Before the wildfires took over the skies, Yosemite National Park provided a relaxing and restorative atmosphere. Photo by Taylor Helmes.
By Taylor Helmes, Managing Editor
When Bay Shore Avenue closes down in Belmont Shore, you know the summer season has arrived. Beaches begin to fill, despite the coronavirus pandemic and social distance guidelines, days grow longer ending in colorful sunsets, and academics and school work become an afterthought.
Yet, at the ripe age of 24, I no longer believe in summer vacations. Between 12 units of online courses this summer and the continuous publication of the Bulletin since school closed down in the spring and prompted distance learning, I did not experience a normal summer vacation this year. Then again, what is normal nowadays?
But when the opportunity to spend three nights camping at Yosemite valley came up, I decided this was my last chance to soak up the final days of my break between semesters.
And we made it just before the wildfires and smoke began to affect the national park and its breathtaking views.
But no matter how far I drove, the effects of coronavirus followed.
Upon entering the main gate for Yosemite National Park, a masked park ranger greeted us. All employees, staff, and rangers wore masks. Hand sanitizer stations were located throughout the dining and public areas and visitors were asked to wear masks.
But the next three days would serve as a chance for my brain to decompress from the constant influx of information and news that had consumed my summer season and allow a sense of relaxation wash over me. The chilly, yet refreshing, water from the snowmelt in the Merced River did just that.
Spending afternoons swimming and lounging in the river, making friends with both humans and ducks, I truly lost track of time. And I didn’t care to look at my phone to check. I simply looked at the sun’s location in the sky in relation to the mountainous geography and what direction I thought was north; I was off by about an hour and a half.
The smell of wood and pine trees filled the air, incentivizing me to take more full, deep, and cleansing breaths. Not necessarily meditative, but more appreciative.
Taking a break in the outdoors, also known as “nature breaks,” are underrated and truly invaluable. As I closed my eyes and listened to the natural noise around me, I felt my buzzing brain slow down.
As a kid, I spent my summers playing with the neighborhood kids, participating in parks and recreational programs, and took family vacations. Coronavirus didn’t rob me of my summer though, rather time did. I would roll my eyes every time an adult told me to enjoy my time as a child or tween and continue to imagine the independence and freedom that came with growing up.
I wish I could tell 12-year-old Taylor to get out of her head and live in the moment, and to enjoy life without responsibilities.
There are perks to summers as a 24-year-old, don’t get me wrong. At a moment’s notice, I can drive out to Yosemite with my boyfriend and meet up with friends and his family to take a mini-vacation, I can drink alcoholic beverages throughout the day, and I can put myself to bed at whatever time I’d like!
But all good things must come to an end, they say. As we drove nearly 310 miles back home the sky was gray and glum. I’d found out that wildfires had started throughout California during our stay in Yosemite.
Between wildfire and a pandemic, school being online and juggling adult responsibilities, it’s easy to forget to take a break and rest. Humans are not machines, and we are not meant to continuously exert energy.
The world may literally be on fire, but if we take small moments to bring our thoughts to rest and recuperate then we won’t burn out.
