There is a truth that can only be found in landscapes untouched by Wi-Fi signals. Beyond the murmur of computer engines and the clicking sounds of text messages being shipped off into space, a silent whisper reveals life’s secret: nature reminds you how to live.
Last summer I heard the whisper when I backpacked through Yellowstone Forest. As the deep colors of the meadows decorated my vision, I learned that high-definition wasn’t only a feature found in television. The woodpecker’s echo taught me my voice is my social media; it bounced off the pine trees and rattled my eardrum. The night sky showed me how to put space between my words and leave room for observation. I silently watched the stars illuminate the sky like the embers of a campfire caught in the breeze.
Interacting with nature is like a dream I soon forget.  As soon as I return to the concrete jungle of my town, it begins to lull me into a technologic slumber. Often, my mind is preoccupied with the buzzing earphones of my IPod to ever hear a bird sing and realize that it chirps for me.  Text messages beg me to feel for their vibration while the sun rests calmly on my face. With so many distractions, I forget what it is like to be alive.
Mother Nature always reminds me. When I zone out she’ll blow a breeze that sends chills up my spine. Other times the flight of a falling leaf will catch my attention. As a journalism student who transferred from SRJC to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, I have to spend a majority of my time in front of a computer. The glow of the screen drains my energy to the extent that I can’t gather my thoughts and put them on the page. To alleviate the stress of school, I like to hike at least once a week. The views from Bishop Peak at sunset always seem to clear my mind and give me motivation.
Living in the 21st century means that I have so many tools to help me understand the world. I consult my favorite search engine on a regular basis, but I have gained a different perspective thanks to nature. When I skydive from 13,500 feet, I see Earth for what it is: big, round and beautiful. I keep a mental picture of what it looks like from that altitude and review it when society tempts me to forget.
The trees bring me wisdom and the breeze brings me peace. Navigating through the forest of society can make me ignorant to the gifts that nature gives. The computer world is very inviting, but it will never be my way of life. With nature as my guide, my emphasis shifts from existing to living.  When I turn off devices and turn on my senses I can sometimes hear the whisper.