Lessons From the Forest...

Forests are one of the most important ecosystems on Earth. Humans have evolved alongside the forest, deeply connected with its ecological processes. Each opportunity I spend among majestic trees or what fairy tales call enchanted forests creates space for growth and reflection. With a heightened sense of curiosity, I began compiling a set of lessons from the experience of roaming through and exploring the splendor that flora and fauna of forests – around the world hold. Let me share a few of these life lessons:?

1. Restore your energy – focus on self-care.?The forest is a sanctuary and refuge. The forest has always been a source of energy and a vital form of self-care, awarding me the opportunity to relax, cherish, and reflect. When the weekend comes, I often feel a sense of imbalance; having spent most of the week focused on the demands of modern life, I can hardly wait to heal and refill my cup and get a free hug :-).??(Wallace Lake)

2. Everyone has a part to play. It is easy to see the tall, proud trees towering over the forest, but they wouldn't be here without the little guys – soil microbes keep this system functioning. These micro-organisms are vital to all life, breaking down organic matter, recycling nutrients, and maintaining the soil structure. Without them, the mighty trees would fall. Valuing the unique talents we and others around us possess is essential - in our families, at work, and in society. Everyone we meet in our life is for a reason.?

3. The forest is a community. Trees shade and protect fragile vegetation beneath, provide shelter for animals, and not forget the symbiotic relationship with mosses and ferns. The circle of life seems to happen magically because each community member does their part and works together to keep this cycle going so we humans can continue to enjoy life on this planet. When we all work together, contributing our talents, the community functions as a well-oiled machine. When we live as a community, we achieve balance, an equilibrium settles, and whatever challenges come our way, we're more prepared to conquer them. (Olympic National Park - Hoh Rain Forest)

4.?Innovative solutions to complex problems. In rocky forests, trees will find any place to sprout up, even on rocks and cliffs. The tiniest pocket of soil can be enough for a tree to establish itself, wedging its roots deeply into crevices, seeking out the most negligible sources of water and nutrients. Whatever problem the forest community faces, a creative solution often occurs naturally or easily. Thinking outside the box, taking help from others, and focusing on what we truly need can help us find solutions to seemingly impenetrable problems. (Dirty Harry's Balcony)

5. Remember to look up and seek different perspectives.?Entering a forest allows you to entertain a different perspective. The mature trees invite you to look up, drawing your eye from the roots and up the trunk into the lush canopy with sky and sun peeking between the leaves. Taking time to gaze up and gaining a different perspective with your feet firmly planted on the ground can help you take time to appreciate the achievements which have helped you to grow tall even when you feel small – figuratively and literally. You've come a long way.?(Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest)

6. Our choices can lessen the disturbance.??Each time we (humans) walk into the forest, our presence disturbs the ecosystem in its tracks. Some animals, especially forest birds, see and feel the human presence as predators, resulting in them seeking new habitats from busy forest trails. Staying on designated trails is one way we can reduce the disturbance. In life, we can always make micro choices that can improve the lives of others or at least lessen the pain we impose on our environment or other people.?

7. Water is the fuel of life. Like us, and every creature on this Earth, forests need water. On the other hand, healthy forests are an essential aid towards clean water. Trees help slow stormwater and reduce flooding events; they even reduce the hefty water treatment costs. Roots and forest canopies help filter rainwater, remove pollutants, and prevent hazardous run-off from reaching waterways. Trees, standing strong together, undertake their tasks with quiet power and humility, providing clean water for all. (Oyster Dome)?

8. Reforestation: a sign of resilience?– In 2017, Eagle Creek Fire ravaged over 32,000 acres of forest around the Multnomah Falls in Oregon. Today, you can hike through miles of regenerating burned pine, mushroom bonanza, and wildflowers that stand out. Life emerges from the ashes; tiny buds burst from the ground, and seeds are released into the newly fertilized soil. Watching life spring from destruction is inspiring – something fresh and new can come from the most devastating experiences. We can bounce back with grace from any hardship by learning from the forest.?

9. Old age and the scars we accumulate through life tell a story. One of the oldest trees I have been fortunate to encounter is estimated to be a 400 old Ceiba tree at the Arenal Volcano National Park in Costa Rica. As its location indicates, this tree is near an active volcano, and it survived the 1968 eruption among years of storms and human civilizations. Despite the "wrinkles" and the forced adaptation or scars, its groaning branches still reach for the sky, and its intertwined roots pull in water and nutrients to sustain this ever wise, ever-tall, and proud "ancestor".??(Parque Nacional Volcan Arenal)

10. A difference between being lonely and being alone. Often when we go to the forest, we seek seclusion, a place to be alone, or to establish a deeper connection with nature. It is a great way to escape the screens and modern, day-to-day life rush. It is a way to connect with our ancestors and many indigenous people today who rely on the forest for survival. On the other hand, the woods can be a comfort when we feel lonely. Its constant, reassuring presence can help to ground us. The everyday miracles – a hatching chick, the emergence of a fantastically-colored toadstool, the smell of pine sap oozing on a hot day – can fill us with joy and refresh our appreciation for the miracles in our own lives. (Mount Rainier National Park)

Each forest is sacred and provides a unique experience each time one visits. Yet, it often starts with a similar feel: a natural invitation, a sense of belonging, a sense of being alive, and a sense of being a miracle and blessing to the universe. The human connection with the forest is a solid and vital bond, one which is worth preserving whole-heartedly for generations to come, for both people and nature.?

Humankind’s greatest priority is to reintegrate with the natural world.” – Jonathon Porritt

?May the forest be with you!?

Note: It's important to acknowledge that the forest-human relationship is also filled with a whole set of problems, including deforestation, habitat fragmentation, over-harvesting of bush meat, and the exotic pet trade, to name a few. The consequent loss of biodiversity and threat to both food security and people's livelihoods who rely on forests is distressing. It can seem hopeless and inevitable, but some things can be (and are already being) done. I plan on expanding on these in my next post.?