In today’s hectic and constantly moving world, it’s all too easy to get lost in the shuffle and feel overwhelmed, distraught, and helpless. Yet, for many people who feel overwhelmed with life’s incessant demands, it wouldn’t be all that hard to get out into nature, whatever that is for them and for where they live, and to “pause to smell the roses” or to do something that slows them down so they can appreciate their surrounds, whatever or regardless of “how wild” they are.
Having lived and survived in New York City and also in the foothills and mountains outside of Boulder, Colorado, and in town, I’ve come to realize that the notion of “wildness” is a moving target and that personal rewilding can entail a wide range of activities in different environs. When I lived in NYC, Central Park was a most welcome getaway and in Colorado, simply stepping outside of my different homes was more than enough to savor my surroundings. Some years ago, a woman living in a high rise in Chicago planted flowers on the roof, birds and insects were attracted to them, and slowly but surely she became the resident avian and insect expert and formed rewilding groups that met weekly to talk about their version of wildness and how good it was for them.
Many of the same messages are echoed in award-winning writer Dianne Ebertt Beeaff’s new book Infinite Paradise: Witnessing the Wild, “…a love letter to nature and a reminder of the solace it offers in a chaotic world.” (Sublime Book Review) In addition to being a wonderful read, the book also shows how simple it is to “get out into the wild” and enjoy its healing power, adventure, and tranquility.
Marc Bekoff: Why did you write Infinite Paradise and choose this title?
Dianne Ebertt Beeaff: The property Infinite Paradise describes has been in my family for nearly seventy years. As so much of our natural world has been or is being destroyed, I wanted in some small way to bring attention to what remains. Nature has a healing power for the spirit and body, so much to offer, to tell us and give us, especially in troubling times.
Some years ago, I travelled to Costa Rica for a yoga retreat. The counters in the San Jose airport had posters that said: “Infinite Paradise, Costa Rica for all Seasons.” I was already working on the cottage book at the time, and as my mother always referred to the place as Paradise, Infinite Paradise seemed the perfect title for the book. Having enjoyed the cottage for many, many years myself, I already knew that experiences there are infinite.
MB How does the book relate to your background and areas of interest?
