01 My Quiet Place: Trinity Trails, Fort Worth TX

 

The location that I decided to choose for my quiet place this semester is Trinity Trails in Fort Worth. This outdoor spot is not new to me, however, after thinking about a few different options I could choose from I realized that the Trails were the perfect spot for me to come back to often for this course. Throughout my previous three years at TCU, Trinity Trails has been a place where I often go to run and walk and I have always had positive experiences there. Running has always been one of my favorite hobbies as well as an outlet that I use to relax, reflect, and get myself in a great mood so therefore, Trinity Trails is the perfect quiet place for me.

Trinity Trails is made up of over 100 miles of walking, running, or biking trails that run alongside the Trinity River through Fort Worth. As mentioned, I previously have utilized the Trails primarily for running, but today I paid much closer attention to my surroundings and all that this location has to offer. The first thing I noticed about the Trails was how peaceful they were. Even though I encountered many other people running, walking, and biking on the trail, there was still a sense of quietness and serenity. The other big takeaway that I noticed was all of the different sounds of the area. While running, I usually keep my headphones on and music blasting, however, after ending my run today I spent an extra 30 minutes cooling down and sitting on a bench in silence. It was interesting to take in all of the different sounds around me including the wind, bugs and insects, birds, gravel, and trees. Overall, taking the extra time out of my day to further enjoy the outdoors in my quiet place was relaxing and meditative and I am excited to spend more time enjoying nature at the Trinity Trails and other locations throughout this semester.