Nicholas Acker Student Choice #4: Wilderness

What is it that attracts me to nature? Some people enjoy connecting with nature and reestablishing those primal dependencies that man has with wilderness. For me, I enjoy surrounding myself with nature for more meditative purposes. In the woods/park/trail, whatever it may be, there are no distractions around me. There is only what was meant to be there, and without the manmade influences to steal my attention my mind is free to think about so much more. I can notice so many more things that the wilderness has to offer and my appreciation for nature continually increases the more time I spend with it. It is more than an escape from the troubles of the economy or my home, nothing else seems to matter except that specific moment in time and it is easier to make the best of the day for the simple things it has to offer. It may be finals week, my time at the university is coming to a close, stress is building; but for a moment in nature I can calm down, my mind at ease in the peaceful surroundings.