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Just Swinging by

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Submitted By rhysyoung
Words 1049
Pages 5
Rhys Young
Michelle Britt
English 100
12, September, 2012
Just Swinging By I was just swinging by the bench swing near the amphitheater when I remembered sitting there not too long ago and that I was going to write an essay about that spot. Our class was journaling in the blistering heat writing about that specific area’s feel, noises, sights, smells and even the tastes. Whether these observations were physical or metaphorical it did not matter. This spot is one of the most beautiful and relaxing locations on campus in my opinion and has more meaning than one might imagine. A few of my observations can be related back to the demanding and lavished American culture that we live in, environmental issues, and the modern world as a whole. These connections might seem cryptic but they are important connections nonetheless. This spot on campus is beautiful. Sitting and swinging on the bench swing overlooking the small lake with the sun beaming and reflecting off of the still water is quite a sight. The smell of the grass, water, and plants is nice. There are plants and bushes surrounding this lake but the opening in front of the swing is just enough to enjoy the entire area. I was fortunate enough to see various wildlife in the area. I saw a turtle poking its head out of the water for some air. There was some type of bird going for a swim and various insects crawling and flying around the area. They definitely know that this is the place to be. However, There is much more than meets the eye at this location. Seeing these different critters thriving and enjoying life at this spot makes one ponder about how humans and American culture has assimilated into natures system. One might believe we are being intrusive and disrespectful to nature and in most cases that is correct. Despite that, seeing something like this in the middle of a university of all places where American culture is so deeply rooted in everything gives me hope. Environmentalism is an ever expanding field that is necessary for the continuation of the entire world and what is more important for some, American’s way of life. Modern Americans tend to get caught up in their routines and technologies. As I was sitting there, I cannot tell you how many people I saw walking by me like zombies staring at their precious iPhones. I even heard some kid talking to a friend about how he was about to go get high and play some video games. This made me chuckle but it was sad because they did not know what they were missing out on at that moment. The visual aspect of this location and what I witnessed swing by me that day, made me feel connected to nature and disconnected from American culture in a way I had not experienced in what feels like too long. The sheer beauty and visual appeal of this place was not the only observation that I made. As I sat and swung on the bench I felt the heat from the sun and the humidity of the air all over my body. I was able to ignore the uncomfortableness of the heat and humidity because of the breeze from swinging and the elegance of the location. I touched my pencil to my paper and was writing many observations. I felt the lead from my mechanical pencil slowly disappearing as a swiftly wrote. The led then snapped and shot off into the grass as I must have been writing to intensely. This made me think again of the environment and how humans affect it. One could compare the dwindling of the lead to the environment and nature as a whole where humans are the main reason for any type of loss or misuse. This is not to say that writing with pencil is a sin or anything, the connection is what matters. American culture has developed a somewhat wasteful, living large, unappreciative way of doing things. The world cannot sustain this lifestyle and culture forever without drastic change or huge technological breakthroughs. The world and mainly America or other developed countries and cultures need to keep this in mind. I believe these countries have become more focused on environmental knowledge, awareness, and protection over recent years. However, more must be done because It is necessary for the future of all animals, environments, and cultures. The last observation I made or realization I had was when I was finished writing and I took a sip from my Gatorade bottle. It was so refreshing and extremely tasty after sitting in the sun for a while. I was in aw at the amazingness and flavor of this drink. It was still a little chilled and it was one of my favorite flavors, fierce grape. The flavor stained my mouth for a long time, which is not a bad thing. I was quenched now and was looking at the bottle of Gatorade in my hand. The label design seems to change all the time but anyways it brought me back to environmental issues when I started thinking about the materials involved in the making of this divine liquid. Plastic is a highly used resource and even though it is limited I know recycling is huge at UNCW and is becoming the norm around the world and America. This gave me hope for humanity and for the continued existence of our world. After realizing this I felt like I did not give humans enough credit for making environmentalism a more standard and regular concept and way of life. Nevertheless, it is still an issue and my experience at this swing reopened my eyes. We cannot just swing through life without realizing what is surrounding us and how we are affecting the world. Especially for American culture this is huge for the prolonging of our lavish life style. Observing the nature and surroundings of this the swing turned out to be something that meant a lot to me. In the world and American culture today there are an endless number of distractions that are easy to become absorbed in. As you swing through life the little things are frequently what you need to be concerned with.

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