Nature Journal Thirteen (NJ13): A Windy City


Nature Journal Thirteen: A Windy City

            Growing up in a suburb of Chicago wind has always been a common natural element of my life. Until this class, I never really thought anything of it. I decided to spend some time outside over Thanksgiving break and reflect on the atmosphere. No one seems to fancy wind; it amplifies cold weather, or it can destroy lives through tornadoes. While wind is always portrayed as a negative element, it can do some beautiful things as well. It can transmit smells and sounds across the earth. I could hear animals whaling in the distance as their cries were miles away yet echoed so clearly. As the wind chilled my soul, I began to notice the leaves falling from the trees. The simple process that many anger at as it requires work to clean was a stepping stone to new life. The falling leaves will soon disappear and make the soil stronger and more nutrias for it's inhabitants. 

The wind brought the smell of pizza from my neighbor’s house and paused my concentration. As I began to reconsider my opinion on wind, I realized that while frustrating at most times, wind can be a peaceful element that aligns the world together. Animals, humans, smells, and sounds all are connected together through a thrust of energy that moves along the spectrum. As I begin to get chilly, I walked back inside and realized that wind, how funny it sounds, is a peculiar intermediary between humans and nature.

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