY, his #microadventures YouTube videos. Here’s an example of his short and awesome videos:
Hell, why not one more:
We wrap up this episode talking about what the future has in store for nature.
As always, we’d love to hear about your favorite places, best (and worst) experiences outside, and your favorite things about nature in the comments below.
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Ticks. That’s my least favorite thing about nature. Funny, though, it was only when I was back indoors, and many hours after the tick attached itself to me that I discovered it, much to my horror. My allergies are so much a part of me that they’re not really an issue. I just make sure I have my EpiPen with me. 🙂
Favorite thing – the ocean and beach. Walking barefoot on sand. Aside from that, trees. Any kind, any size. I just love trees. 🙂
Yes, ticks. Evil. And you have had much worse luck with them. I have a friend who has struggled with Lyme Disease (that he either got in Pennsylvania or New Hampshire). Ticks are evil…
The ocean and beach. For me, it was 5 years old, in Florida. It would be 35 years later until on a beach again…that time, in Oregon. I agree, such a great thing with no shoes on a beach. And with the Oregon coast…great trees, too — all right there!
Yeah, I’m moving to Oregon….. someday,
Oregon is for hipped. Get off your recumbent bikes, you damn hippies!
Also, Oregon is very pretty and I also would not mind living there. Except for the lack of decent-sized cities, it’s pretty great.
*hippies, not hipped. Guh. iPhones are for douchebagels, and I have an iPhone.