How often do we connect with nature in our busy life? We get caught in a rut in our daily life; we spend most of our time in built environments - homes, office buildings, schools, shopping malls, cars and factories. No wonder we often do not live in harmony with nature.

Let’s learn to spend quality time in nature; immerse ourselves in the outdoors as often as our life permits. We certainly can, especially in warmer weather! For example, I volunteer at a youth farm on a weekly basis during the growing season. And, I commute to work on a bicycle, reducing my carbon footprint. I may have bicycled 50,000 miles in the last 50 years.

We can seek opportunities like gardening, camping and hiking, or simply walking in nearby nature areas - rivers and lakes, coast, etc. Last month, I spent five days camping, hiking and rafting for over 60 miles in the Owyhee River Canyon wilderness. I did not look forward to returning to the city life after that immersion.

Amma says, "We are the ocean, not waves."

Nature is our home. Let's protect and respect nature.

Photographic essay - Arun Narayan Toké, Eugene, Oregon