The people of the sun
The sunflower is native to North America and can grow quite tall. Young sunflowers follow the suns movement during the day. The sunflower head can hold up to 2000 seeds.
As I learn about the sunflower, I see a distinct pattern that follows our people. We are of the sun. Our skin soaks in the rays as we grow like the sunflower. Our people are tall, like the sunflower and our people have the ability to create in other cultures, spreading our seed like the sunflower.
But we have to look at the other side of the coin. The switch that happens to our people as we get older. Far too often, life becomes a battle to gather as many resources as possible. Less time with family and more time at work. Becoming a slave to labor to gather documents that ironically have men who owned our ancestors. We ignore good relationships if they don’t produce profits. We don’t build communities, we build personal wealth. Like the sunflower maturing and facing east, we stop following the sun and we follow the culture of capitalism, greed and corruption.
The reason the sunflower matures and stops following the sun is because growth slows down. They face east to absorb the morning sun. They get old and have to adapt.
I understand that our people are adapting to a capitalist system of greed, jumping in to the race to survive.. I just don’t see how we accept this as our future. Why can’t we continue to follow the sun? Continue to grow?! Continue to learn?! Do we all really think this system that benefits the minority at the top is the best we can do.
We are the people of the sun. We are not the people of the dollar.
The sunflower, a symbol of growth and resilience, serves as a powerful metaphor for our societies. As we move through life, like the sunflower, we initially thrive under the warmth of connection and collective support. However, modern capitalism often shifts our focus toward individualism, leading us to prioritize financial gain over meaningful relationships. Much like the sunflower's natural growth cycle, our communities face challenges as they mature. The sunflower's transition to face east serves as a reminder of the importance of adapting to maintain growth. A focus on nurturing relationships can cultivate a community that thrives together, much like sunflowers in a field, reaching towards the sun. To foster this collective growth, we must prioritize shared values over profits. By embracing the spirit of the sunflower and celebrating each other's unique contributions, we can redefine our future—one where thriving communities take precedence over individual wealth. Let us reflect on the power of our community ties and remember that true growth stems from supporting one another in this journey of life. Ultimately, we must strive to remain the people of the sun, advocating for prosperity that benefits all, rather than a select few.