Nature Experiment

My experiment with nature began when I threw on my ugg boots, and my sweatshirt and headed outside the back door of my house. My backyard has changed alot in the last year. I have had the opportunity to see the rejuvenation of life after a wild fire, and the feat is simply spectacular.
In the past year, I have been too enveloped with my life at school, worrying about grades, friends, and the rest of my future. I regret not having stopped to enjoy my surroundings, and this experiment has satisfied some of these regrets. I decided to
bring my camera with me, and to share with everyone some of the changes over the past year, from the week after the fire, to how my backyard is teeming with life now.
In taking my walk around the yard, I was trying to find a place where I could sit and enjoy nature, somewhere away from civilization. First, I stepped past the sheltered line of our back lawn, into the woodchips, and watched the clouds roll in over the slightly ashen sides of the vast canyon below. As much as I enjoyed this scenery, I couldn't help but notice the home developments some miles away that were spoiling my escape.
Uneasy about this interruption, I moved around the side of the house to our front lawn. I sat down on the brick walkway, and listened to the dew drops dripping from the golden leaves above. I soon became uneasy when I remembered the snake we had seen on that same pathway a couple months earlier. I decided it was time to move on.

Next I came across the front steps of our house. I sat down on the wet brick, and stared off into the rumbling charcoal sky, with the shadows of leaves from the tall eucalyptus trees. I still felt sheltered, under the covered porch, so I left.
I finally came across a haven. A tree sitting at the end of our lawn. A tree with which I saw two young deer prance around a week ago. I climb up the wet bark. (Almost slipping a few times.) I sat there for a time. I watched the clouds envelop the leaves above me, and I watch the whole world around me open up to this unforgiving sky. The crisp wind gently shifted my loose hair across my face. I closed my eyes and leaned back against the damp bark, listening to the dripping of the water around me. I was enclosed in my thoughts and yet I was open. I deserted all of my worries about finishing my homework, or making it on time to a christmas party, and became present in the moment.
Because of emerson, I was allowed to enjoy the world that was forming around me. I sat up in the tree, and watched the day to come to life. I truly value Emerson's ideas about nature as a rejuvenative and distilling entity.

I took these pictures. They portray the nature around my house.

Friendship

"The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one."
I am not a very social person, in fact I do not have a large group of friends, but rather a few close ones. My goal of my friendship experiment, was not only to try and live by Emerson's standards, but also to break out of my comfort zone and attempt to hang out with people I haven't previously spent a lot of time with. At first it was not easy, I felt uncomfortable attempting to step outside of what I was used to, but I was determined to keep trying, and eventually it paid off.
According to Emerson, people must be able to "drop even those undermost garments of dissimulation, courtesy, and second thought." So to begin, I went into this experiment with an open mind, and attempted to drop those walls of not only societal prejudices, but the walls of my self confidence and my inner-most box.
In reading Emerson, I have realized many things about myself. I now know that it is necessary for me to branch out, and drop those undermost garments of self doubt. I have realized the true nature of friends, and have found that I now appreciate my friendships with an even greater sense of value. I have learned that Emerson's knowledge is valuable, and although at times he may seem somewhat preachy about his values, in reality his ideas are valid, and that is important to take into account.
Another time recently that I attempted to live as an Emersonian friend, was when my friend was really depressed about something in her life, and I went to her house, brought her to dinner with me, and took the time to see a movie with her that she really wanted to see. My simple actions proved very valuable, and brought her self-confidence and gratitude, which assisted her to move forward and embrace the new days ahead of her.
Emerson's writing about friendship has inspired me to be a more honest, and caring friend, I have learned that my thoughtful actions can help others in need. As well, this has taught me to step out of my comfort zone and embrace the idea of branching out.

Innocence

The sun shines into the the eye and the heart of the child,
The plump cobalt blackberries cradled in his soft hands
mirroring the pillow-like clouds above.
It is a long day.

The mother's leathery, wrinkled fingers bobbed the sewing needle
up and down along the rough edged seams of his clothes
How could he wonder that some day her
soothing voice would comfort him in times of peril
But for now he is only a lad
So innocent, so carefree, so loving.

Self Reliance

“Nothing is at last sacred, but the integrity of your own mind.” · Do not let the world, and society sway your decisions, stay true to who you are and live by your own decisions. “We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which each of us represent.” · We hide a majority of ourselves in our minds; we often suppress our consciousness, and do not let it speak for ourselves. “What I must do, is all that concerns me, not what people think.” · Do not compare yourself to others, and do not let them sway your decisions. Know your purpose in life. “The centuries are conspirators against the sanity and authority of the soul.” · Time tests peoples integrity, and gives them new challenges to overcome. It tests the true nature and integrity of people’s souls. “Nothing is at last sacred, but the integrity of your own mind.” Nothing speaks truer to the nature of a human being, than their thoughts, and character. Do not become reliant on others to complete your tasks, but instead think for yourself and trust your opinions. Your mind will often give you an honest idea; do not question its authority. Think openly, and let your thoughts free. The only person, who is honest with others, is the only one who is honest with themselves. We must be willing to accept ourselves; our flaws, our perfections, and our ideas. A good man needs to let his thoughts flow, and not restrict them to the depths of their mind. If we constantly leave our thoughts in the hiding, we will become frustrated. Although we are putting ourselves on the line, the only way we will receive anything, is if we voice what we want. We need to be self reliant with our actions and ideas. Those who are successful are the ones who can be contradicted. “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, — that is genius.” The people who are willing to take a stance for what they believe, are the only ones who will ever achieve anything. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, he wanted to see an end to the racial prejudice to all mankind in America. He was honest with himself and with others; he stayed true to his ideas and morals, and never let anyone sway his dreams. Those who are self reliant, are ready to let their ideas take a beating, but they are also willing to share them with others. The sacred nature of your mind is the very nature of the human being. Once you let go or hide these sacred “possessions,” you have let go of your integrity or character. Each person has been given a specific task by God to live on this earth, and to trust your assignment or reason because it will lead you to triumphs. Be true and honest to your mind, even if you are not consistent with what you said the yesterday, “with consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do.” You are betraying your purpose, and not being true and good to yourself. It is necessary to speak your own thoughts, and be truthful to your ideas, because being self-honest is what will lead your soul to many successes.

Gifts

Emerson has strong opinions about the nature of giving and receiving. According to him, gifts should be given as a piece of the giver, and they should not feel complete gratitude, because for another's gain, they must feel a loss. When a gift is given in necessity, it is easy. The only gifts that should be given, are ones that are a piece, or a representation of yourself. "Therefore the poet brings his poem; the shepherd, his lamb; the farmer, corn; the miner, a gem; the sailor, coral and shells; the painter, his picture; the girl, a handkerchief of her own sewing."
In Emerson's eyes, the act of receiving a gift, is itself a major challenge. He states that you should not show too much joy when receiving gifts, because the giver may conclude that you "love his commodity, and not him." He adds social commentary about giving something of necessity to the poor. Emerson believes that the act of charity to the less fortunate, is selfish when the giver receives more gratitude than the receiver. The most striking modern example is that Emerson believes "our tokens of compliment and love are for the most part barbarous. Rings and other jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts." Clearly he believes that the materialistic wants and needs of society, are not simply a gift, but rather the replacement, or apology that you have nothing better to give.
The final idea that Emerson states, is the innate quality that the nature of humans is to condemn society, especially if it does not provide that which we desire. He is supporting the idea that people give to others to make themselves feel good, and that gifts are only sincere if the giver is losing something for another's gain.