By Julieta Chan and Jesús Parrilla

Reawakening Our Bond with Nature: Our Purpose for 2025

The Disconnect from Nature

There was a time when humanity lived humbly within the natural world, not above it. Our lives were intertwined with the rhythms of the seasons, the cycles of the sun and moon, and the quiet whispers of the wilderness. Today, that connection feels like a distant memory. Our surroundings are dominated by towering skyscrapers, bustling streets, and glass facades that reflect our faces but not the world beyond. More than half of the global population now resides in urban areas—a number expected to rise to nearly 70% by 2050. With each passing day, we drift further from nature, choosing a path that holds perilous consequences.

We often reflect on our childhoods—a time when vacations meant escaping to our grandparents’ rural homes. We’d ride bicycles all day, explore farms on horseback, swim in rivers, and play soccer under the stars. Those days ended not when we were tired but when neighbors finally complained about the noise. Times have changed.

Today, the growing need to live near cities, schools, and services surrounds us with concrete, machinery, and isolation from nature. We’ve traded fields for asphalt and rivers for reflections in glass.

The Cost of Disconnection

This disconnection comes at a cost far greater than we often realize. Living apart from nature blinds us to its significance—its cycles, its intricacies, and, most importantly, our role within it. Nature becomes something we view on a screen—a scene in a movie or a segment on the weather channel—something “out there,” seemingly separate from us. This illusion of safety within urban centers masks the truth: the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution is not a distant threat. It’s here. It’s now.

The cruel irony is that as we distance ourselves from nature, we lose the ability to see what’s at stake. We become less inclined to protect what we no longer know. But how can we protect what we don’t understand? How do we value something invisible, like a passing shadow? And how can we nurture empathy for ourselves and our collective need for a sustainable home?

Our sprawling urban jungles don’t just harm the environment—they numb our senses. They make us forget that we are part of something much larger, something wondrous and sacred. Nature becomes an object to consume, not a community to cherish.

A Vision of Hope

But there is hope. Imagine a world where nature is no longer an afterthought but a partner. Cities could have “green lungs”—parks that echo with birdsong and rooftops alive with wildflowers. Imagine children growing up with access to outdoor spaces that remind them of the beauty and fragility of life. These places could reconnect us to the earth, teaching us to see ourselves not as rulers but as stewards.

To those living in cities, we urge you: find that patch of green. Look up at the slice of sky between buildings. Walk through a forest, sit by a river, and feel the ground beneath your feet. These moments matter. They remind us that we belong to something far more significant than ourselves, that this earth—our only home—deserves not just our protection but our love.

The Path Forward

The path forward is clear. We must reimagine urbanization and nature as allies, not adversaries. Let us build not to conquer but to coexist. Let us create spaces where humanity and nature thrive together—a legacy of harmony for generations to come.

• • Integrate Nature: Incorporate green spaces and natural elements into urban planning
  • Coexistence: Foster a partnership between urban development and environmental preservation

  • Sustainability: Create a legacy of harmony between humanity and nature for future generations

About the authors:

Julieta Chan
Serving as the ESG and Project Support Manager at Experiential Hospitality, Julieta Chan is a dynamic professional with 15 years of expertise in experiential hospitality, luxury travel administration, and operations support. Julieta is a staunch advocate for empathic communication and regenerative travel, dedicated to fostering meaningful and sustainable experiences in the hospitality industry. Jesús Parrilla As the CEO and Principal of Experiential Hospitality,

Jesús Parrilla
Jesús embodies the essence of a global citizen, driven by an enduring passion for the outdoors. His career has been profoundly shaped by this commitment, leading him to champion companies that prioritize responsible, sustainable, and ethical business practices. With a diverse skill set, Jesús brings 25 years of experience spanning management, operations, sales, marketing, communications, and business development.