Good Morning Canton!

Good Morning Canton! 

My name is Reem Abou-samra and I am a new blogger through the Plymouth-Canton network of Patch.com. I am excited to be blogging here, especially because it allows me to be in tune and on the same wavelength as other Cantoners and nearby towns. So, let me introduce myself. 

I am a PhD student at Wayne State University, studying Political Science and concentrating in political theory. I am in the dissertation stage of things, meaning all I do is RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH!! I moved to Canton 5 years ago, when I was 19 years old. So, although I didn't quite grow up in Canton, MI, I feel that without a doubt Canton is my hometown and speaks to my heart. 

What will I be blogging about? Anything and everything! Maybe I'll post about a movie, a book, an event, an interaction, a philosophical discussion, an encounter... in short, anything and everything. 

My Hobbies?! A LOT! I love doing anything that may challenge me both physically and intellectually. Sports, books, discussions, ect. I love love love poetry and desperately hope that we will see some open mics opening up more frequently in the area. Hopefully, some of you will get to see me perform. ;) 

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Since, I don't want this to be a mere introduction, I will tell you guys about my favorite spot in Canton. It is a typically, much visited spot, however it can be completely breath taking. But, I'll let you visit it from my perspective, of how I see the world. 

(1)

If you live in Canton, get on your bike (or put on some walking shoes) and bike/walk 2-3 miles to HERITAGE PARK! Preferably in the morning. With you, pack a book, a snack, a water bottle, and an mp3 player. Along the way, you may see some repititive sights, such as houses that look the same, ducks waddling along, dogs barking at you because quite frankly, the side walk is far too close to them for comfort. But as you see these things that you may witness on a daily basis, breath them in. Yes, don't just look at them, breath them in. How do you do that? I am not quite sure, but there is something that is fairly intoxicating about breathing in the mundane, the routine, the daily and just internalizing its beauty. 

(2) 

When you get to the park, make sure you walk over to the library and park your bike at the bike rack. Or if you walked, just proceed to the major lake in the middle of the park. Despite the fact that you have just commuted either by foot and by bike for about 2-3 miles, make sure you take a lap around the lake. There, you may see some young mothers, taking a stroll with their babies. Some, gentlemen walking their dogs, you may see a runner or two. You may encounter some teens making sure they get in their morning workout before school starts for the day. There might be a group Yoga class under the ampitheater. You may see a fisher, deep in thought staring off into the water, almost as though he was staring into the vastness of the sea. Breath in these sights as well. Trust me, its worth it. 

(3) 

After making your lap around the lake, find your favorite spot at the park. This may take a few times to discover. I mean, it took me 3 years to find my favorite spot in the park. Now, I rarely sit anywhere else. Sit on the ground, test its firmness, lie back, stare at the sky, the foilage around you. Lean to your side, do you like the view? How about the noises around you? Are they too loud, too quiet? Do you need more people moving around you? Do you need less of a commotion? 

If you are wondering, where is Reem's favorite spot?, I will telll you. But you have to promise me, you cannot steal it!! I mean, feel free to discover the park on your own terms, but if you find that my spot is the perfect spot for you, then it is because you discovered that after using all 5 of your senses. 

I sit along the second lake near the gazebo, on the side where there are willow trees. I usually sit beneath the second willow tree closest to the street. There, ducks often decide to come by me, sniff me out, and waddle along or sit with me in companionable silence. It is a place in which I could sit for hours. And if you know me personally, I am a person who is EXTREMELY hyper, constantly in need to move, always on edge to do something or go somewhere. But something about that spot makes me drink in life and mother nature. So, if I ever want to carefully ponder about life, or study, or read, or or or or or... I just go to my willow tree. Yes, my willow tree. I lay back and stare up at the branches dancing, with the back drop of the sky. 

(4) 

After sufficient time has passed, take out your snacks and enjoy them. Preferably, they are self-prepared or natural. You can sometimes invite a friend or for those who are anxious to share the spot with their loved ones, a date ^________-. 

(5) 

Pack up your belongings. Make sure there is nothing left on the ground, no wrappers, no pencils, nothing. Everything is as clean as it was as you arrived, if not, then cleaner. Remember, this is your favorite spot (or at least mine!), so make sure that even if you see a wrapper glinting in the distance... walk over, pick it up, and toss it in the garbage can (or if its recyclable, take it home and recycle!). 

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I hope this was a worthwhile intro to myself and my favorite spot in Canton. ^______________^