journal three - Gerrilyn

     I have actually really enjoyed the reading so far. When we first talked about Holding On I thought that it might be a bit boring, but I am glad that I was wrong. It is such an inspiring book and it is fun to read the profiles of so many people around the nation, doing what they love. I think that a major strength of this novel would be its diversity. The difference in personalities from profile to profile really makes the reading more enjoyable. I also like that the book only gives a short glimpse into the lives of eccentrics, visionaries, and dreamers, leaving the readers to explore more on their own. That being said, one weakness would be the lack of background information in some profiles. It is difficult to grasp the personality of the individual in the profile if you don't really understand how they got to this point in their lives.

     The theme I chose to write about was connection to land and nature.
Every year my family and I go down to Hocking Hills and stay in a cabin together, while it is very exciting it is also overwhelming. Sure, it doesn't sound too bad, right? Here is a little background information, just so you can understand where I am coming from. My mother has seven sisters, all of which have at least three children, and we are all stuck in a cabin together for five nights. Granted it is a very large cabin, it is difficult to find alone time. This is where my theme comes in, I have always enjoyed the beauty of nature. I can just stare of into the distance, gazing at a lake or into the woods, and just forget all of my worries. Hakuna Matta I guess. Natural beauty is becoming increasingly rare in today's society so when we go every summer I try to spend as much time connecting with the nature as possible. Our world is becoming more ad more chaotic by the second so why not stop mid hike to pick flowers, or take a breath of the crisp air. Being in the woods helps me find peace, not sure that is the right word but I'm going to go with it. Like I said, the beauty of nature relaxes me, it helps me think, it is freeing. So, back to the cabin, when we go on vacation I do really enjoy spending quality time with my family. But when I need to get away from the chaos that is my family, I take off into the woods. We have been going to the cabin for the last eighteen years, and I still cannot find a better place to think. There I can become one with nature, I can behold its beauty, and I can appreciate all that it has done for me. My favorite place in this world is those woods, I can truly connect there not only to those woods, but the world.