08 Listening to the Sounds of Nature: Trinity Trails & My Porch, Fort Worth TX

A few weeks ago Dr. Dan gave us the assignment to go outside and listen to the sounds of nature, as Edward Abbey often did. Abbey's experiences doing this are a little unique, however, because of the fact that he doesn't just hear ordinary sounds but rather hears voices. Although I failed to hear the same "voices" as Abbey while outdoors last week, my experiences of closely listening to the sounds and noises around me were still very enlightening and enjoyable.

Last weekend was a great one for me because my mom was able to fly down from Massachusetts to come visit. We planned to spend our few days relaxing, just getting to spend some time together and take some time away from school and work. What better way to do this, I thought, than spending some time outside and in nature. I was able to take my mom to a few of my favorite places around Fort Worth including the Clearfork Farmers Market and Trinity Trails, and we also got to enjoy a couple of mornings on my porch. Throughout the weekend, I tried a little harder to focus my attention on the sounds around me.

Our Saturday together was spent at the Farmer's Market and walking the Trinity Trails. I was super excited to show her these places because they have brought me lots of joy and peace this semester. My mom loved the Farmer's Market and we even picked out a few handmade candles to take home with us. She was also a big fan of the Trinity Trails and wished we had something just like it back home for her to walk our dog at.

Throughout our day spent by the river, I tried to listen to the sounds around me. I heard the typical sounds that you would expect: wind, gravel crunching beneath your feet, tree branches rustling, but the one thing that stood out to me even more so was the people. 

The Saturday I spent on the Trinity with my mom was one of the busiest days I had ever experienced on the trails. It seemed like they were filled with people walking and biking, all laughing and talking amongst their friends and families. These were the voices and sounds that most caught my attention. It was such a beautiful sight, seeing so many people smiling and enjoying the perfect day outside. 

The next day, my mom and I had the most ideal Sunday morning ever. We got up early, something I do not frequently do, and drank our morning coffee on the porch. Here I got the chance to enjoy the quiet, serene, and rainy morning. 

Never before had I realized how peaceful my street could actually be. I was able to wake up before the rest of my neighborhood did and got to enjoy the relaxing sounds of the morning without any distraction from other people or cars. I heard early birds chipping and the soothing patter of the rain off our roof. This was one of the most therapeutic mornings that I've had at TCU. It was nice to slow down, take in everything around me, and spend some time in nature.

Overall, I had an amazing weekend with my mom, showing her some of my favorite outdoor places around Fort Worth and paying closer attention to what was around me. By focusing my efforts on noticing the sounds of nature, I was better able to take in and appreciate my surroundings.