TO THE WOODS
BRAEDEN CORBETT
Braeden Corbett
5/16/19
What does it mean to live deliberately?
Let us start by breaking down the word deliberate. Deliberate means conscious, or intentional, like calling your mom, watering your plants or waking up early for a job interview. Deliberate actions are not habits. If you already do something regularly, it has become part of your subconscious routine. So how do we live intentionally? It’s simple, we break out of our comfort zones. That seems like where people get lost. It is easier to convince yourself that you have successfully broken out of your comfort zone then it is to actually do it. In practice, exceeding your comfort zone is not just doing the unfamiliar. Instead, it is choosing to do something that seems overly challenging, uncomfortable or even unachievable.
These challenges come at different levels. Whether the struggle at hand is physical, social or even mental, the reward for accomplishing something deemed impossible is the largest pay off we know. A person who lives deliberately knows this, and strives to climb a new mountain whenever the opportunity arises. This week, my goal is to live deliberately and see what I can achieve and learn in a short amount of time.
Braeden Corbett
5/17/19
The definition of arboretum is “A botanical garden devoted to trees”. Well this definition is accurate; it does not capture all that Cox Arboretum actually is. A six-word definition simply cannot describe the trickling sound of distant creeks, the bitter taste of horseradish plants or the feeling of the wind against your face as you stand on top of the towering Sky Tree.
I Previously, I had been to Cox Arboretum a single time. I was far too young to appreciate the world that was around me. It is easy for us to be caught up in our schedules, and it is even easier to forget to slow down and process our surroundings. However, when we do, the reward is incredible.
For me, the reward for going to Cox Arboretum was not limited to getting out of school for a few hours. In fact, while I was outside, I found myself forgetting that I should be at school. Despite this, I learned all about the park around me as well as myself.
Braeden Corbett
5/20/19
In an effort to live more deliberately, it is necessary to comprehend your impact on the environment. Today, we were challenged to learn our impact on the water system. If we grasp this concept, we can greatly lessen the damage that we’re doing to the world around us. In regards to water, this is as simple as taking shorter showers and picking up litter. If we want to deliberately appreciate the natural beauties around us, we have to protect them. All of our water is connected, and something done here in Ohio can impact the Gulf of Mexico, or even further then that.
Another essential part of appreciating natural resources is physically getting out and enjoying there beauty. Tomorrow, we have a visit to Bellbrook Canoe Rental planned. This is the most exciting trip for me because canoeing and kayaking is such a rewarding experience, especially in a beautiful river or lake.
This is the hill, steep and narrow
This is the farm, green and fresh
This is the road, dirty and cold
This is the gutter, dirty and shallow
These are the fish, agile and golden
This is the algae, green and spongey
This is the river, wet and wild
Braeden Corbett
5/21/19
No matter what’s going on in my life, taking 5, 10, or even 20 minutes out of my day to sit quietly and reflect has always helped me. Today as I was floating down the river, I decided that a little quiet could not hurt. I set my paddle across my lap, leaned back and listened. It was not about what I could hear in the world around, but what I was thinking and processing.
When I take these few moments for myself, I am able to “realign” my brain with my body. In an instance like today, this helped me preserver through the rest of the kayaking, while still enjoying the journey.
To make a lake,
It takes Smooth pebbles, Rich moss
Strong roots, Wooden docks
And still water
The water alone can be peaceful, and calm
If people are few.
Braeden Corbett
5/22/19
Today I chose to draw a snake. I chose this because I was fascinated by the way the snake interacted with the small habitat around it. It weaved in and out of the fake rocks in a figure eight. It even seemd to perch up on the rock to look out of the glass window to see who was on the other side. The snake was mostly red, but it had lighter stripes traveling down its body.
Braeden Corbett
5/23/19
Carriage Hill Farm opened a new, much older world. From the rusted machinery to the stories of people living in the 1800’s, it described what daily tasks would need to be accomplished if one lived in a farm setting. Experiencing this lifestyle is a good way to be reminded to live deliberately. If people hundreds of years ago survived without technology, so can we.
I am the tall bronze lamp sitting steady in the dusty corner. I see all things, but I am not often noticed. When I start to fade out, Farmer Johnson will unscrew my lampshade, replace my bulb, and perhaps if I am lucky, blow the dust off my base. It is a simple life, but not a draining one. I have had the opportunity to witness seasons of rain and seasons of drought. I have seen the children grow up and take up greater responsibility around the farm. I have seen Farmer Johnson grieve over the loss of his wife. Sometimes, the wisest in the room is the quietest.
Braeden Corbett
5/24/19
“Tales told carefully by stone serpents.”
During our time at Delco Park, I wrote down this metaphor. I was observing how the paths around the pond connected to the other paths and trails. Each one of them weaved back and forth while still following a distinct path. I imagined all the people that had walked these paths before, their stories and experiences.
This concept has always been interesting to me. There are infinite stories that can be told. This seems daunting at first. After all, it is hard to find a place in such a vast world. However, that means if you ask the right people, and explore the right places, you can always hear or see something new.
