My view point of the Environment

First off, I have to say that my view point of the environment has changed slowly through the years and especially since the beginning of this class. I have Spring time allergies so my view point of the environment for me is partly associated with sneezing, watery eyes and a runny nose. I grew-up only going camping a few times with my family and with Girl Scouts. I think my family's idea of nature and the environment was more utilitarian. Although my Mom loved plants and we had lots of plants around the house and in the front yard. She was constantly weeding. She was also constantly buying new plants because she did not have a green thumb and replaced the ones that died. But again it was more in a utilitarian way. I just recently read a book by John Connolly called, "The Book of Lost Things". It is about a boy who grows up and loses his innocents and sees death, danger, betrayal, friendship and love in the world in a grown-up perspective. The author uses fairy tales and twist them to make his point and it takes place in a dark forest. The dark forest has creatures that want to kill him making it a very dangerous place. The description of the forest was a lot like the one Snow White sees when the woodsman takes her to the deep dark forest as the Queen requests to cut out her heart. I suppose this is the point of view of the environment that is easier for me to associate with. Although, I look around me and think that the trees, ocean, birds and streams are beautiful. I love spending time at the beach where all the elements meet (air, sun, earth, water). But now I go further and think about the species that live in the ocean and the layers of biomes that are out there. It takes on a different significance and meaning to me. I walk through a ravine every Saturday morning and enjoy the sounds of nature and seeing the ducks and the heron in the stream near by. It wasn't until taking this class do I appreciate the homes of these species in a whole new way. I am seeing that the environment exists for more than just myself. The world really is diverse in so many more ways and on so many different levels and here for us all to exists together.