Growing up, I have always had the privilege of being surrounded by nature. Some of my best childhood memories are from a time when I was homeschooled, the environment acting as one of my largest resources for learning. This allowed me to explore and express myself through the land around me, using the surrounding wildlife as a way to build and expand my imagination.
Living in a small town, on a quiet back road surrounded by trees and wildlife might have been the dream for my younger self, but I have come to realize that with time, and a fading imagination, I tend to take all of it for granted. It’s only when I take a moment to imagine what it would be like to live in a crowded city that I am brought back to my senses.
Currently I live in Tunbridge, Vermont. It’s one of those towns that people get confused about and ask “where's that?” Which is fair, considering how small it is. My house is surrounded by trees, and a small stream runs through our lawn. I have spent many hours mentally mapping secret spots or the perfect places to build forts in our forest. Where and where not to start fires. To me, nature acts as an escape from the rest of the world. Taking long walks through the woods helps me clear my mind. I enjoy closing my eyes and listening to all of the sounds, or taking time to smell the rotting wood from a fallen tree. Our lawn is filled with flower gardens, and I like spending time walking around them, listening to my dad talk about the different species of bees, butterflies, and other insects that live there.
I think of myself as more of an observer, rather than a speaker. Nature being a subject of interest, I often find myself staring out windows or imagining what it would be like to live in such a large world as a small animal. Spending my childhood surrounded by nature has really spoiled me and I have discovered that when I take just a few minutes to look around, and really appreciate the land and environment that surrounds me, I feel extremely grateful to have the opportunity to live in such a beautiful, comforting place like Vermont.