Childhood is a time filled with vivid and indelible memories. Some of these are magical – sparking joy and positivity – lingering in our mind forever. Others are dark and bitter – leaving behind the sour trail of negativity. Notwithstanding their colour, childhood experiences always leave a permanent mark on our consciousness. Their after effects go a long way in moulding our character, personality and outlook to life and in setting us on course to being who we are. Like us, every creature of the planet – plants, animals, insects – is shaped by its childhood experiences for good or for bad. Since positive childhood experiences are crucial in the development of every nature’s child, one would think that close attention would be paid to seeding a nurturing environment. Sadly this is not the case.

Irrespective of the species – human, animal or plant – most children are presented with an environment that’s oppressive, exploitative and unstimulating. Human kids are thrown into a world rife with divisions, oppression and prejudice and are unable to follow their passions; forge meaningful relationships or develop themselves to their full potential. Millions of them are forced to toil in factories and sweatshops to make the average adult comfortable. Plant kids emerge in a world suffocated by greenhouse gases, industrial waste and deforestation. Very often, they are cruelly plucked from nurseries to make space for concrete jungles of apartment blocks and corporate offices. Animal children come of age in forests and oceans with shrinking habitat; limited food supply and toxic pollutants. So often, they are turned into food, toys, props or physical aids for our pleasure and amusement. Notwithstanding their genetic code, the children of nature are mistreated and ignored around the world…their needs and priorities given short shrift.

Our attitude towards them requires a rapid reset. Unless we do so urgently, the problems confronting us and the planet will become more devastating. Eventually, a time will come when nature will no longer turn a blind eye to our capriciousness, lust and intolerance. She will respond to our brutality with commensurate force – spawning hurricanes that will turn our lives upside down – leaving us reeling and panicking.

We can change our attitude towards our children by first recognising that they are the future. The world belongs to them. They are the ones who’ll carry our legacy forward. They are the ones who’ll make a quantum leap in innovation and progress. They own the future. So, it’s our responsibility to pave the road for them. If we believe in these precepts, we’d take child development very seriously. We’d adopt a holistic approach towards nurturing every child of nature to its full potential. We’d never exploit them. We’d never dominate them. We wouldn’t throw spanners into their dreams. We’d nurture them with seeds of love and fertilisers of knowledge. We’d help them evolve their consciousness.

Only then would we shape a Onesome world. A world where all living beings would merge with the One. A world where happiness is a state of mind that’s universally attained and perpetually maintained.