Kaile Judge - Walking in the Woods Reflection - Class Oct 27

Walking in the woods, with the trees, the creatures big and small, and the vibrant colored foliage. Wondering aimlessly, breathing in the crisp cool fall air, letting it fill your lungs fully so they can feel anew, fresh, and pure with the sweet wilderness air; listening to the slow and steady crash of waves along the rocks, you know the water is breathing in and out with you. A bird passes overhead, its head pointed straight, wings flapping calming and gracefully, its legs behind and toes pointed, like a beautiful majestic ballerina of the sky, so lovely and effortless looking. Moving along the cleanly blazed trail, a tree knows you're coming and waves hello, the leaves swaying back and forth, welcoming you home. 

Carefully choosing my steps along the trail, walking over sticks and past fallen trees. Stopping at a log that obstructs the path, there is a long line of ants. They were here first, do you yield to them and wait for them to cross, or do you step on them like they do not matter. Are they even a "they"? or are they simply little things that do not mean a thing to anyone? 

Before going back, turn to see the water; this part is calmer than before, besides the jumping fish's ripples. The dead fallen tree in the water is now giving life to small fish, keeping them safe from predators. The dead tree nearby that has not yet lost its battle to a gust of wind is standing crimpled on the land. This tree gives life to spider webs and snail nests. The tree died because of vines refusing to release their suffocating grip. Looking around, you see how each part of this world gives and takes from each other in a lovely yet also terrifying way. The tree is a new home, but the storms and the vines are only out to kill. The war in this place is a complex one, yet somehow the most beautiful. 

Walking back from where you came, you look up and see the trees' height towering overhead. At first, marveling at their height and strength, but staring longer and really realizing their height and strength. They are towering, protecting the creatures of the wilderness, and offering a home to the creatures of the sky. They are the guardians of this vast terrain. These massive beings know more than any human could ever imagine. They welcome you into their world but cover their roots with poison ivy as a gentle reminder that you are welcome to look but not to touch, not to harm, or take for yourself. 

Seeing the openness, peoples voices, the sound of the waves breathing on the rocks, and the cars passing by. The world we are familiar with is now among us, and we have left our home but will soon return. For it knows us now, and we have started listening to them; the ants, the trees, the water, and even the dead leaves. They are alive, they are beings, they are all lovely creatures that care and protect one another, setting an example for how the world really should be. The most magnificent part of these beings is that they do all this without saying a single word.