"Leaf Dancing"

Our first blog is supposed to describe a new outdoor activity in which we've never participated. I think I"ll get a bit creative here and offer up the activity of "leaf dancing". Before you get to laughing too much, it's no me doing the dancing part - it's the leaves. And, here's the explanation:

This past week I was hiking with our dog along a dirt road and came upon a magnificent, large, and isolated tree which was still hanging on to most of its gorgeous, golden leaves. We stopped (my dog was primarily interested in checking out who else had been there) and I looked up to just enjoy the view. As we stood there, a huge wind came up and started blowing all of the leaves. They were raining all around us. Some were blown on us, around us, and some were even catching up-drafts and heading back up in the air. It was absolutely amazing to be in this space hearing nothing but rustling leaves and feeling and seeing them fall on us like rain. It became one of those "moments" in your day when you realize you just encountered something special.

I had not participated in this in a very long time (and don't remember when I last did). And, I would imagine it's because it required me to be in the right place, at the right time, and to give myself the time to stop and just revel in the moment.

I would participate in this again primarily because it turned out to be an activity that truly offered me emotional restoration. I felt regenerated, I felt reconnected to the land, I felt as though it had been quite a gift (I may be sounding a bit esoteric and spiritual here, but, hey, that's part of the whole outdoor experience for me).

Fall 2010 - Outdoor Education & Leadership Course

This semester, we're trying the three different methods of reflecting:

1) Private reflections
2) Reflections shared among all of the class members
3) Reflections shared via public blog

And, to make things a little more interesting, I'm going to Blog along with the class! I'm looking forward to the first official Blog of Journal #3 and haven't quite figured out what new Outdoor Recreation activity I'll engage in just yet.