My grandparents have a fig tree with a large amount of figs growing around this time of year. At first, I didn’t know they were figs, only knowing their Spanish equivalent, “higo.” I’ve heard a lot about figs through books and essays, but I’ve never seen one.
But my curiosity overpowered me and I searched up what an higo was, and it happens to be the same fruit as a fig.
So what about them?
Well, figs are one of the oldest fruits in the world, cultivated from great civilizations like Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome. They’re also frequently mentioned in the Bible and other historical records.
In other words, figs carry a long history. The figs we eat today are similar to the figs Marcus Aurelius and Socrate ate before. There’s something about partaking in similar actions and behaviors as the people who came before us. They, too, were humans who were troubled by their daily worries, of not finishing their work on time or not wanting to get out of bed.
But, just like fig trees, they prospered. They sowed for posterity, so that their kids can reap the rewards. Unsure of where the U.S. would be, the Founding Fathers knew their decisions had lasting effects.
Naturally, it’s our role to make decisions for posterity.
Here’s my inspiration for the day.