Walking the Trail-Kristen Gladfelter

On many occasions, I look at the Nolan trail as an escape from the norm. From the over crowded streets to the mass chaos of campus, the trail provides a relief from the most hectic of days. Though, on a typical basis, I see the trail as a running track. In my time at CNU I've primarily ran the trail, never once looking at the deeper natural beauty of it until last Thursday, when I slowed down enough to walk it. We started along the Lion's Bridge and merely looking over the James River put me in perspective of how immeasurable the world is. The river spanned out to the end of the horizon, barely reaching the hint of land on the other side. I stood there feeling small compared to the massive river. As the walk continued, names of plants that I’ve looked over countless times finally revealed their secret beauty. Seeds of the magnolia’s so brightly colored, are hidden within a comb, only visible to eyes willing to see. Loblolly Pines cover the trail creating a canopy with the Maple and Poplar trees almost as if they were roofing the trail. As we walked along, creatures of the wood also revealed themselves. Lizards, spiders, ants, and others were scurrying along the leaf litter trying to get as much done before the frost comes. The birds called out, serenading the forest with sweet song, carried by the gusty winds. As we kept walking, more natural phenomena kept revealing itself and I realized that just how slowing down a bit in life, can open up an entire new world of existence. The natural beauty of the world exists all around and I never saw it running. When I finally walked, the sheer magnitude of life struck me.