“Everything in nature invites us constantly to be what we are.”

-Gretel Ehrlich

Hey friends,

As I was looking back at old photos from past adventures I came across this vibrant scene from sunset in Northern California. It got me thinking about how lucky we are to live in a world so full of variety. While on this hike the land stretched before me in a rainbow of life, an entire plateau blanketed with poppies, lupine, and several precious plant species that only live in that area.

I spent a few hours wandering the canyons, weaving between patches of old oak trees, and ate lunch with my feet dangling off a cliff while gazing beyond the ridge at a massive waterfall. That year there was a superbloom so the area was bursting with flowers and when the sun set every petal sparkled in a sea of gilded light. It was truly a sight to behold. So much diversity, so much variation, so much abundance all coming together to weave this vibrant tapestry of life.

The human world so often tries to make us believe that homogeny, sameness, assimilation is the standard. But oh, how narrow-minded it is to disregard the unique perspective and countless stories born from diversity. To oppress, control, and aggressively silence diversity is to extinguish the glow of life itself.

From a biological perspective diversity is also quite literally what keeps our living world thriving. Biodiversity–the variety of living things in a region–seeds evolution by natural selection, ensures resilience to changes like disease or climate shifts, and just makes this world downright interesting.

Tell me, what feels more immersive and enchanting: walking through an orchard of orange trees lined up neatly in their rows, or strolling along a winding dirt path with new trees, plants, and birdsongs around every turn to feast your senses upon?

Diversity is vital. diversity is beautiful, and there is plenty of room for everyone in this big, bright, prismatic world.

Jenn