While Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs clarifies our basic physical requirements as a species on this planet, permaculture defines our emotional needs. Our first need is to satisfy our inclination to inquiry. We have a built in drive to learn about and to understand the world we live in. We are by nature inquisitive. While we are still struggling to master our mobility as toddlers, we are also driven to know and to communicate. We are hungry for knowledge. We want to know how and why.
As we grow, branching out from our mother, our father, our siblings, and our extended family, we gravitate to others – usually those of similar size and age. We develop a sense of belonging which trickles out into our communities. We begin to make friends and discover commonality among our peers. We strive to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We need that sense of community, of knowing that we are not alone.
Once we have grown into adulthood and have at least a vague idea of who we are in relation to the world, we may find a greater purpose in our lives. We dream. We set goals. We envision a life of meaning. We want our life to matter. We want to leave our mark upon the world. Ambition is paramount in some of us and barely seen in others, but we all want to believe that there is a reason for our being here. Our legacy, though not always monetary, is something we do not take lightly.
Lastly, we desire to care – and be cared for by another. This is often our most challenging necessity. If a child does not have a loving mother and/or father from which to develop the capacity to love and be loved, he may struggle throughout his life, always seeking, but never finding true love. Connecting to others through friendships, coworkers, and even strangers, is vital to our emotional health. Our pets help to provide connection too, especially for those who live alone. Unfortunately for many, real connection remains elusive and all but a few of our relationships are superficial.
Some of us seek a broader and deeper connection than what can be felt through human relationships alone. We seek meaningful connection with Nature – with her trees, her wildlife, her flowers, and soil. In those connections, inimitable joy and peace can be found.
