"Mother Nature + Human Nature"

For two years now I have neglected my part of the outside work around here, and when I finally stopped and had a look around I was shocked. Of course we lost a couple of old trees earlier this year, which was hard not to notice, but at the same time as mother nature was tearing down she was building up. I spent the last 2 days just trimming trees that had grown in every direction, and cutting down others that had grown in inappropriate places. I am reminded that there are powers greater than humanity, and that mother nature will always strike a balance on our planet despite our best efforts to make it otherwise. That's why flood's happen in flood plains, and tornadoes in tornado country. That's why volcanoes erupt on the top of mountains, and under the ocean. That's why trees will grow in a crack in the sidewalk, and weeds everywhere. Mother Nature is logical, simple and totally predictable.

Human Nature, maybe not so much so. I think beyond a few general consistencies, that humans are as different from each other and as generally unpredictable as to be the exact opposite of Mother Nature. I believe this to be true about humankind collectively, and yet I believe that within each of us as individuals, there lies a certain balance which we don't always recognize as such. I refer to my belief that for every strong trait, we have a balancing weak trait and vice versa, and further to that I believe that our strength is always our weakness, and vice versa. When we talk about human nature we more often than not use it as a way to explain some persons , or some groups negative behaviour, and we tend to overlook the balancing aspects.

For instance.

When my beloved wife wants to give one of her friends a polite reminder of some weak aspect of their personality she occasionally uses that old standby, "you're just like my husband". Of course this never works for her because invariably the recipeint of her remark is flattered by the comparison.... lol... Regardless, a recent example of just such a situation will still serve to make my point. Claudette told a friend that "just like her husband" this friend always needed to get the last word. Sounds like a negative trait eh? But I know it's not! When it seems like I need to get the last word that is not the case at all. I'm simply not done the discussion yet. I'm enjoying the discussion. I want it to go on. I want you to convince me. I like talking to you, and if I keep going maybe you will as well. You can have the last word as soon as I'm done!

The moral of the story? When it comes to Mother Nature you can take her completely at face value. What you see is what you get. With humans we need to look a little deeper. Whenever you find what appears to be an undesirable trait in others or in yourself, look for the often less obvious, but just as important balancing trait. You will feel kinder for it.

Besides I got even with Roo today. I forget what we were even talking about, but apparently I made a definitive closing comment to which she sarcastically replied, "See, you always need to have the last word". I just smiled!!!!!

Nature is a ruthless teacher. There are no second chances in Mother Nature's Survival Course."---William S. Burroughs

“Subdue your appetites, my dears, and you've conquered human nature"---Charles Dickens

love
peter