11 Comments
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Scott Dworkin's avatar

Thanks for sharing this! Another great piece!

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Thank you for reading and sharing it, Scott! Your work means a lot to me ❤️

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Celena Crawford's avatar

I am so ingrained with nature that I cannot imagine any instance of not connecting to it. But this made me think of the movie "The Martian" and being in a place where there was no living plant, animal or insect. But the main character, a botanist, played by Matt Damen was forced to grow his own food (potatoes) in order to survive when he was suddenly marooned on the planet. Growing, caring and nurturing this crop was so integral to his survival on this deserted planet that you get the sense of how connected and dependent we truly are to every living thing around us. And yes, even the microbes he added into the soil were important to grow these potatoes. At the end of the movie when he is safely back on earth, he has an endearing moment while sitting on a bench. He looks down and sees a plant sprouting up from a crack in the sidewalk, I think, and says, "Hello, there". I think he is reflecting back on all the trials and tribulations he went through to grow the potatoes on Mars when there is this abundant life on Earth that we take for granted. So much has to be "Just right" for all of us to be here. Even if you like to take a walk down a tree lined street, watch birds from your window or have indoor plants or a garden, or are the type to gently scoop up a spider in your house and release it outside, you are connected to nature.

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Hi Celena, I love that reflection and get it wholeheartedly. Thank you for reading and for appreciating nature in all its resilient and life-giving forms!

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JustAnAverageDude's avatar

Love this post! Really cool. Cogent and concise. I will use liberally when preaching the gospel of "Capital 'N' Nature." Also, did you mean "Endangered" Species Act instead of "Environmental"?

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

I’m so glad you’re sharing it! Yes, I definitely meant Endangered Species Act. Don’t know how I did that typo. Thank you for the correction, and thank you for reading :)

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Nilla's avatar

Good info. Although I don't enjoy sweating, I do understand that we must have clean air, land and water; therefore, we must stop abusing the things that make it possible for us to exist.

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Thank you for reading and for sharing that perspective, Nilla. It’s so true.

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Dewayne Cord's avatar

Thanks w/o nature my life would suck!

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Thanks for reading, Dewayne!

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Lucy Grabe-Watson's avatar

It's a shame that we are always pitting nature against humans as if the two are polar opposites and not the same fabric of the world. As if one comes at the expense of the other. It's literally enviornmental gaslighting

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