On Earth Day, Appreciating Nature’s Power to Provide Respite from the Pandemic
To mark Earth Day 2021, we asked the community to reflect on how the pandemic has affected their relationship with nature. Some of their thoughts and photos appear below.
I read an article a few years ago that noted that there are 30 percent fewer birds in North American skies today than there were in 1970. I’d always been a bit of an amateur ornithologist, but I took to the outdoors this year especially to listen to the birds. On days where I felt acutely—even painfully—alone, opening my window or walking through the woods and hearing birds call to each other from this tree or that reminded me that there’s life outside of my four walls, and I should spend more time living it. But as I listened, the thought that the skies are 30 percent quieter than they were 50 years ago—in large part due to climate change—was harrowing. It haunts me that I’ll never know how many sounds I’m missing, or what the woods must’ve sounded like back then. In the isolation of the pandemic, I sought solace in the birds—but it’s on me, on all of us, to be there for them too. –Katie Christoph ’21
一对一湖泊与学生一起散步，圆形剧场的户外服务 - 在很多方面，在户外被迫伪装祝福，并为我们提供了重新思考“适当天气”的意义的新机会。-Rabbi Dena Bodian，犹太Chaplain和Campus Rabbi
在我的大学例行COVID俱乐部test, a couple days before spring officially arrived, I saw something new: snowdrops dotting the soil next to the front walk. Snowdrops are a sign of warmer weather and the brilliant colors that will soon brighten the landscape. They are also a reminder that snow is still here or can still come. At the time, daylight savings had just started; so, the sun has now been out for longer. I hadn’t realized it had been so dark until it became so light. Two and three years ago, I watched spring unfold at Wellesley. One year ago, I welcomed spring from my home in Connecticut. Our Wellesley community was grappling with loss and confusion when we found out we had to leave campus in March 2020. This grief continues, but I find comfort in watching the resilience of nature. –Elizabeth Borecki ’21
我在大流行夏季长丽丽莎，并设法放弃了几个花束。这是一个可喜的过程！-inelaselimović，西班牙语副教授
我在新罕布什尔州的姨妈和叔叔的农场一直是受欢迎的，在这个越来越虚拟的世界中，友情友好逃脱。当我告诉别人我将要去农场，它让它让人的寿命图像从网格上取下：没有电力，没有自来水，愉快地，没有无线网络。对农场的访问也涉及季节性集团项目。虽然“真实”世界的事件完全被修改或取消，但农场的季节性日历仍然存在。一如既往地，苹果在9月份按9月，10月份的木材和糖枫木的筹码，2月份挖掘。季节性基准衡量我的遥控器年度，给了我一个新的，更广泛的生命之景观，我所居住的世界。它提醒我，尽管这种流行病造成了可怕的破坏，但自然世界总是在这里，并且总是在运动中。-Lauren Cote，计划协调员，Suzy Newhouse人文中心
对我来说，对于很多人来说，冬天觉得隔离了。12月有一天，这位男性北方的红衣主教飞到了遥远的工作空间的窗户。幸运的是，在再次飞行之前，它只是在我手中闷闷不乐。这种经历是自然世界在去年提供重要联系和观点的方式之一。总统执行助理的-Teresa Garcia
During the pandemic, spending time outdoors became a really nice way to take a break from looking at screens so much. Especially in the fall when I was fully remote, taking a long walk with a friend was a lot of fun and helped my mind and my eyes take a break. Walks were a chance to look closely at what was around me and to think about something other than work. –Kristine Meader ’21
在去年的这段时间里，春天的感觉与其常见的好东西感到不可以。相反，湍流和停滞不前地填充了日子。我很快发现走出房子，在近距离徒步旅行，附近的树林里是我能做的最好的事情，以提高我的心情，建立一些正常和平感。外面给了我有机会欣赏在我周围的所有生命，以及自然之美及其舒适和愈合的力量仍然不会让我惊讶。-Julia Ellman'21
母亲自然是过去一年的避难所。很多事情被取消，世界崩溃了，这是一个不变的混乱状态。但性质总是恢复平衡，她给了我和平。我发现自己在寻求寻找太阳没有设置的地方，以及地平线从未结束的地方，是的，作为一种逃避，但有时这就是你在这个世界上所需要的。母亲自然给了我，在那些觉得一切都崩溃的那一刻，她是为了提供谨慎，并建立我。她提供了一个验收的地方，如果有人会理解我，那将是充满秘密的老成长林，综合脆弱和力量对新含义的海洋，以及众所周知的风冒险。我欠她的一切，我致力于尽可能多地帮助。-suzanna schofield'24
Living with the pandemic has taught me to really take things one day at a time. In doing so, I’ve been able to be more present in nature, appreciate the seasonal changes in new ways, and learn that something as simple as a beautiful tree blossoming can bring a lot of joy. –Hannah Hudson, Communications & Public Affairs
