The spring equinox is all about equilibrium.

Rhododendrons are in full bloom.

First day of spring. The season when everything appears to awaken after what seemed to be an eternal dormant state. Increments of natural light upon us as we move closer to the sun change the tones of color of my evergreen surroundings. Light increases gradually each day until the summer solstice, allowing us to grow and to bloom like the seeds and pods sown into the ground this season to later harvest.

We slowly peel away layers of clothes. I feel I shed all failed attempts to accomplish something that Mother Nature did not give lead to. We make new beginning resolutions to make up for all the failed ones made at the start of the year. We make plans, we socialize more, and we have more work to do in the great outdoors while hoping for equilibrium.

The equinox is all about equilibrium, or is it not?

Interestingly, Galicia contradicts the typical seasonal expectations.

Misty or frosty dawns lead to clouds, rain, hail, sun, more rain, and sometimes rainbows all before dark on any given day. And if a heatwave occurs, with three or more consecutive days of 80°F (26°C) without rain, many worry about a drought, often the same people who fret over constant rain. The latter concern I've learned the hard way; crops can rot from persistent rain or develop what is locally called "la mancha" a fungus that kills plants, especially tomatoes.

Last year, I lost all my tomatoes to la mancha. And like the tomatoes, I do not want to lose ME this year through excess.

Only a handful of people know I push myself beyond limits that often leave me bedridden for days... yes, lupus sucks. Then there is the rest of the world who often state, "You do so much!" or question "What can’t you do?". Yes, there are times i do a lot, i am purpose driven by nature. There is also a lot I cannot do that I have yet to learn and likely will never learn. But this year my goal is to gain an understanding of equilibrium. I need the balance between Yes and No, I need the balance of work and rest, and I also need the balance of myself over others.

My mind is in constant thought, ideas, images I want to bring to life in my art, in my surroundings. Thoughts of what if... I break down mathematical equations with time management to just squeeze that one thing I want to do with an already full day with the ability of being present in the moment and mindful of what is next to avoid letting anyone down. I call it living a full life, though those who see me wear down urge me to stop.

So, the equinox has begun, and I work towards equilibrium.

In doing so, I believed my circle of friends, acquaintances, business prospects would become smaller but it has expanded as I removed people and circumstances that were trivial for me and everything is falling into place towards balance.

A few people have disappointed me, but many more have surprised me with their "being them." The one with the poker face is the funniest person who makes light of everything. The one who I would greet with a slight nod of the head has been the most helpful when I have been in need. The one most everyone loathes is the most generous but not a fool. And the one who startled me with a rough demeanor is the most sensitive and thoughtful person I could come across. Then there is the flip side, those eager to please were confirmed the most selfish, concern from others was greed and chatterboxes were the town crier. In conclusion, not all people are bad in nature, but not everyone has one's best interest at heart.

I had a fantastical idea when I moved to the country, somewhat detached from people that it would be alright with social media. I will not lose touch with anyone, they were already available to me through a computer screen. Anything I would need was a click away in the world wide web and I would need of nothing. I wasn't completely wrong but I wasn’t completely right either.

Social media is a necessary evil, many will come across this blog post by chance, algorithms most likely and may very well sign up to the page, this could be considered a need. The evil is relying on a screen for virtual human contact. The majority of the time that practical contact is cold, it is deceptive and in many cases one-sided.

I have forgone my Facebook musings, constant posts of what I regard as nothingness now when the memories pop up on my feed. Like, who really remembers the post of a pair of sunglasses I purchased almost 20 years ago? Well, I didn´t until the Facebook Memories feed reminded me to then question, "whatever happened to them?"

The like clickings to perk someone up at the end of the day was just clickbait because they needed unwarranted attention is rarely clicked on anymore by me.

The falling down the rabbit hole while scrolling was time-consuming often depriving me of sleep.

I was becoming that anonymous voyeur disheartened by the fake reality of the effortless earthy country-living cosplaying media content creators that seem popular now who stage perfection when, in truth, it is chaotic when at the mercy of severe weather patterns, heartbreaking during the death of a new or favorite animal from a flock, and it's dirty—dust, rain, mud, animal dung that demand constant cleanup and maintenance.

All these media crreators led me to question if all I was/am doing is enough. But back to reality, my life is not staged. Very little can be controlled during the winter months here in Galicia, and very little can be controlled when Mother Nature releases her fury.

But then spring approaches just before my breaking point and prevents my soul from being crushed.

. "El Horreo de O Somo"

Galicia has always been and will remain my necessary evil.

There is symmetry in Galicia.

This symmetry is what has kept me grounded in reality when everything seems virtual now.

Therefore, my morning view as I prepare to begin my day, the first day of spring, is the equilibrium in the sky. The warm hues of the sunrise and the cool tones of the clouds heralding the approaching rain.

An hórreo is a typical granary from the northwest region built in wood and stone, raised from the ground to keep rodents and water out by pillars, esteos in Galician, ending in flat staddle stones, vira-ratos in Galician, to prevent access by rodents.

Ventilation is allowed by the slits in its walls.

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