One of the most prominent features of my spot in Centennial Woods is all of the fallen and decaying logs. I chose one of those logs right in the middle of the peninsula for my meditation. The air was cool and damp, in-between rain showers, however not uncomfortable. The first thing I dialed into while quieting my thought were the noises drifting through the forest. Birds, wind, a group of dendrology students. As I listened harder I could hear the gurgle of the creak and the dripping of water falling from the trees. The smell in the woods was enhanced by the moisture, the earthy smell of the decomposing leaves, wood, and pine needles was most prevalent. It was hard to keep my mind from drifting back to thoughts of school and friends however just outside surrounded by nature put me in a good mood and removed the stress from my mind. As always I got distracted by mushrooms and colorful leaves on the way out, so my 15 minute meditation turned into an hour and a half long romp through the woods. Often it is easy to forget to take time for yourself especially in as busy of an environment as collage, but this was a good reminder sometimes can help increase productivity to just take a break and de-stress.
