Flickr photographer cartophobic/never mind her 

Our Senses Are the Keys to Appreciating Nature

At first blush, it seems that a sensual appreciation of nature and living a beautiful life can coexist easily. The Italians have enjoyed this balancing act for years. This is my romantic dream, but history teaches us a different story, one in which living a sensual life is under continued assault

We posted a controversial commentary in Going Green a while back, written by the outspoken London Times columnist Melanie Reid, on the topic of environmental righteousness.

Reid writes: “My real problem with the eco-alarmists is the pleasure they take in austerity; their evident desire to strip away pleasure. Deep down, they disapprove of skiing, even on a Scottish scale. They dislike colour, excess and fun. They really do want to see us imprisoned in a narrow, grey, scratchy world of recycled car tyres and hemp lingerie (and no, I didn’t make that up).”

Her words are chosen to inflame, but there’s merit to this argument.

There is an undercurrent to the environmental movement, one at odds with beauty and sensuality.

Remember, I’m a Serrano pepper on the topic of Going Green . .  just a woman trying to do the right thing. Like Reid, a small concern in the back of my own mind sounds the alarm bell, fearing that we suddenly pursue eco-purity with such religious zealotry, that we once again deny ourselves the pleasures of enjoying life.

For me those pleasures are flowers, scent, fresh food, bubble baths (I know; I know), babies that aren’t crying, kissing, good friends, and driving sports cars… just to state a few examples of sensual gratification that make up my life.