Saad Shaikh, MD

In March 2023, I captured this photo deep within the Amazon forests of Brazil. The dense tapestry of life unfolded before me—shrubs, trees, vines, and epiphytes interwoven, their fallen leaves forming a soft carpet on the forest floor. This, I thought, was nature’s garden—a wild, intricate masterpiece.  At first glance, it seems devoid of symmetry. Humans crave symmetry; we create orderly gardens with straight paths, and our footprints trace lines across the Earth. But nature defies our neat constructs. Its symmetry is different—a dance of curves, spirals, and organic shapes. No straight lines here. Circles emerge, imperfect and textured, like ripples on water. The golden ratio whispers in the curves of seashells and the spirals of hurricanes. Trees naturally thrive in biodiverse environments like forests, coexisting with fungi, epiphytes, and parasites. Twenty some years ago, when I settled in Lake Nona, the area boasted beautiful native forests. Sad...

  I captured this photo in August 2023 on one of Gethsemane’s now bohemian colonial streets in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. The image resonated with me because it serves as a gentle reminder: “Here, and now, smile.” Although smiling seems like an easy thing to do, for some, it isn’t. That day, I encountered a different perspective on laughter and smiles. As I strolled through the vibrant streets, I ran into a group of the city’s famous Palanqueras—women dressed in colorful skirts and turbans, their shawls gracefully draped around their shoulders. These women are experts at selling goods, balancing vast baskets of traditional treats and tropical fruit on their heads. They are named after San Basilio de Palenque, the first “free town” in the Americas, founded by those who escaped lives of slavery. Remarkably, this community remains mostly intact, not too far from Cartagena. Now, let’s delve into the intriguing tradition that connects smiles and mourn...