By: Zoey Pearce
Complain about darkness swallowing the sky too early in the day. Grumble about dark grey clouds as they storm overhead and drop heaven’s fluff onto Earth. Whine when dirty slush drenches running shoes which really should not even be worn during this cold and frigid season. Talk about the draining winter depression with friends whilst worrying about frost-bitten fingers falling off from foolishly going on a walk without mittens. Listen to freezing rain harshly hit windows during the night as skin-deep cold tries to sneak its way into blanket covered beds.
Protest uncoloured winter in every way possible but let me ask this question… When life-giving spring fuels the fresh air and lively summer shines the skin-soaking sun, do you really appreciate the green? As the most common colour in nature, green is often disregarded and ignored because it is so familiar to people living in places such as Canada during the warmer seasons. It is apparent to me that many people do not appreciate the green and what a shame that is, yet how typical of humans to only desire something when it cannot be obtained– and even once it is, the gratitude that should be felt is absent. Only when in-the-moment presence of forest green forests, pine green pine trees, and dark green moss, is the familiar natural beauty of the physical geographic world appreciated for a split second. I fear nature is too often overlooked because it is always there, but I have a greater fear that one day it will not be.
Every day people are informed of ways they can reverse the damage inflicted onto ecosystems and how they can preserve their physical bodies and materialistic items on Earth. Unfortunately, many people choose to turn their heads and look the other way because it is easier to pretend that the current environmental issues in the world are not their problem instead of proactively changing their ways for the betterment of our one and only life-sustaining planet.
If you are one of the many people who disregard environmental issues, let me share something with you that opened my eyes: we need Earth, Earth does not need us. The next time you complain about the dull atmosphere of winter, make sure you appreciate everything about the vivacious ambience green creates when spring and summer come around. Most importantly, realize that if you do not start contributing to bettering the environment, there will be no more grey or green to discuss.
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