final draft nature paper

8/3/2019 Final Draft Nature Paper

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In order for humans to have control over their lives, they need to have self-management.

This requires putting things that reflect their core and values first. Stephen Covey in his book

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People addresses the issues of importance. When people focus

on issues that are important, rather than urgent, they organize their life in agreement with their

values.1

The most important issue that needs to be addressed in regards to nature is people need

to realize their actions are similar to the ones of animals. Humans are like animals; they just

choose to deny it. People face the consequences of not enjoying the beauty of nature because

they ignore they connections they have with animals. As Cesar Milan says in his bookBe the

Pack Leader, humans and animals have different sides to them. They are spiritual, emotional,

intellectual, and instinctual.2Barbara Kingsolver in her essay High Tide In Tucson also talks

about how animals and humans relate. They both are programmed the same, and they both

acquire different cravings. InA Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold, he talks about how

beautiful nature is and how it can be taken for granted. If humans were more involved with

nature, and the characteristics they share with animals, they would understand its significant

qualities. Humans and animals both have an instinctual side; however, humans have lost touch

with this side, which has made them lose their appreciation for nature.

Coveys habit 3 tells readers to put first things first. People need to place emphasis on

issues that are important and ones that effect everyday life. When people deal with critical

concerns first, their overall lifestyle will be better. If people understood their similarities to

animals, and addressed these issues immediately, they would be successful in self-managing

their lives. When one understands they share qualities with animals, they are adept to see that

1 Stephen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (New York: Simon &

Schuster, 1998), 171.2 Cesar Milan and Melissa Jo. Peltier, Be the Pack Leader(New York: Harmony

Books, 2007), 2.


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nature effects how people make decisions. When one realizes their connection to nature, they are

able to have calm assertive energy. This energy allows one to manage themselves properly, and

to lead a balanced lifestyle. When a person is able to relate themselves to animals, they can find

out where their instabilities lie, and what they need to do in order to make themselves better.

This is why Covey states that effective self-management is key to make ones life harmonious

with their values.3

One way that humans deny they are like animals is they are not in touch with their

instinctual side. People tend to associate the word instinct with animals because it requires an

intuitive power. Yet being in touch with ones instinctual side means they have common sense.4

Milan declares that being instinctual, ..means understanding our connection to our natural

selves and the natural world, and acknowledging our interdependence with that world.5 It is

important to be instinctual because that makes people aware of their surroundings. One who is

instinctual realizes that they cannot do anything without it effecting the world they live in.

Instinctual people have a true connection to nature. People cannot truly lead a balanced life if

they are not in touch with that side. Consequences will occur when they are not in touch with

their instinctual side. People do not become the best versions of themselves without being in tune

with this side. This side is what allows humans to become great leaders. One is not able to be a

great leader unless they have a stable life. Milan believes that since many humans are not in

touch with their instinctual side, damage has been caused to the planet. Milan states, Perhaps it

is also why we also seem to be failing at being positive guardians of our planet6. Our earth has

3 Covey, 7 Habits, 147.4 Milan, Be the Pack Leader, 2.5 Ibid, 4.

6 Milan, Be the Pack Leader, 4.


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deteriorated in several ways due to human activity. If humans were in sync with their instinctual

side, their connection and appreciation for nature would be stronger.

Humans deny that they are animals, but they still act like them without even realizing it.

When humans can see they conduct themselves like animals, they will have a better connection

to nature. Kingsolver tells us how humans and animals are programmed the same. Kingsolver

says, Like Buster, we are creatures of inexplicable cravings.7 She tells readers that

unexplainable things happen to animals just like they do to humans. When people notice that

animals crave things just like humans do, they can relate to animals more because they have

shared experiences. Humans tend to think that their intellect controls their behavior, which

makes it hard to see how they are similar to animals. People believe they are smarter than

animals so they cannot relate to them. However, as Kingsolver states, Thinking isnt

everything.8

Humans put all this research into why they are separated from the animal species.

In fact, some humans may find it shameful to be considered animal like. However, getting in

tune with ones similarities to animals helps people to lead a better lifestyle. If humans tackle

this issue not only will it strengthen their instinctual side, but also it will show that humans have

integrity. They will make their values stronger. As Covey says, The degree to which we have

developed our independent will in our everyday lives is measured by our personal integrity.9

Humans have the ability to change what is happening in todays society. With the correct values,

they could appreciate the beauty of nature.

Both animals and humans have a basic instinct instilled in them, which allows them to

separate wants from needs. Humans have stepped back and lost touch with this instinct. Wants

7 Barbara Kingsolver, High Tide in Tucson (New York: Harper Collins 1995), 8.8 Ibid9 Covey, 7 Habits, 148.


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are considered luxuries, which are extra things that are not needed. In todays society, people are

making their wants items they think they need in their everyday life. In reality, they only needs

human require are things that will keep them alive, such as oxygen and water. Since humans

have lost this instinct, greed has taken over. They have done undoable damage to the earth. If

they were in touch with their instincts, like animals, humans would see that like is not about

these extra luxuries. Animals are able to live off of basic needs, and they adapt very well to

different environments. It would be beneficial for humans to separate their wants and needs

because they would get a clearer picture of the important things in life.

Humans take many sights for granted. Leopold tells readers about the wild things in

nature that humans take for granted. For instance, seeing wild geese is a privilege, but some

people would rather watch television.10Leopold states, When we see land as a community to

which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.11

People view the land as their

property. They do not treat it with the respect that it deserves. Humans have allowed their greed

to take over, and the do not value the natural, wild, and free things. If humans were in touch with

their instincts, like animals, they would appreciate the land they live on. Readers see through

Leopolds descriptions the beauty of nature. In order for the world to be taken care of, people

need to get in touch with their instinctual side and see this beauty.

People cannot have effective self-management unless they put first things first. They

need to put importance on issues that will benefit their lifestyles. When humans interact with

nature, they do not see its beauty. People do not think of themselves as part of the land. Instead,

they view it as property they own. On the other hand, animals act as they are apart of the land.

10 Aldo Leopold,A Sand County Almanac and sketches here and there (New York:

Oxford Press University, 1987), vii.11 Ibid, viii.


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Humans and animals are alike, people just deny it. They both share an instinctual side, which

helps them with the decisions they make, their leadership skills, and their values. Unfortunately,

humans have lost sight of their instinctual side. This is why beautiful parts of nature have slowly

deteriorated over time. If humans were able to realize the significance of their instinctual side,

and how viewing themselves as animal like would be beneficial, the earth would be a much

better place.

Bibliography

Covey, Stephen R.. The 7 habits of highly effective people. New York: Simon &

Schuster S Franklin Covey, 1998.

Kingsolver, Barbara.High tide in Tucson. New York: HarperCollins Publishers,

1995.


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Leopold, Aldo, and Charles Walsh Schwartz.A Sand County almanac,

and sketches here and there. New York: Oxford University Press, 1987.Milan, Cesar, and Melissa Jo. Peltier.Be the pack leader: use Cesar's way to

transform your dog-- and your life. New York: Harmony Books, 2007.

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