Connect with Nature – You'll be a Most Creative Winner
As an Eco-Friendly writer, I found a valuable resource in Richard Louv’s book THE NATURE PRINCIPLE: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder. He’s done tons of research to support his ideas that are the basis of his seven principles. One that is especially relevant for our daily lives is the following principle:
” The more high tech our lives become, the more nature we need to achieve natural balance.”
And here’s Louv’s other principles that also speak to us.
- The mind/body/nature connection will enhance physical and mental health
- Utilizing body technology and nature experience will increase our intelligence, creative thinking, and productivity, giving birth to a hybrid mind.
- Human nature social capital will enrich and redefine community to include all living things
- In the new purposeful place, natural history will be as important as human history to regional and personal identity
- Through biophilic design, our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, and towns will not only conserve watts, but also produce human energy
- In relationship with nature, the high performance human will conserve and create natural habitat-and new economic potential-where we live, learn, work and play.
Boulder, Colorado an example of Richard Louv’s seven principles:
Boulder, CO is my neighbor, which I visit weekly. Of course, Boulder is a destination city for lots of reasons. Just this year the Daily Beast named it the Most Creative City from a stellar list of 20 other cities.
Why did Boulder receive this honor?
According to the Daily Camera’s news article, with Boulder’s slew of high tech start-ups and innovative green companies, Boulder topped the list. Another factor is the presence of the University of Colorado and Boulder’s ranking as one of Amazon’s well-read cities in 2012. The award was based on three “T’s” Technology, Talent, and Tolerance.
Technology – the ability to create new ideas and inventions and high-tech companies.
Talent – skilled, ambitious, and talented people who generate new ideas and create new companies
Tolerance – the non-judgmental environment that attracts open minded and new thinking people.
When the Daily Beast named it the most creative city, I got to thinking about all the other “best of” lists that Boulder shows up on, well read, fit, and intelligent. Then, I wondered if Boulder has a special ingredient that helps it make these “Best Of” lists so often. With the help of Richard Louv’s Seven Principles, I think the Nature connection is that special ingredient that makes Boulder living proof of Mr. Louv’s research and seven principles.
NatureNeedsHalf Case Study really explained Boulder’s relationship with Nature.
Sixty-eight percent of Boulder’s land is protected in Boulder County. It’s the epitome of Nature needs half.
What does it mean?
Coexisting for 500 species of animals and cornucopia of environments. Open prairies. Deep forest – snow capped mountains and 230 miles of trails. It means being able to walk out your door and up to a tree that survived the last ice age.
What better example can you find that supports Louv’s principle: “The more high tech our lives become, the more nature we need to achieve natural balance.” Please let me know. Thanks.
