Today I took a jog along the Lake Michigan lakeshore. While I was running, I tried to be more aware than usual of my surroundings. I took out my headphones and analyzed the nature I encountered on my hour run. It was a beautiful sunny day, mid-afternoon, so there were a lot of people out on the trail. People of all ages and socio-economic statuses surrounded me; rollerblading, biking, and running. The nature I encountered was obviously man-made. The grass was not naturally grown, there were construction signs in the water, and overflowing garbage cans of dog poo surrounded the dog park. The only animals I saw besides the dogs were squirrels and seagulls.

The nature I encounter on a daily basis is very similar to the experience I had on my jog. I am constantly walking past parks that seem natural but are in fact man-made, and surrounded by garbage cans and litter. On the other hand, I live in Lincoln Park, and the benefit of living in such a wealthy area is how well the natural surroundings are kept. It is an urban area and some things just can’t be helped, but I feel very lucky on a day-today basis to be able to live in a neighborhood that is well cared for.

I would compare this particular interaction with nature more with Kuo’s writing, although it had some aspects of both. This is because Kuo wrote more about the reasons behind and causes of what he saw. As I was running I contemplated why I saw the things I did, in particular in relation to my urban atmosphere. I saw graffiti on the side of a bridge because the space I was running past was less taken care of, a result of a lower-income neighborhood. As I continued on the path and entered more wealthy areas the trees became more plentiful and the surroundings appeared cleaner. However, I genuinely enjoyed the nature I did encounter, specifically the lake, which identifies more with Muir’s writing. Granted, I am from Minnesota, and if this assignment had taken place there, my answer might have been weighted more heavily on the side of Muir, because the natural environment in Minnesota is more pristine. But I constantly find myself appreciating the environment of Chicago, and the differences it provides from my hometown.