(via soon2befit)

It has always been a dream of mine (and I’m sure many others) to “see the world.” I have been very lucky to have the opportunity to physically travel to places near and far. I have been to islands, deserts, mountains and beaches in areas both flush with wealth, and dirt-poor. Many others have traveled to far more rare and exotic places, and still others explore the depths of the planet and solar system - looking for more.

My question is: do we really have to go that far to “see the world,” and what does that even mean?

This is a very personal question with an answer that is part objective and mostly subjective. Sure, the human brain is a super-powerful visual processor, capable of processing light to form the image of the world we see around us. But I think the most powerful things we “see” are things we have constructed in our own minds based on our relationship with our environment. Ask two people to describe the same thing to you, and I doubt you will ever get the exact same response. Each person has their own unique way of perceiving the world, shaped by their own history, interests, talents and desires.

Thus, you can be sitting in the same place, with the same people, but if you look at the situation from another perspective - you may enter a new world. A world where the things are whatever you make them out to be. That pile of “junk” could be a waste of space and time, or the raw materials for the next great human invention. It is up to us to create the world we want to live in, and we can do that simply by harnessing the power of our minds.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a voracious appetite for learning, reading and experience. Everyday I try to push myself to learn something new, to identify a new perspective through the creative works of others, and to push my own limits to see what I am capable of creating.

Before I go on, I must say that I am deeply indebted to all thinkers and producers out there, who through their own personal effort and creativity take seemingly ordinary objects and topics and transform them into something uniquely beautiful for all of us to explore and enjoy. Some of my greatest adventures have taken me through the middle ages, across the South Pole and through the universe - all without leaving home. This is only possible because others have taken the effort necessary to explore their world using their mind, and to communicate the results of their exploration to anyone who is interested (and capable of understanding).

This is the power of the human mind. You can transport yourself places you have never physically been. You can see things that you couldn’t actually “see” in real life. If it is presented well enough, you can actually feel what someone else felt at some significant point in their life. If you just stop and look around, you will see that there are many people around you - each person experiencing, reacting, reflecting and projecting their thoughts on the world they have created for themselves.

So if you really want to see the world, learn more about how the people around you see the world. Ask questions and REALLY LISTEN to the answers. Think about it from their perspective. Explore what it is that makes other people happy, excited, afraid, nervous or embarrassed. You will learn more about yourself.

If you you could “see the world” a billion times over just by sharing stories with the people around you, wouldn’t you do it?

Yesterday I realized something important. The purpose of life (at least from my perspective at this moment in time) is to interact with the world. We have been given the gift of consciousness (among other amazing capabilities) and that has enhanced our connection to the environment; including all the people, plants, animals and places on Earth.

Yesterday my wonderful (and gorgeous, might I add) girlfriend, Helena took us out for my birthday on an excursion I will never forget. It started predawn,  when we began the trek to Downtown Long Beach, where the Catalina Express would be taking us to Catalina Island. Our ship would sail out at 8:30 AM, and the Long Beach Marathon was taking place so we had to get an early start; giving us plenty of time on the island before our 7:30 PM return voyage.

The Island itself was gorgeous, despite the overcast weather, and I found it hard to believe that I was a mere hour’s boat ride away from the hustle and bustle of busy Southern California while I was pedal-boating through Avalon harbor, or eating freshly prepared Ceviche with Mexican dockworkers on the pier. Later, when I was standing atop the platform at Hog’s Back Gate, 500 ft. above sea level, about to descend on the first of five legs on the Catalina Zipline Eco Tour through the Descanso Canyon, I felt lucky to be so close to nature with someone so special to me, and happy that we were both taking “the leap of faith” together for the first time! 

Sixteen hours and hundreds of dollars later, we made it home safely from our mini-vacation in paradise, at which point Helena asked me: “So, what did you realize today?” The question caught me by surprise, not because I wasn’t ready to answer the question, but because I had realized something very important and it wasn’t until that moment that I gave it a conscious thought. I am very happy when I get to spend time with my loved ones, because everyone has so many committments occupying their time. It is sometimes hard to find a moment where you may both relax and enjoy each others presence. For example, Helena holds two part-time jobs, works as a model AND goes to school, so as her mother once said to me, “shes either at work, at school, or taking a nap!” It makes the time you spend together that much more special.

Then I realized how easily Helena and I (mostly her, thanks for the awesome birthday present!) had parted with our wages to be able to experience such a great day together. From our waterfront breakfast, to our candle-lit Italian dinner overlooking the harbor and everything in between, it seemed as if price was no object.

So to me, and many others, that is what life is about: surrounding yourself with special people, in beautiful locations, doing memorable/fun/exciting things.

Unfortunately, those things don’t always come free (or even cheap), so we must produce value for our environment to be able to earn the ability to enjoy Earth’s playground. For that: performing countless hours of productive activities (read: hard work) is a price that I will always be willing to pay!

-Andrew Saavedra

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What did you realize today?

If you look at a puzzle right out of the box, it appears that each piece is distinct. Without having any knowledge of what a puzzle is or looks like when put together, you might be convinced that each piece you find has an identity independent of other puzzle pieces; a life of its own, so to speak. Now take this example and relate it to the world we live in. Without knowing that the Earth and everything on and around it is one big puzzle each person may appear to have a unique identity. Each person, it seems, has a life of their own.

Then someone starts to notice a pattern in the puzzle and starts putting the puzzle pieces together. They notice that what were once distinct puzzle pieces with a unique identity can be put together to create a bigger object that has more to offer. When all these very different pieces join together a single spectacular image is created. A puzzle is not complete unless all the pieces work together. Can you imagine what Earth would be like if all the “puzzle pieces” (the people, the plants, the animals, the elements, etc.) were to set their differences aside and work together?

People may look different and have different beliefs making each person think they are independent, but independence should not be our destination. When we decide to work together as a collective whole, I think we have the power to uncover the true beauty of humanity.

So stop paying attention to all your biases and prejudices and ask yourself what part can you play in putting together the puzzle pieces for our Mother Earth.