San Andres, Colombia
“We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something.”
― Mother Teresa
Hi! It has been a minute, more like happy first trimester of 2021! Life has been busy but I can always carve out some time for Earth Day. Afterall Earth Day should be celebrated every day, don’t you think?
It is not a secret that I love art and that I love digging into the root of it all. Where it begins, where it ends. It all starts with nature, a testament to the one Genius & Creator of it all. We say we strive for greater but how can we improve when we have had it all? When we really haven’t taken the time to appreciate what we truly have. We’ve lacked awareness, as it is easier to give for granted what we have not lost.
I was born in Cali, Colombia and grew up surrounded by beautiful flora. Colombia is in South America, think of South America as an ice cream cone, and Colombia is at the very top, below the Panama Canal, left of Venezuela and with access to both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. With that being said droughts never crossed my mind, how water’s scarcity makes it precious, or how others have to work so hard to obtain it. In Colombia, from the moment one starts school, they teach us about all the richness and natural treasures our planet and country possesses including all of the rivers and sweet waters which irrigates Colombia’s rich soil. From that plentiful irrigation the most delicious creamy avocados grow, the sweetest and juiciest mangos are born. Among the many other tropical fruits which are probably a rarity to anyone who has never encountered them before, chontaduros being one of them and ones I enjoy. Chontaduros are found in many corners of Colombia and they are eaten with honey and salt.
While living in Colombia, my family and I spent many weekends and holidays at a special place we still call La Finca. There is no specific name for this place in English. The closest explanation is that it is a mixture of a farm and a cottage. My hometown Cali is flat, surrounded by mountains and hot all year long. However, once you start driving up the mountain to La Finca the air gets crispy and cold as you travel from paved roads to unpaved and very curved roads with spectacular views. Driving up the mountain, you immediately feel the fresh cool air, surrounded by the beautiful lush greenery amid the peaceful and strong sounds of the nearby river. That same river gives water to La Finca and the pool next to it. It is all so fresh, so natural, one could say it is truly organic. Growing up in this environment I never thought these beautiful features would now become a luxury to me. Yet, my memories of these visits to La Finca are one of the biggest treasures anyone could have. From the cold showers, fresh guavas and oranges, un chocolate caliente and an arepa de choclo. South America is the lungs of the planet, La Amazonia. How precious yet how mistreated our planet has become, and I wonder if it’ll have tears in form of rain left to cry and irrigate if we keep going at the rate which we are going.
It is hard to imagine a happy life without all the nature which inspires us to create and which gives us life. Today I am grateful for our precious earth and everything that it implies. I am also thankful that my mom would always point out the details, the beauty, and teach me how to respect and appreciate it all.
May we love Earth and cherish it as we should. May we not take it for granted. The biggest gift of it all doesn’t require money, just our love and care. Planet Earth wants to keep providing but it requires more care from us all.
Today's Thoughts 
Awesome tribute to 🌍 Day!
LikeLike