(University of Oregon, 2023-09) Collins-Burke, Drew
I took this photo while on vacation with my family during spring break of 2022. According to Oregon Coast Beach Connection, the rocks seen in the ocean were formed by lava rivers around 12 to 18 million years ago. These lava rivers would have devastated any forests they touched, stemming from volcanos 300 miles away. This volcanic activity would have made this area a terrifying sight to see, but millions of years later, it led me to have a serene experience, indicating how experiencing nature and environmental history can inspire both happiness and fear.
(University of Oregon, 2023-09) Collins-Burke, Drew
"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." This quote, attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, reminds me that our lives are constantly changing. Just as the waterfall constantly erodes and reshapes the surrounding rock, our environment is constantly reforming us and informing our choices. I have to thank a friend of mine for helping me realize Heraclitus was right—we should respond to the gentle nudges our lives offer, just as rock gives way to a stream.
