Michael's Blog

"The swiftest traveler is he that goes afoot.”- Thoreau “Yeah, right,” I thought on my long walk over to the TCU Rec. Undeniably, the most frustrating aspect of TCU’s campus is its lack of parking. Parking lots, the ones that aren’t closed, at least, are scattered few and far between, futilely serving the ever-growing student population. This inconvenience is most obvious to me when I go to the gym. The strategic route planning and intentional workout timing required to get a Rec parking spot brews such discontent in me that it nearly ruins my favorite hobby. Therefore, this semester, I decided to walk from my apartment to Rec. I initially despised these walks. On my early morning treks, I endured bone-chilling temperatures, dealt with wind thrashing across my face, and dodged speeding commuters. Worst of all, I would have to do it all over again to get home, dragging sore legs from a workout along with me. At this point, I would think of Thoreau’s quote and wholeheartedly disagre...

Over Valentine's Day weekend, my girlfriend and I visited a resort perched in the rolling hills of the Hill Country near San Antonio. We had plans to roam the local shopping center and enjoy the thrills of the nearby Six Flags; however, upon seeing the breathtaking views from our balcony of deep-green hillside ridges crashing into one another like waves, we had little desire to leave the property. And we  didn't  need to. The resort did a remarkable job of encouraging  guests  to take in the environment by orienting pools, loungers, fire pits, and restaurants towards the mesmerizing horizon. I  could not  remember the last time I had the opportunity to appreciate the undeniable beauty of a natural landscape like this. It was an incredible experience and a wonderful long weekend.     Naturally, given how much I enjoyed the trip, I found myself daydreaming about the hillside as our class began on Tuesday. It turned out to be the perfect image to con...

Photo Credit:  A Culture of Giving Back – Chancellor’s Blog: Leading On Admittedly, the most difficult concept for me to grasp thus far in our semester is kindred. Abbey's patient decision regarding the rattlesnake made my struggle undeniable. His actions stood in stark contrast to my instinctive hypothetical reaction in that situation. Therefore, my weekend goal was to come to terms with what kindred really means in my own life and begin seeing nature and its inhabitants as Abbey does. Unfortunately, my mission got off to a terrible start. By Saturday morning, I had already attempted to smash an invasive mosquito against my driver's-side window and squish a spider I found particularly ominous crawling along the sidewalk. Abbey would be furious at this behavior, and honestly, I was disappointed in myself. These negative reactions were automatic. For kindred to feel natural, I would need an example of it in action. On Sunday morning, that example found me. As I stepped outside m...

A weekend ago, Fort Worth endured its annual ice storm which invited me to reflect on our most recent class discussions. I chose the descriptor “ice” rather than “snow” because, as someone from northern New Hampshire, snowfall is measured in feet. Nevertheless, Fort Worth experienced dangerous conditions that kept the entire community inside, off the roads, and learning and working from home. Although I gladly welcomed the break from class and work, cabin fever set in quickly. Determined to shake the boredom and escape the confines of my apartment, I layered on warm sweaters and set out for a walk in the bitter cold. I forcefully pushed open my apartment door, sealed by icy precipitation from the days prior, and immediately felt myself helplessly slide across the frozen doorstep. The descent from my stairs onto the sidewalk was no easier. As I finally steadied myself and began a cautious stroll around the neighborhood, I was struck by my surroundings. The typically crowded sidewalk ful...