Appreciation of nature offers a fresh outlook

By Claire Cudahy

As I stepped out of my car into the parking lot of Castle Rock State Park on a sunny Saturday, I was struck by something - or I should say a lack of something: noise. No cars, voices or sirens.

It's a different quiet than the silence of Santa Clara campus before 10 a.m. on a Saturday. The air felt cleaner and I immediately felt happier.

That moment - the moment the nature around me started to eat away the anxiety of school, work and relationships - is the reason that I keep coming back to these trails, weekend after weekend.

Humans are just another species of animals, something I think we often forget. We have long since evolved from our primitive state of cave dwellings and campfires and constructed a world around us that allows for comfortable and easy living.

However, just because we have made ourselves a seemingly organized and advanced society to live in does not mean we should ignore our roots. In fact, returning to nature in its raw form is both physically and mentally beneficial for all humans, whether you are "outdoorsy" or not.

Throughout history, nature has been praised by brilliant minds for its therapeutic effects. American author and philosopher Henry David Thoreau once said, "I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright."

Albert Einstein also sang praises of nature, advising humans to "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

But with a deteriorating environment, continued expansion and development of cities and suburbs, fear of the unknown in nature and a technology-driven culture, American life is characterized by a disconnect with nature. Although quality time in the great outdoors is scarce these days, there are so many reasons to connect with nature on a more regular basis.

Research studies have yielded the same results across the board: outdoor recreation reduces stress.

While playing beer pong on your front lawn is certainly one form of stress release, taking a hike at a nearby trail or going on a bike ride to the beautiful San Jose Heritage Rose Garden will more effectively ease the tension you may be feeling.

Taking your outdoor recreation one step further by actually going into the wilderness, even something as simple as going on a trail, only intensifies these results.

Being in the kind of nature you find in state parks and reserves is a grounding experience. Unlike being in a city park or in a garden, you have removed yourself from the accepted human realm of living. In the trails at Castle Rock, surrounded by sky-high redwoods and mossy boulders, I feel comforted. The coexistence of animals and plants around me provides a sense of cohesiveness and structure that allows for self-reflection and a better ability to live in the present.

Another benefit of spending time in nature is the perspective it gives. We live in a fast-paced society that demands a lot from us. Because of these demands, we have a tendency to get bogged down by our work and keeping up with those around us.

Going into nature, where we are away from the seduction of technology and unfinished work, we are faced with a much simpler existence and reminded that there is a world outside our man-made one. Nature does not assault the senses, but stimulates them in a way that allows for a sense of calm and reflection that is mentally beneficial.

After a day spent climbing boulders and looking at the ocean in the distance of scenic vistas, my head feels clearer and my shoulders feel lighter.

Each time as I drive down the winding mountain road back to my little world at the corner of Alviso and Bellomy, I think the same thought: I need to do this more often.

Claire Cudahy is a junior english major.