A Seed of Kindness Can Sprout in the Harshest Conditions
I really missed taking photos of smiling children. Without any masks.
I guess you already noticed by now: I often find inspiration in Nature and I try to capture, through my photography, landscapes that I find beautiful or peaceful. I search for light paintings that reflect the wonders of the Natural World that we live in. My intention is to bring these places and moments I encounter closer to you and offer you an opportunity to view the world through my eyes and lenses.
The past two years have been surely challenging for all of us in many different ways. If there is one thing I learned in these challenging times it’s to appreciate even more everything and everyone that’s part of the experiences I receive in my life.
Today I invite you on a different journey, because quite often I find inspiration in people, in the work they do, in the impact they have on their environment and community. This is why I choose to share this particular story.
It’s a story about bravery, determination, altruism, faith, perseverance and hard work.
Dallas is an impoverished and underprivileged neighborhood in Vulcan, an ex-coalmining town in the Jiu-Valley, Romania where the living is not easy. For most of the families living there, covid or not, life is a challenge anyway and every day. With low incomes, lack of proper housing, health-care services, education and widespread violent behavior, addiction, imagine the life of a child growing up under these conditions.
Nonetheless, these children are capable of experiencing pure joy even upon the smallest acts of kindness, attention, presence and compassion manifested towards them. Every small act of compassion can be a major shift in their lives. It can give them the hope they need. Hope that they too have a chance for a better life.
We witnessed a true moment of hope and inspiration when the football field in Dallas was transformed, in the matter of hours, into an unfamiliar scene that attracted the locals, kids and adults alike.
That day a unique bouldering competition took place in Dallas and all the kids were invited to partake in this experience they will most probably never forget.
All this was possible thanks to the magic of Andrea @andreabasecamp, a modern mobile climbing wall attached to a truck.
Andrea is a tiny home on wheels inhabited by two extraordinary human beings.
The kind and passionate Nina Caprez, accomplished climber and the witty Jeremy Bernard, creative explorer, professional photographer.
Their mission is to bring climbing as an experience to the most remote places in the world.
Nina and Jeremy spent 10 days in the Jiu-Valley, climbing with the kids, sharing stories and offering learning experiences.
But how did Andrea arrive there?
This is where Fără Limite comes into picture. A climbing gym and education center established in Vulcan, with the mission to support kids, through their development, guiding them towards their potential.
The sport programs they provide, besides the direct health benefits, aid the development of fundamental life skills that many of the kids didn’t receive anywhere else. Bouldering can help build skills like problem solving, perseverance, focus and lead climbing can help overcome fear, build self-confidence, and dissolve limitations. It can teach them to have goals and if they work hard and believe in themselves they are more than capable of reaching those goals.
My goal was to share this story with you. To bring you this genuine childlike joy that can happen when a few brave individuals come together in the same spirit to share some of their resources with the less privileged. This is truly giving from the heart.
I believe we could all use a little bit more joy and kindness in our lives, don’t you think? We don’t need to do extraordinary things to make someone’s day just a little bit better. It can be as simple as a smile, some attention, a conversation, a favor, a small gift, a hug or saying thank you.
Where will you spread your seeds of kindness?
“Your presence is the most precious gift you can give to another human being.”
Marshall B. Rosenberg