Tuesday, November 11, 2014
This past weekend I had the opportunity to help chaperon the 5K run around campus, which did not mean I just stood and watched to make sure no one got hurt. The team and I had volunteered our Saturday morning, right before our Alumni game, to have water stations set up and go through the course encouraging everyone in the 5K. We had also raised money by selling string bags with the logo on it for $10 to $20 each. Other than keeping a good attitude everything came naturally and wasn't really work but rather fun. What was most rewarding was probably seeing the people participating in the race finish, though I didn't run the race for them, something about being involved in the backstage where no one really knows what you did which gives a "similar" feeling to watching someone open their surprise present from their secret Santa. It's the overwhelming urge to tell them everything and the will to let it be and that being enough for you to do it again, whatever it is.
Antonio Grant
Freshman Seminar
Analysis Paper
October 31, 2014
In Richard Louv's book published in 2005, "Last Child in the Woods," Author Louv's hypothesis is that human beings, in particular children, are spending more time indoors and less time outdoors resulting in a wide spectrum of behavioral problems which manifests in mental, physical, and spiritual discord. Mr.. Louv calls this nature deficit disorder, which seems a bit excessive because in that case most of the world is suffering from this "disorder." Which then puts into question Richard Louv himself, when looking from the outside in it seems as though Richard Louv isn't any different from anyone else. Since he has published a book, we can assume he has received a sufficient education and because he is a writer, we can assume that he spends a lot of days and nights to himself. Further more since his thesis is on nature, he probably spent his time in the woods searching for inspiration, which can also explain the reasoning behind the title for his book, when he felt as if he were the "Last Child in the Woods." Finally using personal experience while referencing his previous education and the research he did himself, Mr.. Louv formulated a solid and safe theory. Logical enough not to stir up controversy and clear enough to seem to be the first to introduce this proposal by giving a label, nature deficit disorder. Now I'm not positioning myself against Richard Louv, it is important to analyze not only every detail of the intel but where this intel is coming from as well. To a certain extent Mr.. Louv is correct, the only correction that is necessary is the dissolution of the medical term nature deficit disorder.
The way I see it is that most people are so caught up with trying to find themselves in others on the same journey, when in fact one needs to create themselves from within. I realize giving something a label as Mr.. Louv did is necessary, but I say leave that to the doctors and in the medical realm. Once we talk person to person and not robot to person then labels are not needed in order to become a better version of ourselves. A lot of people are dying in this world, fewer people are actually living and this is because we as a species have created a variety of distractions from spending any time with ourselves. We all knowing very well that there is no everlasting fulfillment in these distractions, but many fool themselves anyway all for nothing. Mr.. Louv essentially is just saying the same thing, that we need to get in touch with our true selves which involves getting away from it all and completely change where you are so you can more easily change blossom into who you want to become. How convenient that the tools to do such as daring task can be found in nature, reminder that I said "tools" though it is not necessary to dive into the wilderness, participating with earth will make one's metamorphosis simpler, by no means will it be easier though. Basically the end goal is the same, what will make each one of us unique is how we get there.
Through out many of the readings in Biophilia, there are plenty of examples that show the enlightenment found in nature. "The physical surroundings inclined youngsters toward an awe of nature." (Wilson, The Serpent) In this small quote Wilson clearly expresses his belief in the beauty of nature and how easy it is to inspire that same love in children. "The Earth with its layers of land and water and air provides the space within which all living things are nurtured and the context within which humans attain their identity." (Berry, Evening Thoughts) Once again their seems to be a common theme with these authors, concluding that Earth has been placed here for us in order for us to become who we were always meant to be.
Time is definitely the most valuable currency out there, and we are all running out of it. In order to be successful in all aspects of life people need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Their are 24 hours in a day and a third of that time is spent looking at a screen whether it be for work, school, media, that's time that could be spent on yourself because no one is coming to save your life from you. Richard Louv has generously given the world another reminder of what's important, and if we come together on this rather than waiting for another external reminder, then we can without a doubt overcome many issues that nature deficit disorder ties into. The solution to this are our children, the sooner we are able to integrate "nature" into there lives the better, we can prevent this issue from even rising, abolishing the term, nature deficit disorder, from the medical books. Unfortunately it's harder to teach an old dog new tricks, this proves not only biologically but in everyday audiences. That's why it's to change the minds of people to see something the way another does because at a certain age people only want to hear what they already believe, no matter right or wrong, good or bad. This is part of their journey in realizing themselves and what they stand for and why, once someone knows their why and are willing to die for it then comes acting upon it, but this will never come to reality unless Richard Louv's proposal of more outdoor experience comes to be a standard for everyone.
Louv, Richard. Interview by Steve Inskeep. Saving Kids from 'Nature Deficit Disorder'. May 25, 2005. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4665933. Accessed October 23, 2014.
Strayer, Robert. Ways of the World: A Brief Global History. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's. 2009.
Wilson, Edward O. Biophilia. The Serpent. October 31, 2014.
Freshman Seminar
Analysis Paper
October 31, 2014
The Human Race for Humanity
In Richard Louv's book published in 2005, "Last Child in the Woods," Author Louv's hypothesis is that human beings, in particular children, are spending more time indoors and less time outdoors resulting in a wide spectrum of behavioral problems which manifests in mental, physical, and spiritual discord. Mr.. Louv calls this nature deficit disorder, which seems a bit excessive because in that case most of the world is suffering from this "disorder." Which then puts into question Richard Louv himself, when looking from the outside in it seems as though Richard Louv isn't any different from anyone else. Since he has published a book, we can assume he has received a sufficient education and because he is a writer, we can assume that he spends a lot of days and nights to himself. Further more since his thesis is on nature, he probably spent his time in the woods searching for inspiration, which can also explain the reasoning behind the title for his book, when he felt as if he were the "Last Child in the Woods." Finally using personal experience while referencing his previous education and the research he did himself, Mr.. Louv formulated a solid and safe theory. Logical enough not to stir up controversy and clear enough to seem to be the first to introduce this proposal by giving a label, nature deficit disorder. Now I'm not positioning myself against Richard Louv, it is important to analyze not only every detail of the intel but where this intel is coming from as well. To a certain extent Mr.. Louv is correct, the only correction that is necessary is the dissolution of the medical term nature deficit disorder.
The way I see it is that most people are so caught up with trying to find themselves in others on the same journey, when in fact one needs to create themselves from within. I realize giving something a label as Mr.. Louv did is necessary, but I say leave that to the doctors and in the medical realm. Once we talk person to person and not robot to person then labels are not needed in order to become a better version of ourselves. A lot of people are dying in this world, fewer people are actually living and this is because we as a species have created a variety of distractions from spending any time with ourselves. We all knowing very well that there is no everlasting fulfillment in these distractions, but many fool themselves anyway all for nothing. Mr.. Louv essentially is just saying the same thing, that we need to get in touch with our true selves which involves getting away from it all and completely change where you are so you can more easily change blossom into who you want to become. How convenient that the tools to do such as daring task can be found in nature, reminder that I said "tools" though it is not necessary to dive into the wilderness, participating with earth will make one's metamorphosis simpler, by no means will it be easier though. Basically the end goal is the same, what will make each one of us unique is how we get there.
Through out many of the readings in Biophilia, there are plenty of examples that show the enlightenment found in nature. "The physical surroundings inclined youngsters toward an awe of nature." (Wilson, The Serpent) In this small quote Wilson clearly expresses his belief in the beauty of nature and how easy it is to inspire that same love in children. "The Earth with its layers of land and water and air provides the space within which all living things are nurtured and the context within which humans attain their identity." (Berry, Evening Thoughts) Once again their seems to be a common theme with these authors, concluding that Earth has been placed here for us in order for us to become who we were always meant to be.
Time is definitely the most valuable currency out there, and we are all running out of it. In order to be successful in all aspects of life people need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Their are 24 hours in a day and a third of that time is spent looking at a screen whether it be for work, school, media, that's time that could be spent on yourself because no one is coming to save your life from you. Richard Louv has generously given the world another reminder of what's important, and if we come together on this rather than waiting for another external reminder, then we can without a doubt overcome many issues that nature deficit disorder ties into. The solution to this are our children, the sooner we are able to integrate "nature" into there lives the better, we can prevent this issue from even rising, abolishing the term, nature deficit disorder, from the medical books. Unfortunately it's harder to teach an old dog new tricks, this proves not only biologically but in everyday audiences. That's why it's to change the minds of people to see something the way another does because at a certain age people only want to hear what they already believe, no matter right or wrong, good or bad. This is part of their journey in realizing themselves and what they stand for and why, once someone knows their why and are willing to die for it then comes acting upon it, but this will never come to reality unless Richard Louv's proposal of more outdoor experience comes to be a standard for everyone.
Works Cited
Berry, Thomas. Evening Thoughts. Reflecting on Earth as Sacred Community. October 31, 2014.Louv, Richard. Interview by Steve Inskeep. Saving Kids from 'Nature Deficit Disorder'. May 25, 2005. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4665933. Accessed October 23, 2014.
Strayer, Robert. Ways of the World: A Brief Global History. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's. 2009.
Wilson, Edward O. Biophilia. The Serpent. October 31, 2014.
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