Dear Nature: Thanks for being there for us

Dear Nature,

Thank you for being a companion and calming presence in these uncertain times. Thank you for being a bright spot in our daily routines. Thank you for being there for us when we needed you most, as we navigate our new, and sometimes strange, lifestyles.

As we re-define community and re-discover the wonders of our home (hello, spring cleaning projects!), each day that I get to step out and feel the drizzle on my face or the sun kissing my skin, I am thankful that nature is literally just outside my front door. With some of our parks taking extra precautions to protect us as we practice social and physical distancing, it might seem harder than usual to really interact with nature¹. But, as someone who has been recently housebound with crutches and a leg cast, I’m here to tell you that nature is always nearby! All you have to do is step outside, look, and listen.

If you can, get out for stroll around your neighbourhood in search of the signs of spring (if you can’t, try opening up a sunny window). Listen for the melody of drips as the snow melts away, a chorus of chirps as songbirds build new homes, a subtle symphony as the wind breezes through the treetops. Look for the fresh red of new growth on shrubs and trees, seek out the bright green of new grass cropping up through the brown, send your gaze up to the bright blue sky of April (or maybe it’s a sleepy grey where you are). Taking a ten-minute nature break can make such a difference in the day— helping us to feel more motivated and energized, while giving us a sweet sense of calm and ease among the chaos. 

Lately, it’s felt like a lot of our day-to-day normalcy has gone quiet. But when you look out to nature, it’s clear to me that our world and wilderness is still a happy song. The spring is a time to celebrate life as plants bloom, animals play, and the sun warms us back from the cold of winter. With our friend nature nearby, we can feel a bit less lonely and a lot more hopeful for things to come.

So, nature, thank you for being a daily reminder that our world is beautiful and soon we’ll get back to exploring you.

With love and admiration,

Julie

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Looking for ways to get kids involved in nature? Join us for the CPAWS-NB Watch Your Paws Challenge! More information here.

Try out a game of backyard eye spy from our Get Outside and Watch Your Paws programs. Find resources here.  

Explore the Bay of Fundy with story maps! Check out the passages of the Bay of Fundy, the Fundy mud flats, or Machias Seal Island.

Header photo by Nick Hawkins Photography

¹At the time of this post, all national and provincial parks in New Brunswick were closed to the public. Most municipal parks remained open, provided that users complied with the 2-meter physical distancing requirement.