This year I'm celebrating the 7th year of my relationship, a number that feels synonymous with change and growth. Relationships, especially romantic ones, are adventures within themselves. Time feels like sand when you're with someone you love; it slips through your fingers, and you're left wondering where it all went because you only want more. To commemorate this milestone, I want to jot down some lessons that I believe have contributed to the longevity of my relationship with my partner and that I hope might inspire you to observe relationships through a nuanced lens. 

July 19th, 2024 - Wildflower Honey
I vividly remember holding a funeral for a bee when I was a child. I was never afraid of these small but mighty creatures. My eyes would always follow them as they danced from flower to flower - they still do. It was only recently that my fascination with bees began to manifest itself through intentional learning. The first opportunity I had to dive into beekeeping was during a Hands-On Honey Harvest at the ​​Queens County Farm Museum. 

The farm has an apiary, which is a place where honey bees and their hives are tended to and kept. The apiary at Queens County Farm has been producing honey for over 40 years, producing almost 1000 pounds of honey each year. Beekeeping truly is an art form, and it was through this introductory class that I got a taste (pun intended) of what its like to not only collect honey, but to also honor them as micro emperors of the Earth and all that inhabit it. 

In order to understand the larger issues surrounding our climate and environment, you need to start small and look in between the petals first. This course was the catalyst for a journey that I planned to be on for the next month.