nature

I'm from Oregon; it's a BEAUTIFUL state, covered with mountains, green trees, and rivers. I didn't really appreciate how magnificent Oregon's nature was until I came to BYU for school…I mean, I guess Utah is pretty too.

I grew up playing among the Douglas Firs behind my house, picking blackberries, boating, camping, hiking, swimming, stargazing, you name it. I thought that everyone had such a childhood, but this past week in one of my classes we discussed how children are spending significantly less time outside and in nature than previous generations. Most of it has to do with the surge in television watching and video game playing. I guess kids don't want to exercise their own imagination when a computer does it for them…

We discussed the effects of this phenomenon, which is appropriately termed "nature-deficit disorder." Kids have greater trouble focusing, are more likely to be obese, and are performing more poorly in school. This knowledge made me especially grateful for my upbringing in Oregon, where I was free to connect with nature on a daily basis.

That being said, I have noticed how I spend much less time outside as a college student than I would like to. Once you factor in classes, homework, work, social engagements, and church meetings, there seems to hardly be any time left to enjoy the beauty of this earth. In my life, I notice that when I take a few minutes outside to sit still, I am happier and more productive. Learning about nature-deficit disorder scared me into making a goal of spending twenty minutes outside every day. I think that this will improve my overall mood and appreciation for what is around me. I am really grateful for a God who created such a beautiful earth for us to live on, and I want to enjoy it more often.