Finding My Place

Katy Pelchy
Finding My Place
Experience of a Natural Setting

When thinking on the trip to the Nolan Trail, a discussion from class comes to mind involving the experience of an environment through driving by in a car versus the experience through walking. I had never given this concept any consideration or serious thought beforehand; however, upon thinking of the differing experiences, I discovered that it was sadly true. The drive to the Nolan Trail took us past many panoramic and beautiful views that touched me and left me inwardly exclaiming over the beauty of the place.
Nonetheless, the experience was entirely different when I was standing on the edge of the very river we had viewed and passed in the van. When viewing the river from the van, I admired and exclaimed over its beauty, but when I stood on its shore, I found myself wholly permeated and overwhelmed by it. The feeling was completely alien from that which I had in the car. It was deeper, more meaningful, and depended up an active personal connection with the place rather than a passive viewing.
Standing on the grass, looking out over an expanse of moving water that dominated my vision, I was awestruck at the enormity of it. I had never seen a river so massive, and it left a permanent impression on me. My scope of the world was realigned in terms of scale, and so my place in it was reconfigured as well. One small life could not compare to something so ancient and thriving, and so I found myself humbled by the river's very presence.
I never would have experienced this with a simple passing through, for to be moved by something one must immerse oneself in it and become a part of it. I discovered my own place in the river that day, and realized how insignificant a part I was.