The Elemental Clock is Ticking
by Kaylee Fullington
In today’s modern, industrialized society, people can connect in innovative ways that the world has never seen before. However, along the path of these innovations, the earth’s health has been put on the back burner. Now, renewing a connection with nature may be what society truly needs.
The Inland Empire ranks as the 12th-largest metropolitan area in the state of California, powering communities through social and economic activity. Large portions of the population commute daily to larger cities like Los Angeles or San Diego, regularly pushing the state to be one of the largest consumers of gas in the nation.
Nearly 50% of the United States’ energy comes from gas or coal, allowing for rapid growth. However, a notable concern is how industrialization continues to harm the environment.
Nowadays, world power is measured by a country’s gross domestic product — a yearly value of all goods and services, which leads to a high demand for energy extraction. A weakened production of these resources will cost the United States a loss of power across the globe, but can initiate a strike of freedom.
Structures like this have been practiced across generations, leading people to enter controlled environments and routines since birth. Common experiences, such as receiving injections or wearing shoes daily, have slowly cut off any true human connection with the earth’s natural elements.
Children are the most susceptible to these practices, as the urban lifestyle can be quite flashy and catching to a young eye. How could one not be amazed by the attention-grabbing media and colorfully lit buildings?
In order to explore life outside of a structure, one must first disconnect and self-reflect. This requires discomfort as one must face uncertainties that lie ahead, but forces the question:
What makes up the ideal learning environment, and how is nature involved?
Students of today learn in controlled classroom environments with designated room temperatures and fluorescent lighting — reducing the ability to focus. These learning spaces are a direct reflection of society’s stagnation as a healthy balance of outdoor learning has yet to enter lesson plans. The Nation’s Report Card confirms a decline in student comprehension as schools struggle to rebuild following administrative cuts and the coronavirus pandemic.
In a world where wealth enables power, passions among students are avaricious — skewing their authentic selves. While pursuing wealth, isolation continues to drive many away from the freedom of curiosity. Now with the artificial world closing in, how will humanity continue to thrive?
Ensuring that students retain environmental awareness is the first step. When students are nurtured in a fully-structured learning environment, there is a lack of encouragement to lean into natural curiosity. Critical thinking is evoked through experimental learning, and without it the outside world becomes cold, muddy and wet — framing discomfort.
Considering the lack of natural energy sources in most daily lives, it is no wonder that student learning motivations remain stagnant. But how can humanity fear something as natural as the earth?
Earth is the most natural pathway for rehabilitating oneself and working towards healthy, self-regulating patterns, but the excessive use of fossil fuels continues to pollute the natural atmosphere.
Lifestyles where sunlight, wind or water are the primary sources of energy may help restore brain and body tranquility. With a small redirection, energy that is typically drained through inefficient habits like online scrolling can be easily restored through a grounding nature experience.
Practicing mindfulness and incorporating healthy habits into daily routines will allow natural energies to fuel the body. Comfort becomes a constant for an individual fearing to be challenged, but every small change in routine is a break from the structure. Society is stealing the earth’s every last breath, do not let the world suffocate.