As I am sitting at my home desk, I notice that I have many distractions that can take away from the natural settings that we are all supposed to enjoy and take in as humans.  I’m currently typing on my laptop computer while scrolling my Facebook and Instagram apps open on my iPhone resting next to me. With every keystroke and move of my wireless mouse, my Baltimore Orioles Chris Davis bobble head gives me a slight nod, and behind me, my flatscreen TV is delivering the news of basketball great Kobe Bryant’s death and the impeachment of Donald Trump.  As I sit here and contemplate the implications of this absorption of technology and information on my brain and stress levels, I have a hard time wondering why I care so much and why I should ever overexpose myself to this.  I can’t help but have some overwhelming feelings of anxiety, stress, and overstimulation with all of this exposure.  On the other hand, my feelings lean towards being glad that I have the information that I need to stay current in our fast-paced, social and professional environment. 

I’ve always been an outdoor enthusiast, so the second part of our assignment, “An hour outside”, seemed to be an easy and much approachable task for me.  For my hour outside, I chose to go to one of my favorite local places which is the Maryland side of Great Falls Park.  Although it was mildly cold, Great Falls never seems to disappoint.  Once in the park, the trailheads and information centers offer information that is extremely helpful to the many visitors that frequent the park on a daily basis.  As my fiancé and I journeyed along some of the trails, we came across some of the bigger falls that the park had to offer. The mist, the sounds, and sense of power that came from the larger falls were exhilarating, refreshing, and humbling all at the same time.  As we trekked forward down the Potomac riverside, it wasn’t hard to miss the wildlife that is extensive in the area.  From large Snapping Turtles, Bald Eagles, Blue Herons, Beavers, and unidentified lizards, we were able to feel as if we were out of the craziness that is Washington, D.C.  Once home and my time at the falls was over, I felt as if I had been able to breathe and clear my thoughts for the first time in a long time.

Throughout my life, I have been able and fortunate enough to surround myself with environments that have taught me the importance of taking advantage of the opportunities that they present.  I’ve lived in the mountains of Colorado, the Hawaiian Islands, grew up on the Chesapeake Bay, and spent some amazing years on the shores of the Mississippi River.  This experience has been interesting for me because it made me have introspective thoughts about mental health, social media, electronic information, and how easy it is to forget about what is really important at the end.  What I’ve learned from this experience is something that was not a major shock to me… spending time in nature and away from social media and news sources is freeing and good for the soul.