When I was a child, we used to all tease my grandfather for constantly watching the Discovery Channel. He would watch all of these nature shows, typically with some person commentating on what various animals were doing. My grandfather died in the late 90s, and in all honesty, it’s been so long since I’ve thought about his daily habits of watching these shows.
In 2022, without ever thinking of those early memories, I started a personal rhythm. I call it, “Uninterrupted Nature Time.” Each morning, I take 15 to 20 minutes to watch a portion of a nature documentary, usually over breakfast. It’s uninterrupted because it’s one definite part of the day where I’m not distracted by tasks, texting people, or doing anything else. It’s 15 to 20 minutes of learning fun facts about nature, and it usually brings me a sense of wonder. It’s a part of my rhythms in getting ready for each day, and I’m glad for it.
A few days ago, I thought about Papaw, and I enjoyed that we share this connection. I would dearly love to watch a nature show with him as an adult. I remember that he would often have his own side commentary, and I think it would be absolutely hilarious to experience that now. And I’d also like to add my voice to the mix.
–Renee Roederer
Smuggling Grace 