I just finished reading Richard Louv‘s The Nature Principle. I was privileged to hear him speak a few weeks ago, here in Vancouver. As I told him then, his book, Last Child in the Woods, completely changed the way I want to parent. After reading The Nature Principle, I can say, it has completely changed the way I want to live my life.
In fact, it has informed many of the sneaking suspicions that I have had for awhile now.
Suspicions like the feeling that I need to reconnect with nature. I want that for my children, and myself. Suspicions about my career path, and how I can add environmentalism / conservation / good old-fashioned love of nature to my life. The suspicion that my time spent on a small island off the coast of Vancouver was one of the most enlightening times of my life. And not just for the friendships I made. For the time spent in nature. The ocean breeze blowing off rocky cliffs; the sound of whales passing, their flukes slapping the waves; the trees, and the tall grasses. The sound of birdsong, the sightings of deer and other forest creatures. I can feel these things in my heart.
Our kids are named for the sea and the forest.
I have known about this nature connection for a long time. But I have not known exactly what to do about it. To be honest, I still don’t know. I do know, however, that my mind is whirling. Something I always consider a good thing.
For my family, I am going to join a family nature club (or start one – anyone interested?). For myself, I am going to start loving my present landscape. Exploring it with a keener eye, and photographing it with my camera. Those are two small steps. But, I have a great feeling there will be more. And I can hardly wait to find out where this will lead me.
So, shameless plug for a book that has the power to change lives and the world. It’s dense, and choc-full of information. Read it and be inspired.
Hi! I’m Kelly Woods, writer, mother & librarian. I write about beauty, creativity, green living and lifestyle design to help others live a life of inspiration, too.
Sounds like you’re inspired. We’re moving out into the country-side to live in a few months for much the same kind of reasons. There is a calling…
so this plug for the book… does it come with an option to borrow yours? 😉
i keep dreaming of our last trip to the gulf islands and longing for a summer we can go back with both kids.
Happy to discover your meditations on this book which remind me of my own inspiration to better know our place, our community, and therefore my self.
I see you’re a quote collector … maybe you’ll like this one: “To know the spirit of a place is to realize that you are a part of a part and that the whole is made of parts, each of which is whole. You start with the part you are whole in” (Gary Snyder, The Practice of the WIld).
Thanks for sharing. Your blog, and the quote.
I, too, had that same experience on the same little island off the coast of Vancouver. I love the coastal ocean and forests and mountains. Couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else 🙂
This place does tend to alter your being doesn’t it? Keats and Vancouver, and the BC Coast in general.
Hmmm could that be the same little island I also spent some years at? Yes. And we’re in if you’re going to start a family nature-loving club!! 🙂
You may like to get your hands on an also inspirational New Zealand doco called “This way of Life”. it maps the life of a large family living in the Hawkes Bay and their vision of bringing up their children with values, a love of the land, and a connection with horses. The photography is beautiful the children ‘shining in their essence’ and the story is evocative. meanwhile I’ll check out Nature Principle and The Last Child in the Woods. Thanks.
Thanks for the comments and compliments, Emily. I will definitely try and hunt that one down. Sounds amazing. I hope you love the books. All the best!