how picking up trash landed me a job

So how did my adult relationship with nature begin? Well, it all started with a conversation between me and…the fairies. 

Who are the fairies? Great question. 

If you’ve never had a fairy encounter, you'll want one by the end of this.

If you’re a little confused, stick with me for just a moment.

If you already know about the fairies, I know you get me.

(Also is anyone talking about Tinker Bell? She's gotta be worth a full post at minimum.)

Did you ever desperately need money? Like really, really need money. 

During my third year of graduate school, I was scraping by. I lost count of how many side hustles I had and I was feeling a little down in the dumps. 

I would look at myself in the mirror and ask,  “How am I going to make it?” 

But the reflection only stared back. It can be exhausting to constantly problem solve. Sometimes you just want help. One way I asked for help was by turning to oracle cards.

What are oracle cards? 

They’re cards with various illustrations and messages that you can pull whenever you want guidance. You might ask, “Hey universe, what would you have me know about….?” It comes in handy for moments when you are dazed, confused and feel like you're in “the upside down.” 

Anyhow, one night I was rotting away in bed and I decided to draw cards for support about this financial crisis. Low and behold, the “Fairies” card falls out of the deck.  It was the first time I ever received that.  

Upon reading the card description, the message was:“For those in need of material support...Take care of the fairies’ home and they’ll return the favor.” 

Huh. So in other words: Take care of the Earth and they’ll help me make money? 

Deal. 

3 days later…

I’m on a solo walk and I see a bag of dog poop resting on the ground. I felt a burst of excitement because I KNEW this was meant for me to throw out. After all, the fairies said that if I take care of the Earth (i.e. picking up trash), then they would come through for me. 

I snatched the bag, found that pep in my step and then…another bag! This was excellent. Two bags of dog poop to throw out?! I might as well have been made of money. 

I walked for about 5-10 minutes with no sight of a trash can. The closer I got to the car, the less joyful I felt, but I couldn’t leave the bags on the ground. That would surely mess up the plan. 

Much to my surprise, I found a random factory tucked behind some trees. I was DELIGHTED and raced through the rest of my journey. Picture Buddy the Elf frolicking through the streets of New York. 

But that wasn’t the only surprise that hit. Two notifications appeared on my phone and sure enough, I booked two gigs. 

Two bags of dog crap and two new jobs. 

Holy shit. The fairies are real. 

But even if they’re not, the card didn’t lie. I helped the Earth and the Earth helped me. 

So now when it strikes me, I get my gloves, trash bag and hit the pavement. It’s a symbiotic relationship.

Plus, I learned a lesson in manifesting abundance and community caretaking. As you may suspect, I passed that lesson down to my students.

When we are acting and living from a state of abundance or high vibration, then this is what we will attract. There are a lot of stories that teach us “we could never afford that” or “we could never be that”. Stories are everywhere and it’s hard when those stories come from people you love. 

But maybe if we act as if something is possible, we will uncover a pleasant surprise. Note: we should also be dismantling systems of oppression that gatekeep resources as well. 

Youth are important audience members for these messages because the world hasn’t yet conditioned them out of their ability to dream and wonder. Youth are the best teachers because their wonder has a powerful ripple effect on adults’ wonder…if you allow them to. 

My children come to me with trauma and a healing journey that I will only witness the beginning of. This is why I know these lessons are essential for their development. The world will continue to tell them to be something or be somebody else. It will be riddled with challenges and growth opportunities. 

My hope is that fostering the connection with nature will give them something to come home to because that’s what we all need. 

After all, everyone is one their own healing journey. No matter our age or our walk of life, we are constantly growing through change and evolving. Sometimes all we need is a little bit of magic to remind us of what’s possible. 

Who knows what seeds these ideas will plant? All I know is that they will grow into something beautiful.

Editor’s Note: As I’m about to post this to you all, I’m sitting in the car dealership for a big service. Toyota man is currently saving me buckets of dollars as a result of creative thinking and kindness. He’s definitely getting coffee and a bouquet of flowers made by yours truly. The bouquet-making adventure is a whole other tale for another time. For now, just know that this man's kindness felt like magic. Thank you, fairies and thank you, Toyota man. You’re the best. 

Editor’s Note (again): As I’m sitting in my house, editing this again, I found out that a pending application fee was waived. I don’t know why or how that happened, but I know that someone somewhere was looking out. Thank you.

Magic is real.

It might not look like the fairy dust from the movies, but it sure feels just as special. Now I’m off to pick up some trash! 

Be safe and happy travels. May you experience a magic moment ✨

And when you do, tell someone about it.

Until next time, 

Lucía