Today, I had a different guest accompany me to my spot, a
different kind of little animal. Today, my 4 year old cousin Genevieve or “Just
Genny” as she calls herself wanted to come along with me for my walk and who
was I to say no? On our way I thought about what “adventure” she would bring on
this particular trip, she’s a funny little girl who is extremely smart and
well-spoken for her age. Walking hand in hand before we reached my spot, she
asked “So where are we going?” I replied, “You agreed to go on a trip and you
didn’t even know where the destination is? You’re a little goofy.” To which she
replied as she always does whenever you call her anything except “Genny” or
“Princess” “I’m just Genny and I wanted to go with you!” Such exasperation from
a four year old. Then she broke free from my hand and started running calling
back to me “You can run around here if you want!” One of my favorite things
about children is how carefree they are, and how much they enjoy the simple
things. So I chased after her through the path until we reached the spot.
I told her this is where we wanted to be and we sat down. When
she asked me why I came here, I paused for a minute. The funny thing about
children is how naive they can be. I could tell her anything I could tell her
the truth and say I visit this place for a school assignment. I could tell her
we’re hunting “wabbits”. I could say we’re going on a safari adventure. Most
kids I’ve known might believe that, but Genny like I said is pretty smart for
her age. So I told her the truth. But then I asked her “Well, why don’t we
pretend we’re in the jungle?” And she asked “Can we hunt for lions?!” I replied
“Sure.”
She knew we weren’t really in the jungle, but she was
willing to pretend. We could choose whatever we wanted there. That's one of of the things about nature I've never really thought about. You can do whatever you want out here (within reason). Sure you can do whatever you want with your life, but we know that. I think sometimes we put nature on a pedestal and think that there are certain restrictions like we're in a museum with glass walls. It's the open. We can "run around here if we want" and yell and scream. Or we can sit and reflect in the quiet. There are only a few restrictions here.
I love encountering nature with children. They remind me to appreciate the things that I so often overlook.
ReplyDeleteIt would be really cool to see you write from "Just Genny's" perspective and think about what she would see on a walk and how much that differs from what you would notice.
That's actually a really good idea. I didn't think of that. I think that's so interesting! I'll have to try that!! :)
DeleteThat's actually a really good idea. I didn't think of that. I think that's so interesting! I'll have to try that!! :)
DeleteI really like that idea as well. It might be interesting to bring her along again and ask her to "notice" nature and write about what she focuses on. Children have a way of looking much more closely at the natural world - maybe helped by just being literally closer to it - than we adults do. I went on a nature walk with my kids last winter and between the two of them, they took hundreds of photos. They were able to see something worth capturing in a landscape that just looked plain and winter-dormant to me.
DeleteYou do a nice job of capturing Genny's character. She sounds like a spirited young kid, how adorable! You also did a good job of connecting Genny's free spirit to the freedom people find in nature - very cool!
ReplyDeleteI like the message of this. Being out in nature is extremely liberating. And it is nice that you prevent that through the lens of a young child. She understands the liberation; we all (adults) could stand to get closer to it.
ReplyDeleteSo, the conversation betwen you and Genny reflected so well your ending thought. I appreciated the light-heartedness of we could "run around here if we want to." It gives a weightlessness with nature, which I appreciate. After reading so much about nature, and getting immersed in it at an academic level, it's nice to be pulled back to the surface, to where nature is nature, and it can be a jungle, or hunting "wabbits," or merely going for a walk with a four-year-old cousin. So, thanks. :)
ReplyDelete