Nature — The OG Healer
‘A seed knows how to wait. Every replete tree was first a seed that waited.’ (Hope Jahren, Lab Girl)
The seed waits for years, for the precise combination of triggers — temperature, moisture, light, to begin its journey of growth. As Hope Jahren writes, while walking in the forest our gaze is naturally drawn to the towering trees. However, beneath our feet lie a multitude of seeds pulsating with life, yearning for the elusive opportunity to grow. Each seed holds a story of hope and strength, waiting for the moment when perseverance transforms into growth — a journey both improbable and inevitable.
Like a seed enduring the rigours of nature, I faced a decade of challenges with a smile. Whether a rare health issue, enduring a personal crisis, or the complexities of starting alone in a new city, my positivity and zest for life remained unshakeable. Until I saw my father fight cancer. The anchor of my life, he went through years of treatment with an unwavering spirit. He was brave, optimistic, and empathetic towards his caregivers. But when his battle ended, I gave up. Emotionally and physically drained, chronically fatigued and depleted, I no longer wanted to be that strong person facing life’s challenges with a smile.
The healing power of nature is widely acknowledged, with research supporting its stress-reducing effects. I grew up having a strong connection with nature through various experiences. But like a seed, I needed the right moment and the alignment of many aspects to help me break out of my shell. It required a journey into the heart of a forest to heal from the grief that weighed heavily on me.
Grief, a topic rarely addressed in our upbringing, engulfed me. It was an unwelcome companion, a shadow that made my life colourless. Conventional coping mechanisms — therapy, workouts, meditation, and yoga helped but felt inadequate. Overwhelmed by a sense of purposelessness, I made a bold decision to leave everything behind and relocate to a different city without any specific plans. Little did I know this leap into the unknown would unlock a new chapter in my life.
The turning point, experienced during a 10-hour hike, is still fresh in my memory. The landscape was a slideshow of breathtaking views transporting me into different worlds every few minutes. Parts of the hike were dense with little sunlight filtering in, and the air was filled with the sound of an approaching waterfall. As I walked across the stream from the falls, the scene changed into an expansive lush grassland. The tall blades of grass swayed gently, bathed in sharp streaks of yellow-orange sun rays. Further down the trail, I was greeted by the fragrance of an endless bed of yellow and red wildflowers. I paused to marvel at the breathtaking view that was seemingly playing hide and seek behind the clouds. The gentle touch of a drizzle nudged me to continue, for there was more magic waiting. Wrapped in this beautiful experience where all my senses came alive, I was led to a profound moment of surrender. It resembled a form of Bhakti, where I perceived God as synonymous with Nature and Nature as a manifestation of the Divine. The more I surrendered, the tighter the embrace of nature.
Being in nature naturally brings about a positive and joyful state of mind. It liberates us from the relentless thought-loop that often binds us in the difficult past. Throughout the hike, I kept thinking about my father’s difficult final months. But as I continued the hike, my nature-induced happy state of mind gradually brought out years’ worth of joyful memories that replaced the painful recollections. Something shifted within me. Surrounded by the soothing presence of the mountains enveloped in drifting mists, I released a torrent of emotions. I cried, howled, and screamed my pent-up feelings to the silent peaks. At that moment, I felt my grief dissipating. After that, my perspective on my father’s suffering and passing underwent a transformation. I understood that good and bad memories can coexist. Much like a murky lake that could be reflecting a stunning sunrise on its surface.
Nature, with its therapeutic power, became the catalyst for a journey of healing and acceptance, reshaping the way I experienced life. I realised that like a seed, we must patiently wait, trusting that our opportunity to break free and start a new journey will come. At the same time, we continue preparing ourselves for that right moment that will bring about the change.
With grief purged out of my system, I now felt lighter and brighter again. I not only experienced healing but also a deep sense of gratitude for what nature gave me. This newfound appreciation drew me to spend more time in nature, marking a shift in the flow of my life. Swimming and kayaking in the lake surrounded by mountains and birds, and getting lost in the ever-changing colours of the sky became a way of life. Now, highlights of my life were moments like marvelling at golden butterflies migrating, hiking to observe rare birds, and spending time watching a leopard perched on a tree.
Through countless such experiences, I realised that despite having journeyed across the globe for all these years, I was merely a traveller. It wasn’t until I surrendered and became a seeker that nature revealed its lessons and transported me to a different realm. It was no longer about the destinations I could mark on a map; it was about being present in each moment and feeling the pulse of life in every step.
The unrelenting race of life often severs our connection with nature, creating room for stress to dominate our lives. Stress in turn blinds us to the wonders of life. It is a vicious cycle that could eventually drag us into a state of emotional emptiness and a meaningless existence. The vibrancy of life fades into the background, drowned out by the demands of our daily obligations.
Yet, nature is weaving its magic all around us, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary. We don’t always need to venture into the forest to maintain a connection with nature. Dedicating 15 minutes every day to appreciate nature’s wonders has helped me stay connected. Simple acts of tending to my garden, looking up at the sky, watching the sunrise and sunset, bringing leaves from my walk in the park, painting inspirations from nature, these have become a daily ritual that keep me grounded in the chaos of urban life.
Nature is my canvas upon which I paint my emotions. And in return, it has given me the palette to navigate the complex shades of living. Reflecting on the past and grasping life’s essence is easier now, making the path forward seem less daunting.
Just like a seed I had spent years manoeuvring through life’s difficult and comforting experiences before nature enveloped me in her embrace. An embrace that signalled the end of a challenging phase and the start of a new beginning. As Hope Jahren writes, Every beginning is the end of waiting.
