Myth Busting

There’s a myth floating around that’s so egregious, it makes my soul cringe when I hear it. 


Before I tell you what it is, please understand that if you’ve repeated this myth before, I love you and I’m not judging you because it didn’t come from you. Someone handed it to you and it invisibly stuck to you like glue… or cooties.

Are you ready? 

“I’m not a nature person.” 
 WHAT?! That’s bonkerballs! 
That’s like saying, “Oh gosh, I just hate breathing—it’s soooo annoying having to constantly be filling my lungs.”
 People are nature. We are part of the entire web of existence on this crazy planet. We eat. We breathe. We drink water… yes even wine and coffee are water-based.
 Nature is not an option, just like breathing is not an option. 
 When people say they’re not “nature people” it’s because they have a preconceived notion that they should find pleasure in hiking or hunting or some other random outdoor activity. The truth is, I, the one nicknamed Nature-Girl and Snow White, don’t like most outdoor activities! 
 Ask any person who’s invited me on a hike with a predetermined destination how the experience was for them. I’d take three steps, find a pretty flower or animal track, and throw myself to the ground to notice every juicy detail. We wouldn’t get very far.
 I’m not into hiking (or cross country skiing, regular skiing, fishing, or rock climbing...) or anything that happens too fast for me to soak in all the good stuff. I understand many people LOVE this stuff and I'm truly happy for them. 
 Me? I don’t want to miss anything, so I putter in the garden. I sit watching the clouds. I wander following bird song. I guess you could say my favorite outdoor activities aren’t especially “active.”
 But I digress. 
 What these dear souls who proclaim “I’m not a nature person” may actually be saying is, “I’m not sure what to do out there,” or “I haven’t found what excites me yet.”
 Or, they could also be saying, “I’ve forgotten.” 
 I’ve forgotten what that connection feels like. 
I’ve forgotten what it’s like to sit in the awe of the magic of creation.
I’ve forgotten my sense of timelessness and wordlessness. 
 This is why, whenever anyone says “I’m not a nature person,” my heart fills with compassion because this poor sweet human has forgotten something perfect and life affirming. 
 It’s everyone’s birthright to “be a nature person.” 
I can help find what excites you. 
I can give you ideas for what to do out there. 
 I can help you remember.