Oh, Baby, Baby, It’s A Wild World… And What A Wonderful World Too.
{Photo credit: Adriana Arzeta}
Cat Stevens sings well how my world turns out sometimes.
I’m visiting my hometown, which is very high on the list of the most dangerous cities in the world.
I have been away from here most of my life, and coming back and seeing people in constant fear, pictures of dead bodies every day in the newspapers, the harassment in the streets, the machismo, sexism so raw and alive, corruption and injustice multiplying, stray cats and dogs, all the poverty, the malnourished children in the streets begging for money and knowing that each person here, including myself, has been touched by tragedy and crime, are reasons to fill up my heart with sorrow and sadness.
To escape a little bit of this reality, I turn to social media, only to see the picture of a young man expressing himself being riddled by comments like “you faggot”, “you should kill yourself”, and the picture of a woman who is told not to wear leggings again since she is fat. These comments are made by strangers and people they know. Comments made woman to woman, man to man, peer to peer. We hurt and harm our kind, no matter the place we are at.
I see haters, both in real life and virtually, finding a lot of things to hate: color of the skin, size, shape, physical features, ethnicities, eccentricities, races, sexual orientations, differences, you name it… we have heard it all. We choose to harm and let others down. We expose, criticize, judge, step on, and laugh at others.
With all this hate, evil, sickness, struggles, burdens, death of loved ones, it is hard to get by just upon a smile. Indeed, Cat, what a wild world this is.
But while writing these words, the song ended, and Louis Armstrong started singing with his well-known raspy voice, filling the room:
I see trees of green,
red roses too.
I see them bloom,
for me and you.
And his words filled more than the room, and made me think of the man I saw with a huge bag of food feeding the stray cats in the park, and the group of activists standing strong in the heat to stop domestic violence, and the lovely conversation I had while sitting with a stranger in the bus.
I remembered how the moon was shining last night, and that I could kiss my family goodnight, and the unconditional love I get from them and friends.
I recalled that human beings are strong and naturally good but sometimes get lost in fear and pain, and they still need to be embraced. That there are plenty, millions of caring people, lovers and dreamers who want to make a change in this world and I’m one of them, who can find the beauty in the colors of the skins, races, shapes, sizes, ethnicities, eccentricities, physical features, sexual orientations, accents, differences, you name it, there is so much to love, and love is everywhere.
{Photo credit: Adriana Arzeta}
I can browse the websites of amazing healers, carriers of light, I can go to movies and plays, read books or talk to a friend to find empowering, healing advice available and waiting for me to take. Many people are living and speaking a message of peace and love. Many lift others to feel equal and grounded.
There’s an army full of compassionate and tolerant soldiers, it’s not hard to find them.
There’s intuition, forgiveness, second chances, and the possibility of making today the first day of the rest of our lives if we want it. There’s a loving Universe offering blessings and wonders.
There’s hope and light even in the darkest of times. Science is finding cures we never imagined, the alternative practices are working their miracles, there’s chocolate and red wine, butterflies, and kids who smile no matter what, and you and I are free and alive.
{Photo credit: Adriana Arzeta}
And it seems to me that life has its own playlist, and while we might not be able to fast forward to the track we want it to play, we can adjust to its tune and dance, grooving and flowing, singing along so hard and loud that the lyrics fade and it’s only our song that we hear.
A song full of acceptance, passion and love, or the one you want to sing, your song. Let’s play it grandly, letting the choir sing too.
I see skies of blue,
And clouds of white.
The bright blessed day,
The dark sacred night.
Yes, indeed, Louis, I think to myself, what a wonderful world. And I let these words resonate.
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Adriana Arzeta is a passionate Mexican artist and community worker, who was adopted by Canada 11 years ago. The culture shock, the experiences in a less sexist and a more free life, and a loving and fantastic Universe, gave her the chance to finally own herself and play the main role/protagonist in the story of her life. She is growing older and wiser, and is a crazy dancer, mother of two humans and two canines. She surfs the waves of life with enthusiasm, compassion and acceptance, and avoids any judgmental tides to keep away from drowning as she knows that’s just her own insecurities floating around. She paints every day, loves, plays and works hard, and fights against depression in Kamloops, BC. You can contact her via Facebook.
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