Belonging
I looked at my phone in horror as the words "No Service" popped on my phone screen. Great, I was stuck in the middle of the forest for three days without WiFi.
Earlier that day, my grandparents, my brother, and I had traveled to Kutralam, a town in Kerala, India known for its beautiful waterfalls. Our grandparents believed that it would be a refreshing experience for my brother and me.
The first day, I set out in my flip flops and a loose T-Shirt with my brother. We wandered up the forest until we got to the waterfall. Along the way, we encountered spiders and snakes, but to our heart's content, we reached the waterfall safely.
The waterfall was breathtaking. Water endlessly struck the ground with a strong sense of determination. It was early in the morning, and to our luck, there were barely any people there.
A common practice was to stand under the waterfall, as many natives believed that doing so would cleanse you of any bad energy. My brother and I, on the other hand, simply believed that it would be fun to do so. As I stood under the waterfall, I felt as if the waterfall would tear me apart, but at the same time I felt relieved of all my stresses and anxieties. I was one with the water as it flowed through me. I belonged here.
During the walk back, we sat down on some rocks. The forest had a life of its own, and we could sense it through the sound of birds, the smell of the wet dirt, and the humidity that enveloped my skin.
Later that night, we were told to anticipate a storm. The winds were powerful and strong; the sun hid behind the clouds. Nevertheless, my brother and I decided to sit outside. We watched in awe as the wind moved a 100-foot tree with ease (which fell over the next morning). It was extraordinary, and a sight that I never would have experienced if I wasn't forced to let go of my phone.
By the end of the trip, the falls and scenery that I experienced re-centered me. I was able to interact with nature in a way that I never have been able to in the fast-paced life of the Bay Area. I understood the small role I played in the complexity of nature, but also recognized that I was important - and that I belonged.
From that moment, I learned to be more mindful of my use of technology, and have tried to be more present in any environment. The mere fleeting sense of belonging that my phone offers me through social media cannot compare to the feeling of belonging I get when I am in nature.
I like how you brought back the same idea of being disconnected from technology at the end of your blog because it gave the writing a sense of cohesiveness. There was a lot of detail, which helped me visualize the scene and better understand what you were experiencing in these moments. It may have been a good idea for you to read the blog out loud once you were done and looked for repetitive words.
ReplyDeleteI admire your strong usage of vocabulary to explain how the scenery looked! The picture also adds a great visual component to the story. I think it would be interesting if you added in the perspective of native people of the region as well. Do they view their scenery with the same awe that you do? I think it would great to add in how you use your phone now and if you are more mindful about your use of technology. Are you implying that the feeling of belonging you get from your phone is overshadowed by the feeling of belonging in nature? To elevate the whole piece, I think it would be great to add in outside sources that validate how nature makes people feel better, as I'm sure there are studies on the topic.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate how you point out little details in nature that made you feel like you belonged ( smell of wet dirt). The way you point out various moments in you journey where you felt belonging brings together ties your entire blog really well. Your vivid descriptions of how you felt when you saw certain things reminded me of the times when my family and I would camp or take a walk in the forest and feel the same emotions. I would suggest maybe adding a bit more to elaborating on the specific moments when you felt belonging in the forest (like more of the waterfall example). Nice work on your blog! I really enjoyed it:)
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