emma honda

Even before I could walk, my mom would pack me up in a backpack carrier and hit the nature trails. Growing up, I was constantly in exposure to the outdoors, but I never could fully appreciate it. There was always sand in my shoe or a bee on my water bottle and my inner diva couldn’t handle that. I used to say, “Mom, I’m really glad God made nature because it’s pretty to look at but I just don’t want to touch it..” and she would just laugh. Looking back I smile thinking about how much I complained because now it is a major part of who I am.

In 2016 I took a trip to Glacier National Park that will forever change the way I view our planet. I experienced breathtaking views, as well as felt the heartbreak of learning more about climate change and its devastating effects on the park. I have never seen more beauty than I did while hiking in the snow towards hidden lakes or driving through perfectly sculpted cliffs. Ever since this trip, I have experienced the outdoors in a new light, wanting to see every inch of Earth that’s untouched.

While Georgia’s hills can’t compare to the 10,000-foot mountains of Montana, I still find joy in the simple trails. Oftentimes I feel more myself than anything breathing in the fresh air or admiring the life around me. John Muir, the father of national parks, once said, “Of all the paths in life you take, make sure a few of them are dirt”. Younger me might have disagreed, but I now am thankful to have known these paths and found thrill in the interactions that come with it.