• I find myself in my own paradise. I am alone, yet I know I am not alone. Everywhere I look, there is light and life in abundance. A warm wind speaks in the treetops, and leaves whisper their reply. Cicadas are murmuring down in the emerald grass. Butterflies paint the sky in brilliant colors of red and yellow. Wildflowers sway with the summer breeze. Somewhere in the distance, perhaps over the nearby hill, a stream babbles vivaciously. All the sights and sounds move in harmony. The sun gently wraps its arms around my shoulders, and I know, in this moment, the world is as it should be. I can't fathom how absolutely lucky I am to be here, on Earth. The whole of nature embraces me, and I am overcome by its beauty. How can I ever take this for granted, and still be human?