Nature Photography: Coexistence (No. 61) – Earth Day 2020 (50th Anniversary), Celebrate Humanity and Nature

22 April 2020

Lens:

“Seeing the Planet through Our Own Lens,” Earth Day 2020; All Rights Reserved 2020 Sally W. Donatello

Click onto image to enlarge. Let me know your response to this photomontage. Prints are available upon request.

Pens:

Happy Earth Day, fifty years ago a worldwide effort was launched to preserve and protect our spinning planet. We have not met that promise. But I am confident that if good can emerge from the devastation of the pandemic, it is greater awareness that reduction of pollution over the last weeks has clearly made a difference. Countries have seen air quality improve, it’s brings pause that a health crisis could give such hope for change.

I am grateful to those followers who have sent messages to ask about me. It’s Day 42 of sheltering at home, and it’s a continual roller coaster of emotions. It is extraordinary to be on this journey with every other human being. And as many of you some new tasks are exhausting: will I have to be vigilant the rest of my life, careful what and who I touch; will certain aspect of our lifestyle be forever gone and rearranged in ways that are counter to our instincts. And so it goes. These are times my inner philosopher reigns.

I have not been present on my blog since March. I’ve been busy—from constant connection with family and friends to daily gardening to a virtual class to journaling to reading to creating mew work and on an on—to bridge this extraordinary moment in all our lives. My attention has been focused, but time has been redefined, giving new meaning to decisions made and executed.

I continue devotion to nature as my muse. She is always on my mind, and my stewardship is pledged as always in my garden. When the pandemic hit my small university town in February, it became the epicenter of cases in my state. And those I know began planning.

At that point I had been meeting weekly (for months) with a dear friend who is an artist. We decided to continue by phone, and use this shelter in place as space to do projects that will push the boundaries of our work. We have different visions through different media and color palette, but our philosophies melt in symbiosis. The result is pushing our sense of self- expression and encouraging boundless ideas. That work is being held tight, and some of it will eventually appear on my blog.

For now I placed in the Lens section an image that is meant to show how we each see nature and the world through different lenses. Mine is very much the glass full and even at times spilling over. But this global crisis does give pause for lifestyle and the world to come, the unknown life in the aftermath. The images explodes with hues of hope.

While I will return with weekly posts, my inner compass will determine when I will. It will be relatively soon (maybe May or June).

Please support all the brave and courageous people placing their lives at risk for us ( this Saturday is a nationwide effort to thank them with signs: I’m also placing flowers near my mailbox). Where I live my neighbors are respectful as we take daily walks; compassion, empathy and respect are necessary now.

Each of us must find ways to navigate this unique personal and global challenge. Take a moment and feel the sun on your face, go out tonight and star gaze, thank Mother Earth for giving us life and breath. Plant a tree. Plant a container garden of herbs.

Cheer yourself with small acts of compassion to others and yourself. It matters more than ever.

There are so many ways to honor the earth. I hope that you connect, discover or reconnect with nature today and everyday. She is a healer and provider of optimism. Celebrate her, because in doing so, we celebrate every human that walks the earth.

Mostly, please take care of yourself. There is a light that shines ahead, and we will be better for it.