Nature Journal 1

As I made my way out of Sadler Hall and onto TCU’s campus, I took in the nature around me. It was a windy day with clouds moving quickly across the sky, and students swarmed the sidewalks on their way to their next classes. I noticed the oak trees lining the walkways, accompanied by neatly groomed purple tulips that had been carefully planted along my path. I heard a bird squawk and looked up to see a group of crows flying from tree to tree and hopping along the grass below. At the same time, I couldn’t ignore the sounds of nearby traffic and the ticking of the crosswalk signals—sounds that often make it easy for me to drown out the quieter noises of nature.

I love spending time outside, whether that’s here in Fort Worth along the Trinity Trail, in my childhood backyard in Houston, in the mountains of Colorado, or in other places I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to. One of my favorite pastimes is going on long walks, and I always try to reach 10,000 steps a day. I’m especially excited for this class because I often walk with my headphones in, unintentionally distancing myself from the natural environment around me. Even when I’m outside, I’m not always fully present.

Being outdoors grounds me in a way that indoor spaces can’t. There’s something calming about fresh air, open space, and natural movement that feels like an escape. However, I would be remiss not to acknowledge that my generation’s relationship with the outdoors is very different than generations before us. Technology constantly competes for our attention, making it easier to be physically outside while mentally elsewhere. This brief walk reminded me how valuable intentional engagement with nature can be and how much we gain by simply listening and being present.