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Why do I admire nature and rarely cities and castles?
First of all, we humans are made of nature. We are nature. For at least thousands of years. And since those thousands of years we lived much closer to nature than we do today - which is true even for our grandmothers, not far in the past at all! - then I think that in nature both our bodies and psyches do better. Our default settings are there. In the natural environment, our default settings feel good.
Secondly, I want to believe that for the reasons above, nature heals us in some way. On the psyche, on the body, maybe on the soul - who really knows and can tell the truth? I want to believe that even if I don't see a tangible, rapid effect in the here and now, going out to the woods, mountains or river gives me something good or takes away something bad. That I'm coming back stronger, richer on some level that maybe someday will come to the surface and I'll actually see it. Because I don't want to pretend that after going to the forest my life somehow changes. I believe. And I practice.
Third, in cities and other artificial places, in cultural creations, I just feel worse, sometimes very bad. For example, in shopping malls, markets, in city centers, on noisy streets, on trains, and even often in cafes, restaurants.
I believe in the power of nature. That she gives us what is good for us. Even if she doesn't work miracles, as the default setting she is better for us than the noise of the city.
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