Snow Day!

The speaker of the TED talk, Louie Schwartzberg, shares similar views to mine, such as believing that money is not needed in order to appreciate life, and that often, all you need to live a fulfilling life is to be able to enjoy the time you have, and to have a sense of wonder for the world around you. He feels a sense of awe for everything around him, such as flowers blooming, which many of us may overlook sometimes as we go about our fast-paced lives. Not surprisingly, he holds a deep respect for the beauty of nature, as do I, and we both feel a sense of responsibility to protect Earth’s treasures, like the forests and wildlife. I agree with him that experiencing nature “cultivates a feeling of gratitude.” Today, for example, I was stressed out about all of the work I need to do and college essays I need to write, but then I went for a walk outside in the snow with my sister and remembered that I would be much more stressed out if I did not have a day off today as a result of the gorgeous snow on the ground. There is always a positive side to every situation, and always something to be thankful for.

The little girl’s comments about adventure touched me, not just because she is so adorable and so wise beyond her years, but because I realize that I have almost lost a sense of adventure in my life. I am often so focused on getting the tasks on my mental “to-do list” done, that I can forget to sometimes just go where life takes me, and to stop and smell the roses, literally and figuratively. I am looking forward to the next stage of my life as a chance to explore and to try new things, and hopefully to have the opportunity to travel around the world. I hope that I will then be able to maintain an adventurous spirit even when I am older. Throughout my whole life, I will try to remember to be grateful, even if I am having a “bad day.” Each and every day is a gift, and I do not intend to waste any of them.