As Nature continues its transition, cooler temperatures linger a bit longer and night falls a bit sooner. Soon, leaves will dry out and flutter to the ground, landing on sidewalks and covering flower beds. At this time of year, Nature provides examples of what feels like a tug-of-war between Summer and Fall.

While the weather is transitioning, we may have warm/hot days and cool/cold days. People may struggle with how to dress and may suffer from uncomfortable seasonal allergies. But while we feel this back-and-forth of the seasonal change, Nature flows. Plants know when it is time to rest and time to grow. Animals know to gather provisions before the cold winter weather sets in. This innate wisdom is part of their DNA. It is what helps them to survive.

You also have this innate wisdom—every human does. However, life has adapted in such a way that we no longer rely on Nature for our survival. Our ancestors once hunted, fished, and gathered their own food, but we sleep in homes, shop in grocery stores, and travel in cars. We are now so far removed from our food source that a vegetable may travel thousands of miles before it reaches our plates and other foods are processed over and over again until their natural form is wholly unrecognizable.

Our connection to Nature has been disrupted. So, when we feel this tug-of-war during seasonal transitions, it is our cue to return to our roots. While it may not be feasible to go off-grid and live off the land, we can reconnect in small but meaningful ways. Walk in Nature. Buy your food from a local farmer’s market. Begin to see how the small things you may have once viewed as inconsequential are really spectacular. Notice how dew sparkles on blades of grass. Watch as a bee pollinates by dancing from flower to flower. Become aware of signs of cooperation—in your garden, in Nature, and all around you. How can you mimic Nature in your own life?