My Place In Nature…Nature Is My Place

Coming into Our Place In Nature four months ago, I felt that I was pretty connected with nature. I had an idea of what I liked, where I wanted to spend my time on earth and what I would do with my resources that were available to me. But after reading so many texts that explore all types of nature, different terrain, weather, and different time periods, I’m really coming out unsure where I want to live, what I want to see and explore and how I’m going to use the planet to my advantage. This may sound unnerving, but I see it as a good thing. I think it is better to explore a lot of different places and lifestyles and take ideas from all around. I think this class has shown me through readings and speakers that there is so much more to life than I thought. Even in my own town, there are things like the Farmer’s Market that I will pay more attention to and I think I will explore what each season has to offer as well.

In the end of the book, “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle”, written by Barbara Kingsolver, she explains the hatching of a baby turkey. “We’d gone the whole circle, raising our mail-order hatchlings into the most senior demographic of American turkeys” (352). Something about this sentence just intrigues me. The only life that I have actually seen daily from a baby to a grown being are my dogs. I feel like I am missing out on an amazing part of life, life itself. This quote has really made me think about what is important to me and what I want to witness one day, birth is now on my list. Having my own turkey coop may be a little far, I could handle a garden, but I would not like to have to slaughter anything, but I think this may lead me to volunteer at some kind of animal rescue or zoo of some kind. I think this could bring me closer to the animals that share nature and their homes with me when I step into a different environment.

Bill Bryson’s book, “A Walk in the Woods” gave me a whole different perspective on nature. I enjoyed reading the book just as much, with the whit and humility that he brings to his writing, I found myself laughing and then soon after imagining myself in his more serious situations that potentially involved truly wild animals. But in the end, this book made me think about the adventures I want to go on when I have the time…and money. Bryson made me think about what I want to experience and honestly see in life, not just in a book, but, with my own eyes. Quotes like, “I sat on a rock and watched the sunset. The pond was almost painfully beautiful. The long rays of the setting sun made the water shimmer golden. Offshore, two loons cruised, as if out for a spin after supper. I watched them for a long time, and thought about something I had seen on a BBC nature program some time before” (262) really hit home with me. I am always watching the nature and animal channels on television and to know that Bryson was once just someone like me, gives me hope that I can achieve any goals that I set for myself. When I am older, I want to say that I have experienced a lot of what nature has to offer, much like Bryson did while on his own personal journey.

Finishing up the book, “Looking for Hickories: The Forgotten Wildness of the Rural Midwest”, written by Tom Springer, I found one of my favorite quotes that will stick with me long after this class is over. It has made my list of needs quiver as I try and figure out what I really need in life, and what I just want. It almost sums up all I want out of life and what I have learned from this class. I am leaving Our Place In Nature as a more well rounded individual from all the different views and experiences that I have been exposed to and this quote is going to help me continue to positively grow and learn what I want from nature. Not only do I hope that I will be able to figure my life out and experience all the world has to offer, but I hope that I will find a way to give back and help nature. It is also important to me to help others experience nature and learn to live in harmony and love it for what it has to offer. This quote profoundly swayed how I think I will live out my life. My favorite quote award for this class goes out to Tom Springer, he put it best when he said, “May the treasures we have at hand-in a world so filled with real need-always be enough” (157). 

This is an ode...

Although there are many people in the world that take our earth for granted, I can not say that I know of anyone who does not like our world. There are just too many natural beauties and adventures that our world gives us to not love it. A combination of the two, beauty and adventure, would be our national parks. It honestly doesn't get more bare than that; that is the world we live on, the natural state, what we were all created from. I think that Americans are blessed to have as many national parks as we do and places of untouched nature, that is preserved and protected. I have a strong feeling that if that land was not protected, it would have been torn down and dammed up by now; much like many other parts of our nation and especially parts of the world that don't have protection laws for the land.
What is sad, is that I have learned of land in parts of the world, like Indonesia, where the land is protected, and even sacred to some tribes, yet logging companies are still tearing it down, using nonsense reasons for their actions. The tribes are supposed to be reimbursed for their trees with amounts around 300 loincloths and are receiving, at most, around 50. It sickens me to think that some people live in these natural areas, and survive off the trees and land, and large companies still find it okay to tear it down and take advantage of the language barrier and not knowing the tribes customs, in order to make more money. If there were not laws and consequences for bad actions in America, I feel the same thing would occur on our lands. It scares me to think that this is what our world has come to; fighting over land in order to tear it down and kill ecosystems so we can make a profit.
On the positive side, In America, we are able to visit our preserved lands and feel our breath taken away, when we realize how small we really are in our enormous world. This is something I have yet to experience, but, I know, just by pictures and movies I have seen, that this is the least of what I would experience. I can't wait to go on a road trip, especially out west, and see all the sites there is to see, even including sunsets with the Rocky Mountains glowing in the distance. My heart speeds up and I get excited just thinking about it!
The freedoms that us, as Americans, enjoy are enormous and cover every single part of our life, but to me, one of the most important freedoms is our freedom to travel. It gives us the whole world for opportunities of places to go and allows us to really follow and pursue our own individual personal likes and loves. We are able to experience anything in the world, learn first hand, customs of another culture or religion and, as I would take my time and do, just appreciate the beauty and landscape of the different or foreign land. I know that national parks were created to preserve the land, but, I also think that if we didn't have the freedoms and the democratic government that we do, we wouldn't be able to appreciate the land for what it is. So, in a way this blog is an ode to our founding fathers for giving us rights and freedoms, and to America's national parks. These are two things that should never be forgotten, and we should thank God everyday for them.

Love Your Family.

I am someone who really enjoys meditating. I do it on a regular basis, at least 3 times a week. I have practiced many types of meditation including, Mindfulness meditation, Lovingkindness meditation, Insight meditation, Chakras meditation and the basic form of meditation, called Tonglen. They all have certain aspects that they focus on, all dealing with yourself, but for instance, in Lovingkindness meditation, one practices opening his or her heart to the pain of all beings and wishing them well. As one slowly breathes in and out, thoughts such as, "May you be free of suffering.", "May you be happy.", "May you love and be loved.", "May you find the healing that you seek.", and "May you find peace." are supposed to be said, allowing your heart to connect. After you complete this part, then you are supposed to move to yourself and be aware that you have felt pain, and ache and suffering and begin the whole meditation all over, but this time repeating everything in terms of yourself. "May I be free of suffering.", "May I be happy.", "May I love and be loved.", "May I find the healing that I seek.", and "May I find peace.". These practices can be so difficult and hard to really grasp, especially when you are first learning. That is why I have come to love, what is called, Walking meditation. 
I really enjoy the walking meditation. I am a conscious walker, I often watch my surroundings, from my mom telling me since I was a little kid, to always be aware of what is around me, but also because I like to see other living things that surround me. I honestly glow with happiness when I look outside and am able to walk back to the dorms and breathe in fresh air. I do it often, walk with my head turning every which way, looking up high at the squirrels in the branches, looking in front of me at the other seemingly unknowing students rushing to class, looking at my feet as they crunch the red and gold leaves that just floated to the ground. I am always seeing new things, a tree I didn't realize was the size of a three story building, a chipmunk that has made it's home beneath the dorm steps. It is almost startling, sometimes, when I realize that I just noticed something like that three story tree for the first time, when it is at least 100 times my size and has resided where it is, since before our university was even created. And all it takes to see the tree, or anything else for that matter, is a pair of wandering eyes, conscious wandering eyes; but once this is recognized, the possibilities of discovery are endless. Once I noticed the freedom I had when looking around me, I took full advantage of it. I now find myself meditating as I walk to and from class. I stay present, in the moment, breathing in rich air, and exhaling from the deepest parts of my lungs. Each morning I am excited about what I will find outside of our dorm doors, anything is possible. The trips to and from class are definitely the best. They give just enough time to get in the moment and see what God blessed our Earth with. Especially after meditation, I feel reborn and have no worries. I feel like I'm looking through a new set of eyes. Everything seems so new and fresh and vibrant, even on a rainy day. I begin to crack a smile as I step into my new world, the ground feels inviting and the sky is my limit. I feel rejuvenated and the earth and nature around me also takes on that feeling. Meditation is my outlet and it lets me appreciate where I live and what I live with. I recently began thinking of nature as part of my family and I am so grateful that I have the conscience and open mind to see it as it is, and see all the beauty and inspiration that it brings to my life. 

There Are Fruits and Veggies...and Then There Are Fruits and Veggies!

The Farmers' Market now has a brand new meaning to me. I have so much respect and admiration for the hardworking families, that take the time and energy to grow fresh fruits and vegetables for others to enjoy. The career of a farmer is so much harder than I ever realized and after our class trip to the Farmers' Market, I now have compassion for them.
A group of three of us moved along the four different stands that were selling on that Tuesday morning, and we were able to converse with a couple of the sellers. I personally took the time to stand back and watch the sellers lay out their food and talk to their buyers with friendly smiles and a positive attitude. I have to say that the atmosphere of the market was one of my favorite aspects to the trip. The Farmers Market felt nothing like a trip to the grocery store; there was fresh air, sun shining down on the food, making the colors pop, and the food itself looked so much more appetizing. The tomatoes were huge, and the sweet potatoes and turnips still had the majority of their dirt stuck to the skin and it still felt better than grabbing a cucumber that had been sprayed with wax at a grocery store.
Not only was I enjoying my time that I was spending at the market, but as I watched the buyers, I found a little girl and her mom and realized that there was learning that was taking place right in front of my eyes. It made me fill up with happiness, because as we have been discussing in class, too many kids can't even tell you where a carrot comes from. The mom of this little girl asked what kind of fruit she wanted for lunch, and the little girl grabbed this huge cauliflower that filled her arms. Her mom looked at her and laughed, took back the head of cauliflower and told the little girl that that was a veggie and pointed out the fruits she could pick from. The little girl probably doesn't even remember this happening, if you asked her today, but I can say that she will probably remember that cauliflower is a vegetable, and with the knowledge that her mom is exposing her to, the girl will be able to make smarter and healthier decisions in her future.

I just could not get over the vivid colors of all the fruits and vegetables. I walked up to a stand and took a  picture of my friends, who made up my group, as they looked at all the appetizing veggies. Then something caught my eye. I looked down, and these mini multi-colored peppers were screaming for attention. Zooming in, I took a picture of these stunning peppers, and I told one of the farmers behind the stand how beautiful I thought they were! She was actually picking leaves off a batch of these peppers, as she told me how she mixed them with red roses last week for Sweetest Day. This honestly blew my mind! I would have never thought to mix such a lively and fiesta-like vegetable, such as a mini pepper, with the flower of romance. At the same time, I could imagine how stunning the bouquet must have been; I wished I could receive such a unique gift as that.

My experience at the Farmers Market was nothing but a blast. I learned so much from the farmers and producers that were selling on that beautiful Tuesday morning. I plan to bring my family to the Farmers Market when they come to visit me, so we can share a fun experience together!

When the First is Forgotten

There are some things in life that I truly feel are taken advantage of. The sheer beauty of nature and what humans have created with their hands, happen to be two of these "things" that just a handful of people still appreciate. On Wednesday October 20, 2010 I took a trip to East Campus with another class that I am enrolled in. This was an eye opening experience, because I knew our university was established in 1903, but, I had never questioned where all of our old original buildings were.
One of the first buildings that I came across on my way to the main campus is a tiny little building that is labeled with a sign that says "The Little Auditorium". It is probably one of the cutest buildings I have seen on campus, and it began my awareness of how WMU has grown to the university we now love. We entered the main East Campus from back, this gave my class and I the chance to look at the infirmary building. The school had a working medical staff and students were able to spend the night in a hospital-like setting right on campus. Our guide also pointed out the women's and men's dorms before we made our way into the main building. She led us through the old hallways, where paint was peeling and old classroom doors were locked; the teachers assistant for my class and I, looked inside all the rooms as we passed, and I could only imagine what classes were held there; the history that the small broken rooms held was almost overwhelming.
We reached our destination when we sat down in the 70's inspired, round back, plastic chairs in the original gymnasium, that, the East Campus now uses as the site for all archives. Our guide began passing around articles and pictures, one of which was an all girls physical education class that was held in the very gym we were in!! Half hour later, we trickled back through the halls and outside to view the front of the main building. It was stunning, with pillars at least 30 feet tall and a grand staircase leading up to the doors; my eyes must have been bugging out of my head! I had so much respect for the men that built our first part of our campus over 100 years ago.
As we got closer to the front entrance, my admiration turned to disgust as I began seeing all the graffiti that students of WMU have done on these pillars and windows of our main building. I looked at a drawing that stood out because of the shocking red color it was drawn in and, realized from the marked date, that, it had been drawn just 2 days previous. The guide then drew our attention in to show us that our first president of the school had actually been placed in the building, and a plaque to the left of the entrance, signified his presence there. That too, had graffiti all over it and my stomach dropped at the thought of destroying another's grave like that. When a few other students and I asked why the building is under such distress, the guide explained that there isn't enough money for upkeep for East Campus, so, the buildings are just withering away until there is nothing left. This made me want to cry; how can a whole university not care for what our university began from? If not for the buildings, I would think that students, professors, alumni and the community would want to preserve East Campus for the beautiful views it has to offer. From those main steps, I was able to look out over the whole area; trees cover the hill that the campus is built on top of, and on this october day, I saw a sight that I can't explain, you would have to experience the scene for yourself...too beautiful for words. As I looked out onto the breathtaking view, I turned around and realized that almost all of my classmates were more interested in reading the graffiti.
Since my trip to East Campus, I have joined the group, Students for East Campus, and I am going to try and play an active roll in the preservation of East Campus. Tell all you know about this sad and upsetting situation and if you ever get the chance, make your way over to the first part of our university, and really experience the beauty of the grand buildings and exquisite views of Kalamazoo.

The Power One Holds

Today we had a guest speaker, Tom Springer, author of the book Looking for Hickories, visit our class, and I must admit that he was by far my favorite guest yet. I felt like I connected with his view of the world and nature. He just seems like he can never get enough, nature just puts him in a daze, and I often feel the same way. For instance, today when I was walking home from class, I looked to the right after I passed Sprau Tower and another building and saw the clock tower in the distance. It was surrounded by large overgrown trees, making a collage of all the autumnal colors with just the brightest clearest blue sky as a backdrop, and I think my jaw dropped. It was absolutely stunning. I cannot say it truly was a painting, but when I saw this sight, it immediately reminded me of one. Everything seemed perfect, and once I looked away, I began to see the gorgeous leaves falling from the trees and landing in front of me as I shuffled my feet under the little yellow leaves that had already seen their prime.
Tom Springer is much better than I am at describing his feelings and actions towards nature, but I do feel that I can relate because I often find delight in the little joys of life, much like him. I was not expecting Springer to be as witty as he was! I sat next to my friends and laughed a whole-hearted laugh when he tried explaining to the guys in our class how simple it would be to make a sauerkraut-like food if they just minced some cabbage and threw it in vinegar and let it sit for a couple days..and how the cabbage has so many uses, such as hats for his kids, like a little cap if you will.
Later in our discussion, one of my classmates mentioned how Springer wrote a little about him and his wife, and he explained how the small details he snuck into the book were all he could do; he felt he had to add a lot of personal information into his writing, and upon hearing that, another classmate of mine raised her hand and told our class about how she feels that it is so important to send a heart-felt note and show people how you care with personal and original writings. At this time, I had a flashback of when I wrote a note to my older sister on a sheet of paper shaped like a CD and put it in her CD player. She found it once she was all settled at school and called me, all emotional, because she loved it so much. I did the same when I left for college, leaving a personal note to my parents and sister to find in my room when they arrived home from moving me in. My mom texted me a day or two later with the sweetest response to my note. I love the feeling of getting my feelings out and showing people how I feel about them; I try exceptionally hard to write letters to friends on their birthdays to show them love and affection and to family when I visit. Leaving a note, in my opinion, is one of the best surprises for someone to find.
All in all, Tom Springer's visit was a great treat! I loved listening to him talk and hearing him speak about everything he knows and has experienced, and would do it again any day. He was inspiring because he realized that his writings were worthy of a book, and I think his courage to write his own memories and create a book from them, can give many others hope for their dreams. At the end of his visit, I was able to ask Springer to sign my book, and he happily did so. I was so grateful. What a great day in Our Place In Nature!

Expect the Unexpected

In my life, everyday is an adventure, but particularly today. I like to plan ahead, but I take one day at a time. I value productivity and having fun while doing it, and today was a mixture of both. I was able to sleep in, which was extremely comforting, and I woke up refreshed and feeling better than I have in a long while. Two friends and I planned the night before to meet downstairs at 11 am to make it to the Kalamazoo Nature Center by 11:30 for a class field trip so, as we hoped, we were all down there and ready to go.  We barely made it on time to the Nature Center. Zooming down the highway and speeding around corners, I almost spilled my bowl of grapes! Let me just say, it was an exciting ride to be in the back seat of my friend's car as she "drove efficiently"!

The Nature Center felt so pure the second I stepped off of the black top of the parking lot. To enter the center, you cross a large bridge, and as we passed over it, my friends and I made comments about how fresh and sweet it smelled-not a sensation you get to enjoy daily when you live on a campus where busses are always passing and cafeterias are constantly serving food. To make it even better, when we walked inside, we were greeted with gorgeous murals that include all types and species of birds. I thought this was wonderful, but I was in for a surprise: the actual natural part of the center was breathtaking. 

After a short presentation about the Nature Center, our guide took us back though the main building, and over the large bridge. From there, we took a trip up to the natural prairie land, and there I was able to take some of the most amazing pictures that I have in a while. The grasses really made me feel small in the grand world we live in; they were taller than me, and as I walked through them,  I could only see a few feet out on either side of the path. I absolutely loved it; I was surrounded by nature. As our class walked through the prairie, I experienced so many feelings and emotions that I hadn't in a long time and it felt amazing. Against my wishes, two girls and myself had to leave the Nature Center early, on behalf of meetings and classes that we had to attend. 

We tried lifting the car to change the tire...

What do you think?

Life has so many dimensions, so many things are possible for one single person to do in a lifetime. There are also so many different opportunities that are passed up and taken advantage of while another person dreams to experience them. Every life is different. I think about that a lot. Not one person will ever experience my life and I will never experience his/hers. What an amazing thought!! I have too many memories and places remembered, and as hard I try, I will be the only person to see those places or memories as they truly were. That goes for me, too; no matter how hard I try, I will never completely understand an experience of another if I wasn't there with him/her. This brings me to the topic of my blog today.
The Great Lakes are such a large and important aspect of the United states. So many lives are touched by the five lakes on a daily basis, and every joy and irritation that they bring are different for every single person. I have heard stories from a girl growing up with Lake Michigan in her backyard, seeming so natural and untouched, while another girl explains how she is from Wisconsin and has always had an acute bitterness towards the state of Michigan because, as Wisconsin inhabitants put it, they feel Michiganders feel they have a larger right to the lake because it enjoys the same name as them.
My experience of the Great Lakes is much different than either of these girls. I grew up in a suburb 40 minutes west of Chicago, Illinois. My family and I never visited the lake or even the city much, only because we aren't city goers; we would rather spend a free weekend with family and friends. As I got older, I began taking day trips down to the city with my friends to visit the "beach", as we called it; it was honestly a shore of Lake Michigan. Depending on the 'beach' you went to in Chicago, the sand could be really clean and you could spend your time soaking up rays or playing beach volleyball. This would be the perfect situation!! Sometimes, though, you could find yourself on a dirty beach. More often than you would think, beaches in Chicago are closed because of pollution or contamination. If this is the case, then there is usually crowding at the beaches that are open to visitors, potentially making your day into a hectic scene instead of a relaxing at the beach, as you had hoped. To put it simply, Lake Michigan has never been an unpolluted, natural source of water, in my mind, where animals are free to swim and play; instead, I have an image of a potentially overpopulated, polluted and ever changing dramatic source of water. One minute you're walking through the city feeling engulfed in some of the largest skyscrapers in the world, the next you're standing with sand between your toes and laying out your beach towel.
I must say, even though I am mainly focusing on the negative aspects of Lake Michigan in Chicago, I feel blessed to be able to experience all it has to offer. I understand that it may seem like our beaches get gross from time to time and they normally are overpopulated with people from all over, but having access to the lake also does a lot of good for our city and even state. I am grateful for the short trip it takes me to visit the amazing and historic city of Chicago and to create memories on our wonderful shore lines of Lake Michigan.
I find it so intriguing how in one small class of less than 20 students, I can find three completely different stories of life growing up near the lake. It is one of those things where the other two girls may be able to imagine my experience but they will never understand my true feelings and memories of the lake. What an incredible notion!

How to See Yourself

First blog ever, I now feel the burden of what others spoke of; this is hard!! I will begin by examining a new favorite poem of mine that was introduced to me in class last week. 'How to See Deer' is the title and it is written by Philip Booth. Right above this poem on the same handout is one by my absolutely favorite poet, Mary Oliver, so when I read Booth's and fell in love with it, I was surprised because I liked it as much as Oliver's work and that almost never happens! "How to See Deer" seems to be a list of "to-do's" for a person in order to, well, see a deer. But, like all other writings, it has a deeper meaning.
First of all, Booth makes a point to appreciate nature, telling the reader to "inhabit old orchards" (7) and to "learn to read ferns" (15). Lines like this always make me think about what the subject can do to me if I were to inhabit an old orchard or "read" a fern. For me, nature and naturally occurring cycles on earth, like flowers blooming and the sun rising, bring me peace and contentment. I honestly fill up with joy and feel as light as a feather, smiling as I witness something as pure and perfect as nature doing what it does best, creating and bringing life.
Booth also seems to promote peace. This is a huge value of mine, my father fought in the Vietnam War, and I have grown up with the effects of war my whole life; I would never wish it on anyone. Booth says "Go nowhere with guns." (2) Of course, in the literal sense, he is saying don't bring your gun in order to see a deer, but I do love this line because I am assuming that he encourages animal rights and isn't for the killing of innocent animals.
One last value that Booth mentions in his poem is patience. In the fifth line of his poem, he writes "stay and be early:", in the twelfth, "find your luck slowly," and in the thirteenth, he also says, "Wait out the windfall." No one can ever have enough patience, in my opinion, but I love how Philip Booth managed to jam so many great life lessons, ideas, and values into such a short poem.
My favorite line in the whole poem lies on the eleventh line, though: "Expect nothing always." Since I laid eyes on that line and comprehended what he meant, I have been trying to live by it...I am a very organized person who needs structure and plans, and when those plans don't go as I thought they would, I often get upset. So I have been trying very hard to realize things don't always go as planned..which has been hard a hard lesson to learn, but if I learn to "expect nothing always," my journey to happiness will be much smoother.