How to be an Explorer of the World Part 1

As I made my way into a new semester, it brought with it some challenges, excitement, and a lot of thinking. Advanced Composition hit me in the face...hard. As I began to get used to the schedule and all the assignments I had to do, I realized just how busy I was. From class to homework to sorority responsibilities, I was always going, going, going! Fast approaching deadlines made it evident that there would be no slowing down. I found that in doing my readings and assignments for advanced comp, I was slowing down. I had to or I would miss the whole point. As a class we were to read different explorations out of Keri Smith's How to be an Explorer of the World. Exploration 4 and 5 ask the reader to collect something from his/her walk to work every day. As I began doing this, I was able to notice the simple nature of something that seemed so insignificant, a stick. As a child, my brothers and I would play swords and use sticks. Or we would play a number game on our fingers that was called "sticks." It was something so regular that brought back so many memories. We also read a few poems. Specifically, What I Am by Terrance Hayes was one that made me slow down and see the simplest of things as much more than just shampoo or McDonalds. The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry also spoke softly and simply of the world around us. It was a beautiful way to slow down and observe the beauty in the world, even just at home. There are so many things around us that we don’t even notice. How much are we missing? Even when we slow down to notice these things, do we miss the beauty in the speed of things? People watching is a good way to see the speed around you in conjunction with the stillness of yourself. Everyone is bound to see something different. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” There’s a chance that maybe we all miss the bigger picture. But there’s something to be said for trying.