cubing post

1. True beauty is often taken for granted. It is all around us, in close proximity, yet society is too busy to acknowledge. So often we get caught up in “fake beauty” – outside looks, but not necessarily inner beauty. The Sunken Gardens of Lincoln are indeed visual beauty, but very real and thought-provoking. In the midst of the hustle and superficial demands of society, this beauty is right here yet quite possibly overlooked. This observation parallels society as a whole: beauty, true beauty, is all around in simple ways, yet is so often overlooked in search of something more.

2. I, my hometown, and my surroundings are a prime example of this ignorance. I grew up very close to the Niobrara River, in the middle of the Sandhills, with peace and serenity all around. Even with rural surroundings and a relatively slow way of life, we are too busy to really appreciate it. The occasional tourist may come and remind us how much beauty we are surrounded by, and we smile and agree. We go on with our hectic days without giving it much more thought. While I have always loved the area where I grew up, I have not always truly appreciated it.
Residents of my hometown and many others in the presence of very unique surroundings are ignorant and down-right stupid when it comes to taking care of these places. Litter can always be seen lining the banks of the rivers; wild animals native to the area are selfishly poached.

3. The Nature Center located at Pioneers Park is another piece of beauty tucked away in our city. The Nature Center, like the Sunken Gardens, provides a peaceful, natural atmosphere. Much larger than the Gardens, the Nature Center features more wildlife (bison, elk, vultures, wild turkeys, and more). The hiking trails are extensive, while the trails through the Gardens simply meander through the maze of flowers, plants and stone. Both of these places attract many tourists, yet are often overlooked by the locals.

4. The Sunken Gardens came to be because the founders wanted to “create the most beautiful spot in the city.” Indeed, this is a spot of beauty that attracts tourists and a handful of locals. The founders knew that every community needs a place where we can step away from our busy lives and appreciate peace and simplicity. This is the purpose of these Gardens; they are, in a sense, a break from reality. By having such places, perhaps our society can see what is really important; what truly creates happiness.

5. Each part of the Sunken Gardens is certainly connected to each other – each is special, unique and beautiful in their own way – but it is together that they make up the Gardens. Flowers, trees, plants, water, fish, rock… There are unique types of each, but all are intertwined and related. This community works together to achieve greatness.
The people observed at the Sunken Gardens definitely contributed to the observations and response to them. Here these people were, in the middle of Lincoln, taking time to simply be in beauty’s presence. There was no rush, no worries, no tension.

6. The Sunken Gardens are just a small glimpse of the beauty around us that we are unaware of or take for granted. If more individuals took the time out of their schedule to step back and take in the pleasure of the simple beauties of life, perhaps more of our society would be in touch with this simplicity. If we, as a society, were more concerned with the peace and serenity of such simple beauty then superficial beauty, we could take incredible steps of coming together rather than falling apart.