09 Following the Path of the Trees: TCU, Fort Worth TX
After our discussion last week on Thoreau's Walking and his desire to "walk" without a destination, I was inspired to do the same. I usually am a lot more deliberate about where I walk, setting out a clear plan of where I will go, whether it be around campus, on the Trinity, or somewhere else. Today however, I set out with no plan and let my surroundings guide my path.
It was the perfect day for a walk. The sun was shining brightly, it was a warm 90 degrees, and there was a slight breeze. It was the most beautiful types of days. As I left my house and started walking towards TCU, another aspect of our class discussion popped into my mind: the many trees on campus.
I walked down the street from my house until I reached the outskirts of TCU. As I continued walking, I found myself being guided by the campus trees. Rather than deciding what direction I would walk on my own, I allowed myself to focus more on the trees and go in whatever direction their branches took me.
I found myself taking lots of photos and videos of the many different trees that I passed, and noticed very soon just how many trees we had on campus, they are endless! Like Kennedy had brought up in her blog last week, it didn't matter where I was on campus, everywhere I looked I could see countless trees in every direction.
Another thing I realized on my walk while focusing on the trees was how beautiful the sunlight was shining through the branches. I took so many videos as I passed by and under all of the trees, in order to capture my experience better and be able to share it with you all. Video has always been a creative outlet for me, so getting to spend my afternoon enjoying nature and using film to capture it was very enjoyable. Here is a little edit of the videos I took because I feel like my words could not capture the magical and serene feeling of watching the light flares peak through the leaves and branches...
By not having a set destination in mind on my walk today, I was able to discover things that I may have not have stumbled upon otherwise. Overall, letting my surroundings guide my path was a more unique experience than what I was used to. I felt immersed in the moment, able to notice more than usual, and had a very pleasant afternoon walking with no destination.
Your photos, video, and narrative are wonderful and fun. Thanks for posting. By not having a destination, and with nothing to do by observe, you definitely approached HDT''s concept of immersion, as he described it in "Walking." That's really hard to do for most people, especially for those of us living in urban areas. Good for you.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoy going through campus and looking at the wide variety of trees that constantly surround us on our walks to class. The many colors and animals that can be found among the trees truly adds a layer of vibrancy to the campus that makes it feel more welcoming.
ReplyDelete