Alone With Nature

" The greatest delight which the fields and woods minister, is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable. I am not alone and unacknowledged. they nod to me and i to them." This quote from nature by Waldo Emerson reminds me of how I feel when i am alone with nature. Waldo Emerson wrote the essay nature to show how nature can impact our lives for the better. He writes about how he connects with nature and how his mind is free to think when he is around nature. One of Emerson's students Henry David Thoreau also writes about his experience in his essay titled Walden. It is an essay reflecting a period in his life when he spent two years and two moths in the woods. I absolutely agree with Emerson and Thoreau's opinions about nature. From my experiences i think that nature provides inspiration, protection, and encouragement.

Nature gives me inspiration and encourages me to follow my dreams. Thoreau says, " If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them."Thoreau writes this in his conclusion to his two year experience with nature. He also mentions that he has learned to advance confidently in the direction of his dreams. He was inspired by nature to follow his dreams. While walking through the woods i could hear the dry leaves crunch under my feet, the scent of pollion filled the air, and the bright sun streamed through the trees. Not only did i see all of these things, but i could feel an unexplainable warmth come over me and was suddenly inspired by all of the beautiful elements of nature that God created. I also had an inspiration to live life to its fullest and not fall into a particular route or make a beaten track for my life.

Nature also gives me protection Emerson says " The greatest delight which the fields and woods minister, is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable. i am not alone and unacknowledged. They nod to me and i to them." He also says " there i feel that nothing can befall me in life-no disgrace, no calmity (leaving my eyes), which nature cannot repair." When i read this i could immediately relate to what he said. He talks about how he is not alone and that is exactly how i felt when i had my first experience with nature. While hiking through the woods on a camping trip and wondered off by myself. I saw many beautiful things. I heard the bubbling brooks, saw birds pearched on tree branches, and wathced orange and red leaves falling off of the trees. Even though i was alone the huge oak tree gave me protection. I felt like nothing could hurt or harm me. The birds chirping and the squirrels scurrying the ground reminded me that i was not alone.

While wandering through the woods alone all of my distractions abandoned me. My thoughts began to clear and the storm inside my head faded away. I started imagining all of the things i want in life. I came to the realization that life was surprisingly short and to waste my time on less important things could result in an unfulfilling life. I learned that i should follow my dreams, not to hesitate, and to go where ever God sends me. Thoreau reflects on his experience and says, " I learned this, at least, by my experiment: That if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." After reading this from Thoreau, i knew that he shared some of the same feelings that i did. His experience also encouraged him to follow his dreams.

I have realized many things about life after reading Walden and nature. Emerson and Thoreau share their feelings about nature and how it has impacted their lives. I can relate to them because nature inspires me, protects me, and also encourages me to succeed in life. I did not come to the realization of this until having to read their essays in English. From my experience i have learned to follow my dreams and to live life to its fullest. The solitude of being alone with nature helps get away from all of my distractions. Then i feel like time has stopped and for a moment i can sit and acknowledge all of the beautiful things God has made.