“The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” Rabindranath Tagore
The beach seems to have an endless supply of sand. If only that were true for the sand within the hourglass of life. According to the lyrics of “Seasons of Love,” from the musical Rent, we have, on average, a mere five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes. Living and celebrating life should not be something put off for tomorrow, because for many, tomorrow may not come.
As part of life, I believe that we should love, respect, and celebrate Nature. Man has developed an arrogance when it comes to the natural world. He has come to place himself above it, instead of embracing the fact that he is merely a small, integral part of a much larger picture. You’ll get no argument from me. When it comes to tree hugging, I tend to be a fanatic. Not enough can be said about the critical importance of living on a planet that provides clean air to breathe and toxin-free water to drink. They are the essence of life itself.
I’m also a plant fanatic. I love plants. No matter where in the world I have lived, it has been a must that my homes have plants, and lots of them - be it a tent, a vintage VW bus, a condo, an apartment, or a house. Plants create a natural ambiance, make great, non-judgmental companions, and are constant reminders of one’s connection to, and dependence upon, all of Nature. Hey, look. The moon!
Barely visible, but there it is. And there it has been ever since life began on this planet. For many centuries it has mystified thinkers and has drawn countless lovers to its pale light like moths to a flame. Hundreds of generations have come and gone, and there it remains, as does the earth and planets, the stars, the galaxies, and all of space. It is all there to marvel over and enjoy, as it had been to all those who have gone before, and just like them, only for ever so brief a moment in time.
Life ebbs and flows like the waves of the ocean. We are powerless to stop time from eventually stopping us. However, time will never stop the ocean and all of Nature, which will continue long after we are gone. Kind of like me when it comes to talking - especially about Nature. What’s that? Sure, I can give it a rest. No. No offense taken.