Nature and Breaking the Mould | Nandita Mukand | TEDxNITW

Einstein said look deep into nature and

Einstein said look deep into nature and then you will understand everything

then you will understand everything

then you will understand everything better I am an artist who is inspired

better I am an artist who is inspired

better I am an artist who is inspired natural world I spent time in forest

natural world I spent time in forest

natural world I spent time in forest areas intrigued by the processes by

areas intrigued by the processes by

areas intrigued by the processes by which trees and plants grow and decay

which trees and plants grow and decay

which trees and plants grow and decay and in my art I explore aspects of

and in my art I explore aspects of

and in my art I explore aspects of nature that are hidden to city dwellers

but I did not start out as an artist

but I did not start out as an artist actually started in the corporate world

actually started in the corporate world

actually started in the corporate world and I made the transition to the very

and I made the transition to the very

and I made the transition to the very different life of a contemporary artist

different life of a contemporary artist

different life of a contemporary artist and this transition was made possible by

and this transition was made possible by

and this transition was made possible by my experiences in nature and these are

my experiences in nature and these are

my experiences in nature and these are the experiences that really helped me

the experiences that really helped me

the experiences that really helped me inspired me to move on but first I want

inspired me to move on but first I want

inspired me to move on but first I want to start by asking you did any of you

to start by asking you did any of you

to start by asking you did any of you enjoy drawing and painting as children

enjoy drawing and painting as children

enjoy drawing and painting as children me too

me too

me too and the child I loved to draw paint

and the child I loved to draw paint

and the child I loved to draw paint create things with my hands and in my

create things with my hands and in my

create things with my hands and in my everybody around me knew that this was a

everybody around me knew that this was a

everybody around me knew that this was a lovely hobby to have but nobody thought

lovely hobby to have but nobody thought

lovely hobby to have but nobody thought that this could be a serious career

that this could be a serious career

that this could be a serious career choice and I thought to myself that if I

choice and I thought to myself that if I

choice and I thought to myself that if I follow the cookie cutter career path

follow the cookie cutter career path

follow the cookie cutter career path that was advocated to all children of my

that was advocated to all children of my

that was advocated to all children of my generation I would get a good job and

generation I would get a good job and

generation I would get a good job and with this good job I thought I would get

with this good job I thought I would get

with this good job I thought I would get the freedom I longed for so I think some

the freedom I longed for so I think some

the freedom I longed for so I think some of you know the cookie cutter career

of you know the cookie cutter career

of you know the cookie cutter career path I’m talking about the first step

path I’m talking about the first step

path I’m talking about the first step was to go to engineering college and the

was to go to engineering college and the

was to go to engineering college and the next step was to go to business school

next step was to go to business school

next step was to go to business school and with this two-step process you

and with this two-step process you

and with this two-step process you proved yourself worthy of a good job and

proved yourself worthy of a good job and

proved yourself worthy of a good job and so I allowed the cookie cutter to mold

so I allowed the cookie cutter to mold

so I allowed the cookie cutter to mold me and I was rewarded by my dream

me and I was rewarded by my dream

me and I was rewarded by my dream corporate job in Singapore and the job I

corporate job in Singapore and the job I

corporate job in Singapore and the job I got in Singapore was interesting it was

got in Singapore was interesting it was

got in Singapore was interesting it was intellectually stimulating the money was

intellectually stimulating the money was

intellectually stimulating the money was good

good

good and not only that I had time to practice

and not only that I had time to practice

and not only that I had time to practice art in my free time I even enrolled for

art in my free time I even enrolled for

art in my free time I even enrolled for art classes and a few years went by like

art classes and a few years went by like

art classes and a few years went by like this but after a while I realized that

this but after a while I realized that

this but after a while I realized that this was not enough for me this was not

this was not enough for me this was not

this was not enough for me this was not the freedom that I had been looking for

the freedom that I had been looking for

the freedom that I had been looking for as a child I realized that I was

as a child I realized that I was

as a child I realized that I was happiest when I was making art and I

happiest when I was making art and I

happiest when I was making art and I wanted more time to do so and I would

wanted more time to do so and I would

wanted more time to do so and I would walk in the seaside parks of Singapore

walk in the seaside parks of Singapore

walk in the seaside parks of Singapore and there are some beautiful old trees

and there are some beautiful old trees

and there are some beautiful old trees there and I was very drawn to these old

there and I was very drawn to these old

there and I was very drawn to these old trees I realized that these trees have

trees I realized that these trees have

trees I realized that these trees have been around for generations before I was

been around for generations before I was

been around for generations before I was born and even after I died they would

born and even after I died they would

born and even after I died they would still be there listening to the stories

still be there listening to the stories

still be there listening to the stories of generations after me this made me

of generations after me this made me

of generations after me this made me very aware that all our stories and our

very aware that all our stories and our

very aware that all our stories and our rollercoaster emotions that we take so

rollercoaster emotions that we take so

rollercoaster emotions that we take so seriously are very small in comparison

seriously are very small in comparison

seriously are very small in comparison to the longer time spans of nature I

to the longer time spans of nature I

to the longer time spans of nature I realize that you know that yeah we take

realize that you know that yeah we take

realize that you know that yeah we take things too seriously the intensity that

things too seriously the intensity that

things too seriously the intensity that we have you know and I thought that if a

we have you know and I thought that if a

we have you know and I thought that if a life is so short why don’t we just

life is so short why don’t we just

life is so short why don’t we just lighten up and enjoy and do the things

lighten up and enjoy and do the things

lighten up and enjoy and do the things we love in later years

we love in later years

we love in later years I made an artwork based on these

I made an artwork based on these

I made an artwork based on these sentiments so the structure you see in

sentiments so the structure you see in

sentiments so the structure you see in the center is called the tree and mean

the center is called the tree and mean

the center is called the tree and mean it’s made of newspapers plants

it’s made of newspapers plants

it’s made of newspapers plants vegetables henna coffee turmeric

sorry by dissolving newspaper in two

sorry by dissolving newspaper in two organic materials my intention here is

organic materials my intention here is

organic materials my intention here is to reflect upon how the stories of

to reflect upon how the stories of

to reflect upon how the stories of attains which are written on these

attains which are written on these

attains which are written on these newspapers will ultimately dissolve into

newspapers will ultimately dissolve into

newspapers will ultimately dissolve into the larger context of nature at the base

the larger context of nature at the base

the larger context of nature at the base of this structure are forms that are

of this structure are forms that are

of this structure are forms that are made with my fists and they represent

made with my fists and they represent

made with my fists and they represent how we tried to grasp things but

how we tried to grasp things but

how we tried to grasp things but ultimately everything slips through our

ultimately everything slips through our

ultimately everything slips through our fingers

fingers

fingers and so these experiences with the old

and so these experiences with the old

and so these experiences with the old trees made me realize that I want to

trees made me realize that I want to

trees made me realize that I want to spend the rest of my life doing what I

spend the rest of my life doing what I

spend the rest of my life doing what I really wanted what I really loved and

really wanted what I really loved and

really wanted what I really loved and that was creating art and these

that was creating art and these

that was creating art and these experiences also made me think that what

experiences also made me think that what

experiences also made me think that what is most popular what everybody else is

is most popular what everybody else is

is most popular what everybody else is doing is not necessarily what is right

doing is not necessarily what is right

doing is not necessarily what is right for me all of us are different and we

for me all of us are different and we

for me all of us are different and we need to find our own meaning our own

need to find our own meaning our own

need to find our own meaning our own source of happiness so for me I was now

source of happiness so for me I was now

source of happiness so for me I was now ready to move on to the life of a full

ready to move on to the life of a full

ready to move on to the life of a full text but while I was ready to move on

text but while I was ready to move on

text but while I was ready to move on this was not going to be easy

this was not going to be easy

this was not going to be easy in fact I had crossed underestimated

in fact I had crossed underestimated

in fact I had crossed underestimated what it would take for me to make a

what it would take for me to make a

what it would take for me to make a place for myself in the world of art a

young seedling just coming out of the

young seedling just coming out of the seed is at its most tender and most

seed is at its most tender and most

seed is at its most tender and most vulnerable and at this time it does not

vulnerable and at this time it does not

vulnerable and at this time it does not know of the many storms it has to before

know of the many storms it has to before

know of the many storms it has to before grow into a tree and I believe that it’s

grow into a tree and I believe that it’s

grow into a tree and I believe that it’s perhaps best that it does not know

perhaps best that it does not know

perhaps best that it does not know because if a seedling knew about the

because if a seedling knew about the

because if a seedling knew about the storms it has to whether it may be too

storms it has to whether it may be too

storms it has to whether it may be too scared to even come out of the seed and

scared to even come out of the seed and

scared to even come out of the seed and then it would miss out on the adventures

then it would miss out on the adventures

then it would miss out on the adventures of life so for me oblivious of the

of life so for me oblivious of the

of life so for me oblivious of the storms that lay ahead I just gave myself

storms that lay ahead I just gave myself

storms that lay ahead I just gave myself over to the joys of making art I went

over to the joys of making art I went

over to the joys of making art I went back to art school and I hope that many

back to art school and I hope that many

back to art school and I hope that many of you here can relate to this by

of you here can relate to this by

of you here can relate to this by for me it was the first time that I was

for me it was the first time that I was

for me it was the first time that I was studying something that I really enjoyed

studying something that I really enjoyed

studying something that I really enjoyed that I really wanted to learn about and

that I really wanted to learn about and

that I really wanted to learn about and it was an amazing experience I was like

it was an amazing experience I was like

it was an amazing experience I was like a kid in a and the world of contemporary

a kid in a and the world of contemporary

a kid in a and the world of contemporary art opened up to me and I knew that this

art opened up to me and I knew that this

art opened up to me and I knew that this is what I had been looking for I was on

is what I had been looking for I was on

is what I had been looking for I was on my path

my path

my path but after art school things became more

but after art school things became more

but after art school things became more complicated my decision to leave the

complicated my decision to leave the

complicated my decision to leave the corporate world had come to my family

corporate world had come to my family

corporate world had come to my family and my friends and many of them were

and my friends and many of them were

and my friends and many of them were still hoping that I would go back to the

still hoping that I would go back to the

still hoping that I would go back to the corporate career they thought that

corporate career they thought that

corporate career they thought that college two years of school and years of

college two years of school and years of

college two years of school and years of experience as a corporate in the

experience as a corporate in the

experience as a corporate in the corporate world could not be traded for

corporate world could not be traded for

corporate world could not be traded for the uncertain future as an artist

the uncertain future as an artist

the uncertain future as an artist meanwhile in the world of art nobody

meanwhile in the world of art nobody

meanwhile in the world of art nobody understood or cared what I had given up

understood or cared what I had given up

understood or cared what I had given up to be there for them I was a nobody so

to be there for them I was a nobody so

to be there for them I was a nobody so once more it was nature that helped me

once more it was nature that helped me

once more it was nature that helped me through this faith was invited for an

through this faith was invited for an

through this faith was invited for an artist residency at Trillium and I was

artist residency at Trillium and I was

artist residency at Trillium and I was walking alone the forest there and as I

walking alone the forest there and as I

walking alone the forest there and as I walked I came upon this beautiful flower

walked I came upon this beautiful flower

walked I came upon this beautiful flower and this flower stopped me in my tracks

and this flower stopped me in my tracks

and this flower stopped me in my tracks and I looked at it and I stood there for

and I looked at it and I stood there for

and I looked at it and I stood there for a long time and the next day is

a long time and the next day is

a long time and the next day is something told me that I must go back to

something told me that I must go back to

something told me that I must go back to look for that flower but when I went

look for that flower but when I went

look for that flower but when I went back to the same spot in the jungle the

back to the same spot in the jungle the

back to the same spot in the jungle the flower was not there anymore I realized

flower was not there anymore I realized

flower was not there anymore I realized that if I had not seen that flower the

that if I had not seen that flower the

that if I had not seen that flower the previous day it would have blossomed in

previous day it would have blossomed in

previous day it would have blossomed in its fullest glory and died and nobody

its fullest glory and died and nobody

its fullest glory and died and nobody would have known about nature gives of

would have known about nature gives of

would have known about nature gives of itself fully without the need to be

itself fully without the need to be

itself fully without the need to be appreciated or rewarded and this was a

appreciated or rewarded and this was a

appreciated or rewarded and this was a very important lesson for me over the

very important lesson for me over the

very important lesson for me over the next step a lot of

I made several sketches of plants and

I made several sketches of plants and flowers I saw in the forest and lovingly

flowers I saw in the forest and lovingly

flowers I saw in the forest and lovingly painstakingly I transferred them onto

painstakingly I transferred them onto

painstakingly I transferred them onto this huge white board war using

this huge white board war using

this huge white board war using whiteboard markers so all the time that

whiteboard markers so all the time that

whiteboard markers so all the time that I did this I knew that this work would

I did this I knew that this work would

I did this I knew that this work would be erased in the matter of minutes and

be erased in the matter of minutes and

be erased in the matter of minutes and this whole thing this whole exercise for

this whole thing this whole exercise for

this whole thing this whole exercise for me was about reminding myself to give

me was about reminding myself to give

me was about reminding myself to give myself fully to my art making without

myself fully to my art making without

myself fully to my art making without worrying about how it will be

worrying about how it will be

worrying about how it will be appreciated and how it will be rewarded

during another artists residency in

during another artists residency in Australia I encountered a forest that

Australia I encountered a forest that

Australia I encountered a forest that had been devastated by bush fires and

had been devastated by bush fires and

had been devastated by bush fires and the entire forest was razed to the

the entire forest was razed to the

the entire forest was razed to the ground and all that was left was a layer

ground and all that was left was a layer

ground and all that was left was a layer of black soot on the forest floor but

of black soot on the forest floor but

of black soot on the forest floor but soon I saw green shoots coming out of

soon I saw green shoots coming out of

soon I saw green shoots coming out of the black ground and very soon the

the black ground and very soon the

the black ground and very soon the forest sprang nature is strong and

forest sprang nature is strong and

forest sprang nature is strong and resilient even in the face of the

resilient even in the face of the

resilient even in the face of the biggest challenges and for me this was a

biggest challenges and for me this was a

biggest challenges and for me this was a lesson that every time is a challenge I

lesson that every time is a challenge I

lesson that every time is a challenge I chose to remember these lessons around

chose to remember these lessons around

chose to remember these lessons around this time I also became aware that there

this time I also became aware that there

this time I also became aware that there were many stories I was telling myself

were many stories I was telling myself

were many stories I was telling myself and others about why I could not do

and others about why I could not do

and others about why I could not do something and I realized that it was now

something and I realized that it was now

something and I realized that it was now time to let go of these limiting beliefs

time to let go of these limiting beliefs

time to let go of these limiting beliefs and to let possibility come up instead

the world of art is an unstructured

the world of art is an unstructured place there are no set ways to do things

place there are no set ways to do things

place there are no set ways to do things in the corporate world I had learned

in the corporate world I had learned

in the corporate world I had learned that if I wanted to achieve something I

that if I wanted to achieve something I

that if I wanted to achieve something I must have a goal and then I must have a

must have a goal and then I must have a

must have a goal and then I must have a plan to achieve that goal but here I had

plan to achieve that goal but here I had

plan to achieve that goal but here I had only dreams and not many paths to

only dreams and not many paths to

only dreams and not many paths to achieve those dreams I was invited for

achieve those dreams I was invited for

achieve those dreams I was invited for another artist residency it is this time

another artist residency it is this time

another artist residency it is this time to Catalonia Spain and here I saw some

to Catalonia Spain and here I saw some

to Catalonia Spain and here I saw some seeds on the forest floor

seeds on the forest floor

seeds on the forest floor these seeds were small

these seeds were small

these seeds were small me insignificant and yet I thought that

me insignificant and yet I thought that

me insignificant and yet I thought that each of them has the capacity to become

each of them has the capacity to become

each of them has the capacity to become a whole tree a huge tree Nature has the

a whole tree a huge tree Nature has the

a whole tree a huge tree Nature has the capacity to support such a magnificent

capacity to support such a magnificent

capacity to support such a magnificent transformation and if you think about it

transformation and if you think about it

transformation and if you think about it any achievement any big thing that we

any achievement any big thing that we

any achievement any big thing that we see around us started from something

see around us started from something

see around us started from something very small maybe just a thought in

very small maybe just a thought in

very small maybe just a thought in somebody’s head and I thought I should

somebody’s head and I thought I should

somebody’s head and I thought I should think of my artistry and my artistic

think of my artistry and my artistic

think of my artistry and my artistic practice as seeds with immense potential

practice as seeds with immense potential

practice as seeds with immense potential and so it was with these kind of

and so it was with these kind of

and so it was with these kind of experiences that has slowly started

experiences that has slowly started

experiences that has slowly started letting go of control and started to

letting go of control and started to

letting go of control and started to trust what happens when you do something

trust what happens when you do something

trust what happens when you do something purely for the love of it and amazingly

purely for the love of it and amazingly

purely for the love of it and amazingly the more I trusted the more paths opened

the more I trusted the more paths opened

the more I trusted the more paths opened up to me and the opportunities that came

up to me and the opportunities that came

up to me and the opportunities that came my way the inspiration that came my way

my way the inspiration that came my way

my way the inspiration that came my way the dots that connected all of this was

the dots that connected all of this was

the dots that connected all of this was way beyond anything I could have planned

way beyond anything I could have planned

way beyond anything I could have planned for my role continued to be to live by

for my role continued to be to live by

for my role continued to be to live by the lesson of that flower in the forest

the lesson of that flower in the forest

the lesson of that flower in the forest so I treated each breakthrough as a kind

so I treated each breakthrough as a kind

so I treated each breakthrough as a kind of divine gift that I must give my best

of divine gift that I must give my best

of divine gift that I must give my best to and as I continue to have faith in my

to and as I continue to have faith in my

to and as I continue to have faith in my own instinct my work flourished today my

own instinct my work flourished today my

own instinct my work flourished today my work is connecting with people around

work is connecting with people around

work is connecting with people around the world and they are reaching out to

the world and they are reaching out to

the world and they are reaching out to me I am getting opportunities to exhibit

me I am getting opportunities to exhibit

me I am getting opportunities to exhibit and create in amazing venues

and create in amazing venues

and create in amazing venues internationally

internationally

internationally alongside artists who were once my role

alongside artists who were once my role

alongside artists who were once my role model as I continue to spend more time

model as I continue to spend more time

model as I continue to spend more time in nature I’m also experiencing a new

in nature I’m also experiencing a new

in nature I’m also experiencing a new kind of spirituality as I walk alone in

kind of spirituality as I walk alone in

kind of spirituality as I walk alone in the forest and in the mountains I’m very

the forest and in the mountains I’m very

the forest and in the mountains I’m very aware that my body is as organic as the

aware that my body is as organic as the

aware that my body is as organic as the earth I walk on and the plants and the

earth I walk on and the plants and the

earth I walk on and the plants and the trees around me and it is only the voice

trees around me and it is only the voice

trees around me and it is only the voice in my head but that is telling me that I

in my head but that is telling me that I

in my head but that is telling me that I am separate the ego asserting itself but

am separate the ego asserting itself but

am separate the ego asserting itself but when I am in nature I know for sure that

when I am in nature I know for sure that

when I am in nature I know for sure that I am a part of this and I know that I’m

I am a part of this and I know that I’m

I am a part of this and I know that I’m a part of other living beings

a part of other living beings

a part of other living beings in this work you see a tiny figure there

in this work you see a tiny figure there

in this work you see a tiny figure there and it’s wearing a suit of grass and the

and it’s wearing a suit of grass and the

and it’s wearing a suit of grass and the interval when threads are a reflection

interval when threads are a reflection

interval when threads are a reflection of how our lives in the city are still

of how our lives in the city are still

of how our lives in the city are still interval v’n with the natural world each

interval v’n with the natural world each

interval v’n with the natural world each of us has had our own experiences with

of us has had our own experiences with

of us has had our own experiences with nature and must have our own memories

nature and must have our own memories

nature and must have our own memories and I believe that if more of us could

and I believe that if more of us could

and I believe that if more of us could connect to this feeling of oneness with

connect to this feeling of oneness with

connect to this feeling of oneness with nature and with each other this could

nature and with each other this could

nature and with each other this could lead to a lot of healing and a lot of

lead to a lot of healing and a lot of

lead to a lot of healing and a lot of joy for society but today when we talk

joy for society but today when we talk

joy for society but today when we talk about nature and spirituality these

about nature and spirituality these

about nature and spirituality these discussions are often viewed as soft and

discussions are often viewed as soft and

discussions are often viewed as soft and the reason for this actually goes back

the reason for this actually goes back

the reason for this actually goes back centuries until the end of the 17th

centuries until the end of the 17th

centuries until the end of the 17th century the goal of knowledge had been

century the goal of knowledge had been

century the goal of knowledge had been spiritual enlightenment and nature was

spiritual enlightenment and nature was

spiritual enlightenment and nature was seen as the domain of God but around

seen as the domain of God but around

seen as the domain of God but around this time the great works of Descartes

this time the great works of Descartes

this time the great works of Descartes and Newton proved that mathematical laws

and Newton proved that mathematical laws

and Newton proved that mathematical laws actually governed the natural world and

actually governed the natural world and

actually governed the natural world and humankind in the newfound power over

humankind in the newfound power over

humankind in the newfound power over nature they felt that they were

nature they felt that they were

nature they felt that they were justified in using nature for their

justified in using nature for their

justified in using nature for their benefit and so the goal of knowledge

benefit and so the goal of knowledge

benefit and so the goal of knowledge shifted from being spiritual

shifted from being spiritual

shifted from being spiritual enlightenment to harnessing nature in

enlightenment to harnessing nature in

enlightenment to harnessing nature in the benefit of humankind

the benefit of humankind

the benefit of humankind unlike the 17th century with our

unlike the 17th century with our

unlike the 17th century with our contemporary lifestyle it is even more

contemporary lifestyle it is even more

contemporary lifestyle it is even more difficult for us to connect to nature

difficult for us to connect to nature

difficult for us to connect to nature today we often view nature through a

today we often view nature through a

today we often view nature through a screen like maybe a car window or phone

screen like maybe a car window or phone

screen like maybe a car window or phone screen or a camera lens and our minds

screen or a camera lens and our minds

screen or a camera lens and our minds are addicted to this constant stream of

are addicted to this constant stream of

are addicted to this constant stream of mental stimulation that is available to

mental stimulation that is available to

mental stimulation that is available to us at the click of a button and so but

us at the click of a button and so but

us at the click of a button and so but but to really experience nature we need

but to really experience nature we need

but to really experience nature we need to actually set aside our devices and we

to actually set aside our devices and we

to actually set aside our devices and we need to walk alone in nature and

need to walk alone in nature and

need to walk alone in nature and experience ourselves to be surrounded by

experience ourselves to be surrounded by

experience ourselves to be surrounded by it

it

it think of the surfaces of nature so think

think of the surfaces of nature so think

think of the surfaces of nature so think of the back of a tree on this bark you

of the back of a tree on this bark you

of the back of a tree on this bark you will see the signs of the storms it has

will see the signs of the storms it has

will see the signs of the storms it has weathered the wind the water erosion

weathered the wind the water erosion

weathered the wind the water erosion the marks left by the insects and the

the marks left by the insects and the

the marks left by the insects and the animals that have lived there the plants

animals that have lived there the plants

animals that have lived there the plants the the fungi that have grown and

the the fungi that have grown and

the the fungi that have grown and decayed there and its own growth marks

decayed there and its own growth marks

decayed there and its own growth marks so these surfaces actually build up over

so these surfaces actually build up over

so these surfaces actually build up over decades sometimes centuries through slow

decades sometimes centuries through slow

decades sometimes centuries through slow processes that can neither be hurried

processes that can neither be hurried

processes that can neither be hurried nor delayed and these processes are the

nor delayed and these processes are the

nor delayed and these processes are the natural rhythms of nature some of them

natural rhythms of nature some of them

natural rhythms of nature some of them are biological rhythms like birth growth

are biological rhythms like birth growth

are biological rhythms like birth growth decay and mortality and there are other

decay and mortality and there are other

decay and mortality and there are other rhythms as well like day and night the

rhythms as well like day and night the

rhythms as well like day and night the seasons the tides but back in the city

seasons the tides but back in the city

seasons the tides but back in the city it is very difficult for us to connect

it is very difficult for us to connect

it is very difficult for us to connect to these rhythms today because today we

to these rhythms today because today we

to these rhythms today because today we surround ourselves with gadgets with

surround ourselves with gadgets with

surround ourselves with gadgets with vehicles with electric lighting with the

vehicles with electric lighting with the

vehicles with electric lighting with the internet and all of this has completely

internet and all of this has completely

internet and all of this has completely disrupted our ability to connect to the

disrupted our ability to connect to the

disrupted our ability to connect to the slow rhythms of nature this artwork is

slow rhythms of nature this artwork is

slow rhythms of nature this artwork is called blossom flourish with a parish it

called blossom flourish with a parish it

called blossom flourish with a parish it is made of flowers that were once part

is made of flowers that were once part

is made of flowers that were once part of people’s lives and also their deaths

of people’s lives and also their deaths

of people’s lives and also their deaths so these flowers come from wedding

so these flowers come from wedding

so these flowers come from wedding bouquets funeral wreaths from

bouquets funeral wreaths from

bouquets funeral wreaths from Valentine’s Days from religious

Valentine’s Days from religious

Valentine’s Days from religious ceremonies and other occasions in

ceremonies and other occasions in

ceremonies and other occasions in everyday life where we use flowers some

everyday life where we use flowers some

everyday life where we use flowers some of the flowers here are very old and

of the flowers here are very old and

of the flowers here are very old and very fragile and others are fresher and

very fragile and others are fresher and

very fragile and others are fresher and beginning to wilt but together they are

beginning to wilt but together they are

beginning to wilt but together they are a reminder that the experiences of a

a reminder that the experiences of a

a reminder that the experiences of a life are always changing the only thing

life are always changing the only thing

life are always changing the only thing constant is change

constant is change

constant is change and even with advances in so many fields

and even with advances in so many fields

and even with advances in so many fields perhaps the most important things in

perhaps the most important things in

perhaps the most important things in life still remain well beyond our

life still remain well beyond our

life still remain well beyond our control in a world Vittel which is

control in a world Vittel which is

control in a world Vittel which is always changing and uncontrollable there

always changing and uncontrollable there

always changing and uncontrollable there is a lot of strength and inspiration

is a lot of strength and inspiration

is a lot of strength and inspiration that we can derive from nature I believe

that we can derive from nature I believe

that we can derive from nature I believe that we need to seek a connection with

that we need to seek a connection with

that we need to seek a connection with nature not because it is a resource that

nature not because it is a resource that

nature not because it is a resource that we need to pass on to the front to

we need to pass on to the front to

we need to pass on to the front to future generations even though that is

future generations even though that is

future generations even though that is true

true

true but for the more selfish purpose of

but for the more selfish purpose of

but for the more selfish purpose of taking care of ourselves and our own

taking care of ourselves and our own

taking care of ourselves and our own well-being and I believe that if more of

well-being and I believe that if more of

well-being and I believe that if more of us were to seek this connection to

us were to seek this connection to

us were to seek this connection to nature this can solve a lot of problems

nature this can solve a lot of problems

nature this can solve a lot of problems in society today problems like anxiety

in society today problems like anxiety

in society today problems like anxiety and loss of spirituality in everyday

and loss of spirituality in everyday

and loss of spirituality in everyday life all the way to correcting the

life all the way to correcting the

life all the way to correcting the precarious environmental balance thank

precarious environmental balance thank

precarious environmental balance thank you

you

you [Applause]