Today I've been thinking about what makes someone a naturalist. It sounds kind of like a fancy, intimidating title, doesn't it?
While folks can learn to be naturalists through programs and certificates, those options aren't available to everyone. And I think being a naturalist is an important part of our human existence.
Here is one way to take the first steps to becoming a naturalist:
First you need some time. It doesn't have to be a lot of time. 10 minutes will do when you're starting out, though you'll soon find yourself craving more.
Next you need a space. You might be tempted to go out to some fancy nature spot a hour's drive away, and you can, but I'd encourage you to pick something close to home and easy to access. We'll talk more about that later.
And then you need boredom. Our culture has taught us we should always be busy and that boredom is bad, but in this case, it's essential. I recommend setting your phone timer and then putting it away so you aren't tempted to look at it.
Finally (for this step) you need curiosity. I've noticed that traditionally schooled kids have learned to hide their curiosity by the age of 11, so if you're a grownup, you might have some work to do to unearth your innate wonder at the world and need to know all the things. Don't worry! It's hidden in there. The boredom will help you find it.
Getting Started:
For your first step into being a naturalist, you are going to go to your chosen space (you might call it a sit spot, or a secret space if you like a little mystery in your life), set your timer, and sit down.
That's it.
You can look around. You can touch things nearby. You might close your eyes and listen. You might notice the smells around you. You might be super duper bored and spend the whole time you were getting your tasks or chores done.
But... as the boredom kicks in, right around when you can hardly stand it anymore, you might just notice something you've never noticed before. It might be a leaf or a bug or the way the sky looks through the leaves above you. And you might start to wonder something about this thing you noticed and TADA! You have just taken the first step to being a naturalist.
You might not want to leave when your timer goes off.
There isn't really a right or wrong way to connect with nature (as long as you aren't damaging it, of course). You can take photos. You can journal about your observations. You can go home and look up the answer to your question, or you can let that question sit with you, reveling in the wonder of discovering something new to wonder about. The experience is yours.
If you choose an easy to get to spot rather than a fun fancy spot, you'll be able to start noticing what "normal" looks like, and from there, you'll soon start noticing the unusual, the special, and the wonders that were there all along, but you didn't know about. You're going to have so much fun watching the seasons make your secret space change as time goes by.
I hope you have fun!
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