When we think of December, we think of a celebration. Whether the celebration is based on religious faith such as Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, or merely a celebration of life and the Hibernal Solstice, December is a time when traditions bring families and friends together. It is a time when the smell of freshly baked treats and open fires fills the air, and music fills the heart. Even though December is the darkest month with the shortest days of the year, it is also the brightest as candles, and decorative lights along busy streets, buildings, and woven through the trees fill the darkness as far as the eyes can see.
Unfortunately, December is also a time of stress. A time when we worry about gift-giving, money, and for all too many people, worry about food and shelter. This year, to make matters worse, the COVID pandemic has made health an issue for holiday gatherings.
As we close out 2020 and begin thinking about the new year, perhaps it is time to pause, reflect, and think about life. To ask ourselves, are we doing all that we can? Are we making a difference?
The Earth is an incredible vessel, a Goldilocks world orbiting through a cold dark galaxy with just the right amount of atmosphere and temperature to sustain a fragile but vibrant variety of life forms. It is a planet of 7.6 billion people who are diverse in how they look, the way they speak, and the way they live. Yet each person comprises the same molecules, the same amount of DNA, and the same red blood. But we don’t always recognize those that look and sound different as being the same as us.
According to the United Nations, there are 195 sovereign states, which are defined as a place with its own borders and completely independent government. Included in this list are the Vatican and Palestine.
Belief systems or religions, along with language and ethnicity, play an essential role in the makeup of most geopolitical borders. Centuries ago, most of the world’s regions were homogenous; everyone looked and sounded alike and held the same beliefs. However, the speed and ease with which people can travel from one part of the world to another, have transformed most countries and cities into blended populations of people from all over the world.
This New Year’s Eve, as we think about our resolutions for self-improvement, losing weight, exercising, eating right, and kicking bad habits, it might be time to broaden our vision. A pledge to recycle more than we waste, to donate time to help others, and to recognize people for who they are and not by the pigmentation of their skin, the accent in their speech, or the tradition they follow. To recognize that genetics is not a series of switches that you flip one way for a male and another for a female but more like a dial with various degrees of masculinity and femininity in-between. And no matter the gender, we are all capable of accomplishing great things.
At INNOVA Technologies, we strive each day to make the world a more livable and better place for everyone around the world. We implement sustainable ideas into every design, and our staff members take the time to become involved in the communities in which they live. We look forward to helping you with your projects in 2021. For information about our structural, construction, and transportation engineering services, contact us on the web at www.innovanv.com or call 702-220-6640.