We've all heard of something being "Second Nature". This is a skill or habit that someone does so well that they don't even have to think about it to do it. Some examples might be: walking, tying your shoes, riding a bike, brushing your teeth or speaking a language. However, what is "First Nature"?
First Nature is a little harder to identify. Before something can become Second Nature, it must start as First Nature, right? Let's look at walking. Babies see others walk. They want to walk too. They try different versions of walking - rolling, crawling, pulling themselves up, holding onto a couch or chair for balance. They fall a lot! They usually look funny and get both laughed at and encouraged, and ultimately...most babies walk!
So, it can be argued that First Nature is doing something awkward and unfamiliar enough times to become Second Nature. You will look silly doing it. You will fail often. However, hopefully, you will also be able to laugh, be laughed at, and also be encouraged to keep trying. Kinda like finding your first LPC cache, right?
So, now what is "Third Nature"? From the National Library of Medicine: "Within a dynamical-systems framework, human behavior is seen as emergent from broad evolutionary processes associated with three basic forms of nature. First nature, matter, emerged from the big bang some 12-15 billion years ago; second nature, life, from the first bacteria up to 4 billion years ago; third nature, ideology and cultural artifacts (e.g., institutions and technology), with a shift to self-reflective, symbolic thought and agrarianism in humans some 8-40 thousand years ago. The co-evolution of these three natures has dramatically altered human behavior and its relationship to the whole planet. Third nature has infused human minds with several powerful ideas, or memes, including the idea of progress. These ideas have fueled the evolution of a complex institutional order (e.g., political systems and technology) and myriad attendant global problems (e.g., wars and environmental degradation). The human brain/mind is seen as the primary medium by which third nature governs human behavior and, therefore, self perpetuates." WOW!
It's getting a little deep for me! Time to back it down and test our human behavior by gathering safely and outside for a geocaching event!
The posted coordinates will bring you to a new little place near Rockford, MI. Here we can gather on the patio and discuss all the various Nature's, First, Second, Third, and Mother! The first two pretzels are on me, beverages are on you!