I have always loved nature. Growing up there was a small woods behind my house and my dad and I would often go exploring together. One of my favorite plants has always been moss. Something about the soft plushy nature of it makes me feel at peace. 

I no longer live in front of a forest but my neighborhood now is right up against a small cemetery in the center of my town. It may sound creepy to some, but having spent twelve years of my life living near a cemetery has given me a different outlook on it. I see it as a peaceful place for both the living and the dead. Like most people, my family and I take walks and we often walk through the cemetery because its a way for us to get out of the house without seeing other people or without having to just walk around our block. Plus the cemetery is really quite beautiful with many small flowers dotting the grass, huge trees covered in bright leaves and buds, and yes even mosses. 

I decided to complete this assignment while on one of my solo walks in the cemetery. I had had a particularly rough few days where my anxieties had been very high and I had some difficulty sleeping. So I decided to take a walk. As the crisp spring air filled my lungs, I began to think a little more clearly. Suddenly the world around me seemed a bit different. Brighter, fuller. But I didn’t find myself looking at the bright flowers or leaves of the trees, I discovered I was looking at the small grasses and moss covering the ground. I pondered why this might be. Though I have always loved moss it’s not typically the plant I am drawn to first. As I continued to ponder why this might be, something dawned on me.

It’s the simple things. Over the last few weeks, the things that have brought me the most joy and peace have been small and simple. A text from a friend, a funny video from my boyfriend, a really good meal, an upbeat song to dance to, a hug from my mom and dad, or even just a cartoon tv show from my childhood. Perhaps that is why I was drawn to this moss. It’s simple. It doesn’t have flowers, it’s not very tall. If you didn’t look too closely you may even confuse it with the grass. 

I think this craziness and reminding us of just that. That it’s the little things that make us happy and bring fullness to our lives. Before, my brain tended to focus on a million things at once. I was worried about grades, friends, money. I still think about these things of course. But now, my thoughts tend to be about how much I cant wait to hug all of my friends and hold my grandmother’s hand again. I hope that when all of this is over, I will remember these things. That its the small simple moments, like time spent with friends not six feet apart, dancing at a party where the music is way too loud, or even Bryopsida on the ground in a cemetery that brings the most joy.

  • Brianna O’Doherty