From Home to Chicago and Back to Earth
BY: MICHELLE SILLS | OCTOBER 1, 2023
As the steady drone of the plane's engines fills the cabin, my mind races with questions and expectations. What's the deeper purpose behind this three-month journey? Sure, it's a chance to explore and learn, but leaving behind my family for such a stretch feels daunting. I can already imagine the many moments I'll yearn for — my son’s infectious laughter echoing through the house, his daily tales of school and play, and the routine of tucking him into bed with his favorite bedtime story. And the thought of those missed dinners, the warmth of home-cooked meals that'll go uneaten by me, only adds to the weight of my decision. This trip can't just be about sightseeing or ticking off items on a bucket list. There's got to be a deeper meaning, a genuine hunger for knowledge or self-discovery, to justify the time spent away from my family that I hold dear.
Chicago, with its impressive skyscrapers next to calm parks, captures my curiosity. This city, where modern life and nature come together, feels both familiar and intriguing. I've toyed with the idea of joining a local class to dive into something unfamiliar – maybe pottery or a music workshop. On the flip side, there's the pure joy of just exploring. Walking down busy streets, grabbing a snack from local vendors, or simply sitting in a coffee shop, eavesdropping on the city's many stories. Every city has its unique rhythm, and Chicago beats with energy and ambition. It's known as a place where people with big dreams gather and where ideas turn into reality. But as I sit here, I have to ask myself: Does the real Chicago match up to the one I've read about and imagined? Or has it changed, shaped by years and new stories? Has the march of time altered its core spirit, or does it remain the same vibrant hub I've always imagined?
Lately, my job has made me dig deep into how our brains work. It's like navigating a tricky puzzle, and each corner I turn brings a fresh surprise. It's exciting, but sometimes I pause and wonder. As I dive into this journey of self-awareness and discovery, am I missing out on the bigger picture? I think about the outdoors, the trees, the rivers – our planet. She's been there from the start, seeing every step of our journey, cheering for our wins, and being there during our lows. As we chase the comforts of modern life, from fancy gadgets to the latest trends, I can't help but ask: Are we forgetting our bond with the earth? Are we so caught up in understanding ourselves that we're overlooking the world that's been our home?
When we talk about our roots, we're not just speaking about ancestry or where we came from; it's also about our deep connection to the earth. This planet has provided for us since the beginning, offering food, shelter, and knowledge. As we hustle and bustle through life, searching for what makes us comfortable or how to find that perfect balance, perhaps we need to look down right beneath our feet, or perhaps up to the stars. The secrets might just be there, waiting for us to notice.
The idea of being in sync with our surroundings, the environment, isn't some fancy phrase from an old book. It could be the actual plan for a better future. Think about it: towns where every house feels like that favorite comfy spot on your old couch, taking up only a fraction of current homes’ footprint - and where every open space blooms with shared gardens, full of fresh veggies and flowers. And while we're at it, why not a place where the latest tech isn't about the next big thing to buy but about making our lives genuinely better? Like, ensuring our communities are green or letting our kids sit in classes locally but learn from the best teachers from all over the world.
We're in an era where we can bridge the best of both worlds: the knowledge from our past and the innovations of our present and future. If we take a moment to connect the dots, we might find a roadmap to a place where we're not just living but thriving.
Thinking about a balanced future isn't some fanciful idea; it's a must-do. Look at where we are right now. We're so busy chasing the next best thing that we often forget about our home—the Earth. We trade lasting good for quick wins, and it's pushing us off track. This trip I'm on isn't just about seeing new places or ticking off items on a bucket list. It's a deep dive, inside and out, to understand how we can merge what we want today with the wisdom from our past.
Starting a movement sounds grand, but it's more than catchy slogans or viral trends. It's about leaving something solid behind for our kids and their kids. I don't want them to look back and think we ignored the signs. I want them to see that we took steps, even small ones, to ensure they inherit a world where progress and nature go hand in hand. Because at the end of the day, it's not about choosing between the old and the new; it's about making them work together for a future we can all be proud of.
