Reflection 2/10/26: You Don't Know What You Have Until its Gone

From debriefing the two texts we read, listening to Sasha and Liliana’s presentation, and going to the Amon G. Carter Museum, a lot was learned today. From debriefing the differences between immersion and observation in Havasu to discussing Abbey’s polemic against the transformation of national parks into tourist attractions, I am gaining even more of an appreciation for nature than I already had. I do have to say, my views on how nature should be preserved got mixed up in a blender. I never intentionally thought about how precious nature is to our world until this class. I just loved nature with no depth.

In Havasu, the man talks about the time he got lost and how dreadful it was. Then, on one of his last walks in Havasu, he seems to think he regained everything that had been ebbing away. He did not know what he had until it was approaching being gone. That’s true for all of us. We take advantage of people, places, and things that seem “routine-based” in the moment, but when they fade away, we reminisce and almost feel regret. Personally, I have had that experience with nature. While hiking Machu Picchu—something that may only happen once in my life—I took hundreds of pictures of the landmark and with my friends, to the point that I did not take personal time to soak in the beauty of this wonder of the world. Immediately upon coming down from Machu Picchu, I regretted having my phone out for pictures the entire time. I almost prioritized that over the landmark itself.

Today reminded me that, from now on, I am going to hold myself accountable to make sure I soak in my experiences one-on-one with nature, not through a digital lens. Within the next six months, I am going to Belize, Costa Rica, Canada, and Vietnam, and I intend to prioritize my personal experience and relationship with nature rather than giving in to the need to constantly take photos to show others my experiences.