Lessons from Nature: Slow Down and Learn!

I suppose one of the core reasons I keep going out into nature with my camera in recent years is to experience the unique tension of exciting encounters that only come through deliberate slowing down. If I want to have the truly thrilling reward of a close encounter and the pictures to show for it, I must be willing to seriously dial back my eager pace and blustering noise. If I rush toward what I want to see and experience and capture, thinking only of what I want, I will probably spook the wildlife and totally miss the moment. Slowing and quieting my movements and overall pace is essential to communicate a peaceful sense of oneness with the ecosystem I am entering that will allow me the chance to see something wonderful at a close enough range to really enjoy it. And hopefully get some great pics, while I’m at it. 

But there’s more to it than that. If I really want to have the best possible encounter with a particular wildlife subject, I also need to take the time to pay attention! The more I remember I am in this beautiful creature’s element – their home environment, the greater my ability to observe important details that help me get to know this individual. What it prefers and avoids. How it communicates what it is feeling. Why it seems to be in this place at this time. And the more I learn about it, with a genuinely curious and respectful approach, the better my encounter will be. Not to mention the decreased chance of someone getting hurt in the process. (I mean, do you have any idea what kind of bite force are powering the tooth-lined jaws of this American Alligator?!?!) And the greater my chances of having more positive encounters with it in the future. As Diane Sawyer said, “I think the one lesson I have learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention.”

And so it is with other humans. I bring the best energy to a relationship when I slow down and take the time to consider the other. When I don’t make it all about me, even leaning more toward what seems to be good for them. When I communicate with sincere curiosity to learn about the other’s experiences, feelings, thoughts, hopes, and fears. And I do so with gentle respect for them as a valuable human being with every bit as much worth as I have. Practicing these approaches greatly enhances the positive potential in any relationship, whether it be with my spouse or partner, my child (at any age), my boss, my client, my coworker, my neighbor, my friend, or my Uber driver. And if you’re not quite sure at this point what to do with this, I’ll suggest two things: take the time to slowly read this brief article again and get out in nature somewhere close by and see what it’s like getting close to a wild creature.

Just don’t get too close to the dangerous critters, like this gator. Or the bison at Yellowstone. Seriously! Take time to learn about who you’re trying to get close to. Just sayin. Enjoy!!!