I Love the Rain

 It has been a remarkably wet start to the weekend so far, and I am loving it. Although the rain may be inconvenient at times, it serves a important purpose as nourishment for the environment. Sometimes when I go for a walk after a rainfall, I can imagine the soil soaking up the water and the sound of the birds starting to fill the air. Rain is a miraculous sight and yet so commonplace that we don't give it a second thought. The idea that water is falling on our heads from clouds 6,000 feet above our heads is incomprehensible to me. 

Wet grass outside a local Starbucks

As I sit in a Starbucks writing this post, I wish I was running in the rain. I wish I could look up and see the clouds from which the rain originates. I am reminded of childhood when we would jump in puddles and lay on the sidewalk, basking in our serenity and harmony with the Earth. As a college student, it is hard to find these moments where I can simply let go of my responsibilities to fully live in a moment. I feel like I am always caught up in obligations, and then perpetually chasing these miraculous moments that have long past. I prioritize finishing an assignment or a night-out rather than immersing myself in the beauty of the wilderness. 

Over the course of this semester, I have developed a greater appreciation for the outside world. I feel a deeper responsibility to protect the environment from my own impact and those around me. I am committed to giving my time and physical labor to restoring the environment through clean-ups, volunteering, etc. I want to inform people of the importance of conservation, showing them the works of Abbey and Standing Bear. Thank you to Dr. Williams for designing this class and transforming my perspective on what it means to be a naturalist.