Serenity At Last

The majesty of the pristine wilderness and the nature within is a beauty that goes unrecognized, especially in the urban New York lifestyle. As a resident of New York City, living in Queens, and frolicking in the streets and shops of Manhattan, I get homesick unless I’m surrounded by towering skyscrapers and 8 million bustling people. Replace those buildings with trees and the people with insects and the result is a completely different setting.

Walking down the path behind the middle school is a change of pace from the exhausting jog down the trail during cross country. One recognizes the environment for what it is – an immaculate, untouched woods. The path is almost treacherous; not paved for civilization, but preserved by nature. A pause and a rest allows for a break, and self-contemplation with the surroundings. Kneeling to rest, the ground is evidently still wet from the night’s rain. In the clearing above, a single tree already bears the yellow forewarning of autumn. Directly behind Mr. Hahn, a dying tree rots, its bark flaking to expose the secrets concealed within.

Continuing down the trail, we follow a less familiar path, passing secluded houses, seemingly frozen in time by tranquility. Ahead, the sun breaks through and the end is evident. A return to civilization – and the challenges that await.

“I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognized wiser than oneself.” – Marlene Dietrich