Earth.

My parents grew me up to love nature and everything that evolved from it. I was raised in a garden full of daisies, cherry and apple trees, gooseberry shrubs and earthworms. I lived in that little garden, usually pretending I was somewhere else, probably somewhere ethereal or heavenly. I'd pick the daisies and dandelions and put them in my hair, walk my caterpillar toy down the streets. I even remember digging for earthworms and trying to wash them from the dirt, but they ended up draining in the sink. Back then, I didn't know what nature was, but it was a part of me, a part of my memories, my dreams, my childhood. Earth raised me and put a beautiful impact on my identity that I am eternally grateful for.

I think I was part of this generation which was raised when Earth was partially stable. There were enough trees, sufficient fuel stores, clear air and water. It's dreadful to think that I'm only eighteen now and I'm witnessing this downfall. The pollution, consumerism, waste, chemicals and radiation filling our atmosphere. Cities are swallowing our resources in an alarming rate, hitherto producing so much waste. Sometimes I peep through the garbage bags near my block and I can find pieces of fresh bread, vegetables and rice thrown there. I get disgusted. People have been socialised to believe they are too worthy of these resources just because they earned the money to buy it. I can't blame them entirely, because they do not believe they are doing anything wrong. But who's to blame? The government? The undoubtedly ruined educational system? We humans believe we own this Earth and have every right to exploit every element in it. But we are abominably wrong.

Sometimes I wonder about my future. Sometimes I imagine the world I'll be having my career in. Will there be enough water? Enough food? Enough gas to tank my car? The rich states will be able to suffice themselves but what about the developing world? We here are consuming too much energy that doesn't even belong to us. The markets are invaded with Western commodities that push us to eat eat and eat, therefore our bodies and environment suffer.

I choose not to be like that. I choose to be aware of what I'm consuming. Seeing coffeeshops and restaurants all over the city sometimes tempts me to just be like everyone else and go have a drink or a meal. It is beguiling to see people laughing and having fun. But that's not my idea of fun. It's a symbol of how our economy thrives on false attributes of amusement. How did we get there? I promised myself to be more aware of what I'm eating, drinking and sensing because my body is made of Earth. I will be more organic, I'll ditch  the chemicals, I'll stop using plastics, just for Earth. We do not own this planet.. it is governed by forces way beyond our means. Earth is in a field of energies guiding it to a mysterious fate. I want to live here and protect it, let it reach its fate subtly. I want to have children that try to change this world, change humanity, make people more aware of our purpose. We are made to flourish our environment, not to consume it in this horrendous manner.

I will be different. It's worth it. It's the worth the nights I'll be spending with a clairvoyant conscience. And you can make the choice to be different, too.

Soraya.