Awakening to Nature - Softcover

Today most people spend the bulk of their day indoors, plugged into technology but completely disconnected from nature. Reestablishing a connection with the natural realm isn't just a question of wanting to do it, it's knowing how to do it. Awakening to Nature is practical primer for those who've lost touch with nature. It offers a variety of simple, sensible ways to maintain a fulfilling relationship with the natural world on a daily basis, without giving up the conveniences of modern life.

Who among us hasn't yearned to take a breath of fresh mountain air while sitting at the computer or wished to hike through wild, grassy fields while trudging to work? Who hasn't wanted to abandon the rat race and flee stuffy urban and suburban spaces for the wilder, greener, more peaceful places of nature? Because our lives have become so stressful and hectic, and because we spend so much time in artificial spaces, our innate need to connect with nature must be fulfilled in order to maintain harmony, balance, and peacefulness.

In this truly refreshing book, outdoor expert Charles Cook shares his love and enthusiasm for nature and shows us how to tap into the natural antidotes of the world around us, whether in the city or the country. Nature can cure many of the imbalances, absurdities, and insanities of life--offering limitless opportunities for relaxation and solitude, contact with countless other living organisms, the exploration of lovely scenery, and as much exercise as we want. Awakening to Nature is the beginning of our journey into this natural world.

Inside are hundreds of ideas, thoughts, and suggestions intended to assist and inspire us to cultivate a more meaningful relationship with nature. We learn about our roots in nature and look critically as some ways our culture and civilization have gone astray. We discover the world of our senses, the importance of getting outside, nature-related options close to home, and more meditative ways of being in nature. We also learn how to make more room in our lives for nature, invite nature into our indoor spaces, and live more naturally, allowing us to better relate to the land and find our place and purpose in the larger universe.