Lucid Thoughts

April 22, 2026

Today is Earth Day.  

How blessed are we to inhabit such a vast space embodied by fresh air and bright colors, coexisting in silence with other creatures.  

I live in the city, so I often feel disconnected from Mother Nature. The fresh air is polluted with mysterious smells and the only animals I see are the cats in my house and the dogs walking down the street. I guess I could also count the occasional pests that slip through the walls, especially at this time of year. I had a particular multi-legged friend in my bed last night.  

My walks to and from work are my daily dose of outdoorsy interactions. Brief moments in the world that create solace at the start and end of my day, recently more special as the spring foliage emerges through the concrete and old brick of the tall buildings.  

I’ve been trying to be outside more.  

Instead of going directly to the subway, I’ll walk to a further entrance or use the bus to completely avoid the underground. Instead of sitting down to watch TV, I’ll color a picture in our tiny backyard. The other day was gorgeous, so I walked to get an ice cream cone and finished it back there. I discovered during my walk I had dripped half of it on my new white shirt – maybe a little too nice of a day. If my friends and I are going out, we’re choosing places with patios or rooftops. The windows in our house are limited to opening, but the window in my room is open as much as possible; I like the breeze when I sleep at night.  

A few weeks ago, I had a dream about two mourning doves. They flew into my house, and each took a spot in my mother’s lap and mine. Nothing more. I felt an incredible calm while they sat there. When I woke up, I texted my mom to share the experience with her and that it felt intentional. 

A few days later I saw two mourning doves perched in my backyard.  

I stood there in silence, staring from the inside out, recognizing the power between my internal world and the one now directly in front of me.  

My mother and I have gone through a tremendous amount of loss together, as does everybody during their time on Earth. Most recently, we lost her mom, my grandmother. I believe she sent those mourning doves through the dream and Mother Nature made sure that I saw them in my waking life, too.  

Signs like this one come frequently.  

A few years ago, we unexpectedly lost her brother, my uncle. His passing was the first loss that deeply affected me and made me notice these signs. 

Today is his birthday.  

While I celebrate this beautiful life on Earth, I also celebrate him. The world celebrates him. He would have been 49 today – an age most people would flag for an upcoming mid-life crisis or as a milestone on their journey through hopefully a long life.  

He wouldn’t have thought either, but just another day to exist in the company of his favorite people.  

As I get older, I recognize the importance of remembrance, of talking about those that once walked alongside us and carrying their spirits as if they are still walking. The planet purposefully holds space for both the living and dead – the living cannot grow without the dead. Soil becomes fertile; people become stories.  

We learn about the life cycle, the rain cycle, the scientific method cycle, and on. These cycles give meaning to everything on Earth, and they extend to every aspect of life, even if not defined. Everything that once existed in this space never fully leaves it.  

Nothing is ever truly lost here.  

Happy Earth Day –

and Happy Birthday.