Back to Nature

 People talk about getting back to nature. I always want to ask them when we got separated from it. Because, even through we live and work inside four walls -- we're still part of nature, we are in fact, a product of nature.

It snows in Michigan. I grew up here, so I am fully aware of the weather in this beautiful state. And for the most part, I deal with it in a positive manner. I can safely drive in it and make my peace with large measures of it. Snow can mean fun and snow days. Even though I'm not a winter sportsperson of any flavor, I fully embrace snow angels and snowman making. I survived the massive snows of the late 60's providing volumes of memories of pioneer-like over-embellished stories of snow survival. 

Final analysis-- snow is just not a big deal if you treat it with the respect it requires.

Having provided that qualifier, I must confess that at this arthritic stage of very late middle age, the required lower temperatures that go along with the frozen precipitation cause me a great deal of pain.  The arthritis part isn't as bad as what the temperature and barometric pressure does to my head. Oh the pain.
So follow me here--the natural occurring phenomenon of snow and freezing temperatures results in human pain. They are connected. Even if I'm inside the house, and most of the winter I am, the correlation is unchallenged.  When I've been in pain for a long time, I can get snippy.  I'm crabby. My spouse might suggest another word for it, but I'm not asking him.

The other night I was in one of those snippy/crabby moods. I was ranting and banging kitchen cupboards because I couldn't find something.  That brings me to the next part of nature that we're not separated . . .

My miniature schnauzer Truffle, is my emotional barometer if you will.  I looked at her shivering in my husband's lap.  She wasn't cold, she was upset because of my outburst. Feeling like a heel, I went to directly to her and we lavishly demonstrated our love and care for each other. She was quite relieved to know I was okay.

Truffle is like that. She responds to and attempts to counteract my negative emotions. I think that's amazing. It is miraculous, but not that uncommon.


Truffle ready to be with me, whatever we go.

 

If you consider these things, there really is no "getting back to nature." We're just part of it, integrally part of it. But not in charge of it. I hope to go forward with a greater appreciation of how all things are so amazingly connected. Our actions, words and decisions have repercussions every where. I am both awed and intimidated by our responsibility to each other.