Sunday, January 20, 2013
Nature: My Front Yard
Yesterday, I spent thirty minutes outside in my front yard and took notes on my observations. To my surprise, I noticed a lot of things that I had never payed attention to in the sixteen and a half years I had lived in my house. The tree next to my neighbor's house was slanted forward as if it were going to fall into the street. The only reason it stayed in its place was the small bushes that grew into a big hedge. The street looked like a wave of the ocean because of the hill it had to cover. Because my house is on the edge of the hill and not attached to it, it looked like the street was a little higher on our side than our neighbors who live in front of us. The sound of the leaves rolling on the street sounded like music, rustling with the breeze that blew inconsistently. It was so peaceful and refreshing. Sitting outside cleared my mind, or maybe it was the fact that I was doing nothing but observing the scenery around me. I actually spent more than thirty minutes outside because I met my neighbor who lived five houses above me for twenty years. This was the first time I saw this woman and felt bad for never actually meeting her. Spending time outside of my room and away from my computer and phone really was not as bad as it had initially seemed, but also a little enjoyable. Maybe I will end up doing this when I feel too stressed out or need to calm myself.
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Just like you, I also had not noticed many objects in my backyard before. I have been living in my current house for 5 years now and I had not noticed many things outside. This shows that both of us usually stay inside and barely go outside to look at the nature that surrounds us. I am sure this is the problem with most people out age.
ReplyDeleteThis is usually the case. Sitting in our rooms, on the computer, on our phone, or playing video games. It seems as if no one ever goes outside unless need be, including me. I also noticed many "new" items or vegetation that has always been sitting right in front of my eyes. This does show how much technology has taken over our lives, and that it is time to leave all that and enjoy nature every once Ina while.
ReplyDeletePeople believe that they need vacations to forget about their daily stress, when the answer can simply be to sit in the back yard and relax. Enjoying nature is a wonderful way to forget all the negatives around you. Nature is a natural therapy that God created to calm the humans. But with the busy lives all sustain, no one really takes the time to notice how soothing nature is. It is nice to see you enjoyed your time and escaped the stress that conquers the human mind.
ReplyDeleteThe location of your house is at a place where, by heading anywhere outdoors, it will be peaceful. Considering I have dropped you off at your house multiple times, driving up that hill and worrying about cars approaching us from the opposite direction is never an issue. There are only a few houses surrounding you, and to think you would know all your neighbors, surprisingly you newly met one who's lived there for quite a while now. From doing this experiment, the class has realized that peace could technically be found anywhere without technology.
ReplyDeleteWhen you actually take the time to make observations of your neighborhood, you notice certain details that you had overlooked for years. It is times like these that actually get a person to know themselves and their environment better. The way you noticed the flow of your street and the crookedness of the tree on your block, was important because you had seen that tree over a thousand times and had crossed that street multiple times but had never noticed those minor details. You should perpetually visit your backyard and watch nature if it clears your mind off the troubles of life for a certain time. It relieves stress and creates a beautiful scenery in your head. I think most of us should leave technology behind more often and live life through nature, the place where we all originated from. We might make a few friends just how you did with your neighbor.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how after that many years of living next to someone, you just met them because of a homework assignment. However, I believe the experiences we had with this assignment changed our perspective about nature. The crookedness of the tree was such an acute detail in the environment, however when you took the time to observe all the details around you, it made such a large impact. I agree with you that spending time in nature rather than being with technology was not as hard of a task as I anticipated. We should consider going on a hike with the class soon!
ReplyDeleteAni, I am amazed of the fact that you actually sat through thirty minutes of pain and sorrow, sitting outside, not connected to any type of technological device. I am even more surprised that you spent more than thirty minutes doing this assignment. On another note, your descriptions of the foliage around your neighborhood set the mood for salad. I feel sad that you actually spent time and talked to your neighbor. The only neighbor I have talked to is Ken across the street who strangely resembles Santa Claus. Luckily, I took refuge in my own home after my time was up, because I noticed him walking around, with a thirst to converse. With that anecdote said, I commend you for your effort.
ReplyDeleteI find it amazing that you met your neighbor after all these years due to this homework assignment. As for everything else, your description of your time spent outdoors was very good. I am glad that you had such a peaceful time outdoors as opposed to my experience. Although almost no one our age does what we did for this assignment, we should do it more. Our whole lives revolve around technology. We definitely need at least thirty minutes away from it to remember what the world is really made of.
ReplyDeleteAni, I understand you completely when you say that it was refreshing and peaceful to sit outside and observe nature. I think that it is amazing, yet odd how you had never met your neighbor before, but finally did by simply sitting outside. Your experience made me realize how much time we really do spend inside. Instead of always being inside or on some type of social network on our phones or laptops, we should sit outside more often to take in the beauty of nature. We do take it for granted and one day we will realize that it is too late to appreciate what we could have spent a few minutes of our time looking at. I think your idea of sitting outside and observing your surroundings when you are mad to calm down, is a great idea that can easily take your mind off things; it will surely offer relaxation and peace when stressed out from the pressure of society or responsibilities we have.
ReplyDeleteNature is truly spectacular, and me, similar to your situation, never noticed most of the things in my own backyard. My mind was cleared as well, as my eyes got lost in the scenery of the day. After this experience, I too wanted to spend more time outside away from my tv and computer. There is more in life then those objects and the only way of doing so is getting out of your house.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that our generation has never actually went outside and sat down just for the calmness or to relax. We have to be told to go outside to finally get out of all the technology and just take a breath for once. We all should focus more on our health by going outside for thirty minutes everyday instead of using the computer or phone, it may just do us good.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was outside in my backyard observing nature I too realized that being alone and one with nature really does make you forget everything and only focus on your surroundings. It is really cool how you noticed many thing about your house and surroundings that you had not noticed before, and I agree that it is because of spending too much of our time with technology and not nature. Spending that moment in solitude with nature really makes one realize what it has been missing, always being in their room surrounded by four walls. I too, will go into my backyard and be one with nature more often, and I know that nature will be there to help me relax and forget.
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty cool how you sat outside and cleared your mind just like transcendentalist authors intended people to do. The cooler thing was that you sat at your front yard and cleared your mind. This is good for you because now you can just go to your front yard and clear your mind whenever you want from home. It seems awesome that your street looks like a big wave to you. After sixteen years of living at your home, I am glad you know what happens around your street now.
ReplyDeleteI found it quite intriguing how due to you separating yourself from technology, you actually had the opportunity to meet your neighbor, who you had not noticed for twenty years. Technology has a nasty habit of capturing people's attention to a point where the victims themselves do not want to turn back. However, once an individual finds the will power to resist technology, it becomes much easier to disassociate from it in the future. I have been to your house before, and unfortunately I have never realized half of your descriptions.
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ReplyDeleteAni, your street is beautiful and honestly it is one of my favorite streets especially when it is gloomy outside. Your post captured my attention since I have seen your street and have not noticed a majority of these either, except for your part of the street being a little higher. It is surprising how there are so many objects and substances that are unnoticed, not observed, and not appreciated. All this technology and indoor living keeps us from discovering what is right in front of us. Next time I visit your house I will definitely look for the observations mentioned in this post and we will surely clear our minds in the beautiful nature.
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