If Nature Is So Healing, Why Do We Keep Destroying It?

A walk along Alberta’s Bow River made me question everything I thought I knew about city life

I’m standing next to the Bow River in Alberta. Behind me are countless trees and large mountains. Image taken by my girlfriend and used with permission.

The Bow River is a beautiful shade of blue. Like someone mixed the brightest turquoise with just a bit of the clearest sky and poured it into the water. I can’t help but stare at it. Wonder how something so perfect can exist right in front of me.

Here in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, the pace of life is much slower. No honking horns. No flashing ads. And no necessity to shout at the top of my lungs to be heard during a conversation due to noise pollution.

I glance at my girlfriend. She’s calm. Her eyes soft, taking it all in. The mountains. The river. She doesn’t need to say anything. And neither do I. The river flows. The trees sway. And the mountains stand still. So, I take a deep breath. And for once, I feel like the world might actually listen.

A large tree on the edge of the Bow River. This is one of many hiking trails that my girlfriend and I walked on during our trip to the Rocky Mountains. Photo taken by the author.

My girlfriend and I walk along the Bow Falls Trail. The ground is soft, uneven. But I don’t care. No rush. Just the sound of the river, rushing, like it’s the only thing in the world. No cars, people, emails or…