Into the wild

Imagine what its like to be nature. Always having someone cut you piece by piece until there is nothing left. Hiding under your branches and stabbing you in the back. This is wild nature. Nature is the world around us, except for human made destruction. Humans are the only animal species that intentionally influence the environment. We confess that in an unbiased view we are merely one of many organisms, and that we are not able to survive outside of our natural elements. We tend to be poor leaders when compared to animals. Despite our greatness, we are always fighting, wasting and self centered human beings. First, with the technology advancing our generations are getting more acknowledgeable and interested in these matters. Krakauer writes “Happiness only real when shared”. I agree with Krakauer because happiness is not happiness unless there is someone to share it with. When there is no one around to share my happiness and sorrows with, I usually go to the park and talk to trees, air, and old people etc. This is soothing for me and a great way to release stress from busy life and college. I spend most of my free time interacting with nature. . I learned this from my grandmother because she had a stressful life and she would go to lake everyday and talk to nature. I believe we can be fully humans even if we are slightly attached to nature because we have so much going on in our lives and there is less time for us to interact with nature in a meaningful, extended or full manner.

                       

Nature brings me happiness through good mental health. When I observe the wilderness around me, my troubles seem to go away. The wilderness is very valuable to me because of the stress reduction and general inner peace. Although I have never visited nature as much as I perhaps wanted, it still has a definite positive impact on me. I am not the only one that has similar feelings about nature, John Davis PhD says, “A variety of studies over many years have shown faster recovery from stress in response to nature stimuli than built settings”. This reminds me of how I feel when I am surrounded in landscape. Nature brings out the joy of anyone who is fortunate enough to have experienced it. Stress and mental fatigue disappear when I and others like me hear birds chirping or smell flowers blossoming. This is important to me because if more people had a chance to heal their minds through nature, most people would be in better health. Due to nature I can enjoy good physical health. There is nothing better than knowing I am in good physical health. Without good health I would not be able to enjoy life. If I ever get sick or hurt I can depend on nature to be one of the mechanisms that brings me back to health. Researcher Roger Ulrich says, “a view of nature (rather than a built environment) from a hospital room's window facilitates recovery from surgery “. I feel this is important because whenever I am at the doctor’s there are always pictures of scenery all over the clinic. I have always noticed those sceneries and stare at them for minutes on end wondering how it would feel to be in that scenery. When I was younger, this might have distracted me from the pain of an injection. Nature as had a profound effect on my health as well as many others. It has been proved through experimental research that nature truly is a panacea for some physical health problems.

                                         

                                 Relationship between privilege and empathetic

There are many ways to change a privileged person to be more empathetic in society. We can create a situation where any regular person can be forced to feel the pain of others. Also, if we can get a privileged person to really try to put his or herself in the other person’s shoes, empathy will probably develop naturally. Once we can get a privileged person in a tough situation where he or she is forced into depression, empathy will develop naturally because that person will be able to feel the pain of others. Whether its changing privileged person to be more empathetic towards humans, nature, animals or inanimate objects, they will all yield similar impression in the end. Thom Hartmann quotes, “we have cut down so many trees and made our planet a deserted land.” I agree with Hartmann because trees are people too and we have no right to harm our creator that is mother nature. If we can get a privileged person to realize the pain a tree feels when its being cut into pieces, I am sure that person will change his or her mind instantly. It’s easier for a privileged person to live a luxurious life but that person doesn’t know that he or she is privileged because of mother nature. Everything a privileged person owns is made from earth’s natural resources whether its oil, plastic, paper, car, TV, shoes etc. For that person to become privileged, nature has played the most important role in his or her life. I believe it is extremely important for a privileged person to feel the pain of mother nature. In the book, Into The Wild, Jon Krakauer quotes, “Make a radical change in your lifestyle and begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt". I agree with Krakauer because in order to change a privileged person to be more empathetic, he or she needs to be willing and open minded to cope with the harsh situations. I believe that a privileged person is obstinate from the beginning and if a privileged person is willing and attentive, he or she can learn to be empathetic faster.

Second way we can change a privileged person to be more empathetic is voluntary work. A privileged person lives his or her whole life mostly from unearned assets but that person doesn’t know how hard it is for the underprivileged. We can change a privileged person to be more empathetic if we can get that person to be involved in voluntary work such as charity work, emergency evacuation services, training material, transportation within the region, orientation on arrival etc. Krakauer quotes, “If you want to get more out of life, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security and adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy.” I agree with Krakauer because to change a privileged person to be more empathetic in a society, he or she needs to lose something for the greater good. A privileged person needs to lose a part of his or her luxurious life and perform some voluntary work for the community. Once a privileged person realizes how hard it is for the underprivileged to achieve something in life, he or she will become empathetic. Krakauer says, “it would be a shame if you did not take the opportunity to revolutionize your life and move into an entirely new realm of experience.” I agree with Krakauer because there is nothing challenging in the life of a privileged person. A privileged person spends his or her whole life in a paradise where everything he or she needs is available. I believe that life isn’t life if we do not experience sorrows.

Third way we can change a privileged person to be more empathetic in society is through social interactions. A privileged person needs to see the lives of underprivileged people. It’s important for that person to interact more often with the society. A privileged person will be able to develop certain feelings when he or she meets others face to face. People who are privileged use technology to interact with others but it is not the best way to become more empathetic in society. Krakauer quotes, “I also know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong.” I agree with Krakauer because a privileged person is only stronger than non privileged and that person doesn’t experience much interactions within a society. So, what’s the point of being strong in wealth and status in society if you can’t interact with another person face to face. Happiness and sorrows cant be shared on face book, cell phones, mails etc. It is important for a privileged person to interact whether it’s with nature or society, I believe that a privileged person loses touch with mother nature because of unearned assets. Krakauer quotes, “Some people feel like they don’t deserve love. They walk away quietly into empty spaces, trying to close the gaps of the past.” I agree with Krakauer because many people who are privileged often keep things to themselves rather than sharing with others. They feel unloved and unappreciated. People who are privileged often fear being judged by others when they are seen talking to the underprivileged. The fear of being rejected by the society keeps many privileged people within their own little fantasy. To overcome this fear, it is crucial for a privileged person to interact with others and share their happiness and success.