Our Greatest Teacher

I think many of us have heard the term before, ‘stand proud like a tree’ or have read that (ever so true) well written list of ‘advice from a tree’.  If you ever browse through pinterest or any place on the internet, it’s flooded with lists of beautiful quotes of advice from a tree, or advice from the moon, or advice from a river, or even advice from a bluebird. While reading  quotes  like any of those, you might think to yourself… ‘I totally agree, that’s how I want to be’ because the words of those quotes do hold true. Yet moments later it is forgotten about and before you know it, even with hope to change, you’ve fallen back into your old ways.

If you haven’t noticed, there is one thing all of those beautiful quotes have in common. There is one thing that the creators of those quotes base their advice on, and that’s nature.  In nature, there are no lies. There are no secrets, there is no hiding. In nature only true beauty is revealed without judgment. Only in nature can we truly heal, for nature not only heals our cluttered minds but nature has the power to heal us from within, freeing us from many ailments.

The more I think about the truth of the outcome of all of our lives if we were to follow even a small part of those ‘advice’ quotes that roam the internet, based off nature,  this world would slowly become a better place. There is no greater teacher then nature. There is no better place to take advice from by watching because nature gives, it never takes, nature cares for itself without greed, nature finds her balance, nature focuses within while giving out only her best. That is why every single one of us that walks this beautiful earth every day could stand to take advice from nature. She is our greatest teacher.

It’s hard to change your ways. Sometimes it’s harder as you get older, sometimes it’s not until you get older that you begin to change…when you become old enough to realize what life is really about. Old enough to realize how precious life is and how lucky you are to be here in the first place. But that’s not enough, because although we might realize these things, we need to act on them. We might realize, but we don’t all live by them.  This world can be a cruel, dangerous place, yet if everyone would be willing, no matter how much effort they needed to put in, to stick to making a change in themselves for the better, no matter how big or small, this world would shine brighter on everyone. You’re already surrounded by natures beauty every day, finding a piece of advice from it that you can make part of your daily practice will not only bring you more peace and contentment in your own life but in the lives around you, further more spreading out into our world.

So I would take it. Look to nature and realize what she’s trying to teach every single one of us. It is true, we should all be like trees. Keep our roots grounded and strong and let them run deep. Spread out proud and strong in all directions reaching your goals…while still leaving room for others. Focus on yourself to become the best version of yourself you can be while never worrying about being judged, and never judging others. Be someone to look up to. And if cut down, find a way to grow again. Grow if not where you were, perhaps somewhere you drift off to, planting yourself down again along the way. Only this time, stronger and wiser.

Has nature taught you something in life that has made a positive or profound effect on you?