Being in nature does wonders for our mental health. Look, I’m no tree hugger or hippie. But, I do know, as countless research has often proved, that eco-therapy — that is, the being in nature — is crucial in helping us feel more serene.

Not to mention the benefits nature gives to the world in general. We need trees for cleaner air and an aesthetically pleasing world. And yet, the number of trees that are cut down every day and the deforestation that’s happening in the world is terrifying and quite tragic. 

Now, the idea of battling the serious problem of deforestation on our own is overwhelming. How can one person make up for the havoc that multi-million-dollar companies are doing with our natural land? Well, maybe it’s not such a huge feat after all.

As with most things in life, change starts with the little things. So no, you don’t need to grow a whole forest in one year. But you can start small, as one very special man has done.

This is Jadav Peyang. This man looks no more special than the next man. He isn’t the richest or the strongest guy in the world, but he is doing incredible work to make our world greener.

You see, Peyang is on a mission. He wants to restore as many trees to the world as possible. So he has been planting a tree every single day since 1979, when the people in his village offered the then young Peyang "50 seeds and 25 bamboo plants."

What Peyang has done is incredible. And despite the huge endeavor, he didn’t let overwhelming questions stop him from doing this. This guy wasn’t asking how he was ever going to beat the ecological disaster in the world. Instead, he focused on that one tree and made the project a feasible one despite it being a one-man mission.

Peyang lives in India with his family. Living close to the islands of Majuli and Jorhat, Peyang saw the islands destroyed by man. So 37 years ago, he sought to bring them back to life with one tree a day.

So how incredible are the results of this mission? Well, let’s compare to a park you might be familiar with. This man managed to convert a dead land into a forest that is now bigger than Central Park in New York.

Besides planting one tree a day, Peyang did something even more important. He educated his children about his mission. He hopes that once he is gone, his children will continue to do his work.

Peyang “has cultivated a total of 550-hectare area.” But he did more than making the land beautiful and green again. He turned it into the go-to place where animals can reside.

And this is just what’s happening. The area has now become home to over a hundred elephants, deer, tigers and rhinos. If Peyang had never taken on this mission, such life would never have come here.

It’s safe to say that this man has done great work. More than that, he has proved that often, the smallest of actions and tiny steps are enough to create something beautiful. Peyang has demonstrated patience and perseverance as a daily reminder that it takes time for things that are worthwhile to come to life.

Let’s hope that even when Peyang is gone, this mission will go on. Let’s hope this father has instilled a strong seed of love for nature in his children. One that will have them continue to grow the land even when he does pass away.

And what about? What are you going to do to make this world a greener and better place? Don’t worry, I’m not an ass, I’m asking the same question to myself too. Let’s start small, shall we? Maybe we can start with this list.