We are nature, ever-blooming.
Written by Carolina Galbiati
It took me so long to think of a creative way to explore the future, as we are living in a situation of doom and depression. At first I thought of my own future, the fact that I will be hopefully in NYC by September starting my masters, to live the life I’ve always dreamed of, ever since meeting Madame Vreeland in a documentary, or in my dreams, I do not remember precisely. This is what I came up with:
“Thinking about the future, is not an easy subject for me. It is probably one of the hardest, right next to childhood traumas and other stuff that haunts me immensely. I’m an indecisive at heart when it comes to my career. I’ve wanted to do almost every job you can think of. I’m an optimist and I’m very adventurous (might be my Sag rising, actually, its definitely my Sag rising), so I tend to think of the positive aspects of a career I’m exploring at that moment, which then I masochistically lure myself into thinking about seriously. I’ve tried a myriad of things and always have a lot of doubts about the direction in which I’m going in, as while others don’t love what they do 100%, I love all of my passions 100%. But I guess that when you can’t find your niche you can create it. Whatever it is I will end up doing, I like to dream big.”
Then I realized that if there is one thing this virus has taught all of us is how connected we all are, and how our personal mindset must change in favor of the community for everyone’s good. How we seem to have lost that true connection to each other, the connection that only implies helping each other succeed for the good of the WHOLE. Coronavirus gave us the ultimate challenge: What happens when the problem overextends borders, presidents, economies, even the law? Our own goals and dreams of succeeding, having lots of money, big houses and all the other things we want from life? It forces us to change our mentality back to a time where the only important matters where our loved ones and health. And then this moment came to mind.
This is a picture of my dad, affected by immunosuppression (due to many years in chemotherapy), helping my grandfather put on his mask. While we have been social distancing (and staying home), the fact that he could not stop the urge to help his father wear his mask properly, in the few moments of air he reserves for himself, captivates what I envision OUR futures to look like. While in television we only see political agendas, egoism, anger and business chat, I hope none of you are fooled. We are NOT politicians who use a deathly virus to install fear and hatred to manipulate elections. We are NOT an experiment for billionaires, we are NOT casualties, numbers.
We are the people who work for our families, for the good of our cities, to help those in need. For the culture, for history, for the next generation. I decided I had to take a picture. Because in that instant, nothing else mattered. Economics, politics, capitalism. Nothing but love for one another, keeping one another safe. Taking the one final step on the ladder towards heaven, only to look back and lend a hand to whoever is not there yet.
This is to say that my future is only as bright as the good within people will be. When I envision my future, this is what I want to see more of. Whatever I will do, whatever my job will be, places I will travel to, money I will have. We are our own beacon of hope.
This is probably why I love instagram so much. It forces us to memorize, capture moments of our lives we would’t have before. Memories kept on a platform for us, time frames that we can share with our own customized community. That keep us connected, present. Personal trainers that, since being quarantined, give us workout routines to practice from home. Chefs giving us their time and skills sharing their favorite recipes.
Doctors and nurses putting their lives on the line to help everyone keep the one thing we forget, sometimes, because of crazy, busy schedules, to remember we must cherish: our lives. We open the app and see humans rising to the occasion when things get tough, and creating GOOD. Free of charge. Not because they have to, not because they have nothing else to do. Because of our innate, primal need to nurture, share, progress even when the earth seems to bring us to a halt. This is my future world, which is ironic to think of as a utopia. But this is the world I want to live more of.