Reflecting back on my childhood, my memories go something like this:

I see racing down steep green hills and sprinting barefoot through dense forests. I see swimming in murky oceans and riding bikes through neighborhoods. I see cartwheels in empty fields and kissing boys behind the slide on the playground. I see catching fish off docks and climbing blooming mango trees. I see building forts in the backyard and splashing in puddles while rain poured around me. I see vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles and chasing lizards down sidewalks. I see late night dance parties and tip-toeing out of bed while everyone slept. I see running through lawn sprinklers in the heat of summer and catching fireflies during cool, breezy dusk. I see discovering shapes and faces in the clouds and watching rain droplets race across car windows.

But what I don’t see… is the Home screen. What I don’t see, are the excessive pages of digital application tiles. What I don’t see, is my thumb and fingernail as it touches a photo filter setting or heart next to a friend’s smiling profile picture.

I feel blessed to have been introduced to the world in such organic ways, and am grateful to have been exposed to its rawest, simplest beauties at a young age.

There was always something so freeing about the physical world to me. I was 100% that kid who didn’t like to brush her hair, saw no issue with lathering myself in mud, and went on nightly scavenger hunts for neighborhood toads. I was curious about the physical world. And I learned to love it without much fear. It provided me with days of adventure, exploration, and discovery that fueled my energy and boosted my imagination. There was something so trusting in my relationship with the Earth. I knew its power was much grander than I, yet I felt so safe wrapped in its arms. A safety unlike the uneasiness I feel from behind a computer screen.

There is something so exposing about camping in a paper-thin tent or hiking through the still, silent woods. This feeling of exposure from nature usually turned into confidence and bravery, strength and courage, valor and tenacity within me. Whereas the exposure of posting a new profile picture surfaced feelings of insecurity and self-doubt inside my soul.

I think what nature has taught me is important for all of our children to learn…

…because it has the power to teach:

Confidence and Courage. It can teach us to explore ourselves. To find ourselves. Nature will not judge, so it can teach us to be who we are. It can lead us towards self-discovery. It can teach us to conquer our fears, and that bravery comes from within.

Determination. It can teach us to never give-up. To continue trying even if we fail. To stay hopeful, and that practice rewards improvement. It can teach us to be creative with our solutions. To use its lushness as our toolbox. And to recognize that with perseverance, we can accomplish anything.

Gratitude and Respect. It can teach us to honor each other. To stay humble within its omnipresent energy. It can teach us to be thankful. To live with appreciation. To feel blessed when there’s enough wind to fly a kite, and to feel grateful when the sky can melt your heart.

Love. It can teach us the value of a life. And can teach us the significance and beauty of all life. It can teach us to love and feel love back. It can teach us to expand our horizons and to never stop identifying joy in the most minimal circumstances. It can teach us to trust. And it can teach us to feel compassion and lend out a helping hand.

…but what can Netflix teach us?

How to get away with murder? How to make crystal meth? How to conceal adultery? How to deal cocaine? How to survive in prison? How to defeat a Demogorgon?

(Which, I’m not saying these lessons aren’t important… no offense to all the fabulous, thought-provoking television programs out there!)

And from a child’s perspective, don’t get me wrong, I am all for some Paw Patrol or Elena of Avalor. I definitely see the value and power in the many messages and concepts about the social world that television discloses, and that nature just can’t quite do. But I don’t want us to forget, that equally comparable lessons can come from reading a book under a tree, or listening to a podcast while you hike. The world isn’t exactly simple, and I agree, it can be overwhelming to keep up with the countless media channels that have real-time, important information to share.

But truly developing a deep love for this world involves way more than sharing another post on Facebook or tweet on Twitter, but it is about giving our planet the same time of day that we give our screens. It involves honoring it, learning from it, and loving it just as much as we like to swipe right or click follow.

And let’s always remember to teach future generations this love. And let’s help them love the physical world more than the virtual.

Watching my nephew grow through nature is inspiring, and I feel confident that he will always have an appreciation for what has brought him new knowledge and joy. So often we show children love and support from within ourselves, but we should also show them the love and support that the natural world can offer them, for it is far greater and wider than what we alone can give.