Nature Interrupted

Posted byLisa at Micro of the MacroPosted inEnvironment, Health & Well-Being, Psychological HealthTags:, , , , , , , , ,

Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things. ~Lao Tzu

If you are a regular Micro of the Macro reader, you have seen my posts on how the design of Nature is being interrupted on an ongoing basis. Harmful chemicals are used on crops, in cleaning products, and in personal products. Plastics are used indiscriminately. Landfills are expanding. Oceans are affected by industrial run-off and carbon dioxide emissions. Trees continue to be wiped out to make room for commercial livestock. The water we drink now is largely devoid of minerals. These many macro-level tragedies combine to create a frightening reality for all of us sharing the planet. Drilling down to the micro level, I would like to share how the interruption of Nature’s design can affect us on a more personal level.

In a recent study from Lancaster University, extreme rainfall and flooding caused by climate change was shown to cause lower birth weights in newborns. Starting life in this manner can have life-long consequences for health and development, the study reports, including lower educational attainment, poorer health, reduced income in adulthood, and mortality risks. And of course, these undesirable consequences affect future generations.

Speaking of the little ones, an article in Psychology Today says that when children forgo playtime outdoors, choosing instead to play on devices, their tendencies toward mood disturbances increase significantly. Studies show that screen time can result in sleep disturbances, depression, stress, aggressive behaviors, poor focus, and lack of motivation. The article goes on to say, Many children are “hooked” on electronics, and in fact gaming releases so much dopamine—the “feel-good” chemical—that on a brain scan it looks the same as cocaine use. This habituated response desensitizes the brain’s reward pathways, resulting in the need for ever-heightened stimulation. What’s more, increased screen time contributes to obesity and diabetes.

Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. ~Khalil Gibran

The chronic disruption of circadian rhythms, which regulate much of our biological functioning, has been shown to be instrumental in tumor growth, according to a study published in the journal PLOS Biology. Circadian rhythm alteration resulting from jet travel, shift work, or sleep disturbances, is a known risk factor for several types of cancer, the study shows. (On a side note, I have read from other sources that 5G technology has potential to substantially interfere with our circadian rhythms, as well as those of other animals.)

And finally, I want to address stress. Through decades of studying human health, I have come to believe that stress is a common denominator among those things that have harmful effects on us. Poor eating habits, sleep deprivation, lack of exercise, climate change, working too many hours, worrying about money, commuting in traffic, too little time in Nature, physical and mental illness, relationship issues, working at a job (or for a boss) you don’t like, and the list goes on: all very common situations in our lives that result in stress. We didn’t evolve as a species to spend so much time feeling stress, which often activates our body’s fight or flight survival response. According to an article from Harvard Health, Research suggests that chronic stress contributes to high blood pressure, promotes the formation of artery-clogging deposits, and causes brain changes that may contribute to anxiety, depression, and addiction. These unfortunate effects can result in even more stress. It’s a vicious cycle.

Nature is loved by what is best in us. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

When Nature’s design is interrupted, we all suffer in a number of ways. Each one of us is a microcosm of the macrocosm of Nature, after all. We owe it to ourselves, our families, and our communities to be proactive in making changes, big and small, to combat these calamities that rob us of beauty, peace of mind, health, and longevity. By working toward preserving and restoring Nature’s design on all levels, we could find ourselves thriving in an optimal, life-enhancing world.

I believe in God, only I spell it Nature. ~Frank Lloyd Wright

Blessings for Nature’s Design,

Lisa

The content of this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented herein. Any statements about the possible health benefits of any subject discussed have not been evaluated by medical professionals or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness.

91 thoughts on “Nature Interrupted”

  2. Pingback: Nature Interrupted — Micro of the Macro - Jakhala.com

  5. Lisa, your thoughts here are how I have come to think about our lives on Planet Earth! I have always loved the natural world but since retiring from work in 2014 I have come to love it even more! I worry about what the future holds for my children and my grandchildren! A thoughtful and poignant post.💌🙏

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    1. I appreciate your comment, Ashley. I, too, am concerned about the future of younger generations. I watched Endgame 2050 at your prompting, and it really made me think: restrictions and newscasting could really get that grim. The planet lovers among us (like you and I) know we cannot just succumb to this heart wrenching tragedy. 🌞

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  7. Your photos alternating with your important information are a good combination. So glad to have enjoyed them. I know that cell phone towers have an effect on migrating birds. Not happy to hear 5G may be an additional hazard.

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    1. Thanks for reading and commenting, Lisa. The 5G issues have me quite concerned, because our circadian rhythms, and those of other animals, tie us in with the rhythms of the earth. Who knows what can happen when we no longer have that connection?? 🌞

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  9. Very enlightening post Lisa. The trends as you have mentioned are very worrying indeed. I find especially worrying the effects of screen time and gaming, which is rampant in the younger generation today.
    But the pictures you shared are very calming and beautiful, they do take some stress away for now.

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    1. Nice to see you here again, Deb. I appreciate your kind and thoughtful comment, and I’m happy you enjoyed my post. I agree, the screen issues are most concerning. I believe there should be some type of governing body that approves new technology for use by children only after extensive testing. 🌞

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  10. awesomely gloomy news with such delightfully cheerful pics of nature!

    Meditation and living a balanced life leads one to minimise their carbon footprint … that’s what works for me

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    1. Hi, Kate, I realize the news in this post was depressing. I wrote it in response to so many who replied to my post on our current crisis of a few weeks ago saying that people were too set in their ways and lazy to do anything about our environmental problems. I thought making the issues more personal might change that. Sounds like your approach to life is a very healthy one. Cheers to minimizing our carbon footprints! 🌞

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      1. I totally agree Lisa, most feel like it’s up to our govts to remedy the situation. We all know they are only lining their own pockets with no care or interest in environmental matters. I totally believe this happens at an individual level, leading others by example.

        I’m struggling to get below my 0.7 and that’s taken years of focus.

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  11. What a beautiful post Lisa exposing all of the imortant ways to care for our earth and soul. The connection that exists in respite and feet in the earth are paramount to a healthy esistence, I am sitting outside with Harry while I write this with the wind blowing and sun shinning. Your read is always a gift to my sense,. 🤗 Hugs and love dear friend 💖🤗

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  12. Loved your post and agree that there are many dangers awaiting our younger generation. Parents must be informed and mindful. It may require some sacrifices like spending more quality with the children and time away from all the devices we seem so attached to.

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  13. Wonderful post! Right now with having young kids, I can see firsthand the difference between kids who spend a bunch of time on devices and kids who spend time playing and spending time outside. It makes me sad for future generations. I do my best to model appropriate use of technology and to expose my kids to the great outdoors as much as possible. 🌳🌸☀️

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  14. Such an important message, Lisa. I agree with all you have said. May each of us do all that we can to turn this around to save our planet and humanity.

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  15. I totally agree with you Lisa … all these things you’ve mentioned, are such an important part of our everyday life.
    Your topic on stress, made me thinking back to my previous job. I’ve worked in a big private hospital where I’ve co-ordinated a heart support group. Over the years, we’ve realised how much younger our heart patients became … and after further investigation, the shocking facts showed that these patients developed serious heart conditions primarily because of stress in their work places. Of course, the lack of exercise and bad eating habits contributed, but stress was the main catalizator.
    That made me think how important it is to recognise stress early and to find proper ways of dealing with it.
    Thanks for a great post 👍🏻.

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    1. Thank you for sharing your experience, Corna. I strongly empathize with those whose workplace stress causes disease. It’s just amazing how all of our tiny cells are always “listening in” to our thoughts and feelings and changing accordingly. I appreciate your kind support! 🌞

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  17. Thank you, Lisa, for another insightful post. Before I moved, I belonged to a group that meditated after our discussions. I found this monthly ritual to be so healing, so relaxing, and perfect for my anxieties about work deadlines or every day worries, that I started to look to my dog and budgies for answers. They lived in the moment, did not worry about the future or past slights or failures, but enjoyed every sensation, feeling, and love in the day. Their were happy if they were well fed and safely housed.

    These days I observe the creatures outside my window. They follow their instincts. Most are polite in accessing food that I strew for them during hard times, but they bicker during mating season when food is more plentiful. We humans have lost contact with our natures. Your posts remind me that there is more to life than material things. We have each other, yes, but it is this earth that nurtures us all. Our wild creatures show us the way to appreciate and conserve what we have and to enjoy each day as it comes.

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    2. You are right, Vic, animals are in some ways smarter than us; not dwelling on stress but enjoying the richness of the present. I am currently getting back into meditation practice, as I know first hand that its benefits are profound. Thank you for your visit & thoughtful comment. 🌞

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      1. Lisa, yes. Meditation is a practice that I originally did not believe would help me connect with us or nature, but I was wrong. It can be profound.

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  18. Hey sweet girl. beautiful as always

    On Fri, Mar 5, 2021 at 10:54 AM Micro of the Macro wrote:

    > Lisa at Micro of the Macro posted: ” Love the world as your own self; then > you can truly care for all things. ~Lao Tzu If you are a regular Micro of > the Macro reader, you have seen my posts on how the design of Nature is > being interrupted on an ongoing basis. Harmful chemicals ar” >

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    Reply
  32. Pingback: Nature Interrupted — Micro of the Macro | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  34. My friend as the old saying goes, “you have hit the nail on the head”! As a teacher, I see the deterioration of so many students minds due to the constant use of electronic devices! It is a PANDEMIC itself that is not only having a significant mental effect on our younger generation but a physical and emotional impact on them as well (due to the lack of exercise, outdoor playing, reduction of extra-curricular activities such as sports, band, cheerleading, etc….). They use computers and other electronic devices all day in school and stay on their phones, iPads, etc….. constantly the other 16 hours of the day! Although we ban the use of cellphones by our students during school hours NOT ONE DAY goes by where an average of 3-5 phones are retrieved by teachers and/or other staff members. Parents have to then come to the school to get their child’s phone!

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  35. So much truth in this post. Its hard for most to pay attention to it because it can be depressing. The more you look the more you realize how bad it is. I do believe in focusing on the positive and gratitude. There is still a lot of good and we live in an amazing time.

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    1. Hello, Tom, and thanks for visiting and commenting. I agree, there is still so much good in the world, and a positive focus & practice of gratitude are imperative! I think you’re right, many people are overwhelmed by the ongoing environmental destruction. But, there is no plan B, right? So we all must do our part, no matter how difficult it is to face the sad truth. Enjoy the weekend! 🌞

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