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How Do We Measure The Connectivity Between Humanity & Nature?Â
- Adriana Rocha
- Sep 20
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 22
By Adriana Rocha
Our connectivity towards nature has been getting weaker. Some, no longer feel the need and intention to connect to nature.
How do we measure this connectivity between humanity and nature?
Do we measure it by the absence of nature in cultural creation? Are we losing our connection, because creating is more possible due to artificial intelligence? Among what we create, how often do we create content related to nature?
Words related to nature:
autumn, cloud, lake, moonlight
Names of flowers:
bluebell, tulip, foxglove, rose
Names of trees:
cedar, laburnum, whitebeam, willow
Names of birds:
finch, hummingbird, meadowlark, spoonbill
These words appear in the works of pop culture throughout time, including English fiction books. The shocking fact is that nature-related words in movies, documentary storylines, poems, or cultural creations has decreased significantly in the last few years. If our thoughts mention less nature words, our actions will care less for that natural world.Â
What is the Source of our Natural Deficit?Â
Everything points to the era when leisure began moving indoors, starting when several technological changes happened, 1st in the 1950s, the rise of television became the most popular medium of entertainment. Then, in the 1970s, video games first appeared, followed by the internet, becoming so popular that technology has been claiming more and more leisure time since the late 1990s. We can now see that technology has become a major substitute for nature, and a primary source of recreation.Â
If we look back at cultural creations, we can see the disappearance of nature vocabulary from conversations and artistic productions, making it evident that we have become less focused on, and less bothered by, matters of nature. Â
It's also important to understand that the excessive use or consumption of technology is not healthy for our bodies. There are studies, and many complaints from parents, teens, and young adults, that being exposed to too many devices is causing eye damage, social isolation, lack of social skills, and behavioral alterations. Some children nowadays are raised indoors, inside a house that has no green, no contact with an open space and fresh air. This overuse and misuse of technology could be addressed if we choose to go outside for a short walk, to notice there is so much out there: a world with open spaces, sounds, silence and older beings that listen and heal, and feed our need for peace and silence.Â
"...there is so much out there: a world with open spaces, sounds, silence and older beings that listen and heal, and feed our need for peace and silence."
It is well known that some people regulate their moods after having a long walk in an open green space. It's also known that looking at green spaces can boost our mental health, others find joy and happiness while working on their gardens, while tending to their flowers, watering their plants, and arranging decorations.
Despite the negative impacts of technology, it can also be quite helpful if used moderately. There is a modern trend in younger generations who create social media content that offers visual material. People tend to make reels, videos, and stories using a specific background, some according to the season, with specific outfits, tools, or settings. This means thinking about an outfit, and how to present ourselves according to the season.
Fall is coming, a glamorous season of orange, yellow, and red, a color palette that will be appear all across social media very soon, with users thinking about creative ways to stand out. A photo is both a description of a person and an environment, it is that environment that also needs attention and care. It's important to reconnect and involve nature, sit down, capture the beauty of seasons, and show we are artists that not only have good selfies, but good moments of connection with nature.Â
Connection can involve keeping these areas beautiful and cared for. Care can mean simple acts like cleaning up garbage, going to green areas to enjoy the plants, and considering the things around you. A photo can have a powerful impact if both artist, and background, are in connection and harmony. We can do a lot from a phone, and instead of only taking selfies, we can create galleries of natural collections. Perhaps, even local and state governments can see the importance of investing, and keeping these green spaces, when they see more people visiting, caring, and contributing. It's part of connecting, and letting other people and the government know that these natural environments matter to us.
About the Author:
Adriana Rocha is a Bolivian-born psychologist, writer, and photographer whose work has been published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. She believes in the healing power of art, blending poetry, photography, and psychology to explore themes of nature, reflection, and human connection. Adriana is a member of the Confluence Creative Collective and a contributing writer for the Confluence Chronicles.
ReferencesÂ
Kesebir, P., Kesebir, S. (2017, September 20). How modern Life became disconnected from Nature. Great Good Magazine. Science-based insights for a meaningful life.
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