I went out the other day in search of some nature to sit in. I know that’s a strange thing to say. But my goal was to find a quiet space to stare at some trees and maybe a body of water. I didn’t care if it was a lake, creek, river, or a pond. I just wanted some nature.

I decided on nearby McKinney Falls State Park. The park is encompassed completely within the city limits of Austin, a city of nearly a million people. That means if you find yourself weary of the urban and suburban landscape, ...