Against Nature

(Photo taken of a vista after taking a boat from La Fortuna towards Monteverde. The bus driver pulled over and there was this beautiful view.) There are a lot of dogs in Costa Rica. Most of them don’t have collars even though they have owners. I love dogs. One of the recent lodgings I stayed in had three lovely dogs. One of them is a puppy and loves jumping on people. One of the volunteers was trying to train him to stop jumping. “I know some people are afraid of dogs,” I said to her, “but it seems like we condition the nature out of the dog when we make them stop jumping on us. They were born to love and show affection, after all.”

Secluded jungle in Uvita, Costa Rica

Then it struck me, I have, myself, had the nature conditioned out of me. I bet most of us have, but seeing this message clearly had a big impact. I feel like I have been “de-natured” and it’s very interesting that I am feeling so connected to and desirous of nature herself. As if to find my own nature, I must surround myself with nature. And, as I am learning, nature has so many signs to offer but we must truly be immersed in it to see them.