When was the last time you gaped at the beauty of nature? Since 2016, I developed the habit of spending time in nature, whether it’s by a lake, the sea, or the mountain. In this article, I am sharing four invaluable lessons I learned by connecting with mother nature.

There Is a Time for Everything

A look at nature teaches us that there is no need to hurry. There is a time for rain and a time for the sun to shine. A time for flowers to blossom and a season for them to fall. They happen in order and at the exact time set by nature.

When you appreciate nature and its wonders, you develop the patience and persistence required to face adversities. It also gives you the humility to cherish your joyful moments, because they, too, will eventually pass.

Change Is the Only Constant

It’s human nature to resist change. Once we have gotten used to certain habits, reshaping them becomes an uphill struggle, even when we know the advantage such readjustment might bring. The growth of a tree, the changing of the seasons, and the metamorphosis of a butterfly are powerful examples that change is an integral part of life that we mustn’t fear, but embrace.

Everything Has a Purpose

Nature is home to over 60,000 different tree types and over 8.7 million animal species, according to scientists. Each of them serves a specific purpose. Imagine if all the trees provided shade? Regardless of its size, importance, and shape, every tree contributes to life on earth. Similarly, everyone comes here to play a distinct role. Society may remunerate, value, and perceive us differently, but each of us brings something to the table without which our existence would be impractical. Our modern world would not exist if everyone was a software engineer, an actor, or a plumber. That important truth should remind us to accept who we are and use it to make the world a better place.

Moderation Is the Norm

Have you ever imagined what would it be like if the world’s water supply was cut for twenty-four hours? This is one of the several unique (or bizarre to some people) hypothetical questions I asked myself regularly. Merely imagining life without water for a day sent chills down my spine. With no water, all vegetation would die, clouds would disappear… we would be in trouble.

Water regulates both the human body and the Earth’s temperature. Water transports nutrients and oxygen to cells, cushions joints, protects organs and tissues, and removes wastes. We use water to stay hydrated, shower, cook, do the laundry, etc. Besides those physical, physiological, and sanitary needs, water carries significant spiritual importance to others. 

As indispensable as water is, it can kill. Doctors recommend we drink around two liters of water every day to stay healthy. Scientists purport a person can live about a month without food, but a week without water. However, dehydration, as well as overconsumption, is deadly. Drinking water excessively has a host of dangerous health effects. It can cause the level of salt and sodium in our blood to drop too low, causing hyponatremia, which can lead to death if not dealt with in a timely manner. 

Nature teaches us that everything should be done in moderation. I use water as an example, but if you look closely, this is the same for everything vital to life. Too much or too little of any good thing is bad. Don’t overindulge.

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Next time you take a stroll by a lake, be a bit more mindful of nature and its magic. Chances are it’ll teach you something new.