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.