Why I Need Wild


Over the course of this semester, I have realized that I do need wild spaces, but more importantly, I need to find them in my everyday life. It is easy to think of “wild” as something far away or something you have to travel to experience, but I have started to see that it does not have to be a flight away.

Spending time outside, whether at the nature center or on my own, made me more aware of how different I feel in a natural environment. It forces me to slow down, and I notice things I would normally overlook. One place that really represents this for me is Crested Butte, Colorado, which I included a photo of because it is my happy place. Being on a hike there, surrounded by mountains and open space, I feel more present and clear minded. It is one of the few times where I am not thinking about everything I have to do or checking my phone, I am just there.

That feeling is why I think I need wild. It is not about escaping life, but about bringing that same sense of presence into my day-to-day life. Even when I am not somewhere like Crested Butte, smaller moments outside can still have that impact. Now at the end of the semester, I have realized that wild spaces matter not just because of the environment, but because of what they do for us. They give us space to slow down, reset, and feel more connected.

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