People have been opening cans of worms for decades, centuries, millennia. Everyone I know is in the weeds, almost all the time; some folks just have sharper machetes than others. But there’s a difference between our own personal predicaments that can be worked out by ourselves or amongst our loved ones, and those imposed upon us by outside forces in ways far greater than we can possibly properly comprehend.

Invasive species aren’t isolated to certain types of plants in specific regions. There are entities that make themselves present in aggressive, oppressive, and sometimes mysterious and ominous ways on a daily basis. Corporate conglomerates pollute our minds and our soil. We cannot escape the pain of existence.

But for a moment, you can hike on dusty trails in the foothills or shuffle your sandaled feet on boardwalks that stretch for miles. If you live in the city or in the country, fresh produce is abundant. You can congregate at a religious service or an art gallery and feel less alone for an hour or so. Life isn’t as bad as it seems if you learn to love even the smallest of feelings.

— Keith J. Varadi, August 2024