The last time I sat here it was cold, and desolate and eerily void of natures beauty.\u00a0 In my last reflection I was caught off guard by the lack of connection to nature that sitting by the lake brought.\u00a0 The present arrival of spring certainly brought a changed spirit to the area, as today is nothing short of a transformation. \u00a0The sun is shining and I can feel myself awakening from the tired winter with the extra vitamin D from its rays.\u00a0 From the looks of it the whole campus and community have had a similar feeling.\u00a0 The lake and surrounding area is alive with life: Dog walkers, runners, and students studying on the grass.<\/p>\n
The signs of spring are apparent in far more subtle ways also.\u00a0 On the ground I see green grass beginning to fill in the brown surface.\u00a0 \u00a0Along the edge of the lake I see daffodils in bloom and other plants beginning to bud on bushes nearby.\u00a0 Some trees are beginning to form small green buds that should brighten up the lake even more in the coming weeks.\u00a0 \u00a0When I close my eyes I can hear birds singing all around me. \u00a0Their songs confirm the arrival of spring to the lake.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve noticed a lot at this spot on campus and learned infinitely more about its cycle of life through my reflections.\u00a0 When I first sat here the surface was so covered in ice I could have practically walked out onto it.\u00a0 Looking at it today makes that seem unimaginable.\u00a0 How could these be the same places?\u00a0 How could the same ducks and geese live here during the frigid winter and during the beautiful spring?\u00a0 Before I took the time to sit here regularly, I was like many students at Richmond; I appreciated the beauty of the campus and the lake in the fall and spring, but neglected to appreciate the natural beauty and resilience of this ecosystem in the winter.\u00a0 Seeing the progression has been incredible and I will no longer view the lake or surrounding area as simply aesthetics, the presence of nature is clear and strong at Westhampton Lake as the winter fades into memory and life is brought forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The last time I sat here it was cold, and desolate and eerily void of natures beauty.\u00a0 In my last reflection I was caught off guard by the lack of connection to nature that sitting by the lake brought.\u00a0 The … Continue reading