Using creativity as our reason to spend time with animals and nature, we are also practicing mindfulness – observing, noticing, connecting and in turn developing compassion for our subject matter. Curiosity is sparked, reigniting a sense of wonder. This is the essence of mindfulness. Looking at the world in a mindful way is something we can all do, but regular practice develops this skill into a rewarding habit. The trick is not just to look and listen but to also tune in to how it makes us feel. Nature is something we all share because we’re a part of it. Humans developed alongside the birds, the mammals, the trees and all other lifeforms. We are nature. It is this sense of belonging, this feeling of being a part of the natural world, that is a powerful tool.
Problem is, a good proportion of humans seem to have lost their connection with nature – we live in cities, travel in cars, work in offices, stare at screens and views often consist of concrete jungles as opposed to lush greenery. Our brains are so constantly on the go – spending much of our time planning, theorising and managing schedules that we’ve become out-of-touch with the physical, sensory experiences that remind us of how we feel. This is dangerous territory for us all, resulting in higher stress levels, depression – all symptoms of nature deficit disorder. This disconnect is nobodies fault, it’s the way our society has developed – but it is worrying and needs to be addressed. People will not fight for nature if it is not important to them, so we need to raise nature’s profile. And that’s what we’ll continue to do with each and every Wild Life Drawing class.
“No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.”
– Sir David Attenborough