10/24 Fort Worth Nature Center

               This week we returned to the Fort Worth nature center to continue our work on the Prairie trail. We had three main objectives. 1) Repair the damaged water bars 2) continue to fill in the eroded trail 3) shovel a thin layer of gravel over the trail. My team had a clearer picture of what the water bars must look like to prevent future erosion to the trail from the rain fall. By the end of the class period we repaired the previous water bars that did not withstand the recent rainfalls and covered the entirety of the trail with gravel to further compact the newly laid ground.

                While repairing the trail I began to ponder the importance of protecting trails such as this. Until this experience I was unaware of the intensive labor that was involved in maintain hiking routes. I merely trekked along the trails that others prepared for me without a second thought. Trails such as this have brought me so much solace over the years. Being out amongst nature has allowed me to take a step outside of myself and reflect on the greater world I am a part of.  I am immensely thankful for those who tirelessly work to provide moments of serenity in nature for us city folk.

                While at work on the trail I took a moment to take in a deep breath and actually breathe. I go throughout each passing day without a passing thought on what surrounds me. I am incredibly task oriented and move from activity to activity without taking a moment to truly use the beautiful gift of sight that I have. I made sure to not allow the time working on the Prairie trail to be another fleeting moment or task. I took a breath and gazed at my surroundings that encompassed tall prairie grass with an array of insects that peered out to observe us the intruders of their serenity. The bug life that I noticed included dragonflies that weaved in and out of our utensils and the surrounding blades of grass and black crickets that decided to join in on our fun and danced around our feet.

                I believe it is critical that we all take a moment to take in our surroundings. I believe the world would be a much better place if people sat back and realized the world is much greater then themselves. I find that taking moments in nature gets me out of the selfish ruts that I sometimes find myself in.