It’s taken me years to slowly learn the names of the nature around me. The beautiful thing is that nature is always waiting for us to explore and know her! There are some beautiful, easy to use tree identification books you could probably find at your school or public library. They also make them for birds. Immersing ourselves into the natural world right outside our door is a deeply therapeutic exercise. The fact is that we are more invested in something when it has a name and is known.

A lot of us have an image in our heads of us sitting on the porch in our rocking chairs at an old age, watching the cars and people go by. It’s a common stereotype of the elderly, but the thought of relaxing outside on a beautiful summer day also tends to bring us peace. There’s something about the outdoors that allows us to exhale. That’s why a lot of people choose to vacation in National Parks all throughout the year. But you don’t have to go to Yellowstone or the Great Smoky Mountains to feel the peace of nature. Simply spending some time right outside your front door can have a similar impact.