As a naturalist you will never suffer from that awful modern disease called boredom so go out and greet the natural world with curiosity and delight and enjoy it. ~ Gerald Malcolm Durrell
So, its Thursday evening and honestly, I haven’t thought much about what I wanted to write about this week. Originally, I was supposed to have a women’s camping adventure, but such as the cycle of life things change. The winds have also created a bit of a shift in my “normal” for this time of year, meaning I have been land bound much more I prefer. Springtime is an exciting time to explore the estuary, so part of me has the feeling of it’s been a bit of a boring season. But that is just the side of my brain that forgets about all the seemingly insignificant things I take notice of and appreciate about the natural world daily. When I take time to take a step back and reflect on how much I enjoy the sound of the wind blowing through the palms, and all the fascinating flora that thrive in this subtropical paradise I can’t help but feel immense gratitude. Which always inspires me to take a few minutes daily to take a mindful walk, or to be more present when I am watering my plants and relaxing in my backyard. There really is always something to observe and learn in the outdoor world.
I have been told I have a gift for observing the natural world and sharing my knowledge about it in a way that engages people that would not typically have much interest in the algae on the rock or plethora of critters that consume it. I never really know how to respond to a comment like that, to me my understanding and passion for the natural world is or at least was the normal for humanity. Since I can grasp that as a collective humans have become disconnected from the natural world, and everyone is inspired differently and not everyone has the ability to spend a lot of time outdoors, I thought I would suggest some books and documentaries that have impacted my life and inspire me to continue my journey as a naturalist. This list is in no particular order, but I could say this is my suggested top five reads.
The Silent Spring By Rachel Carson
The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise by by Michael Grunwald
Any and all Books and Documentaries written by Dr Vandana Shiva, but the movie that changed my life and go me on to the greater understanding of ecology, and its connection to our health is Dirt the movie.
Into the wild Just because it is a great story Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (goodreads.com) it is also was also done well as a movie Into the Wild (2007) - IMDb
And of course I can not leave Walden out of this top 5 list Walden by Henry David Thoreau (goodreads.com)
If you’re having a rainy day in and cant get out and are looking for a little naturalist inspiration I hope you enjoy these works, or they lead you to the many other literary works of naturalist.