From my Mom's side, growing up with my Grandparents taught me invaluable lessons. My grandpa was a researcher-creator dedicated to the prosperity of the land. He was a farmer specialized in creating cooperatives for wineries and was also a refined musician, a skilled violinist, and an avid collector of artifacts from the ancient past. His education sparked my fascination and cultivated my interest in History and Art.
With my Grandma, I gained valuable knowledge in crafting remedies from plants and herbs to address common ailments such as colds, headaches, toothaches, cuts, bruises, stomachaches, fevers, and even emotional distress like sadness and fears. Many of these medicinal plants thrived in her lush vegetable garden on the family farm. Our upbringing centered on consuming various herbal infusions to bolster our immune systems, with nature serving as our primary source of healing.
In the heart of our family kitchen, we savored daily meals, particularly vegan for me, meticulously prepared from scratch, featuring an array of fresh herbs, spices, vegetables, and fruits. Every ingredient was derived exclusively from Mother Earth and thoughtfully hand-harvested in harmony with the changing seasons.
Grandma instilled in us the belief that it is our duty to remain attuned to the elements of nature, as they play a pivotal role in aiding the body's inherent capacity to heal itself. Her wisdom encouraged us to always wear a smile, exhibit kindness, embrace the present to its fullest, share with others generously, never take anything for granted, and be eternally grateful.