~:[CH8 - Day 112]:~ What's Natural?

~:[CH8 - Day 112]:~ What's Natural?

I had to wake up early today even though it was spring break. I actually almost always do. As while the break happens, our season moves on. However, I was able to get away and headed to the Huntington Library and explored all that is nature within the gardens. It's amazing to explore nature, but then you get to wondering, what is natural? Are these plants natural to this habitat? Are all these creatures natural to these environments? It seems that sometimes we ask these questions more in life than we do while explore something like a garden. We think about race, gender, orientation, skills, ability and more and classify what is natural and what is not. While I have not been the target of such discrimination too often, I've heard people being told, "you don't belong here" or called some mean and nasty names, making them question, are they natural? Do they belong here? In a world where there is so much space and so much to look at, I wonder why we can enjoy what is around us like when we are in a place like a garden. The diversity of the gardens is what makes it truly amazing, similar to this world. There is so much to soak in and when we look close enough, we will see things that we hadn't seen before. It wasn't for a second that I wonder, was this natural to this habitat? Why, because I saw the beauty in all that was on display much like we can about the world around us. Most of the people around me are like that. See the beauty that exists around you and soak it all in. Soak in the sunshine, the fresh air and know that whether or not it's "natural," it's beautiful nonetheless. We are all beautiful people and my hope is that we can all see the beauty in all those around us.