I oftentimes get very wrapped up in wanting to prevent various issues in our environment and get so bogged down with the weight and pressure of it all that I forget the reason behind wanting to protect the environment. Past the widespread belief of wanting to preserve a livable home for ourselves and past the fear and despair of seeing animals and plants dying because of our actions is a genuine love for nature, and that love is the reason I care so much for our planet. How can we not feel peace when we see the vibrant oranges and pinks of a sunset on the ocean, or the bright green of the leaves that bloom faithfully every summer? Every time we enjoy the wind on our faces the ocean on our skin, we are enjoying the environment that some work hard to protect and others disregard. If I am being honest, sometimes I forget about this and get too concerned with problems going on in my own life or the devastating crises facing our environment.

When I hear the phrase “Stop and smell the roses”, I usually roll my eyes and think that we all do our best to do this within our busy lives. The saying means that occasionally, we need to slow down and appreciate the little things in our lives. I think that this can be taken literally to strengthen the original meaning. Nature is something we all use in our everyday lives without us even knowing it. Nature is a symbol of friendship, love, and trust, and it is time we start directing these values back towards our environment. The bouquet of flowers someone received for her graduation this year made her feel appreciated. The dish of apple slices offered to someone going to see a friend for the first time made him feel comfortable. The tree planted in memory of a deceased family member keeps their presence alive. We are constantly using nature to create peace and love, and this appreciation is what fuels the fight for climate action.

If for no other reason, commit to climate justice to preserve the good traditions of peace and prosperity we all show each other through our love of nature.

Image: Johnson, Sharissa. “yellow flower field near mountain under white clouds during daytime photo.” Unsplash, 8 June 2020.