The Serenity of Nature

I believe that nature links us to the divine, where we as humans have the chance to connect with a higher power as we are so small compared to nature. I was fifteen years old when I was taken on the most magnificent vacation that changed my life. My family and I were boarding our connecting flight in Denver, Colorado to our final destination in Moab, Utah. Our vacation consisted of visiting Utah’s five national parks and the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

My first and most memorable hike was at Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. It was one hundred and three degrees. With plenty of sunblock, my fanny pack, and two bottles of water, my family and I were eager to start our three mile hike at Arches. The scenery was unlike anything I have ever seen before. I was overwhelmed by the prestigious, untouched beauty. It was as if my family and I were discovering this land for the first time. I felt my lungs inflate with the rush of air and the scenery that surrounded me. Inhaling the fresh, unpolluted air was so refreshing compared to back home in Connecticut. Nearly three miles in, as I was rounding a corner that led to the end of the trail, I felt a rush of excitement as I came face to face with the “delicate arch” that stood in front of me. For the first time, I truly appreciated the beauty and serenity of nature. At that moment in time, I felt completely empowered, carefree and disconnected from the real world. It took this inspiring hike for me to appreciate nature and how pristine it is when it remains untouched.

By appreciating the serenity of nature, I was able to value and cherish simplicity in all that the park offered. The ability to submerge myself in complete silence and disconnect from the world is how I acquired my appreciation for nature. The desert is a place of unknown beauty, silent grace and wisdom. The rich scent of the sand, the gnarled pine trees, and the crisp air that surrounded me on a landscape that seemed as if it has always been untouched is where I found my serenity.