2.2 Blog Assignment: Carson, Becker and Me

2.2 Blog Assignment: Carson, Becker and Me

As a child, I remember crossing the street from my family home in Waimanalo to the beach every summer day. My cousins and I awoke with the sun each morning to get the full days worth of the ocean, the sand, the playing time and the feeling of just being outside. As the sun grew tired in the late afternoons, we would cross the street again and would look forward to tomorrow. We also played hide and seek in our clubhouse that our grandfather built for us, climbed trees and got dirty. Sadly, as each summer would pass the activities became fewer. It wasn’t obvious to me that the sun had begun to awaken without us, because we were too busy playing with our new Nintendo game system. Our parents began buying us toys that were made for inside the house. Young as we were, we went along with the new toys and gadgets that were given to us. Our time spent in doors began to increase and no one was eager to cross the street anymore. When I became a teenager I realized the importance of crossing the street and waking up with the sun. My childhood memories were mostly created outdoors and getting dirty. Being conscious of this as I arrive in Waimanalo each summer, I ignite the excitement for my younger cousins to cross the street.

The Nature Deficit Disorder link is an “eye opener” pertaining to the outside. This link provides valuable information on the importance of children/teens and their connection with “outside play” or “Nature Play”. A concept of encouraging playtime that is free for the individual to explore, imagine and create. It has been proven that children today spend far more time indoors than outside. Its not to say that children need to join a sport or participate in two sports but to allow the children/youth to attend camping trip, to build a forts in their back yard or to simply create a trail in a small forest. Just being outside is the message.

The Composting Toilet link automatically triggered a sharp memory of mine. Not exactly using a composting toilet ,(which is a toilet systems that treats human waste by composting and dehydrating it to make a useable end-product that is a valuable soil additive), but something along those lines. Living with in your means and having things that you need is important to realize and accept. Let me tell you my story.

As an elementary student, I can sharply remember taking a bath outside, brushing my teeth outside and using a bucket to flush the toilet. When my father first started building our home, it was from scratch. Literally. When he and my mother decided to move to the Big Island from the O’ahu, their goal was to own their own home and build it together. That is exactly what happened. My parents made an outside shower and sink before the pluming was finished, they refilled the bucket with water whenever my sister and I had to use the bathroom and slowly but surely built our home. Now that I think back on the experience I am able to laugh about it and realize that sometimes you do with what you have and appreciate the hard work that parents are willing to do for their children. Love the simple things in life.