We are Causers of Wounds Fears and Compulsions
***I wonder how much conscious harm we can cause to other people including our own children.***
From the first moment of each gestation, a new life and the destiny of a new life is marked. All parents, in some way, have an impact on what lies ahead for each child.
Sometimes we are aware of the importance of maintaining the emotional health of our close relatives, but to do so it is essential to know ourselves, to recognize and accept that we are incomplete beings.
Emotional health comes before anything else. Before deciding to have a child, it would be important to know my wounds, fears and compulsions. What affects the SELF will affect everything around us.
I am very close to a case where a child has suffered repressions from the moment of his birth. It happened on the day of his birth that the mother decided to give birth far away from her place of residence, denying the possibility to the father, grandparents and relatives to share the happiness of receiving the new member of the family.
Later, after a month, is when she accepts the approach with the baby. The mother's attitude always seemed to me to be out of place. As much as you want to raise the baby under your own rules, sometimes the excess gets out of control.
The mother's attitude became increasingly obsessive? She became determined to form habits in the baby at an "early age". The child did not eat when his little body asked him to, but when she said so. The child's cries were uncontrollable for the first few months until the child learned to suck his fingers.
The child was not denied good food, he was denied to ask for his food when he needed it. I, myself, died of sadness at the sight of so many reprimands. Bath time was the same, already with a forced conditioned behavior, I watched as the child fell asleep in his bathtub with his fingers in his mouth.
Time went on and the child has been denied to leave his space with the excuse of protecting him, he plays alone and through a window he communicates with the grandparents whom the baby adores.
Now, there are consequences for the mother. The child, barely three years old, has become spoiled, rebellious, the mother cannot control him, he complains, he prefers to spend the day with his toys, with other people, but not with his mother. In fact, the child is more empathetic with men than with women.
With this anecdotal narration I only want to make an argument about the importance of being educated in emotions. Unintentionally or unintentionally, we can destroy the pure feelings of a child. If what is eating our soul is a wound, we are innocent of it but aware that we have the duty to look for a solution.
Psychologists have tools to help us to get out of these problems. To go to them would be the wisest and healthiest thing for all of us. Let's not fall into lies, sometimes we are unconscious of what we do but sometimes we are more aware than we think.
*If you feel trapped in emotions seek help, there is always someone waiting to reach out to us.*
When we adults insist on punishing ourselves with our own insecurities, we will have to assume consequences later on, hurting emotions provoke fears that are difficult to identify but become compulsive and that is another unexplainable point.
Thank you!
Emotional Attachment
***Today I woke up before five in the morning, having gone to bed early last night caused me to open my eyes early. I don't mind waking up early at all unless it's because of a sleep interruption by someone else. At that point I think I would be able to spend the whole day grumpy.***
My husband was supposed to get gas, the situation is getting more and more irritating, having to get up early to get gas doesn't please anyone. In addition to all the hassle, there is the fact of not having a fueling space, in my husband's case it was like that, he does not have an active fueling space and it was my turn to reach out to him.
In spite of the circumstances I try not to be affected by these things, whether or not we have to fill up with gas, it is not worth ruining the day by repeating the same actions over and over again.
With this experience of the day it is important to talk about emotional attachment. Life is and will be full of circumstances, sometimes easy to solve, sometimes more difficult. But, human beings tend to think that we will always be in the good ones, we may wish, but it will never be as we want it to be, but as God wills. Life is full of ups and downs, of joys and sorrows, of calm and uneasiness.
We know then that with all these things with which we must live every day, it is not worthwhile to get hooked. Neither with the good, nor with the not-so-good, should we get hooked. Everything in life is a transit.
I prepared my husband from those early hours of the morning, he is already tired and it is understandable, but the only one who will be harmed will be him if he continues to act in the same way as he does. Thank God, he listens to my suggestions.
We arrived at the gas station at a quarter past five in the morning and left at ten past six. The time did not take long, as we waited, we chatted with other people, laughed and told anecdotes in a matter of minutes. There was at that moment another reflection on emotional attachment, why complain and stay in the complaint, is it really worth it?
At ten past six I continued my route to the mountain, my husband left me near where I start walking, he continued to work.
I covered 15 kilometers this morning. I felt energized from the moment I woke up. I did the route in two hours. The ascent hit a little bit, I felt that I didn't want to continue the way but at the same time I encouraged myself, I repeated over and over again "si se puede" (yes, it can be done). If in earlier hours I was talking about not getting hooked then, this also applies to what I usually do every day, I should not get hooked on complaining about tiredness.
I kept going until I reached the finish line, when I reached the end of the summit I met some friends, they arrived before me and stayed resting. With them I joined the conversation. It was a good gathering of the four women, each one struggling with mixed feelings and seeking refuge in that space where one can freely cry out pains and sorrows.
Once again I was able to intervene to exhort my friends to move forward. Things happen for a reason and we must accept what comes our way. Repeating the theme of emotional attachment, today was the day to address the issue and internalize the must be of each person.
***Thank you God for all the gifts of the day.***
Stories in my Diary
Thursday, the week goes fast and me, again debating between getting out of bed or staying in bed, what a night! The cold was bitterly cold, who would have thought it when the day was so hot. This was the reason why I didn't want to get up.
My watch rang at half past five, but the cold did not manage to dominate me, I stood up, got dressed, took my things and went out to meet my companions on the road.
Another week is almost over, we made a short tour where we decided to give ourselves the opportunity to talk for a while, we were not in a hurry so.... let's talk as if we were at home.
The conversation became very good, we talked about the things we have forgotten to give priority to the satisfiers and not the real need for satisfaction. This topic came up because of what happened with the friends during the week. One almost fainted because of her crazy diets and the other with a bad fall because she was so anxious.
Around our whims we have built the dynamic that we will only be happy if we focus on living from the superficial which is not only a false theory but something unnecessary with what we have much or little we can be happy, it is a simple matter of valuing not only what allows us to experience temporary pleasure.
I like to share these moments because they nourish me and I also contribute to those who ask for support. It is important to make it clear that it is not worth wasting life looking for satisfiers that have the same function of the simplest things that are within our reach.
Bubble Flower
I walked and walked and walked and walked. My somewhat disturbed mind did not leave a single thought. It was sadness that was happily stomping on my head, mind and soul. Sadness claimed success when it realized that my attempt to get out of it was futile. The more I walked, the sadder I became, the more power I gave to the guest. Without realizing it, I arrived at a place I had never seen before in my life. The pleasant smell of forest pine woke me up abruptly and made me come to my senses. It was me who was there in front of the small puddle. My astonished eyes went through that strange place, I was now full of panic but the beauty that adorned the curious plant area could more than any situation of fear. Without realizing it, the traces of sadness had disappeared. The smell of Scots pine stranded in my head, making room for other thoughts. Spinning always on my same axis, perceiving the pleasant smells there and feeling the cold air on my face, my soul found refuge. After a few seconds, I heard the small jet of water coming from a spring, the sound of the water embedded in my ears to allow me to contemplate the silence blindly. I followed my instincts, I looked down and there, in the water, I visualized the figure of a flower that suddenly was fading in front of me. Nature was dancing for me, or was it just an optical illusion? With patience I bent down to continue admiring what my eyes did not yet believe. <<It was my imagination that drew beautiful petals in the water to form a flower I am sure of it>> It was strange the smile that slowly came out of my lips. Happiness ended the sadness in a small moment. I still couldn't believe my curious eyes...
Those who made up my gift of the day, a beautiful bubble of a flower, were a group of mosquitoes that came and went in the water like those who coordinate a dance. My day of sadness ended, I returned home, everything was over.
If we are looking for beauty, let's look from the simplicity of things, they will always be more useful. Another great lesson learned. I came home to submit myself to the routine but always being happy...
Personal Mind
Wednesday, I was still uneasy because of the violent situation I had witnessed the day before, but it was important for me to transfer this feeling that had invaded me.
I woke up after a bad night, the hours became eternal, I had tachycardia and felt pressure in my chest, I woke up startled several times.
It was five o'clock in the morning, I wrote to my friends to let them know I was ready. I left the house at five thirty. We walked for a long time, the clock read 11 kilometers, quite a long walk but a very good one.
During the walk, tears slid down my cheeks on their own, it was obvious, nostalgia still threw me. I let my emotion flow until I calmed down. Then I searched for the reason why I felt so sad so I could understand my own reaction, I asked God to help me and He did. He enlightened my thoughts and allowed me to leave my worries in His hands.
I came home much calmer, took a bath, ate and talked with my son who was there at the time. We ate together, talked about the parliamentary elections in Venezuela, we were both without clear ideas to guide each other. We have not decided whether to vote or not to vote.
I got up from the table, picked up the dishes and cups to wash, got dressed and went out again to do the week's shopping. We continue to see and live the economic impact in our country, it is sad and unfortunate to know that many people have to work with all this unfair situation we are going through. It is becoming more and more difficult and no matter how much optimism we may have the panorama is crude and cruel.
I saw many boys and girls on the streets selling, working to bring their livelihood home. I think they are being used by adults to attract people and generate sales because the competition is strong. There are thousands of people pouring into the streets from one side to the other trying to sell a product to solve the day.
It is time to become aware and unite for next year, our country must make a radical turn to move forward.
I returned home tired but satisfied with every achievement...
Thank You!
Logbook of an Anxious
I am seriously trying to control my emotions in the blockchain world. That's what I told myself when I learned about social networks where cryptocurrencies are monetized. In this series of articles I will tell you how my process went and how I managed to control my anxieties in such a volatile world as cryptocurrencies.
My dedication in social media has been to produce original content. I depend on my muse, my photographs and the inspiration of the moment. All of the above also involves the emotional theme. In my early days I didn't understand the world I was navigating, I'm talking specifically about monetization. On the one hand it was good because I didn't put so much pressure on myself, I created content whenever I could and did my best. I used free images from the Web, this also kept me relaxed since it was a matter of creating ideas and illustrating with images allusive to it.
It should be noted in these first lines that the art of writing is implicitly associated with emotions. Every inspiring moment comes from the soul, leaves great satisfaction and at the same time is relaxing, but when does the moment of anxiety begin? When the project broadens the investment vision. When I realized that I was not a simple content creator but a small contributor.
It was from this moment on that I set out to be more creative. Create content, get a niche, create a bank of my own images and a line of topics with which I could be seen by leading community curators. It seems like a simple process but it wasn't. In the next content I will tell you how this whole thing generated pressure on me to the point of giving up.
Thank you for your visit and comment
For Sustainable Development
The concept of **Sustainable Humanity** is very popular. There seems to be a great concern and occupation for the protection of the environment although, sometimes, the facts are divorced from the speeches. The term sustainable links man's action "**on**" the
environment. Particularly, I would eliminate **on the environment...** since from the point of view of action it may seem contradictory. Being **on** something or someone is not the same as being **with**. For example:
**The term sustainable links the action of the with the environment..**, this would encourage me even more.
Well, in the midst of all this campaigning to protect the environment I am happy to say that there are already many of us who finally realize its importance. Sustainability gives human beings the ability to build in favor of the environment that surrounds us without upsetting or altering the natural cycle of the environment.
When we talk about sustainable development is because we are thinking about the idea of preserving each natural resource with the intention that each individual makes conscious use of it, avoids depleting resources and thus each generation can enjoy it.
In this broad sense of the term it is our duty to be aware of how we can collaborate with the protection of the environment. Daily readings manifested through various sources indicate about the strong debate involving the world of cryptocurrencies. Crypto mining projects are said to be harmful to the environment due to high energy consumption. In this sense, I can show myself for and against the debated ideas.
I am a nature lover, everything that has to do with it involves me directly for the same reason commented. I am specifically sensitive to insects. Insects are small animals that do a great job on the ecosystem. In my daily walk I get to interact with many rare species. Studying about their function in the environment makes me appreciate them more. The way of life of these special beings motivates me to campaign to respect their life and allow them to carry out their natural cycle without unhealthy interventions.
Farmers complain about the appearance of insects, but many ignore the true meaning of their appearances. It is true that some of them do kill the work of farmers, but it is no less true that if insects did not exist, many plantations would not exist either.
I share with you in this publication some insects found during my walk. They are specifically beetles that are present in these months of rain in Venezuela. We owe them a lot of goodness. Let's bet that we can live together in a healthy way to make a sustainable and sustainable world.
Look at this beetle with long antennae. They live in the wood, biting the branch at the same time as they make perpendicular movements until they cut a ring of bark and thus cause the branch to weaken and fall to the ground.
Once the objective is achieved (cutting the ring of the tree), the female begins her work by making slits along the branch to lay her eggs there. It is amazing to know about these actions of insects, they do everything possible to ensure the life of their offspring. In the tree where they decide to be, they will have guaranteed food to continue their metamorphosis. They will become chrysalises until they become adult beetles.
Between Beetle and Ants
The incredible nature always surprises with each element that composes it. On the way I found another species of beetle. Experts call them jewel beetles, they appear between May and June, they are commonly called flower beetles. They have a very striking coloration, some have metallic colors all over their body, this one only shows it in the abdominal part.
In the second image the beetle is upside down. In this position you can see its metallic colors. When I found the beetle it was already dead. I took it in my hands to check it and yes, it was indeed lifeless. I left it on the ground, in the same place where I found it and immediately I noticed that one of its legs was moving, I kept watching, it seemed strange to me. Suddenly, a small ant came out from somewhere. The truth is that it was the one that moved the insect's leg.
When I noticed the ant I decided to stay and watch what was coming. I thought at that moment whether to talk about the beetle or the ant. Either insect would give me the reason.
I continued to witness the events. From an apparently non-existent cave, other relatives of the ant began to emerge. They were the so-called scouts. They mounted on top of the beetle to do their job. They went over and over every part of the animal. They climbed up and down, in and out until they finally confirmed the death of the beetle. At that moment all the machinery was activated. Lots of ants came out of that cave to wrap the insect.
My idea about ants remains firm. In my opinion, it is the most cunning insect of all. Its diminutive size does not prevent it from achieving its goal. I have seen ants devour reptiles like the iguana, a beetle, nor does it compare to that larger animal. I immediately knew they would do something with the insect. I waited and now I tell you what happened.
There were more and more ants riding on the beetle. Half an hour passed and the insects as a team managed to bury the beetle's head. They all worked at the same time. They pulled out bits of soil to literally bathe the insect.
Within an hour and a half, part of the beetle was buried. Another hour and it was completely under the ground. It took about three and a half hours to seal the smallest part of his body. The army of ants achieved the goal. Now they will have food for the queen.
The workers were in charge of guaranteeing sustenance until the new offspring appear. The work of the ants is admirable. Their ability to work as a team is admirable. Not everyone can communicate as effectively as they do.
Without Fear of Old Age
Reaching adulthood can be one of the most difficult times in life. It is said that we should be prepared for this moment but, it is one thing to say it and another... to accept it.
The issue of reaching adulthood becomes a problem when we do not accept our advanced age. In some cases the activities of daily life have been traveling, dancing, hanging out with friends at parties, drinking, among others. In moments of euphoria of life, reaching old age will be a real obstacle.
But life is not all about fun, or maybe it is. It would be worth asking now, can we have fun at any time? It all depends on what we mean by fun. In addition to all of the above, there is the question of what we can do to have fun. In the stage of adulthood, when the children are grown up and have moved away to make their own lives, is when there are more things to live.
I reached the age of 53 thinking about the dilemma of accepting my old age. I don't want to burst into tears, much less fall into depression. So I started to search among the things I love and there I found a solution.
Since I was very young I liked the art of photography, sports entertained me but I was never interested in practicing one, writing was another of my passions.
As I said before, in the search I found the answer to my concerns. I combined writing, photography and sports. With these three activities, I will surely succeed, I told myself. From that mix of activities came something else, a love of nature.
Consequence of my decisiones
When I talk about loving nature, I mean it in the broad sense of the word. Walking through mountain spaces, enjoying the clean and pure air, put me in an encounter with myself. Nature did not refer to the place surrounded by vegetation, it referred to my own nature, to BEING.
I may have expressed the fear of reaching old age without knowing what to do. But, without a doubt, the decision to go out to exercise, write and get in touch with nature was the right thing to do. The encounters with the BEING in moments of solitude have made me understand how beautiful life is. We should not fear anything, not even old age.
It is up to each one of us to keep active, to take care of our health in order to achieve physical dependence. Only God knows what He has destined for each one of us, but again I repeat, it is up to us to do our best to keep our energies full of optimism and positivism. In this way we will live each stage of life without regrets or worries.
I always remember the example of my mother, a warrior and fighter woman. I bring this remark because it is well known that these thoughts anchored in negativity are part of stereotypes, they go from generation to generation. Many comments have given rise to false speculations, consequently every unhealthy comment can be linked to loneliness, sadness and even illness.
That is why I decided to assume old age with the greatest pride. Carrying out activities that possibly I had never done before, but firm and determined, without struggles, without sadness, without fears. Living life to the fullest implies accepting God's designs.
My presence at @read.cash by @belkis758
**Good morning to the read.cash community, I'm here again but this time to make my presentation.**
I started on this platform a few days ago and I think I skipped some steps but unintentionally ha,ha,ha,ha anxiety dominated and I did not make my presentation, so I come for that, to introduce myself, it's never too late when happiness comes, my mother used to say.
First of all, I must say that I am Venezuelan. Specifically, I live in the capital city of Caracas.
I have a beautiful family and I live with them every day of the world. I am a retired teacher, a nature lover, passionate about photography, writing, entomology, as well as other activities that have to do with outdoor freedom.
I like to keep a record of the activities I undertake. I like sports, I exercise and practice mountain hiking. I am 53 years old but my age does not stop me from doing what I like, on the contrary, it encourages me more.
Before the pandemic, there were many places I used to go. Now I am limited to the area where I live. No problem, around here I have a lot of spaces where I can walk around and record my chores. I had to adapt to the situation and that's what I did, I'm not complaining.
I came to the decentralized social network three years ago. It was the steemit platform that opened the doors for me in this virtual world where all content is monetized. Step by step I was acquiring knowledge and tools to give the best of me day by day.
Between so much confinement, these platforms have been a blessing. Thanks to them I have been able to drain my emotions. My time has not been wasted in leisure, on the contrary, I take advantage of each event to capture between the lines experiences and experiences.
After steemit I came to hive, in the latter I applied my learning, I perfected techniques to continue advancing without stopping. I have progressed in these issues of the network, I have invested in tokens. I understand that cryptocurrencies are the new economic alternatives and no one better than us Venezuelans to attest to this.
Here I am, working hard in what I like. Betting on this new decentralized economic approach and leaving evidence of this reality that many still ignore.
Now I'm here at @read.cash, experimenting once again. As I mentioned at the beginning, I posted content before introducing myself, I guess it must have happened to others. I apologize if it was a mistake.
My passions in the matter of writing lean towards anecdotal records, everything that has to do with my routines, habits, travels, walks, meditation, sports, emotions. I will be talking about those same topics here.
I have already reviewed publications in this medium, I comment and vote according to my possibilities. I want to make myself known. Step by step I will achieve it. Thank you all for your support, in advance I address to you leaders of the platform to express my gratitude. I will give my best in each published content. Thank you very much for your attention.
Who Can Strip the Self
**Life is a road where we do not want to walk slowly and with firm steps, it is a road where we want to run.**
It is only as the years go by that we learn the lessons. It seems that we are willing to stumble over and over again with the same stone. It is difficult to understand the messages from the very beginning, is it because we are not authentic?
**But, What is authenticity and how does it manifest itself in the self?**
Obviously, these are complex questions. Each answer will depend on each individual, each individual is unique in its essence. For this reason, I do not intend to leave a unique definition of the concept, I will only expose my vision through a simple example.
Human beings are so complex that they do not know how to define themselves. Perhaps for this reason it is difficult to define the concepts of life from its nature. Being authentic is not validated in words, it is validated through action. In addition to the above, authenticity is not born from superficiality but from the depth of each person.
**From my point of view authenticity is born, I don't know if it can be designe**
Masks have been the perfect instrument to dress authenticity. It can manifest in the being, superficially, feelings of happiness. Feelings of pain can be hidden through the disguise.
That is why I affirm that authenticity does not belong to any person. Authenticity belongs to those who live to serve and not to destroy. Authenticity is naked when the being sheds his clothes to give without asking for anything in return. Authenticity involves humility.
Does it pay to be authentic?
Masking, pretending, disguising, are terms contrary to authenticity.
Being authentic implies acting with honesty. In a personal experience I have tasted the bitterness of dishonesty from someone who cleverly disguised himself as authenticity. I had a hard time trying to get out of the mess I was in. It was not easy on an emotional level to get out of the betrayal. I was responsible for the tragedy, I did not assume it at the time but now I assume it. I was responsible for exceeding my trust, for wanting to be authentic, original, sincere.
After that event I asked myself, is it worth it to be authentic? My answer at that time was a resounding NO. Now I say YES. Yes, it is worth it to be authentic, it is worth it to show your true self, it is worth it to feel full and confident with yourself, it is worth it to live from authenticity to continue serving and not destroying.
It pays to be authentic, my mother always said. Whoever teaches does so by example. Actions identify the being. It pays to be authentic, it pays to be loved for oneself.
I never cease to remember how many people surrounded my first deceased brother. He was an angel in the eyes of others. I also never fail to remember the number of people who accompanied my mother on her last goodbye. Recently I can't help but remember how many people, despite the Covid-19 pandemic situation, accompanied the family once again for the death of a second sibling.
These three people, wonderful beings in my life were authentic until the end of their days. My parents, with example and dedication, marked paths to direct actions.
I find myself on the same path. Following the legacy of my parents and siblings. I continue to enact, I ask forgiveness from God but not from men.
A Day in the Spotlight
Pyrisitia Lisa
I was amazed when I saw this kind of butterfly. It is said to be one of the most restless. I have experience with these insects, I can attest that it is true, they are very restless. It had rained in the area where I found it. It was looking for some sun among the bushes. Butterflies' favorite places are flowers and plants. They are cunning, they handle their mouthparts to perfection. They suck nectar and sap with their long spirochetes. I sense that they use their mouthparts to explore certain areas. When they are on the ground, their restlessness can be noticed. The Pyrisitia Lisa butterfly is medium-sized, tan yellow with brown spots. Its face is the same yellowish color, its legs are white and thin.
Trifolium
Trifolium means that it has three leaves.... I found this species of clover. It is actually the most common of them all. Clover is a kind plant, it is easily found in subtropical areas. Clover has many stories linked to the sentimental side. Whoever gets a four-leaf clover will be lucky for the rest of his life. Whoever gets the five-leaf clover , I don't know what will happen.When I was little I used to eat this plant. It has a mild citrus flavor. My brothers used to say that it tastes like lemon. Nothing could be further from the truth than that theory but it was the way to compare it. For my brothers and me this plant was and still is edible.
The plant can be seen everywhere. It may go unnoticed despite its simple beauty. But, what is perhaps unknown is about the properties it possesses. I am not an expert in botany but according to them clover can be used to treat some types of cancer in women, it is used to treat discomfort caused by menopause, it has anti-asthmatic and expectorant properties, it is used for asthma, coughs, flus and bronchitis. It is said that for obese people it is a perfect ally, it can also act as a diuretic. So, don't look for clove
**Dynastes hercules**
Do you know all the species of Hercules beetle? This is the name given to this beetle with particular characteristics. You can notice its two long front legs and its mouth horn. It is a male species, females do not have horns. Males use this weapon as a defense mechanism. They fight with another of the same species to win the female. The wounds created by their horns and hooks are deadly not for humans but for themselves.
To humans, the Hercules beetle is harmless. They have a great function within the ecosystem, they eliminate insects that can become pests. They clean and contribute. They live a long time under the ground, they take advantage of rainy seasons to come out when the soil is disturbed.
Butterfly Reproduction
Have you seen how butterflies reproduce? While searching for a new species for my photo collection, I came across a pair of butterflies in the process of mating. Butterflies reproduce just like other animals. The sperm of a male fertilizes the eggs of a female. The sperm is found in the male's abdomen. To mate, butterflies place tail to tail and at that moment they take the opportunity to carry out the process.
The courtship of the male to conquer the female reminded me of the courtship of the peacock. The male attracts the attention of the female by performing maneuvers in the air. I had the opportunity to watch the spectacle without knowing that it was a conquest. I did not make noise so as not to disturb but I wanted to leave testimony of what I observed.
Reflection
*Today's article is a compilation of experiences with these amazing insects. Every day nature gives me the opportunity to get to know it more closely. I love animals, I adore insects, I am fascinated by flowers and plants, I... I admire and respect nature.*
Rain-Attracted Insects
May is the season when many insects can be seen. It is the winter season in Venezuela. Possibly this is the reason why thousands of insects come out of their shells either to feed or to reproduce. Each species of insect must fulfill its life cycle. The rain brings its goodness. With the increase of rain, the growth of plants, flowers and fruits increases. Everything in nature reproduces much faster. It is beautiful to see the change that occurs in the environments near the mountains. It seems like magic.
Our environment will always be embellished with different species of butterflies. In this opportunity I found the blue butterfly. The blue butterfly is the national symbol of Venezuela. It is a giant butterfly, the wings are huge compared to its body. This butterfly has a double tonality. On one side it is brown with black borders and false eye, on the other side it is sky blue with black border. It is a majestic butterfly. I regret not having been lucky enough to photograph the blue part.
Going into these places, even though they seem scary, is the most meaningful experience for me. In these environments I have found many species of insects including butterflies. The blue butterfly (Morpho peleides) travels these paths. It is the largest species not only in Venezuela but in the world. This beautiful butterfly lives in tropical rainforests, it is difficult to find it, at least for me it has been. This is the first time that I get so close to the blue butterfly.
Possibly it has been looking for a mate. Empirically I am learning about the behavior of these species. The blue butterfly has different habits than other species, they do not suck nectar from flowers, they consume rotten fruits, fermented tree sap, fungi or even dead animals.
I am convinced of one thing, we will only talk about nature when we learn to live with it. I make this remark because I often hear people complaining. Not all of us like animals, not all of us like insects, not all of us like plants, but there are those who like everything and we have to respect that. To speak ill of species without knowing how they live and what their functions are in the environment is a lack of interest in the environment that gives us life. For this reason I think that not everyone can talk about the ecosystem if there are no experiences or experiences with it.
May Beetle
Another common insect for this season are the May beetles. They belong to a species called Phyllophaga, these scientific names always call my attention for that reason I look for a reference that indicates me the existence of each word. The experts are the most indicated to handle each term but it is not bad that our curiosity exceeds our expectations.
Beetles feed on the vegetative parts of plants. Now, do you know what the vegetative parts are? The vegetative parts are those that give life to the plant, without them they could not thrive, we speak of root, stem and leaves. Small beetles feed on these parts. These species live under the soil, they come out of it when they grow. The beetle, in their adult stage, take advantage of the rain to come out. When the water loosens the soil, it is easier for the adult beetle to leave the place where it has spent most of its life.
The adult beetle comes out for two things, to finish feeding and to mate. These insects fly clumsily. It is common to see them bumping into the walls of houses. The beetles have two false wings, which are of little use to them. These wings are the ones we see superficially. If you manage to feel them, you will feel a certain hardness, which obviously prevents them from using them to take flight. Their real wings are small, they are hidden under the first ones. For the size and weight of the insect they are not the most suitable, but nature is wise.
The life cycle of these insects is interesting. They come out of the ground, mate immediately, the females lay their eggs in mud balls which they cleverly bury using their powerful legs, and feed for two months. The larvae grow near the roots of the plants to hatch again between July, August and September. These little animals pupate in the soil to remain for other months; December, January, February, March, finally in April-May when the soil softens due to the rains and as adult species.
Thank you for joining me in the reading.
Accept New Opportunities
A Decision
One may think that life is not nourished by pleasures, nor by enjoyment, nor only by recreation. One may think that this is not the basis of everything. Those who think so are right. Those who think: It is not necessary to enjoy outdoor walks, I will not try to contradict but surely there are still things to experience. Those who think that a good walk is simply an unnecessary pleasure or a waste of time, then I will say: You are wrong.
One day I started thinking about my retirement. I was 50 years old at the time. Having so much free time, at home, possibly sedentary, was unimaginable to me. I have always been very restless. An active person cannot keep the mind in idleness.
My retirement money would not give me luxuries but it could give me pleasures. Neither luxury nor pleasure are bad for me as long as it is not in excess. Even if I had some money to go for walks, travel and enjoy myself, that was not my intention. Money doesn't last a lifetime if you only have it to spend. I wanted to do something different to avoid being stuck at home.
The Answer to my Question
It was then that I set out to walk every morning. Little by little I increased my speed, the routes were getting longer and longer and more necessary for the body so I started mountain hiking. I joined a group of women who love nature, adventure and travel. With them I learned techniques to traverse difficult paths. The hikes are still daily.
We visit parks, mountains, hills... always with a specific objective. When I arrived at Macarao National Park for the first time, I fell in love with it. I remember that first day, it was five hours of walking, I did not feel tired, the landscape, the pure and fresh air, the company of my friends, my attitude, did not allow me to get tired.
I enjoyed every minute of the ride. I contemplated every part of the mountain. I concentrated on all the noises in the environment. I drank fresh water from the springs. I felt at that moment that I had lost time in life. I thought out loud, wondering why I had not done that before?
There was an immediate answer. All my life I had thought that these activities were just a waste of time. I hindered myself by claiming I didn't have enough money to do it. In short, it was self-sabotage. I didn't even give myself permission to experiment with new things. There I had the answer as to why I had not known these wonderful places.
The Result
From that moment on, when I understood what I had decided for my life, I wanted to give myself another chance. It is never too late when happiness comes. I still feel in good condition. Thanks to God, I am in good health and physical activities complement it even more. I was at the right time, in the right place, with the right people. God's timing is perfect. Many things have happened after these events.
The changes in my life have been radical. For these walks I have involved the family. My children, husband, sister, niece... everyone has been involved. We have had as a result: more family unity, more communication, more desire to share. With this testimony I can affirm that it is not a waste of time. It is to love oneself in order to learn to love others, including the world around us.
One decision can change your life
Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle
A leaf shows the route of a small caterpillar. The caterpillar is at a stage where the main thing is to feed in order to continue to the next stage.
The first cycle of a caterpillar , is to be a larva. The larva is born from the egg of a butterfly. Once the egg hatches, the larva feeds on it. The larva grows into a caterpillar and continues its cycle.
I did not manage to see this first part of a butterfly's cycle. A larva can be so tiny that it would be difficult to see it. Still, I managed to capture the following life cycles.
You can see how the caterpillar takes advantage of the leaf to feed. This leaf belongs to a plant called milkweed. This leaf provides the caterpillar with the nutrients it needs to survive.
In this cycle, the caterpillar devours as many leaves as possible until it reaches its ideal size, which is about 4 cm.
The caterpillar's mouthparts are chewing, which is why they cut the leaves so easily. Milkweed plants suffer when they receive these visits, but nature is wise, so there is nothing to worry about.
It takes at least fifteen days for the caterpillar to reach its ideal size. It is a slow process to go from larva to caterpillar.
The second image shows the final change. The caterpillar has fed enough to move on to the next cycle.
I detailed the morphology of the insect. Its body is flexible, it is easy to move, its legs have a strong grip, they act as suckers, they adhere to surfaces when they feel attacked. The colors of the caterpillar are bright, they stand out, that has a reason to be, to scare away its predators. These caterpillars are highly toxic to anyone who tries to eat them, obviously I am referring to another animal.
After reaching the size that turns them into adults, the insect passes to another phase which I found the most interesting of all.
A new moment arrives. The caterpillar leaves the milkweed plant to seek shelter. Incredibly, it finds a place where its predators cannot attack it. That place is usually dark, the more hidden the better.
The caterpillars observed looked for space under the potted plant or under a column.
At that moment something inexplicable happens. The caterpillar weaves a small cotton webbing, it is covered with its rear antenna, remaining in that position like the letter "J". The caterpillar seems to die, it loses its bright colors, a gelatinous liquid seems to sprout from its body, something similar to saliva. This gel (I don't know what to call it) covers the caterpillar until it forms a green cocoon with gold and black dots.
The cocoon has a light, fragile, brittle texture. If we take it in our hands exerting pressure, it will quickly break. I had the opportunity to touch one that did not achieve its final goal because it was attacked by an insect, I presume.
This leaves the caterpillar inside the cocoon. There it undergoes another incredible transformation. Its entire body disintegrates and builds itself up again.
Now, in its new life it will not be a caterpillar but a butterfly. It takes exactly 15 days for the butterfly to hatch from the chrysalis, open its wings and take flight.
I saw the hatching at the right time, in total there were five beautiful Monarch butterflies, two males and three females. Everything went perfect, just as I expected.
In Veezuela
How are you feeling today?
I was asked how I am today and I answered without hesitation, I am fine, thank God. The answer was not enough to please the person who asked me. I have had a hard time with the recent death of my brother. This person not only wanted to know that I was "fine", he asked for details of how I was feeling at that very moment.
We extend the conversation when he then suggests: Tell me what being well suggests. There, without realizing it, I was expressing my pain. I feel sad, the memories of my brother bring tears to my eyes at every moment, not even eight days have passed and it feels like yesterday when I was told the painful news. I continue to express my concern for my sister-in-law and my nephew (kidney patient). My brother was everything to them. Yes Baron as they say my nephew. Now who accompanies me to my dialysis? It is not simply the fact of being company, but the absence of the one I love without limitation. I cannot feel any other way. I can't help but feel the loss that is so important to the family.
Half an hour had passed, just an interest in knowing how I felt drained what had accumulated in my chest. After closing the conversation I felt relieved. My chest cleared.
It was time to think now how much good a simple conversation can do. How much good it can do to get close to a friend without the friend suggesting it. Friends are not only there for the good times, it is in the hard times that we need them the most. Thank God I have great friends, to them I also say thank you, a thousand thanks for always being there in the good and not so good moments of life.
Draining emotions is the most important thing for the human being. Every negative emotion can become a dangerous burden for health. Look for a friend even if he/she doesn't ask for it. You may be at the right time to reach out to him or her and say, "How are you feeling today?
The essence of life is next to those people who make your life a safe and stable place. The essence of life is in giving without asking for anything in return. Do not cast aside your great friendships, strengthen the bonds, smile with them, enjoy the moment, share, live the joy of life. Be faithful, love abundantly, receive with humility.
Nocturnal Moth is no Day Butterfly
Just as we can see butterflies flying in the morning hours, we can also see them flying at night, but there is a detail, the Lepidoptera family includes butterflies and also moths. Although they all look the same, they are not.
Butterflies fly during the day while moths fly at night, this is one of the differences. On the other hand, butterflies have different characteristics from moths, we can notice another difference in their wings. While the wings of butterflies are large and erect, the wings of moths are drooping backwards. Do you want to know another difference?
Butterflies raise their wings as they take flight, while moths seem to fly like an airplane. In the antennae we notice another detail, the tip of the antenna of a butterfly is shaped like a match head, moths have them smooth and in the case of males the antennae are shaped like a comb or bird feather.
Do butterflies and moths belong to the same family? Yes, they do. Are butterflies much more numerous than moths? No, according to the information I have been kept informed, moths have a greater number of species than butterflies, am I telling the truth? I was as surprised as many of you. I swore that butterflies have a larger population on the planet.
I have had a passion for butterflies for a long time, you will see in my publications how many of them I have been able to photograph. This nocturnal moth I found very close to the house. Moths insist on looking for places where there is light, that is to say, they are attracted to them. Certainly there are scientific explanations that give an answer to this phenomenon, I am not the right one to give details since I am simply a fan of these insects.
I have been curious and I have been able to notice in some moments the quantity of moths gathered in the same bulb, it usually happens when it is winter time, in this sense I could affirm that they use the light to warm their bodies. I have also seen that where there is a group of nocturnal moths gathered on a lighted bulb, when it is turned off, they fall one after another, only some manage to resume their flight and flee the place. This same phenomenon occurs with rain ants. Could it be a coincidence? It is possible, I am just reporting my experience.
Beware of nocturnal moths! Did you know that moths can feed on wool or cotton? I know about the monarch butterfly caterpillar, it feeds on the milkweed leaf but I didn't know about moths. The thing is that the cotton with which they design the clothes is a tempting food of the moth friend, in other words, they can damage the garments that we have in our closets for this reason we must pay attention to them.
To close this new publication I will tell you that this moth is male, you can identify its sex by the shape of the antennae in the form of comb. It seems that male species also have their charms.
Thanks for reading and commenting. All photos are my property @belkis758
Gonepteryx Rhamni | Lemon tree Butterfly
Lemon tree butterfly, also known as green leaf butterfly. Its scientific name is Gonepteryx rhamni . I got it in mountain edges under a very sunny climate. From my experience it is one of the most restless butterflies during flight. When I say restless I am referring to the short time it can last perched on a flower or a leaf.
Its color and shape make it difficult to detect it quickly among the plants, as you will see, it can camouflage itself without any problem. It is called the lemon tree butterfly because of its color and also because of the places it frequents. Each butterfly is attracted to a specific plant, the lemon tree being one of them.
Of all the species it is said that this is one of the longest-lived, its approximate lifespan is one year. When I saw this butterfly fly over me I tried not to lose sight of it. It was a challenge at that moment. I let it pre-censify my stay so as not to scare it away, I kept still, with my gaze fixed until it finally decided to stop its flight.
At that moment I took the opportunity to take several shots with my Samsung Galaxy A-30 phone. I enlarged the image to capture MACROPHOTOGRAPHS.
I was impressed by the texture of this butterfly's wings. Its veins protrude impressively. I guess they give it enough strength to fly. Whoever has held a butterfly by the wings has had the opportunity to feel the strength of the flapping. I have experienced it, the sad thing is that in attempts to escape we can hurt them by breaking their wings.
A butterfly is for me the most beautiful of all insect species. Its life experience is unique. Its metamorphosis, the most complete.
My knowledge of butterflies is entirely empirical. As a lover of photography I have been involved with this subject of insects at the same time. I get excited when I have in front of me some species, I investigate, compare, analyze the behavior and about it I give my opinion.
I hope to bring varied information for lovers of photography and for specialists of these animal species. I live in Venezuela, specifically in the capital, Caracas. Best regards.
Own photographs @belkis758. Caracas- Venezuela. Taken from my Samsung Galaxy A-30
@belkis758
