Aloneness.
I am walking down my usual route, down the long gravel driveway, turning left onto the ditch bank, looking over the farmland. My grandparents’ land is very peaceful to be in, so much open space. So much room for thinking. A place to embody aloneness.
Others view aloneness as being lonely, in despair of human connection. I believe that aloneness is individuality, embracing the uncomfortability of independence. It’s hard to be alone with yourself, with your mind, your surroundings, your physical body. But it’s a gateway of awareness. If you allow yourself to just think. To just process every thought that comes into your mind --- you could get somewhere. Some clarity. But, it’s not that easy. You have to start somewhere. Nature is a great vessel for this practice.
As I’m walking, listening to my feet touch the ground over and over again, I start to notice thoughts come up. Random thoughts, ideas for the day, questioning thoughts, thinking how cold it’s going to be out here. As I get to the barn, I watch the cows stand in front of me, staring. I submerge into their big black eyes. Wondering what they ponder. They live everyday the same, fed at the same hour, by the same person, in the same bucket, standing in the same fields, day after day. Till they are no longer living. --- Is that what my life is? I hope not.
Starting that practice of being alone begins with physically being by yourself. No distractions that will bring you back to regular reality. That means no phone, no people you know, nothing but you and your mind. Sounds scary, but trust me it’s worth your time.
Find yourself somewhere in nature. That could be as easy as your backyard, your neighborhood park, your favorite walking trail, or go for a ten minute drive and see where it takes you.
I keep walking down the ditch bank, passing the barn, the spot where I would catch tadpoles with my siblings. All these childhood memories are popping up. I can just sense the comfort I have here. Knowing that I once walked on this exact ditch bank thinking totally different thoughts, having different worries, dreaming different dreams. This is comforting, because I know that I have experienced enough to see this ditch bank differently.
My name is Baylee and I’m a YLab student at One Stone. I have a strong passion for art, advocacy, leadership, creation, and empathy. I cultivate deeper connections to feel more human so that I can become my authentic self and bring together humanity. That is my WHY statement. It has shaped the experiences I’ve gone through. And represents my identity, and gives me room to grow and evolve. I value authenticity, vulnerability, independence, and growth through clarity. This artifact relates to my WHY in a special way. Over the past few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to go outside of my comfort zone. By going out in nature and reflecting. I have attained a deeper connection with myself and the ground I am standing on. This includes hiking in the foothills and reading short written pieces about the connection of the mind and nature, and different relationships people can have with the natural world. As a part of my experience I created a written piece focusing on the importance of aloneness. Using nature within this reflection practice, I wrote about how I have embodied my aloneness while in nature, by focusing on my childhood memories and my appreciation for my grandparents’ farm. I showed the connection I felt with a piece of land and how it’s helped me achieve self awareness. Asking myself what I notice about the landscape, and the beauty it holds, while inspiring others to do the same. Doing Good in the world is very important to me. You can do good for your community by simply doing small acts of kindness, supporting those around you, speaking up for someone, inspiring others, expressing your authentic self, and more! In this artifact I am being vulnerable through my writing and giving an example of how important it is to embrace your aloneness and how to appreciate nature. I have shown the connection I have with a piece of land through the memories of my childhood and have helped others find appreciation for nature in their own ways. I have thought back to my heart break map that I created this summer, and those issues have lived in my day to day. Just during my time in this immersion I have reflected on equality, discrimination, climate change, mental health, and more. Using writing to dissect and reflect on these issues to inspire others has been a goal of mine. I am passionate about challenging myself, understanding and exploring my creative mind, and being able to express myself through my artwork and writing. I hope that my written artifact from my (Human)Nature Immersion inspires and guides others to spend some time journaling alone in nature. Do it for you, embody your aloneness!
