Nature & Reflection: Homage to My Lito
“A beautiful face will age and a perfect body will change, but a beautiful soul will always be a beautiful soul”
Do you ever start your week with a task in mind that you tell yourself you need to finish before the week ends? At the beginning of this week, I told myself I would go out for a walk, take pictures, and write in my journal before it ended. Tuesday and Wednesday passed, and I still had not gone. Thursday morning, I told myself I was going to go home after work, pick up my camera and journal and go to a random park. I had this urgency to accomplish this task before Friday came around. I suppose internally I knew if I waited until Friday, I was not going to do it. One thing about me, when I give myself a deadline, 99.9% of the time it gets done before. That walk was so refreshing to my soul.
It had been a while before I had gone out to a park and made it a point to just focus on being with nature, and journaling in this environment. I am accustomed to writing in my journals before going to sleep. I want to make a new habit of journaling immersed in nature. It is different when you are writing outdoors vs indoors, even if you are looking out the window and have a beautiful view. Being outside is a catalyst for deeper reflection. There is a positive correlation between nature and reflection. It is not the same writing in your room as it is writing while looking at the autumn foliage, while the sun is setting. Moreover, it provides an opportunity to relive this experience when you go back and read this specific entry. I invite you to try incorporating this into your lives. It is so worth the time. Carve out twenty minutes in your week and do this. There is beauty in being alone in nature, let it be your company for once. If you don’t have a journal, pull out the notes app on your phone. My point is that you should take this opportunity to write down your thoughts. Be still and absorb your surroundings, every breath you take is invigorating.
This past Sunday, my last grandparent alive transitioned to heaven. We were blessed to have him for 95 years, 5 months, and 9 days. My grandpa Laurencio was an avid walker, and he loved to explore. Perhaps this is why I had this sudden urge to go out for a walk. My grandpa was nudging me from heaven to do this. If there was a person that loved walking, it was my grandpa Laurencio. He would take hour long walks at the crack of dawn, he loved to see the sunrise and hear the birds chirping. He traveled across Colombia since he worked in the railroad transportation. Even after retirement, which was around his forties, he traveled to Leticia and visited the Amazon rainforest. My “Lito” was the epitome of exploration. He was a kind soul, always looking to serve others without expecting anything in return. Tejo and parques were his favorite hobbies. A fierce competitor, he did not like losing and would be stern when we flaunted our victory. There was one time my dad beat him in Tejo, and he was so upset he lost. My dad invited him to another round and he said he wasn’t up for it lol, mind you he was always the one that would win. He was a man of faith, a devout Catholic, he loved to pray the rosary. I was fortunate enough to pray a rosary with him and my grandma in December of 2020. That moment will remain engrained in my heart. It was the last rosary I got to pray with the both of them. Without a doubt, my grandparents’ faith were a protective force for my family. They always prayed for all of us with so much conviction.
His furry best friend, Mateo, was his companion until the very end. One of the best videos we have recorded of my grandpa is where he is dancing with Mateo. He loved that dog so much and despite his fragile state he tried to gather the strength to pet him like he loved to. Mateo brought so much happiness to my Lito, and it warms my heart knowing life brought them together.
I could go on and on about the caliber of individual my Abuelito Laurencio was, but if I had to choose three words to describe/define him it would be: resilient, protective, and loving. He loved my grandma with all his might, she was the love of his life. He longed to be with her, and I am convinced they are reunited in heaven along with my two aunts. I am thankful to God for their existence in my life, and the wisdom they poured into us all. I am honored to be their granddaughter and will try my best to carry on their legacy in the way I live my life.
If your grandparents are still living, make time to call them this week. If they live near, go and visit them. If they passed, take time to reflect on the lessons they taught you and reminisce on the memories you have of them. If you don’t have a relationship with your grandparents or never met them, then I want you to think of someone elder in your life that you look up to. Reach out to them and thank them while they are still here.. We get so caught up in life that we forget we are aging in the process. Spend time with your loved ones, make time for them while they are still around and/or healthy. We are not guaranteed tomorrow.
I first heard this song during an episode of “This Is Us” and immediately googled it. It made me think of my parents and how they are aging. Every time I listen to it, I think how life goes full circle and in the end we take care of them in their final years…
This song is the pain of losing a loved one encapsulated in a song. One of my favorite songs of all time, written by Alberto Aguilera Valadez aka Juan Gabriel.
