After just one month in of freshman year, I’ve already been called a “hippie,” “tree hugger,” and “earth girl,” on several occasions. Little did they know, these were all compliments to me. I love nature.
This reputation of mine has come up, because if someone is about to throw their bottle in a trashcan instead of a recycling bin: I will point it out.
I have this reputation because when given the option of sitting inside or being on the great wide lawn in front of my dorm, I’d choose to sprawl out in the grass nearly every time!
I have this reputation, because many times when I pass trees, I comment on how lovely they are and how much I would like one tattooed on my body (not that I’ll actually do it Mom).
My love for nature came after reading one of my favorite books, “Walk Two Moons” by Sharon Creech. Essentially, I picked up one of the main character’s habits. I know what you’re thinking folks but it wasn’t walking...nor mooning.
It was kissing trees.
Sal, a girl from Kentucky, learned her appreciation for the outdoors from her mother. Her middle name was “Tree” and her mother and idol, kissed a tree in one of Sal’s most significant memories of her. Sal, in turn, picked up the ritual and each time she kissed a new oak, maple, or pine, she remembered her mom.
Similarly, I do so because of my love of nature but also to remember. With each kiss I am reminded of the places I’ve lived and traveled to as I’ve kissed trees in all of them.
Last year I was an exchange student living in Austria. I made myself a deal that I’d kiss 100 trees before the year ended. I stopped counting but I'm sure I got to more than 10 times that, exploring the bark of Hungarian, Czechian, Spanish, Italian, and especially Austrian trees. Now, living in Queens, New York, trees are more scarce, which makes me appreciative them even more. I continue to be impressed with the beauty each exudes. Whether I’m far away or home in Maryland, trees are something I’ve always had to help me remember my roots. I kiss trees to reminisce. I kiss them to take a moment to appreciate nature’s gift that is essential to human survival.
The name "tree hugger" originated from environmental campaigners protesting against trees being cut down. They would wrap their arms around the tree’s trunk, or at least as far around as they could get them, and hold on as long as they could to save the valuable life.
Now a tree hugger can just mean someone who is environmentally conscious and I am that, as well as a tree kisser- a proud one! My hope for the future is that more people will protect our environment, act for it, and express love towards it without inhibitions.
