Anonymous
An hour outside isn’t too unordinary for me; taking the bus and walking everywhere has normalized me to being outside. Being outside and free of anthropogenic audio-visual information is a bit more uncommon, as I usually listen to music to make time pass faster. Being outside and far from the sounds of streets and people is very rare – the last time I’ve truly been far from modern civilization was back during high school Girl Scouts.
The recent snow is a sight for sore eyes – I love how bright its reflection turns the night. The snow cloud coverage makes everything feel closed in as if I was the only one awake. The cold air feels refreshing on my skin, but the winds have a bite to them.
The isolated feeling I get from the outside helps facilitate my thoughts. The scene before me serves not to distract, but to enhance my thought process. Time feels slower – I don’t feel rushed or pressed to go from one place to another.
As I head back from Daniels Run Park, the atmosphere seems to abruptly flip back to normal. Fast walking people, loud running cars, and no more untouched snow. I don’t mind – this is the ‘outdoors’ I’m more used to – but I do miss the quiet and serene from before.
Being immersed in different media is something that’s the same as being awake for me. My classes are online, my friends are online, and my entertainment is online. An hour of being on my computer feels like such a short period. If time stops when I’m outside, then it flies when I’m on my computer. There’s so much to do, and all of it is actively engaging. I’ll open up Discord and join a voice call while working on assignments for class. I’ll hop between playing a few matches of League of Legends to hosting a private Stardew Valley server for friends. I’ll automate spreadsheets while grinding out stages in Fate/Grand Order. I’ll play a few songs in Stepmania or Muse Dash to maintain my skill level, then open up Hades to try and beat my previous best. If my friend group is feeling a bit too tired for faster gameplay, I’ll load up Jackbox 7 so we can play Champ’d Up. I’ll shop on Etsy for fan-merch, and browse eBay for sales on figures. I’ll go through Sally’s Baking Addiction’s entire catalog to find recipes to try out. I’ll use Photoshop to illustrate and create inside jokes for friends and browse r/wsb with a friend for investment memes. I’ll work on my daily Japanese flashcards while writing blog entries for native speakers to correct. I’ll shop for cosplay prop parts while designing the blueprints in Illustrator.
And all of this cycles and loops. I always have something to do. And I never feel busy or overwhelmed, but time does seem to go so much faster when I’m enjoying myself. The reason I love video games is the personal achievement aspect of it – I’m always trying to be better than I was yesterday. That mindset spreads into other aspects of my life; I’m always trying harder and harder at everything I do. Media consumption doesn’t need to be brainlessly watching television as McKibben described in his book – it can be productive and engaging. There’s some bad to this – most students my age might be much more easily distracted if not working on an engaging task. It’s hard to downgrade the level that we buzz at. But I prefer a generation that wants to do more than one that wants to do less.
Enjoyment of the outdoors is most fulfilling for the generation that spends its time in the opposite environment. There is an appropriate balance between faster and slower-paced environments, and neglecting either one won’t lead to a life as fulfilling as it could be. For individuals like myself who live and breathe online, taking time to appreciate the outdoors is one of the best things we can do for ourselves.