A Fine Spring Day

Today is a hot day. Maybe not hot, but mildly humid. I wish that it was maybe a little bit cooler, with a little bit more of a breeze. That's the perfect weather. Days like these make me like the weather here so much more than the weather back home in New York, where it's hard to get to that perfect spring day. If it weren't for the awful pollen, Richmond may actually be the perfect place for me.

There is nothing truly like sitting on the grass on a nice spring day. Listening to birds chirping, feeling the sun and wind, nothing even comes close. I think that it is a problem with my generation; we do not stop and appreciate the beauty of the world. Unfortunately, I must also include myself when I make that claim. I spend most of my free time using electronics. Being in a long distance relationship makes the use of cell phones and computers a necessity for me. I cannot go a day without somehow communicating with my boyfriend, and advancements in electronics have made it much easier for me to do so.

There are some days, however, that I wish that we as a society moved a little slower. My mom and I love Jane Austen novels, and sometimes I wonder if people lived fuller lives in those days. Close interactions with loved ones, more time with nature...I don't think anyone would think of these aspects of life as negative. It might have been nice to live as Elizabeth Bennett, but I do not think that it is possible for us to return to those times. Once we have some kind of advancement, a majority of people will not be willing to let it go.

I have not done this for a long time; this being sitting outside and physically writing. I used to do it a lot when I was a kid, just sit outside and write whatever came to mind. That was back in the day when I wanted to be an author, until I realized I didn't have anything significant to write about. I think I'll leave the writing to the professionals, but continue to read as much as I can. This is nice, though. It's very relaxing. Things have been a bit crazy because it's the end of the semester and finals are next week (!), but this is very nice. I guess when there's a lot to do, I don't really take time to sit and just think. I think that that would apply to most people, but I definitely think that it's something that we should change (good idea, Dr. Essid).

I definitely enjoyed being in this first year seminar. I learned a lot about technology and its advancements over time. I wish that we had spend less time discussing virtual worlds and more talking about societal reactions to advancements in technology. Perhaps it is because I am interested in psychology, but I am always fascinated by how people react to dramatic changes. Virtual worlds, however, are not something that I think will become relevant in the near future. Nothing can compare or replicate exactly what I am feeling right now.

And what am I feeling right now? I feel the sun trying to push its way out from behind the clouds. I feel congested because of my awful allergies. I feel a slight breeze. I feel the grass poking my skin. But most importantly, I feel relaxed. This exercise has shown me that the Neo-Luddites were right...we should (occasionally) put the electronics away and try to reconnect with nature. It truly is a beautiful thing and it would be a shame if we wasted it.