I found a beautiful white flower while hiking through Ridley Creek State Park. After some research, I discovered that it was rather poisonous. Its name is Bloodroot or Sanguinaria canadensis. It can also be used for medicinal purposes, however. Sometimes negative things have their positives.

The air we breathe is different when we’re surrounded by trees. It’s crisper; more saturated.  You can feel the contrast from the stale, polluted air we breathe in our homes or in the city. As the fresh air is drawn into our mouths, makes the journey down through our windpipes, and into our lungs, our bodies sense the change. Walking through nature helps trigger the brain to produce endorphins which can regulate our moods. Nature is healing to us, and we need to protect nature if for no other reason than to help ourselves.

A part of nature people tend to hate is the rain; I however have great memories in the rain as it is what you make of it. I have memories of a hot summer night, going for a walk through a park with a special someone. I remember placing a blanket on the ground beneath a massive tree and laying down to stare up at its overarching branches. The silly little conversations that flowed seamlessly in and out of the quiet that surrounded us as it got later and later in the night. The low sound of the music we had playing through my phone.

I remember the feel of a fat raindrop landing on my face and abruptly sitting up. Within seconds the skies had opened up and the branches over us offered little protection. I remember running as we made the long way back to the car. We were holding hands as we ran, laughing maniacally and quite the sight to see, I’m sure.

Once we realized we were completely drenched we stopped in the middle of a field of grass. We could still hear the music playing even through the thrumming of the rain pounding on the ground. I remember holding each other and swaying slowly as we danced as one beneath the dark and stormy sky. The mud squelched beneath our feet with every step but it didn’t matter. All we saw were each others eyes through the rain.

Although that instance has passed, it returns to me every time I hear the pitter-patter of rain and I get to relive that perfect moment.

-Jade Cohen