Reflecting on Treks and Texts (Journal)


Billy Petersen
Professor Williams
12/16/19
Walking in Nature

              As the semester comes to an end I wanted to reflect on my time in Treks and Texts. With the pressure and stress of finals, I thought it would be a good idea to escape from the library and go on a walk. I packed up my backpack, including my phone, and started walking. I had no direction in site, but I wanted to free myself from technology and the other pressures of school by observing nature.

              I started walking south of TCU’s campus. It was a rather cool December day in Fort Worth. The cool air blew softly against my face. A graceful, small headed dove glided in the wind and perched itself on a telephone wire foraging for seeds on the ground. I watched the dove as it let out soft drawn out calls in hopes to see neighboring birds. As I neared the dove, he took off and rapidly flapped his wings creating a sharp whistling sound. I continued walking further from campus and was greeted by a small lizard resting on a wooden fence. I walked closer to the lizard and was pleasantly surprised that it didn’t move. His long body, four short legs, and two large eyes stuck to the fence like he was resting on a patch of tape. I tried to get a closer look, but I spooked the small lizard and he ran away shaking his tale frantically back and forth.

              As my walk came to an end, I was reminded by the beauty of Fort Worth. Although the city doesn’t have the most natural appeal, it is still full of a variety of creatures. From large birds to small reptiles, Fort Worth is if home to many animals who share the land we live on. It is important for people to be reminded of all of the living things around us. Everything coexists in an ecosystem and it is important to respect even the smallest forms of life.

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