on my mary way mondays
week six "Be kinder to yourself. And then let your kindness flood the world." -Pema Chodron where in the world is she now Parrita, Costa Rica Writing to you from Hotel La Isla located on the Pacific coast in Playa Palo Seco which is right between infamous Jaco Beach and the city of tours galore, Quepos. This little slice of heaven has yet to be truly discovered by mainstream tourism, which is what makes it so special. this is not a drill The World's climate is changing. Call it what you want. I call it Global Climate Change and from this point on I will refer to it as GCC. In some places the changes brought about by GCC go unnoticed. Costa Rica is NOT one of those places. This small but incredibly biodiverse country is watching the land and the creatures who habitate it transform right before their eyes. Whilst visiting a nearby finca (farm), I learned so much about how GCC impacts the ag-business. How water and air and soil and tempuratures are in constant control of what grows and what doesn't. And with a market for production that follows a schedule created by consumer demand, not seasons, growers are faced with the unfortunate task of choosing between introducing new, or more, unnatural methods of growth or taking a major,and often dehabilitating, blow to their crop and wallet. Of course, there is also the undeniable rise of the ocean, which has devastatingly affected many coastal towns in Costa Rica. In Parrita, I became familiar with the efforts that the locals have implemented to protect their coastline and help prevent impending erosion. Much of this work to protect and preserve what is left, is led and executed by empowered individuals within the community. This small glimpse into the lives of those who feel the impacts of our changing Earth so directly has sparked a deeper curiousty about GCC. The people I met who are so passionate in their efforts have inspired me and have reaffirmed the idea that even one person really can make a difference. a peek into the future Big things are happening. I recently discovered that I will be traveling to Thailand this summer as part of my work with Global Leadership Adventures. This is big exciting news because not only will I have the opportunity to see the continent of Asia for the first time, but I will get to see a side of Thailand that most who visit short term do not see. In less than a month I will be learning, volunteering, and mentoring students on the opposite side of the Pacific Ocean. mantra of the week I am confident. That's right. Scream it to the mountains and sing it in the shower. If you need some help with this one, I I recommend taking a quick look at this Ted Talk and if "I am confident" still seems unnatural, try I choose to be confident. That's all for now buds. Stay tuned for more in the mind of Mary. Peace be the Journey, on my mary way |
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