A QUIET PLACE

by ene ijato - August 31, 2018

CULTURE

Nothing compares to the sound of nature; in dwelling in the sweet sound of delicate wildlife and submerging yourself in the serene infinite stretch of the horizon. Nothing compares to a quiet place, wrapped around you with the warmth of silence hanging above the noise and chaos of the world below. Nothing compares to the sharp slap that comes with knowing that come a couple decades, all around the world, we may have lesser silences to go to, less spaces of nature to inhabit.

I grew up climbing trees and eating backyard produce, and resting my hands and feet in dirt. A happy earthworm frolicking in the brown earth. I know what it means to daydream in a forest, to handpick peppers and tomatoes, to dangle from trees in the pursuit of mangoes and oranges and passion fruits.

I know what it means to exist in nature.

Growing older has sometimes removed me from these scenes but at every chance I get, I like to re-attach myself to the feeling of that existence. And over the course of a couple years, I have both recognized the unquenchable thirst I have for nature, and the ramifications of our nonchalance in doing anything to conserve an integral part of our existence that sustains us. The thorough lack of concern to the effects of consumerism on the lives of delicate organisms that help in the regeneration of our diverse ecosystems.

To think of what we have to lose. To think of the drastic climate changes, we have experienced over the years, to think of never experiencing again the full impact of a living breathing rainforest or water body.

For someone who was raised to respect the environment and instinctively participate in its conservation with little acts, nothing compares to the full consciousness of being wrapped and engulfed in the sublime sound of a flowing stream, of feet soaked in its caress, of birds singing into the sunset, and a horizon laid mesmerizingly with sturdy plant life.

To consciously participate in a practical approach to salvage what is left of our environment, in our day-to-day activities, I was brought to the harsh reality of understanding the impact of imperturbably existing in a habitat that cares for you while you do nothing to care for it.

Learning to avoid wasting food at all costs, refrigerating leftovers and actually eating them or giving them out to someone, or persons who would eat them. Purposefully planting more flowers and trees, reducing our patronage of automobiles and opting for a bicycle if possible, and walks to destinations that can be walked. Avoiding the use of too much garbage, hence recycling those that can be recycled for personal use, and getting the government to actually be interested in good recycling initiatives as well as proper disposal of garbage.

Turning off light bulbs when not in use, never leaving the water running when it is not being used, making conscious efforts to avoid using unnecessary plastics without recycling them, making compost with biodegradable wastes.

Actually being interested enough to research on ways to live healthier for the environment.

Better late than never, because it’s not too late to mend.