“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts... there is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter,” wrote Rachel Carson.
A scientist, marine biologist, environmental advocate, and gifted writer, Carson had a deep understanding of how everything in nature is connected. This quote captures the heart of her philosophy: the belief that nature offers not just beauty but resilience, renewal, and healing.
Rachel Carson is a personal hero to me and a constant source of inspiration. Her legacy reminds me of the responsibility we hold as stewards of this planet—and of how we can foster that same sense of responsibility in our children.
Silent Spring: A Courageous Call for Environmental Responsibility
Like many others, my first encounter with Carson’s work was through her groundbreaking book Silent Spring. In it, she exposed the harmful effects of chemical pesticides—especially DDT—which were marketed as essential to modern agriculture. Carson revealed how these chemicals were not only killing wildlife but also putting human health at risk.
Her message was a wake-up call, and of course it didn’t sit well with powerful chemical companies whose profits depended on the continued use of these pesticides. They attacked her reputation and tried to discredit her work. But Carson stood her ground, driven by a deep love for the natural world and a commitment to protecting it.
Even while battling breast cancer—one of the very diseases linked to the chemicals she warned against—Carson continued to write, advocate, and fight for change. She passed away in 1964, but her words sparked the environmental movement and continue to inspire new generations to care for the earth.
The Sense of Wonder: Keeping Curiosity Alive
Though Silent Spring is Carson’s most famous work, it is an essay titled The Sense of Wonder she originally wrote for a magazine, that holds a special place in my heart. I have read it and re-read it hundreds of times over the years, and it is perhaps the biggest inspiration behind all my work.
In it, Carson writes about exploring nature with her young nephew, Roger - wandering through the woods, listening to the waves, gazing at the night sky. When Roger was only just a baby, she would wrap in a blanket and take him down to the beach, to feel the ocean on a stormy night. They would spend hours together exploring the woods behind her house, or waiting for the full moon to fill up the big picture window in the living room.
"It was hardly a conventional way to entertain one so young" —she admits. But, she explains, "I think we have felt that the memory of such a scene, photographed year after year by his child's mind, would mean more to him in manhood than the sleep she was losing."
The Sense of Wonder is a gift to parents and children alike. It's an invitation to slow down, and remain curious. Nurturing a connection with the natural world is not about teaching facts, Carson tells us, but it is about falling in love with nature, experiencing its magic firsthand, sharing the sense of divine presence with our children.
In her words, “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it.” We have the power to be those companions—guiding children to see the beauty in the world around them and encouraging them to ask questions, explore, and connect with nature. Whether it’s a walk through the park or simply watching the stars together, these shared moments can shape how they see the world and inspire them to protect it.
A sense of wonder and reverence is the foundation of care. If we can help our children fall in love with nature now, they’ll grow into adults who want to protect it—for their future and for generations to come. We know this, deeply inside us.
In the coming days, I’ll be sharing short readings fromThe Sense of Wonder. I hope these excerpts become a source of inspiration for you too— nuggets of wisdom to carry with you throughout the day, like smooth stones slipped into your pockets as you walk along the shore.
I invite you to listen, then take a few moments to reflect and notice what emotions, ideas and desires emerge for you. Perhaps you will feel called to make a few changes in your family life to create more nature and wonder-filled days together.
Stay wild,
Lidia
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