不是每一次，都要放下
智利中部的夏天不下雨。
不是少雨，而是從十二月起，連續四五個月，一滴都沒有。在極度乾旱的環境裡，不少植物會選擇將葉片全部脫落，把養分留好，然後靜待氣候好轉。但面對這場嚴酷的乾旱，波爾多葉卻一片葉子都不脫。
它的葉片厚而堅硬，葉緣向下反捲，表面還佈滿細小的突起。這一切的構造只為了一件事：不讓水分流失。在整個漫長的旱季裡，它甚麼都不放，只是安靜地站在原地守住自己，一直守候雨水回來。
這些年，我們聽過太多關於「放下」的勸導。放下執著，放下關係與情緒。這些話大多是對的。只是有些時候，真正要做的不是放下，是甚麼都不放，把手上僅有的一點點水分與力氣守住，將姿態收到最緊，然後捱過去。
波爾多葉的香氣，也帶著這份絕不妥協的強悍。
初聞有些辛辣與乾澀，像一陣充滿力量的風，隨後是一股直截了當的辛香，底下墊著曬乾的草藥感。乾淨俐落，沒有半點討好的甜。
放下是一種本事，堅守住也是。
如果今天覺得咬緊牙關撐得很辛苦，記著適合你的時機總會回來的。
以香為語，安在當下。
𝘽𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩.
There is a time for holding on.
Summer in central Chile brings no rain.
Not a little rain, but none at all: from December on, for four or five months, not a single drop. In conditions this dry, many plants shed every leaf, store away what nourishment they can, and wait quietly for the weather to turn. Boldo, facing the same harsh drought, does not drop a single leaf.
Its leaves are thick and hard, the margins curled under, the surface covered in tiny raised points. Every part of this design serves one purpose: to keep the water from escaping. Through the whole long dry season it lets go of nothing. It simply stands where it is, quietly holding on to itself, waiting for the rain to return.
Over the years, we have heard a great deal of advice about letting go. Let go of attachment; let go of relationships and emotions. Most of it is right. But there are times when what we really need to do is not let go at all. It is to let go of nothing, to guard the little water and strength still in our hands, draw ourselves in as tight as we can, and get through.
The scent of boldo carries the same unyielding toughness.
It opens pungent and dry, like a wind full of force, then gives way to a spice that is direct and unapologetic, resting on a base of sun-dried herbs. Clean and crisp, with not a trace of sweetness trying to please.
Letting go is a skill. So is holding fast.
If today you find yourself gritting your teeth and struggling to hold on, remember that the right time for you will come round again.
Grounded in the present, spoken through scent.
𝘽𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩.