Have you ever truly immersed yourself in nature? Some of the greatest minds in history such as Leonardo da Vinci and Benjamin Franklin, have found inspiration and knowledge simply by observing the world around them. Franklin, with his curiosity about nature, studied electricity and famously conducted his kite and key experiment, leading to groundbreaking discoveries. Leonardo da Vinci, fascinated by anatomy and the human form, meticulously studied cadavers, which deepened his understanding of the body and contributed to masterpieces like the Mona Lisa. His work captures a profound realism and it looks as if she is both looking at us and breathing because he understood the details of life.
Da Vinci once said “Nature is the source of all true knowledge. She has her own logic, her own laws; she has no effect without cause nor invention without necessity.” His ability to see patterns, study multiple disciplines, and innovate was a direct result of his deep connection with nature.
Recently, as I was reading The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin, I came across a chapter titled Nature as a Teacher, which sparked my thoughts on this topic. Rubin writes, “There’s so much wisdom in nature that when we notice it, it awakens possibility within us. It is through communing with nature that we move closer to our own nature.” This made me reflect on how Franklin and da Vinci, both largely self-taught, became some of the most influential figures in history simply by paying attention to the world around them.
I personally feel most connected to nature when I’m by the water. Watching the sunset at the beach and the fluidity of the waves rising, crashing, and receding, I get the sense that all my questions could be answered. Nature has a way of grounding us, providing clarity, and drawing us away from our everyday worries.
This reminded me of Viktor Frankl’s reflections in Man’s Search for Meaning. Even in the darkest circumstances on a train bound for a concentration camp, he and his fellow prisoners were momentarily transported by the beauty of nature. He wrote:
“As the inner life of the prisoner tended to become more intense, he also experienced the beauty of art and nature as never before. Under their influence, he sometimes even forgot his own frightful circumstances. If someone had seen our faces on the journey from Auschwitz to a Bavarian camp as we beheld the mountains of Salzburg with their summits glowing in the sunset through the little barred windows of the prison carriage, he would never have believed that those were the faces of men who had given up all hope of life and liberty. Despite the factor-or maybe because of it-we were carried away by nature’s beauty, which we had missed for so long.”
How beautiful that nature has the ability to inspire us, help us forget our struggles, and awaken creativity within us. It is a universal experience and one that has shaped some of the greatest thinkers of all time.
I believe we should spend more time immersed in nature, being present, and appreciating the beauty around us. Perhaps, in doing so, we might notice something we’ve never seen before.
How has nature inspired you?
