Campfire Chats

This Labor Day Weekend was one for the books. I went camping with my closest friends just forty miles outside of Tallahassee. All my FSU students reading can rejoice, there are so many places to explore around here! There might not be mountains or summits, but there are rivers and springs begging to be swam in. This weekend, my wonderful friends and I were able to float down Bear Paw River. For three hours we just floated down the river, without a worry in the world. I recommend visiting Bear Paw when classes are becoming too much, finals are overwhelming, or you just need space to breathe and recharge. You can either bring your own tube (or canoe, whatever you want!), or rent one from one of the many friendly businesses on the riverfront. You have no choice but to strip your mind of your worries and focus on the river's current, the weeping willow's moss creeping up on your float, and your friend's laughter as they fall out of their tube and swim among-st the fish.

If you want more adventure in your visit to Bear Paw, there are also an endless amount of rope swings to fill your daredevil cravings. Bear Paw allows kids to be kids and adults to pretend they still are one for the day.

Once everyone is tired from the river or wants to make a weekend trip out of it, (definitely make a weekend trip out of it!) there are plenty of campgrounds to stay at. While Bear Paw has one, there is also the Itasca State Park nearby with even more campgrounds. Now, you can keep the fun flowing into the night by the campfire.

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My lovely friends and I decided to camp for the weekend after enjoying our time on the river. We got the campfire going and subsequently started discussing life. How it works, what makes it work, you know, all that good stuff. As the night got longer, I started thinking about writing. Writing is my passion, and if I'm being honest one of the only things I am good at. I know what I think about writing, but what do my friends think? None of them are writers- or major in anything relative to it. My friend Adrian is a personal trainer, Micaela is a dancer, and Noah is an accounting major. I was perplexed. How does writing exist in the lives of people who are not writers? Well, around the campfire, I found out.

*Answers have been edited and shortened for clarity*

Adrian

Adrian loves personal fitness and Asian Studies. While he usually only writes if it is assigned or is needed for work, his running thought through his head while writing is, "don't sound like an idiot." When I ask more questions, he looks into the fire and adds, "I like to brainstorm. I think writing is better when your thoughts and writing mirror each other well." When I asked if he thinks there is a difference between composing and writing he decided that, "composing is all the good, fun stuff. Writing is all about rules and grammar."

Micaela

Micaela is a dance major and loves yoga almost as much as she loves a good cheese board. Micaela is an artist and her dancing is always filled with passion. So, I was not surprised that she writes when she feels drawn to a subject. She added, "I hate writing if I do not care about the subject. I need to care about it." When passion strikes, she likes to incorporate a universal truth in her writing- "it should be cohesive. Over-arching themes bring ideas together for a bigger picture."

Noah

Noah works at publix and is majoring in accounting. He is not a big writer, but I think he would like Hemingway because he decided that, "writing should be clear cut. I hate metaphors, what's the point? Tell me what to picture."

Concluding Thoughts

After this weekend, I truly feel my cup runneth over. I was able to enjoy nature, make memories, and pick the minds of my dearest friends. In regards to writing, they all agreed that works of writing should be driven by passion. They want to read and write things that can change people and the world. Shockingly, I too believe the same. I write to give a voice to the voiceless. I want to help and defend anyone and anything that needs me, and right now the environment needs it.

I leave this weekend refueled, inspired, and hopeful. My friends and I camped, floated down the river, picked up trash along the shore, and shared wise wisdom about writing (alliteration rules, doesn't it?). I am excited to incorporate their thoughts on writing and composing in my work and blog. I hope you all enjoyed reflecting on what it means to write and are making your weekend plans outdoors!