The setting in which I selected to spend thirty minutes of my life this weekend was the wooden section that lay beyond the Suffern Free Library. I passed the time sitting on a large gray rock, moved here by a glacier at the end of the Ice Age. It was noon when the clear blue skies with drifting white clouds and a bright, yellow sun decided to come out for the day. I was very self-­conscious and wondered how many people were watching me from the glass windows of the first and second floor of the building. But, I noon got beyond that feeling, as I was gradually consumed by the nature surrounding me and the thoughts that accumulated in my mind as each minute passed by. The setting, I imagined, was similar to the woods Thoreau went to live in deliberately during his adventure at Walden Pond.

I went to the wooded area because I desired to acquire a new perception that would permit me to discover life for what it truly is. As I was pondering, I glanced down as the smallest creature as it carried a bit of lead three times its size off to its nest, reminding me that even the simplest things in life are significant. I heard the sounds of flying birds chirping and observed the quick scampering of squirrels climbing the tree; both animals searching for life giving food. While staring into the woods, I noticed the colors of life: red, orange, yellow, green, and brown within the leaves that were hanging so desperately onto the tree branch. A slight breeze whisked the colorful leaves from the branches and rocked them back and forth, sea sawing them gently to the bed of the leaves on the ground. Brown leaves blanketing the ground have fallen from the branches which are now bare. But, the leaves will not give up their fight easily to stay on the tree branches for one more month. The light provided by the life giving sun begins to dance between the branches of the tree, casting dark shadows on the covered ground below. I feel the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the breeze tickle the skin on my face, hair, and hands as my mind begins to drift away.

Sitting in the wooded area and letting my senses take over my mind, I realized my part in nature’s plan in this world. At first, it was hard for me not to think about my list of duties that I had to accomplish this weekend, including homework, piano practice, and family obligations. I have walked by areas like on my daily mission to live my life of school, piano lessons, and visiting family and friends, but it wasn’t until now that I became fully cognizant of the simple, but true from of life present in these woods. After five minutes, my mind began to wander and my imagination took over. What I thought was wild and solitary was really life that I never had the time to think about. I began to question and examine my life, realizing how lucky I am for what I have: family, comfortable life, good schooling, and friends. I saw the truth in the words of my father’s wisdom, “Learn from everyone and everything that has been taught to you.” Realizing the value of those words, I understand I should be true to myself by living them through my own actions and core beliefs. Although I know I still need lessons in trusting myself, by experiencing different situations, I will discover my true nature. Life is about surviving experiences and gaining knowledge about yourself from doing so.

It was my duty to complete this assignment, but what I came to realize was that the time alone provided me with an experience similar to Thoreau’s. I deliberately told myself not to think about the duties I had to complete before this weekend’s end, as trained by our society’s overscheduled life. The time with myself allowed me to come to the realization that my life is controlled by details and the ticking of the clock’s time. This time spent took me out of myroutine and gave me a chance to pause and think about something other than my typical life. My life probably won’t change, but for that half hour, I experienced change.