Learning to love nature!

 

Posted on November 27, 2022 by Ruchi

Another Sunday! And I’m trying to be regular in writing. It’s one of those rare sunny days and I can see the clear blue skies. In Dubai, I used to wonder, why we had the weather app on our phones. It would always remain hot and sunny. It’s here, I realise how much it matters to know what’s in store for the day. Do I need to carry an Umbrella or shall I wear the waterproof coat? The forecasts are still crazy. On Friday, the chances of rain were only 4%, and yet when we went out for dinner, it did end up raining. Thankfully, I do carry a pocket umbrella always now.

It’s in a place like this that you learn appreciating nature in all its elements. I do look for sunny days like today and make it a point to go and get my dose of sunshine. People in cold countries do suffer from seasonal affective disorders. The lack of sunlight is presumed to be one of the major causes of it. Aren’t we all like that Jadoo in Hrithik Roshan’s Koi Mil Gaya? A little sunshine brings Joy and smiles to everyone’s faces. People in hot areas won’t realise it, because of course with that strong dose of sun, protecting the skin from pigmentation and sunburns is a priority then.

Back in Dubai, everything used to go in that large bin I had for dustbins. When I came here, I realised so many of those things like milk bottles, plastic bottles, cardboard, paper, cartoons etc can be recycled and there’s actually a chance to do this because not only the bigger supermarkets but every community, every house can get such bins and contribute to saving the environment. I remember back in India, we would do it in our own way, by reusing the plastic / glass bottles, boxes etc. Now, I am consciously recycling whatever I can.

Another small thing I’m trying is buying only necessary so that I don’t waste food. I just buy enough for a week and try to finish what I have, so that nothing gets spoiled.

I used to be an active person, until covid put a break to my steps. And the past summer, I could not tolerate heat, so I stopped walking all together. Now, I do try to walk each day and let my Samsung watch pat my back when I finish 10,000 steps each day. Some days like today morning, it took me an extra layer of jacket, but I did make use of my weekend morning to walk extra. Baby steps, but I can’t let another extreme temperature to disrupt my plans.

I had always heard of being a minimalist. I am still far away from it, for my love of clothes and dresses sways my mind. Yet, I am trying each day. May be the uncertainty of the situation is helping but I don’t intend on filling up my home. I know this still isn’t much to save the mother earth, and the resources, but at least I have started.

Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean
And the beauteous land.

And the little moments,
Humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity.

So our little errors
Lead the soul away,
From the paths of virtue
Into sin to stray.

Little deeds of kindness,
Little words of love,
Make our earth an Eden,
Like the heaven above.

Julia A. Fletcher Carney

A green neighbourhood closeby