Honors Nature Experience Journal

     This week our class continued reading in  Desert Solitude by Edward Abbey. In my mind, the assigned chapters really correlated with the book title, as we read about a man who had died while traveling alone through the desert. I continued to enjoy Abbey's vivid description of nature that pulled me in and made me feel like I was immersed in the environment, but I was rather shocked by his detachment and seemingly irreverence to the fact that a man had just died alone. The dichotomy of this situation really scratched my brain and made me think and feel in ways I have not been made to in a long time, and I am very appreciate of that. I balanced taking in the scenery with the sadness of the man's death while also taking in Abbey's account in which he made it seem that the man's passing was in sorts, a good thing. Upon the conclusion of the chapter, I reflected briefly on the literature I had just consumed. It dawned on me that we are all living in the same world phys...

Anish Doshi Journal Four     As I have continued reading Desert Solitude, I have become more and more impressed with the vivid descriptions of the desert that Abbey employs. I feel like I am transported into his world, and it is nice to enjoy and explore his surroundings with him. I thought the idea of being kind to all of creation was profound, and I really enjoyed how we followed up on this idea in class. Often, I find myself so caught up in all of my responsibilities and commitments that I forget to take a second to enjoy the nature around me. Reading this book and taking this class allows me time to do just that, and I am super grateful for it.      I captured a picture after leaving Mass this past Sunday. It was light outside when I walked into the service, and almost completely dark after it was over. The bright lights shining from inside the church contrasting with the dark background made the church really stand out to me. I spent a moment admiring its b...