Honors Nature Experience Journal

 I have talked about this trip a decent amount, but I really can not put it into words how beautiful my spring break trip to New Mexico was. It was not flashy, it was not expensive, but it was one of my favorite trips I have ever been on. Some friends and I drove from Fort Worth to Santa Fe where we spent two night exploring the town and one day skiing. The drive up the mountain from our hotel was about 30 minutes, and then we arrived at the base of the ski resort. It was relatively warm for skiing, but the snow held up well, and it was a beautiful day on the mountain. Despite how amazing of an experience the first part of the trip was, my favorite part came afterwards. After our time in Santa Fe, we drove to a small town called Cloudcroft, New Mexico. The family of one of my friends recently acquired a property out there, and while we were skeptical at first due to how remote the area was, it turned out to be an amazing experience. Right on the 500 acre property I saw wild elk in ...

  My Top 10 Photos From The Semester: It is hard to choose my favorite one. The photo at the top of the stars as well as the photo of the fire and the photo of the wild horses were all during my spring break trip to New Mexico. If I have to choose one, I would choose the top photo I captured of the stars. The picture does not do the moment justice, but I was in absolute awe by the visibility of the stars when I was out there in the wilderness. I had never seen stars so visible nor beautiful, and it took my breath away. 

Speaking on the word "Wild," it is wild that we are already almost at the end of the semester. I feel like it was just yesterday that we began this course together and began discussing the importance of nature. I recall those early discussions being thought provoking because I had been so used to college classes being intensively focused on memorizing and applying things and not actually learning through experience.  I am happy to report that while academically unconventional in some regard, I have learned more through this class than almost any other I have ever taken. Ever year that passes I feel like society grows further and further away from nature and grows closer and closer to trying to maximize "productivity" and work in each day. This course has bought me some time in life in the sense that I have been reminded that maximizing my to-do list is not always the most important thing. Sitting in my own thoughts in nature and reflecting on the beautiful creation ...

 Yesterday we were supposed to meet as a class and enjoy some time on the water, but the weather had other ideas. While it would have been such a fun experience, this situation was a great reminder that sometimes things do not always work out as planned, and we must accept that and move on. Today was also a great reminder of what we do have. The rain that canceled our trip helped nourish the plants and crops in our environment and that in turn will be good for us in the long run. I was also able to reflect on how despite the rain, I was able to stay nice and warm because of my fortune of having a place to call home. Additionally, I love hearing rain hit my window. There is something incredibly calming about it that I can not put into words, but it was lovely nonetheless.  After receiving notice that we would not be going out in the water, I decided to go to the rec center. The morning was cold and a tad gloomy, and as I started my walk, a cold and steady rain started falling d...

I wanted to take some time in my journal this week reflecting on our cleanup efforts this week. I'm extremely proud of our class for cutting back a lot of the invasive species, and took a picture of our progress that I will share here. The area we were working in was almost completely covered up, and towards the end of the class period I spent some time reflecting how much we accomplished with some small tools and effort. Throughout the period we were there it was great to witness was slow and consistent effort could accomplish. I did not see much wildlife, but it was great to be surrounded by greenery. I noticed a few tiny bugs and ants that reminded me how big our world is. To them, we are massive, but compared to the vastness of the world, we are incredibly small in comparison. It is always great to spend time in nature, especially with others. It has always been a grounding experience for me. Being outside is a great reminder of how beautiful creation is. Going through the grin...

      This week I have been really sick, and while bummed originally, I tried to stay positive and find good things associated with it. Being sick has allowed me to slow down, and really appreciate little things. Good health is something I find myself taking for granted, and its not until it gets taken away that I realize how much I desire it. This week I allowed myself extra time to rest, and substituted my normal gym workouts with slow walks outside. I tried to go earlier in the mornings or late in the evenings to stay away from the heat, but no matter what time of day I walked, I really enjoyed my time outside. I also spent a lot of time outside studying in the shade, and additionally, tried eating my meals in the backyard when I could. Spending time outdoors has always been healing for me, so I made it a priority this week and watched myself get better as a result.      I really enjoy when I am able to slow down and enjoy all the things the world has to...