My Outside Magic


There was nothing magical about the day ahead of me.  

I was tasked with “an honest day’s work” alongside my girlfriend’s dad on their family property. Our morning began at 6:00 A.M. with a cup of black coffee on the front porch, and from there we spent the day laboring outside underneath the southeast Texas sky. We inspected trees for insect infestations, chopped brush crowding the trails, and herded cattle across the property. Despite sore hands, dusty jeans, and aching feet, I was mostly grateful because it was February and not the scorching Texas summer. At this point in the semester, I would have described this experience as little more than an attempt to earn the approval only your girlfriend’s dad can give.  

However, this was before we had learned to observe nature as John Stilgoe proposes.

So, allow me to re-narrate that day.

I woke up just in time to catch the country sunrise. Sipping hot coffee on the wooden porch, I listened to insects chirp, felt dew soaking into my socks, and breathed in the fresh country air. As we worked, I noticed the world around me: sunlight flickering unevenly through the trees, birds calling from distant branches, wind rustling the tall grass, and insects humming. The environment had a serene rhythm.

Conversations were also different outside. Between tasks, my girlfriend’s dad shared wisdom and thoughts about life, work, and the future that felt genuine because of our environment. We had bonded like never before.

By the end of the day, my sore hands and aching feet didn’t bother me; they felt earned. I also felt peace, happiness, appreciation, and personal restoration despite being physically tired, which I could only describe as “magical”.  

The “magic” I felt is attainable. I didn’t need to summit Kilimanjaro or visit Yellowstone to find it. It lives around us everywhere if we slow down enough to observe it. From this experience, I learned that "magic" is taking time to notice your surroundings, because what seems ordinary is likely extraordinary with closer attention.

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