Why do we try to put nature in a box? I haven't the slightest clue.

Last weekend I was in desperate need of a break from routine life. So I decided to drive to Hilton Head Beach. It was a me day so I decided to take a round about way to get there. To my surprise it lead me straight into Buffton SC. As I drove through, I couldn't help but admire the beauty. The live oaks encased the road giving me a break from the fierce sunlight. When I would look up I could see all the small moments of the trees from across the roads touching or almost touching the branches of the trees from the other side. There was a lively tension. They weren't fighting with one another, just living. Obviously no human had touched them in quite a long time. I loved that Bluffton was confident enough in the trees to not cut them back. Growing up in Pennsylvania, that was a HUGE no no for trees to do such a thing. After so many years a crew would come by and carelessly hack away at all the hopeful trees. It always looked like a murder scene to me. At first I thought okay power lines, I get it. But as the years past and I grew older, I realized they wouldn't just cut the branches hanging on the power lines. They would obliterate all the branches on that side of the tree as if a tree branch of such vengeful magnitude would grow back in a years time.

If there is one thing I despise it is how humans try to keep nature in a box. For example, in a highway meridian we have large machines that come by to trim the grass. Ah, what? What does that matter? There are clearly signs posted everywhere to please keep off the meridian but yet we need it to be trimmed and orderly? If someone were to wreck, wouldn't the over-sized tall grass benefit the people to help slow them down so they would not cross over to the opposite side of the highway? I would think so. That is one reason why I love to drive through Virginia on interstate 81 because the meridians have trees and flowers and grass and I have yet to drive through and it be orderly and boring. Along with wanting to keep nature in a box why do we literally want them to look like green squares and rectangles on the outside of our houses? I have lived in three houses in my life so far and I loved that my mother never did that. I took by example and the two other places I have lived I had them removed and in their place I planted flowers and bushes that could be as wild and free as they wished. I guess I am drawn to this idea because we already have so many geometric things imposed on our lives. Buildings, cars, fences, roads, sidewalks, tables, chairs, beds cabinets, tvs, appliances, floorings, bricks, phones, computers, even our bathtubs and showers are squared or rectangular ! All designed to be organized, what you see is what you get. While nature is the complete opposite of that, at its core it is still made up of organized cells but on the outside (what we see) doesn't always make sense, its not designed to be easy for us, its unruly, wild, mysterious, lovely, dangerous all of which might frighten us. I know I have been scared many times out in the forest because things don't always make sense and I really have to think and tune in. I suppose that is why we try to keep it in a box so we no longer have to be afraid of it because it is under our control. However, nature doesn't try to be anything else; it is beautiful for itself. So let it be itself. The same way we want humans to be themselves.

Okay I am going to stop because I could probably write another 1,000 words on this topic. I hope I did not offend anyone with this post. If you happen to love the look of polished trees, trimmed meridians, and square bushes, that's fine, no judging here, I just happen to despise it with all my soul. But its only my crazy opinion! Keep pushing my friends! Wander.