Walk to the Arboretum

I took myself from Erie Hall to the Arboretum on the south side of campus. On my walk there, I let myself feel the wind on my face and the sun beat down on my neck. For so long the air has been cold and unforgiving, but that is not the case today. Instead of growing irritated with the sweat beads that formed on my face, I embraced them as a sign of summer and the promise of warmth to come. I felt the concrete path under my feet and observed the squirrels storing food in their cheeks and I heard the noises of some birds that have come back for the summer months.

The Arboretum

I am writing under the protection of the gazebo provided for the individuals who choose to turn to nature. I am alone here but a sense of loneliness does not accompany me. The carvings in the table tell tales of students who made memories in this place. Missing floorboards suggest a well-loved area with heavy foot traffic. Bees find themselves in the corners of the gazebo, with hives large and small tucked into the wood. While I am unsure of the life left in the hives, the hives are evidence of a live that was once lived.

The Tree

On my walk into the Arboretum, I noticed a tree with a glove that was placed on a broken branch. I began to think about what life would mean if humans did not find the Earth as a habitat. I found the glove to be proof of human existence and the marriage between humans and nature. I am interested in the relationship between humans and the tree in a deep way. It is not a secret that trees would continue to survive without the existence of the human species. But, what would life be like without trees? Without trees, human life would not exist as it is. I am unsure of what life may look like without trees, but I know trees would continue to thrive without the need for people. The relationship between humans and nature is one-sided, yet humans rarely stop to acknowledge our very existence.

The Glove

When I saw the glove I was upset by the disrespect someone placed upon the tree. However, as I began to think deeper, I began to understand the glove. The glove is proof of a relationship between nature and humans. Humans use gloves to care and provide for the life that thrives around us. The glove is proof of care, and in some ways, an offering given to nature. Often, spiritual offerings are signs of gratitude and thankfulness for a higher power that cares for human existence. But, what if the glove is an offering? I view the glove as an offering to a higher being that cares for our existence, even if we don’t always acknowledge this fact.

Nature

This project has allowed me to connect with nature on a deeper level. After class, I came into nature to find something meaningful to say about it. However, I realize that meaning does not have to be deep. Instead, a simple understanding of nature can lead to a gratitude for the things it provides. Ultimately, I view nature as a higher being that acts as a hand of care. The fact is simple: humans would not exist without the life that grows around us.