Source: [pdf] Quotations and poetry taken from May 2009 talk on masteryfoundation.org. 

Notes: The masteryfoundation.org link cites a quote from author E.B. Whte in a New York Times interview in 1969 by Israel Shenker. On NY Times webpage, E. B. White: Notes and Comment by Author, it just quotes the first sentence of that E.B. White quote: 

"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) the world and a desire to enjoy (or savor) the world. This makes it hard to plan the day."

That NY Times source makes it uncertain whehter E.B. White made the follow up sentence of "But if we forget to savor the world, what possible reason do we have for saving it? In a way, the savoring must come first."

The second sentence could have been misattributed to E.B. White while compiling the quotations for the masteryfoundation.org pdf. Even if this quote is misattributed to White, the entire quote emcompasses helpful advice on the need to regularly connect to nature in order to be inspired to protect it. 

Decades earlier, Anne Frank wrote in The Diary of a Young Girl,

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”

Working 23 years as a seasonal park ranger at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, I can attest on the importance of connecting with nature in order to save it. As I savored nature, I have struggled with people who are pessimistic that humans can save it or our planet from destruction. This struggle with pessimists led me to blog on November 19, 2011, Feeling Blue? Go Take a Hike!

Before writing that blog, Tom Smerling, co-ceator of Climatebites.org, shared with me a similar thought to E.B. White and Anne Frank. Tom remarked that if we (who are very knowledgeable of climate change) are not providing some kind of hope to our family, friends, students and people whom engage about climate change, then we must take a vacation or sabbatical.

At the very least, we should take a hike in nature to savor it and renew ourselves before we commit ouselves again to save the world. 

Image Source: Brian Ettling