After I posted my fears last week about our trip to the Grand Canyon, it hit me that I never mentioned all of the good things that happened there. In this age of pandemic, it's easy to travel down a negative spiral. I'm learning that I have to work more at finding gratitude for the things I do have. It's not quite so automatic anymore. I'm determined to do better. On this trip to the Grand Canyon, I had my first experience watching the sunrise over the canyon. We stayed the night in the park, and the sunrise was beautiful, with no crowds. How could I have so quickly overlooked this private moment of beauty and calm? Somehow, I believe our Earth will find a way to survive and right itself. With our without us. Today, I'm grateful for my time at this majestic and timeless place.
November 25, 2021
In recent times, we have been cut off from most of our physical interactions and face to face conversations with people. Luckily with social media and the internet, we can connect virtually with many of these people and talk to people worldwide. This past week I have interacted with friends from across the world in a group chat, a person from Norway, Australia, Germany, South America, and across the United States. We all had completely different experiences from each other, but we connect back during a pandemic to offer our support and show interest in each other's lives. What was most striking when talking with these different people was that I saw completely different views on the pandemic and how it was directly related to one's culture. In Australia, a friend told me that they don't even wear masks anymore, as Australia's cases have been extremely low for a long time. Good responses from the government and the citizens have led to more comfort and less anxious life than in many places across the world. We were surprised when she said that they do not wear masking; it was almost unfathomable, unheard of; but when she described that it wasn't necessary, we understood. Listen to people's stories about COVID can bring us closer to people, but at the same time draw us apart, knowing we are living two completely different lives and worlds.
November 3, 2020