Friday, April 23, 2010

Connection to the Earth

Because we're so focused on ourself and the core of family and friends that is the nucleus of our physical existence, it's easy to become so wrapped up in living life that we miss our surroundings entirely. Yet our physical surroundings greatly influence who we are. In order to accomplish those things that we set out to do, we choose the setting that will best assist us.

When you find yourself questioning the path you're on or you're dealing with a particularly difficult situation, by shifting your focus from what is bothering you to what is around you, your physical surroundings will automatically sooth and comfort you. This is part of your make up that you probably don't even realize.

At one point in my life, I had to move to central Canada for work reasons. I went there with an open mind and even a sense of excitement to be moving to a bigger center, rife with culture compared to the area I was born in. After less than a month I was filled with longing for the sea. The Great Lakes are huge bodies of water, but when you stand on the shore, the smells and sounds feel nothing like standing on the shores of the full blown Atlantic Ocean. I realized with wonder that I needed the ocean, it's actually a part of me. Even one of the world's biggest lakes couldn't come close to taking the place of the ocean in my soul.

The earth is a part of each of us, and we are the Earth's keepers. Of all the creatures that exist, we alone, except for perhaps the whales and dolphins, are actually aware of the earth and its part in our lives. This week, a day was designated as Earth Day in order to remind us of our duty to look after it, as it looks after us. I would encourage everyone to think of everyday as Earth Day, and remind you not to overlook that this Earth is an important, integral part of your being.

4 comments:

  1. I can so relate to the need to be as close to the ocean as possible. There is just something about the smell, sound and feel of the sand and salty water that says "home" and makes me feel safe. And yes, we all need to step back from the chaos of everyday life and take care of our Earth.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Deb, thanks for your comments and yes, we need to understand our connection to it. In today's society where grocery stores have replaced growing and gathering, we've come to separate ourselves from the earth and perhaps forgotten how connected we really are.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The desire to inhale the sweet tang of the ocean's breezes is part of what makes us unique. When I was in Alberta the sameness of the air was confusing. There seemed no direction to it. Here at the seaside, the smells coming form the sea give us a distinct idea of where we are in the world. There is a different smell here , on the east coast, as from the Pacific. The industrialization of the European West has permeated our ocean smell which does not exist in the west of our country. Atlantic sea breezes are so wonderfully full of history and our sense of belonging.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Bravesfan, you're absolutely right. Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete