Journal 7

 I want to explore the ideas of Eiseley, Stegner, Merton and Nash. The big theme I pulled from the work of Eiseley is that humans need to engage with nature more in order to make “the ordinary” extraordinary. I full heartedly agreed with his statement that the world can become dull and we often overlook so much of the beauty we are surrounded by because of our fast paced lives. Some of the best days I have had are the days where I stand in awe of everything that surrounds me: other functioning humans, beautiful architecture and buildings, animals, and nature. There is so much to appreciate, but we become so entitled to what surrounds us. I do think it is healthy for everyone to have a place where they can get away, but I know an environment in nature may not be the choice for everyone. For those that do enjoy the outdoors, it is a sweet opportunity to see how intertwined humans and nature are. The plants that surround us breathe out oxygen to fill our lungs and help give us life. The worlds of humanity and nature are so interconnected that we literally help to sustain life for one another.
Merton further establishes that nature is needed for self-discovery. He makes the bold statement that “one who is not alone has not discovered his identity” (548). I would say that alone time can be feared in our society because being alone with your thoughts too long is known to produce self-doubt, fear, anxiety, etc. However, I agree that alone time, particularly alone time in nature, can be extremely fruitful to process how we actually feel. We are often on such a tight schedule that we are not able to self-reflect as much as we should. I have noticed this in my own life. I get so focused on a goal I have that I forget to take the time to think about why I do the things that I do on a daily basis. I respect that Merton values alone time, but I would also argue that collectivity is not always negative; there are a lot of benefits that come from working in group settings.

Furthermore, my favorite part of the excerpts read for Stegner is the power of silence. He quotes, “in gaining the lovely and the usable, we have given up the incomparable” (509). The incomparable is nature in its pristine state. Parts of nature, like lakes, are often filled with boats, jet skis, and lots of loud noises. Stegner knows how wonderful a place like the Grand Caynon can be in its state of silence. I see both flips of the coin here. I understand our commercial use of nature for activities like skiing, boating, etc. These are things I love to do and I am grateful they have become apart of my involvement in the outdoor realm. However, I am an advocate of preserving national parks and places where nature can still be enjoyed in its more natural and pristine state. However, Nash presents reasoning and arguments against continued preservation of places like Yellowstone and Adirondacks. The situation becomes sticky because one can argue that the only reason for preservation is not to admire and enjoy the natural beauty but rather to act out in self-interest and preserve the parks for selfish reasons like financial benefit. Unfortunately, I have never visited a national park but hope to one day. From my perspective, I do find them important and I would like to see the government continue to fund them for future generations.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Journal 4- Hoblitzelle Camp

I am currently peering out into a lily pad filled lake at Hoblitzelle Camp & Conference Center.   It is a warm autumn day; the perfect warm where it feels like I am wearing a cozy blanket, but I am not sticky and sweaty from the relentless humidity. The shoreline of the lake is pervaded with lily pads that range in size and shades of green. Some of the lily pads protrude out of the water and tower above those that rest on the surface. One of the lily pads I am looking at is easily twice the size of my head (a whole lot of frogs could perch themselves on this thing!) The water is calm and so is everything else about this camp. I don’t see many clouds in the sky, only a few scattered faint outlines of white. There is a bright blue glow when I look up but a rich green glow as I look down. The trees and lush grass reflect off of the water. The moist environment has created a habitat for a multitude of creatures, both seen and unseen. Last night I could hear the chatter of crickets...
Read more

Journal 5

This week we read pieces from John Muir and Aldo Leopold. I admired Muir’s ability to describe nature in a way where readers could feel like they were immersed in the setting. I know how difficult it can be for me to put into words what I see, feel, hear, taste, and smell in nature—and Muir clearly has a gift of incorporating all of his senses into his writing. I loved the metaphors he used to describe the forest during a storm as a musical ensemble. His writing was filled with the usage of personification, similes, and metaphors, which is what made his nature writing relatable. I want to include pieces of his style into future journals I will write. Furthermore, I found his illustration of the wind to be insightful because when I think of nature I have never thought to include the omnipresence of the wind. Wind is apart of nature across the world unlike a lot of the flora and fauna we describe in particular places. As someone who has grown up in a suburban city all of my life, it i...
Read more

Journal #6

As I sit outside of the Winton Scott building, I feel thick dew in the air that reminds me of the sauna. My back is perched up against a warm metal railing and my legs are outstretched on a square patch of concrete. I can’t feel any breeze; the trees are still. The proximity of trees on this campus are so organized, none too close or too far from one another. The trees vary in size, color, and shape. I am looking at a bulky trunk that appears to be deeply rooted in the soil. This tree seems much older than some of the leaner trunks. The leaves are mainly green and plentiful. Many trees have a collection of small leaflets the size of my thumb while others have large leaves the size of my hand. I do not sense any peculiar or overwhelming smells, but my nostrils do sense that the air is warm. The street is bustling with cars, and the only sound I can hear is the revving of engines. As I look up, I peer into a sea of soft white pillows. Clouds extend all through out th...
Read more