What I Found On My Mini Vacation

While COVID-19 reigns, the movement for our world and its inhabitants were restricted. No one traveled for vacation because of fear. Fear of getting infected with a virus with no known cure. In some countries, the elderly and other humans with various health issues became house rats.

Fear controlled hearts, minds, souls, pockets, wallets, bank accounts, and everything else that would encourage movement and life.

As more and more humans got infected, and more people started dying, everything in our world stopped. Mental health and anxiety issues increased worldwide as hopelessness began to plague every nation. Weddings were put off, church services had to go online, and so did non-life-threatening doctor visits and follow-ups. Schools had to go online denying children social in-person interaction with their classmates and friends. Family visits declined, and many elderly were left alone.

The internet became the major source of communication between family, friends, businesses, churches, etc. As many countries closed their borders and traveling was restricted.

People knee-deep in crisis gave up as COVID-19 kept stealing lives from us.

Living in a super hot country with poor outgoing dramatic people, who must struggle and fight life daily, Jamaicans did not allow COVID-19 restrictions to deter their movement or life.

Watching the news hurts my heart, mind, and soul, so pain shoved me out of my home. I go on many walks to destress from the pain our world keeps sharing. I see flowers growing out of concrete.

They call out to me.

I find it amazing. How did they survive in such a difficult environment with limited resources and still look healthy?

If they can survive without hope, so can I despite the chaos our world shares.

Plants growing out of rocks. Isn't that amazing? This is the symbol of strength and hope for me as my mood improves.

Looking at these plants, my mood improved as hope slowly seeped into my veins, and removed the stress. I call my walks mini-vacations. And I take one every chance I get snapping away with my Samsung A42 cellphone.

Look at this beautiful plant, living, growing and surviving out of concrete and rocks. If they can do it, with their limited resources, so can I with my knowledge and understanding of life and living.

Plants need water to survive. Humans don't water these plants, the rain does. They are fed only when it rains. We have been experiencing water woes for a few years. So, water has become a scarce commodity.

Humans can go without food longer than they can go without water. Water is life and these beautiful plants must await the rain to be fed. They are not aware of it, yet they give their best to us. This plant below is call Cold Bush or Rice and Peas. It's good for getting mucus or cold out of your body and is drank for tea in Jamaica.

I also take a mini vacation to watch the sunrise. I call it a Sunrise for hope. Or #Asunrise4hope. Economies, farmers, tourism, and many businesses worldwide rely on the sun to show up daily to increase their income and profits. The sun rising daily helps to keep depression away.

Past studies have proposed that some links exist between sunlight and mental health;

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10277019/

Did you know that no two sunrises are the same no matter where in the world you are?

I also take a mini vacation to watch the sunset. I call it a sunset of promises. Or #Asunset4apromise. As the sun sets, it vows to be back tomorrow with more hope to share with our world.

No two sunsets are the same either and that alerts me that Nature is the best artist. Nature does not imitate.

COVID-19 is no longer a threat, but I still take my mini vacations to destress, while enjoying nature and never leave my camera/phone.

Thank you for reading this piece. I hope you enjoyed it.