This week Elie Wiesel’s words are echoing around my brain. As a survivor of the Holocaust death camps himself, he tried to piece together the how and the why of such an horrific event. Through his lifetime of study Wiesel came to realize, “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.” As I wander about in my SoCal terrain I do my best not to listen to the outrageous lies set forth from the new broligarchs on the DC block. This is an internal struggle for me as I recall Wiesel: “We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.” I wish he was still alive so I could ask him how, just how can one navigate such a calculated and vicious attack on human decency going seemingly unchallenged? The list of falsehoods and fabrications broadcasted from the current White House over and over is a long one and I feel powerless to counter any of it.

Beyond staying positive, staying in this moment, staying grateful for all the gifts I receive daily, I am unclear how to combat “the flood the zone with shit” strategy of MAGA. I am struggling. All I know is it’s not indifference that I am feeling, even if all I post this week are photos of this gorgeous landscape in Southern California.

The brilliant yellow flowers of the Prickly Pear catch my eye every time I pass by. The thorny plant is foreboding while the flower produces the contrasting reaction. Opposition at play, a gentle reminder we must take both the hard with the easy.

One can find all species of Aloe growing to massive heights in this arid climate. Wikipedia tells me there are over 650 distinct varieties of this flowering succulent and I have no doubt in that fact after finding so many growing along these dusty walking trails. Unique is the name of this game, reminding me to always be ready to learn something new, to stop and allow for wonder, to stay open for creativity is always available and will halt anxiety at its core. Aloe healing our blistering skin in the same fashion. Finding metaphor in nature is never a bad thing.

Massive shrubs line my favorite end of day stroll. Acacia redolens, or what we will call Desert Carpet are now bursting with tiny yellow flowers that smell like vanilla. The dense scrubby shrubs house desert cottontails and ground squirrels which dart in and out as I pass by. We are all getting used to each other, and learning to share the road so to speak. This shared environment is worth that at the very least.

The Lemonade Sumac is native to this region and grows quite large, sprawling throughout the canyon where I walk. This tree like shrub adds to the massive thicket which provides protection for the many coyote that I hearing howling in response to the emergency sirens speeding along the nearby roadways. The reddish berries are a delight to me, but essential to the many birds in this barren habitat. Their birdsong a gift.

I could go on for hours reveling in the delights of my surroundings, but perhaps this is enough screen time for today. I encourage you, as always, to turn off the cable news, stop doom scrolling, take a beat when you hear the outlandish and investigate like your History teacher taught you in 8th grade. There is a truth to be found, and in that place we will find our honor again. As Wiesel showed us in his living example, “One person of integrity can make a difference.”

Please note: I am not a botanist. Therefore, there may be wrong names or facts presented in this post. I relied on my Apple phone and Wikipedia for my information, neither of which would be teacher approved.