And I remember when I met him, it was so clear that he was the only one for me. We both knew it, right away. And as the years went on, things got more difficult, we were faced with more challenges. I begged him to stay. Try to remember what we had at the beginning. He was charismatic, magnetic, electric and everybody knew it. When he walked in every woman’s head turned, everyone stood up to talk to him. He was like this hybrid, this mix of a man who couldn’t contain himself. I always got the sense that he became torn between being a good person and missing out on all of the opportunities that life could offer a man as magnificent as him. And in that way I understood him and I loved him. I loved him, I loved him, I loved him. And still love him. I love him.

I’m naming this tag ‘The love chronicles’ because, much like Lana Del Rey, most of my writings have centered around love. And I think love is the missing ingredient in sustainability as well. Caring about this planet can’t be about science, or even self-preservation. It has to be love. You protect what you love. You live for it; some die for it.

Loving people – lovers, children, parents, friends – is the traditional stepping stone for opening your heart to love. But people can’t always live up to expectations and many become hurt and jaded. The good news is that nature will never let you down. Your love will be returned manifold. Plant a small seed and soon you’ll have a beautiful flower or nutritious vegetable. Nothing clears my head like a walk alone in the woods. It helps me remember who I am and the small space I occupy this very moment in time, and everything that had to happen for me to be healthy, happy and strong. I climb the nearest peek, like humans have done since dawn, take a deep breath and remember I am alive. It beats any yoga class or therapy session.

I think being in love with planet Earth makes it easier to love people, too. So much time spent making fun of ‘hippies’, and now look at me. Life works in mysterious ways indeed.