Around the world

     I have a usual routine when I jog around the park. My family and I park our car right in front of the workout center. In front of it is a ledge where you can see how dried out the lake is. There are two types of people here. Those who try to accomplish something and then those who pretend too.  
     I always see the same usual people, in their usual clothes. The elderly couple are my favorite. The much older man sits on the blue polled uncomfortable brown benches with holes through it. In front of him, a woman who I think is his wife. They both are more fit than I am. I enjoy seeing the elderly people try to stay fit. It shows that no matter what age you can always maintain a healthy life style. We could all learn a thing or two from old people.
     Next to the couple are the three Hispanic guys who compete against each other for the amount of pull ups being done. Its sort of annoying because each one only does about six to seven pull ups, not that I can do more or anything like that. Its just that right after doing the pull ups they always drink beer in their cars. It shows a bad influence on the children walking around with their parents. These guys aren't getting anything done and if they do they destroy it by drinking beer.
     This park provides people with a basic, gym and then for cardio; a mile long trail along the parks lake. This park is very beneficial for the health of humans. A lot of people come just to run around the park . If it weren't here many people would have no where else to go and get lazy; fat. In a website, I found that 75% of people think parks help the community. Parks increase fitness and reduce obesity. Not only that but parks provide people contact with nature, it is known to confer certain health benefits and enhance well-being.
(https://www.planning.org/cityparks/briefingpapers/physicalactivity.htm)
    I stand next to these people, stretching on the picnic tables on the right side of the workout center. Around the picnic tables are trees full of whistling birds. I get bored after a while, so I start to jog counter clockwise. I pass the old wooden bridge where the little river used to pass by. I start to run uphill on the cement trail. There is a sand trail but I think its slippery, so I could possibly fall into the lake. And I'd really like it if that wouldn't happen to me.
     Along the running path is a trail of cars with people inside eating sandwiches, pizzas and hamburgers. I think this is rather rude of them because the people jogging around are trying to have sexy bodies. While these fat people are mocking us by eating their deliciously greasy food in their cars. Their is only men in the cars and its always the same people. Their all light skinned with long bushy beards in plain t-shirts and they are all really over-weight. Its awkward passing by them because they just stare at you, that is when I jump on to the sandy path. I feel sort of guilty because I can't help but feel they're not trying to be rude but just jealous or even scared about trying to working out. Maybe that's why they're always bring food and eating it here.
     Once I pass the fat people I start to run up hill, my legs are getting tired already. To my left as always is the lake and to my right is a bunch of beautiful homes with perfectly cut grass and perfectly aging trees. These homes have better trees then the park, their all cared for. Next to the houses, up the road, is a play ground with a field in the back. Its shaped like a triangle, with trees outlining it. To the left is the play ground; full of children with mothers yelling their names, to the right is a bunch of picnic tables and in the back the field where everyone plays soccer. I tend to not stare at the children because they just plainly stare back.
     Its hard to breath now, my chest is burning. I stop to use my inhaler and catch my breath because next is the mountain. Its not really a mountain actually, its just very steep. I hate it. I sprint to the top, here I smell the purple flowers. Behind the flowers is a small forest of bushes and a couple trees. I see men use this as a restroom, don't go around their guys you might see something that will scar you for life. I start to trot down the hill like a horse, because my legs literally feel like Jell-O and I just know if I try to run down I'll fall on my face. Everyone else does it too. While going down hill I like to stare at the dog park that's across the street. The park is big but its literally all dirt, I don't see how the dog's can enjoy themselves that way. No wonder pet owners take their dogs to the children's park. Next to the dog park is a coral with horses. I never see the same horses altogether, their the same exact horses but they keep getting taken somewhere. There is a white, brown, and black horses. They always keep their distance, I don't think they trust us. And they have every right not to. Horses are trained by being whipped and tortured. All they know is that they should obey the orders so that they don't get hit anymore. It always makes me sad to see the horses caged like this. There is one horse I like the most; the dark brown one. It (I don't know if its a girl or boy) reminds me of my childhood memory when I was six years old, my dad made taken me to the mountains. I'm not quite sure where but people come here to shoot. Me and my dad were on our way to go shooting when my dad saw wild horses or "free horses." Know I was quite the courageous gal and wasn't afraid or so what my father had taught me. My dad told me to get out of the car and we walked really close to a tall dark brown horse. My father paused and said, "Go pet that horse." He pointed to a tall horse that was eating grass. I looked at that man like he had completely gone mad and the funny thing was that I was madder. The horses head was down in the grass, as I stepped closer, i reached for its head. I felt its soft hair run through my fingers like silk, a smile creped up on my face. The horse panicked, it had never been touched by a human I presume. It raised its front legs at me, I then knew I was dead. Its hoove managed to hit my left arm and I fell back, gently. My dad ran to pick me up as the horse ran away. I wasn't hurt. I didn't say anything, not a word. I was only confused, and I asked myself," What did I do wrong?"
     I'm more then half way done now and I've grown tired of the same old road. I try to move as quickly as possible. To my right is the mountains of rubble left from the destroyed apartments. To my left I finally get to my favorite spot where you can see the sun set perfectly. I can't enjoy it right now though, I am to busy heaving in pain and exhaustion. This is the time when everyone pulls out their phones or camera. We always seem to do that, I think its because we miss the sun or we sometimes forget how beautiful it really is. It only lasts for a couple minutes, then the world shuts down and gets colder. The sunset is over now and its time to give it all I've got. I pass by the doc where no one bothers to get on anymore, the picnic tables; where for some reason people like to work out in front of, the pit of shame and the restrooms. Where for some reason men can't seem to locate.
     Finally I get to the dreadful trail of trees surrounding a crumbling road and at the end, the blue sign that marks the finish line. Every time I look across it, it looks like a million miles away. I'd rather quit and save myself the trouble and sweat. My throat is dry from my harsh breathing, and the smell of the water is only making me sick. The people and their dogs stare at me. Am I breathing loud? This is where I say "Come on! GO! What's the matter? Is that all you got?" This usually does it and I take off, I'm sprinting as fast as I can, with every bit of energy I have left. I try not to scream.
-I'm there.
"How Cities Use Parks to Improve Public Health." American Planning Association. Web.31 Nov.2014.

Hope

 

Before I begin I'd like to let you know that my teacher, Mr. Reid in the beginning of the year had shown our class pictures of plants some how finding there way through anything.

( The flower of hope)

That being said I remember when i had stumbled upon a sun flower that was quite small. Now that was pretty damn exciting to me because I had never seen flowers of this sort before in the park. Flashing back to the way I had learned Mr. Reid's lesson; that even though there is a lot of bad in a place good can always find its way through. Through out the park a lot of injustice has happened, but if you just put that a side for a moment and realize what's happening around you, well that just makes a world of a difference.

 

 

( Ducks in tne water)

 

 

( Ducks on the edge of the lake)

 

                                                                       ( Swan)
For instance I noticed a lot more birds had returned, even a swan. It had beautiful wings and it moved with such grace through the water. I loved it. As I watched the swan, I saw a black tube go across the water, that lead to the famous island where all the birds go to escape the abuse of some people.

                                                                    ( Black tube)

I searched for answers but nothing was found, so my guess is that this mysterious tube might be helping the water quality get better until the snow comes.

                                                                      (The island)


After my days in the park my spirit was lifted, not only because the park was being noticed but their is hope. Little things are being done to improve the water. But what is hope? In the modern world this means very little; a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. (Wikipedia)
But in the bible it is a complete different thing, now I don't mean to get all religious here but in this situation it must be introduced in a new way.
Romans 8:24 25 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
(Bible.org)
This means we never get to see hope, only some results from it and we still have to continue to have faith and hope. This park has its ups and downs but we have to keep hoping. Without hope the lake is nothing. We are the ones who make a difference in the world. Hope has reached a new meaning, it is no longer a feeling but an action where you dont stand there and expect things to happen, you make things happen. In return you get exacly what you wanted. My edvice to you is to stop dreaming/desiring things and do something about it. Somebody must of cared for this park and instead of hoping for something to happen they made something happen. So whoever you are thank you for having the courage to do what so many of us couldn't do.