Simon Robson Blog 4- Student Chosen Topic - Listen to the Calling

 Today I headed out to the Noland trail for a run and for some fresh air. Since the beginning of this class I have started to realize how unhealthy my lifestyle has become since the beginning of quarantine; both mentally and physically. I have been actively trying to get out of my house more as a result of the knowledge and awareness that this class has brought me. I have also begun to feel a calling. I still don’t know exactly what the calling is. I feel as though it is just a beckoning from the outdoors. A call to hiking, or camping or kayaking. Just something more than what little experience I have with natural things these days. This calling was especially strong the day after we watched the film “Flow” in class. I read a trail journal about this woman who felt as though the Appalachian Trail was calling her. I have to wonder if this could be a calling from the Appalachian Trail as well. I love the idea of it. I just don’t know if I am prepared for that at all. I think it could be very beneficial to me though. In the past 6 months I have experienced loss, loneliness, a lot of change and not much sense of direction. Maybe a journey like this could help me deal  with a lot of this stuff in a better way and find my way. 

Either way I find myself now trying to be among nature and whatever else may be out there with me. Today as I ran on the Noland Trail I noticed a sign that I can’t remember exactly what it said but it was something to the effect of “Today I find myself taller as I walk among the trees.” I really like this quote and found that it rang true for me. Not literally, but figuratively I felt a bigger person because of my small interaction here with the earth and my attempt to be present with it. When I feel connected with the natural world I feel connected to something greater than I am and therefore feel greater myself. As I walked and ran through the woods, among the trees and next to the water, I felt a relief in me. I looked around and saw so much creation there that was only such a small part of the whole world, nonetheless the whole universe. It told me that there is a power that is above everything else and it does unfathomable things. While it made me feel somewhat insignificant it also made me feel as though I am deliberate and no matter what, things will always work out how they are supposed to. 

As I move through life every day I just need to remember to go out and have these connections and experiences in order to keep things in perspective. The past months have been hard on many people, but there are ways that we can fight this and keep these struggles manageable. As I work on responding to this calling I will continue to try to get outside, find new adventures, go on hikes and connect with the natural things around me. This class has really shown me the importance of this and this knowledge has already manifested itself as useful. 

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