Walking in Arkansas

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 I found myself home for fall break with no one around, and the world waiting to be explored. Growing up in Little Rock, the fall was my most favorite time of year. In addition to high school football, my birthday, soccer season, and pumpkin carving, I always looked forward to seeing the brilliance of the leaves changing from electric green to various shares of orange, yellow, and red. Moving to Texas, where things seem to just turn brown, I found myself with a newfound appreciation for the fall leaves of Arkansas.

On this weekend, with my parents at work and no one that I knew in town, I found myself headed down to Two Rivers Park for a beautiful morning walk as apart of my marathon training. Walking for three hours by yourself doesn't sound very fun, but I was anxious to see my favorite trails and how they had changed with the weather. 

For the first hour, I attempted to venture out without headphones and just listen to nature, whether it was the sound of the river flowing below the bridge, the wind whistling through the tall pine trees, or hearing the no less than 50 deer that I saw trot across the pavement and into the woods. It was a magical morning as I watched the light slowly filter through the trails and the world seemed to wakeup around me. The deer here made me laugh, as they simply stared as I passed by or went back to their feeding, seemingly unbothered by my presence. For the second hour, I listened to podcasts and called friends, and then listened to worship music for the final hour. By the time I had finished my walk, the sun had completely risen and the trails began to fill with visitors. I was reminded of some of the short stories we had read about the National Parks, and how they were the most beautiful when left undisturbed by noise, pollution, or people. It felt like a privilege to see the trails in the early morning, when it was just me and the deer. Almost like I had stumbled upon a secret place where I didn't quite belong. I've attached some photos below, and it makes me happy to think of Arkansas in this season. 








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