Rainfall of Realization

by Sophia Lu

Our world is collapsing.
The sky is falling and our earth is crumbling as we speak. Sometimes I look outside my window and I wonder when we went so wrong? When did our world become so corrupted by evil and the need for power? Does nobody realize how selfish they are and that earth is slowly dying? As I look outside, I see people arguing with each other over the simplest things. When did any of this start to matter? People treat other people like dirt and it’s driving me insane. Do they realize how insanely cryptic they look?
Do they realize that our world is collapsing?

Today I wake up once again with little to no motivation and to the world being drowned and burned. I have given up on trying to save humanity as I have chosen to believe that we have lost too far to cruelty to be saved.
I have to go to some class about environmental sciences. I think it is supposed to be a seminar but I am not too sure if I’m completely honest. My teacher signed me up because he thought that “I would be the perfect fit since my opinion is so unique.” Personally, I don't see anything unique about my opinion but he really did insist that I go since nobody else would.

I walk into the class and I see the chairs of the room placed in a circle. How classic. A circle. I bet that it’s supposed to represent the world and how we're all connected. This all makes me want to throw up. I mean, what could I possibly learn from this in which I don't already know?
Class is starting. The teacher’s name is Professor Miller. He wears a brown suit with glasses and a very humbly soothing look on his face. His expression gives off perplexity yet simplicity at once. Interesting.
“Good morning class. How are we today?” He says loudly to the class.
“Good” The class groaned back tiredly.
“Now, this is not the way to start off our morning. How are you today?”
“Good” This time, the class replies with the slightest bit more enthusiasm.
“Thank you. My name is Professor Miller as you can already see on the board. Now the reason you are all here today is because you are all passionate about the environment and want to learn more about its wonders. To start off, does anyone know why I have placed the chairs in a circle?”
No one says absolutely anything. Dead silence.
“Ahhh I see. Not a very talkative group. Well it is to represent the world and how in some way we’re all connected. Just like our environment.” God, this is way too predictable.
“Ok! Let’s get this class started! First I want you to write three things you love about our world. Ok? 5 minutes and we’ll share with the class.”

Three things I love about our world? How about nothing? He must be one of those people that do not realize the sad state of our earth. Ok. Three things. Think. Think. Think! Why is my mind blank? I have read thousands and thousands of books, articles, stories about the earth and nothing comes to me as beautiful? I don’t know if I find that sad for me or our earth that we live in.

“Ok 2 minutes left. Write down your last thoughts and we will share them with our class.”

Two minutes left. Am I going insane? I cannot think. My mind is empty. If only we were naming the things in our world that needed improvement. Then I would be able to think of a list of three within seconds but why did he choose beauty? This is an environmental course that is supposed to teach us how to better the world. Why is the first thing we talk about is beauty?

“Time's up! Ok, are we ready to share? How about we go around in a circle. I will start us off then we will go around. Three things I love about our amazing world? Oh well there are just too many. Well, the first thing I love is that when I wake up in the morning, I can feel the warm glistening rays of sunshine on my skin. I also love how the birds sing beautifully and I can hear the insects chirping. There, those are my three. Now let’s move on to the next person.”

Wow. How did he come up with that so effortlessly? That was so easy. Ok. The next person is going now. They said the flowers, the blue sky and their dog. Interesting. The next person after that said something about the feeling after it rains, watching the sunset and the leaves during autumn. And so on and so on. I am almost next. What on earth am I going to say?

“Ok, very good Clara. Sophia would you like to share?”
“Ummmm.. Yeah..” Everyone is staring at me. I don’t like this.
“Anything, just say any three things you love about our environment.” How do I say I physically can’t think of three things I love?
“OK. Well I love the sky and the grass and the bushes.”
“Good, but I feel like you don't really truly love these things. Think harder, deeper.”
“Professor, with all due respect. It’s hard for me to think about things that are beautiful in our world when it is falling apart, burning, collapsing. There’s nothing much to love if I am being honest.”
“Sophia. Is that what you really think? Our world is beautiful with so many wonderful things. We only have one earth so let us make the best of it. No?” What is this man talking about?
“Yes, but again like you said, there is only one earth and it is dying. Why can’t people realize that? People will carelessly throw their garbage and plastic in the oceans without ever thinking how it may affect the animals. We rely on those animals for us to survive. I have seen so many people just driving somewhere that is less than 1km away! For god sake! Can’t you just walk? Do they not realize that all this fossil fuel they are burning is ruining the air we breath, the air that we need to survive? And don’t even get me started on when people just leave their water running or electricity on. Like why? Not only is it costing you money but it’s hurting our earth in which we call home.”
“Yes. I agree with 100% of what you just said. Completely accurate. All correct. But think. Everyone think. Like you said, we only have one world and although it is dying in a way, shouldn’t we love and appreciate it just as much. People won’t know what’s happening until it affects them.”
“I mean… I guess. I just find it hard to love when there is so much hate.”
“Then don’t hate. Find the good in the world and the world will find good upon you. Now, let’s move on to the next person.”
Who does this man think he is? He is not some philosopher. He is just a professor. Why should he be telling me things?

The class is over now and Professor Miller is calling me over.
“Think about what I said to Sophia. It’s hard to understand at first because I was once like you. So focused on the wrongs of our world that I had no time to see the beauty within. See you tomorrow and enjoy your evening. Try to see the light, ok?”

There he walks away. I don’t understand. Maybe he is right in some aspects, maybe I am being too negative but sometimes I can’t help but be negative. Maybe I should try to see the world in a different light. And maybe just maybe if I start to change, others will change with me.

Sometimes I look outside my window and I wonder when I went so wrong? When did I start to see the world so destructively. Do I realize how my negativity may have influenced others to continue what they are doing? As I look outside, I see a beautiful landscape with magnificent trees and an unimaginable sky. When will I realize that we need to save our world for its beauty instead of for us? People treat the earth and it might be driving me insane but they haven’t had the rainfall of realization. Do they realize just how amazing the earth, the oceans, the environment really is?

Do I realize how beautiful our world is?