There is a canyon in my backyard, that i have never been in. I have lived in the same house for almost six years and never taken a single moment to appreciate the land that I live on. I put on my uggs, a sweatshirt, sweatpants and a scarf and went down and sat in my canyon at 4:45 in the afternoon. All it took was a few minutes until I realized the truth in Emerson's depictions of nature. There were no distractions. The land around me was completely still, and there was no noise.
I didn't really know how long I was going to have to sit there before some amazing thought or some description of the land came to me. So I took in the natural beauty around me and then realized there is no way to describe nature in all its glory. Even though it was just a canyon in my backyard there was no way I could have told someone an accurate and detailed experience of what I thought, or was experiencing.
Emerson says that the only way you can be alone, is if you actually are completely alone with no other influences around you, and I was. I couldn't see my house, or hear anyone or anything. It was like I was in a different world. From this experience what I learned is that being in solitude is the only way to feel your true emotions and not suppress them. When you are completely alone in nature you can reflect on a lot of different things, and the thoughts you have are inspired by the scenery around you. The tree may cause you to think of one thing, that makes the connection to the plants around you, that tie into the gorgeous sky.
All in all, while sitting in silence in nature for two hours I can say that I learned a lot. I realized that I take this beautiful place that I live in for granted and don't pay enough attention to the beautiful landscape that surrounds me. I also learned that the being alone in nature is the best way to think about things, you didn't know you were even suppressing in the back of your mind. And lastly, I came to the realization that nature is the most inspiring and thought provoking tool that is all around us, all of the time.
3 comments:
Liza! I had a very similiar experience! I went to sit in my orchard in my backyard as well. And it was such an amazing experience. Your completely right when you say that it is challenging to describe the feelings you feel when you are completely submerged in nature. I find it interesting that we had such similiar experiences even though at the same time they were unique. I don't know about you, but for me, I felt very clearheaded and relaxed. I realized, like you, that I should take the time out of my busy life to appreciate what is around me. In our lives at Bishops, its so easy to forget that nature exists, even when its everywhere. I have concluded that its important to take the few moments "to stop and smell the roses" for it is worth it!
Hey Liza,
I always go to my backyard as well. I always kinda forget that it is there because of how busy our lives are. We go to school at the break of dawn, sit in class all day then play sports until it is dark and we have to do more homework. When i need to think I go out and sit on the edge of my pool on the edge of a hill of bushes. My house overlooks a lake and a lot of San Diego. It is so inspiring to just stop the pace of life, smell the trees and feel the wind on your face. Emerson does tell us that we need to be alone to experience nature, this is true and it is the only real way to make decisions. We need not to be influenced by outside pressures. Nature allows one to not be distracted with anything other than ones thoughts.
Liza, I really like your nature experiment because you said you have lived in that house for sxi yeard and never took the time to appreciate it. This was great because so many people overlook what they have right in their face. After reading this i felt like you really view nature in a different way.
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