Nature Essay

I've never expected that a peaceful walk through the woods to turn into me cringing in pain because I just stepped in a briar patch roughly the size of my head. My walk in the woods was a disaster. Ralph Waldo Emerson said that "nature never wears a mean appearance". Well I'm sorry Mr. Emerson but I have to disagree with you. Nature did not look very kindly on me. I expected this experience to be enlightening, peaceful, and serene. I think I was a little too optimistic.


The moment I got outside I started sweating. We are well into the month of October, and I remember thinking to myself "why the heck is it so hot out here? It's been fall for over 3 weeks!". The sun had no mercy on us though as it casted off what seemed like all the heat it possibly could. Outside it smelled like freshly cut grass, and car exhaust fumes because the woods was right next to the busy traffic of highway 81. Let me inform you it was not a pleasant smell. When I stepped into the woods all I saw at first was objects and climbing walls that the JROTC use on a regular basis. They weren't very pretty, in fact to me they stuck out like a sore thumb. I didn't care about the JROTC stuff though I was just glad that it was about 10 degrees cooler. The temperature change was the highlight of my "great outdoor experience". As I started walking I heard a crunch crunch crunch under my feet. At first I thought it was leaves, branches, logs and other things of nature. I was surprised when I looked down to see beer cans. I then understood why some people love the woods so much. I also saw Mountain dew bottles, Pepsi cans and chip bags. Nature reminded me of a trash dump.


Emerson once said, "When we speak of nature in this manner, we have a distinct but most poetical sense in the mind". When I first thought of nature I thought the same thing. I thought "oh how great it would be to go out into the woods and look at the beauty and peacefulness of it". After this experience though I have to disagree. Emerson also said " In the wilderness I find something more dear and connate than in streets or village". I also have to disagree with him there too. I would much rather be in town in the middle of things than stranded out in the woods by myself. I love the convenience of the local Walmart. I love the sounds of people and the sights of buildings. I mean don't get me wrong, I would hate it if all there was was buildings and roads. I like the scenery of trees and nature. I just like to enjoy it all from afar.
Henry David Thoreau said once upon a time, "It is error upon error, and clout upon clout upon clout and our best virtue has for its occasion and superfluous and evitable wretchedness. Our life is frittered away by detail....Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!" This quote is in my opinion completely true. I do believe that our lives are too complex these days. I also believe that our lives are extremely hectic and we should all take some time to smell the flowers. I think that nature is a good thing, just not for me. The simplicity of nature is good but society and city life is more suited for me.


To put it plainly, I did not enjoy the nature walk. I don't think I wouldn't enjoy nature though, if I was in a different place. Maybe if I was in the mountains, or at the beach, I would love nature more. I think God gave us trees, and grass, and flowers to enjoy. I think he also put all this stuff here to help us. I just don't think I had the right experience. Maybe I'll try this whole nature thing another time. A time when it isn't one hundred and ten degrees outside, and when beer cans don't clutter the ground.