Anyway, I’m talking about nature and the beauty that we can see all around us. I’ll never climb the wonderful peaks in Ouray, CO. but I will enjoy what I can of the beauty that surrounds me. I hope I never get jaded or take it for granted. I don’t think Mark has!
Seems many of the young people (or older folks as far as that goes!) have no true appreciation of nature. They prefer texting on their iPods or iPhones to actually looking around them and seeing with the eyes of their soul. I don’t blame the kids. Life has gotten so complex and busy that most do not have the opportunity to get out and learn to appreciate the beauty of creation.
I try to get my grands out when I can. Yesterday we were going to a park a ways out in the country. It was just a scouting trip to see if it would make a good full-day trip next week. It passed muster and we will go back on Monday or Tuesday.
This is the thing that amazed me. As we were driving along the highway, I was pointing out the various wildflowers to the granddaughter that was riding shotgun. The wild sweet peas are in bloom right now and I love their vibrant hues of magenta. As I pointed out different flowers and trees this 12 years old kinda nodded with that bored look that was meant to humor the old grandma but couldn’t quite work its way up to enthusiasm.
Suddenly she sat up higher in her seat and turned her head as she spotted something on the other side of the road. Aha, enthusiasm! “Look at that Limo,” she said. I hadn’t even seen it…just didn’t register.
This is not meant to be a tirade against video games, iPhones, or the like. It is what is normal in today’s world (more’s the pity!). I just wish the love of the outdoors could somehow be appreciated as much as the virtual world. I do think they are finding some joy in nature, at least I hope so. And each one is different. Some enjoy it more than others. Progress may be slow but I will keep trying. At least I got them to sleep outdoors in a tent!
As a child, I really didn't appreciate the beauty of nature and we didn't have all the distractions of today's world. I didn't like the out of doors. I also didn't like history. How times have changed. The beauty of nature and exploring historical sites is one of the things I like best about this lifestyle. Keep up the good work. I'm sure my folks thought I was a lost cause most of the time.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the exposure, they will come around when the time is right. Growing up with dad being a high school coach, my world was sports, still is ...but my fondus memory is my solo bicycle trip cross country to San Diego and up the coast highway to Seattle. That exposure to nature opened a new world for me and one I still like 37 years later. At least your "grands" know how to set up a tent :)
ReplyDeleteAs a single parent, I went to great effort to ensure that my kids had exposure to nature. On one trip with 4 children in the van, We went across a narrow mountain pass (Chinook Pass in Central Washington) With steep cliffs down one side and solid rock reaching to the sky we went up and up and up. One was reading in the back, the others slept despite my constant narration. As you near the top of the pass, you come around a corner and there in magnificent glory is Mt Rainer in spectacular glory. A quick glance and my oldest was back to her book. Geezs!!!
ReplyDeleteToday She has traveled extensively around the world and shares our wonderful nature filled world with her family. There is always hope!!
As you go down the road take a picture of the flowers with you I-phone and text the picture to the gkids. That's the new getting involved.
ReplyDeleteWhen we took our niece and nephews camping last week, they came with all of their video games and charging cables. But they hardly used them the whole time they were with us, and didn't even need to charge them up! :)
ReplyDeleteI did not appreciate scenery when I was a kid. I remember my dad saying, "Don't let the scenery bite you." But now, I pay attention to the scenery even when there isn't any scenery!
ReplyDeleteOne of our grandsons wanted to travel with us until he found out we don't have a TV, often don't have phone service, sometimes don't have electricity or internet. He's 21 years old now and is a computer tech. Guess I don't care any more for his world than he does for mine ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think that appreciation of nature comes with age. My parents took us camping from the time we could walk, and I have fond memories of things such as watching my mother bang pots to keep the bears out of our site in the Smokies, but no recollection of enjoying the scenery. Now we live for "eye candy", whether it be from the summit of a hiking trail or from the windows of the car.
ReplyDeletekids?..one day they will greatly appreciate the time and effort that you have put in..they just don't know it yet!..enjoy your time with them!
ReplyDeleteYour introductions to nature will pop up in the future. My kids moaned and groaned whenever I took them bird watching or on a Christmas Bird Count. Now, 30 years later, they call me when they've seen an exciting bird or want to know what they've seen. Keep up the good work! It will pay off in the future.
ReplyDeleteJust keep planting those Nature seeds & one day despite all the travails of growing up those seeds may turn into a fine harvest for which the kids will be greatful.
ReplyDeletemy favorite saying is "every seed has to go through a little dirt before it becomes a flower"... to me, this has so many meanings in life! I see your planting of nature as something that will become a flower someday in each of their lives in some way that maybe you won't even be around to see, but it will come!!!
ReplyDeleteWe are in your area! I will send an email with our info!
Kids will be kids. You can't change them over night but you are doing a great job of planting the seeds. I KNOW than one day they will talk about all the wonderful, great times they had with their grandparents. AND one of those things they will talk about it NATURE and how cool it was! I really truly believe that...why do I feel so strongly about this...because I talk about things my grandparents did with us that I NEVER thought I would talk about.
ReplyDeleteYou two are doing great just keep on keeping on!
You're building memories. They will remember. One day they will grow and appreciate nature just like you do.
ReplyDeleteSure looks like a great week for the grands. Like the tent set up you did with them. You have such a beautiful yard to do it in. I think our kids and grand children take in more then we sometimes think of the great outdoors. All in all the memories will live with them forever as having the special time with you and Russ.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya, loud and clear. We had our grandkids for two weeks in the motorhome. Ages 8 and 12, and it took an entire WEEK of trying to get them off their Nintendos, ipods and dvd players and get them to get outside. We finally practiced some tough love and MADE them stay outside. We planned different things and it was disappointing to say the least about their lack of enthusiasm for anything we did. Sigh! we're hoping that somehow we got through to them what a wonderful world it is outside of all this technology, it's God's technology and this generation seems to be missing it. OK, off my soapbox now. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, I used to be able to go off down the street to a playground by myself. Would most parents allow that now? I could ride my bike across town by myself. Kids today have lost a lot of the freedoms we used to take for granted.
ReplyDeleteMy parents were very good about showing me many wonderful parts of Michigan where I grew up. But I never really had an appreciation of nature until I was in the Boy Scouts. Then we camped out at least once a month (even in the snow). Now I am really able to enjoy my thirst for natural things. This lifestyle is the greatest!
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