Sarah in the Woods

           As you all may remember, I am keeping this blog for my Literature and the Environment class at Grand Valley State University.   In case the name of the class doesn’t already give it away, we focus a lot on nature and the world around us.  So far we have read lots of pieces about nature, have had a guest speaker who talked about her travel experiences, and have watched a National Geographic documentary about the Appalachian Trail.  This past Wednesday, however, we left the classroom and took a field trip to the Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids so we could experience nature ourselves.

Blandford Nature Center 9/23/15

            First, let me start by saying that any field trip is refreshing.  It’s nice to get outside of the classroom and experience the world outside of four windowless walls.  This field trip, in particular, was especially invigorating.  It was the perfect day for a nature walk.  The sun was shining, the sky was clear, and the air was a perfectly comfortable temperature.  We could not have picked a better day to leave the classroom.

Blandford Nature Center 9/23/15

            There is something very calming about being in the woods.  It’s the same feeling I get when I have just gotten a massage or have sat in a hot bath for a long period of time.  I feel so much serenity.  I usually credit this to the fact that, when I am in the woods, there are no outside distractions.  For instance, when we went to Blandford, I immediately noticed how quiet it was.  I could not hear any cars, lawnmowers, cell phones, or anything else that could be considered distracting.  The only “outside” noise I heard were the voices of my classmates, and even that sounded like dim background noise.  Because of this, I became hyper-aware of the sounds of the woods.  I noticed every little noise—twigs snapping, leaves rustling, birds chirping, and chipmunks scuttling about.  When you are in the woods, away from everyday distractions, it is difficult not to notice these things.  I also became very aware of myself; I paid attention to my own breathing, my heartbeat, and each step I was taking.  My mind was not constantly buzzing with thoughts about school or work or family or friends—I was incredibly present.  Nature often has this effect on me.  There’s something about breathing in fresh air that helps my head feel calm and clear.

Blandford Nature Center 9/23/15

            I can honestly say that I have never felt as calm during a class period as I did at Blandford Nature Center.  It was incredibly valuable getting to personally experience what writers like Bill Bryson and Henry David Thoreau have described in their works.  We live in a world that is so controlled by time and technology, but when you truly immerse yourself in nature, these things get left behind.  In the end, it is just you and the environment.