“It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; it’s the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time.”
David Allan Coe
It’s summer and many people will be traveling to exciting destinations! My wife and I have had the opportunity to visit a number of amazing places, including the beautiful city of Venice, Italy. Venice is more than 1,500 years old. It dates back to the mid-400s. The people built the city in haste to avoid the barbarian raids after the collapse of the Roman Empire. There was no time for a solid foundation. The city has 118 islands, over 170 canals, and 400 bridges. The historic center buildings, both big and small, were constructed on spongy marshland ground. Centuries ago, countless wooden pilings were driven into the marshland terrain for support.
Today, around 51,000 people, mostly senior citizens, live in the historical island city of Venice. The first woman in the world to graduate from a University was born in Venice in 1646. The first public casino in the world was opened in Venice in 1638. Some of the most famous Venetians include explorer Marco Polo, opera composer Antonio Vivaldi, the great lover Casanova, and evangelist Saint Mark. The word “ciao” has Venetian origins. In ancient times, people used it in Venice to greet each other in this way: “s-ciavo vostro,” which means “your servant, at your orders, your slave.” So as time went by, at first the greeting was “s-ciao” and then became “ciao.”
Every summer Venice is crowded with tourists. Hotel and dining prices are among the highest in Italy. The restaurant food and service quality tend to be among the most disappointing in Italy. The main reason is most diners are tourists, and most of them will never return to Venice. Therefore, pleasing them is not a priority.
Over the last 50 years, the population of Venice decreased from over 120,000 to 51,000. Some experts say that Venice could become a ghost town by 2030. It would be populated only by tourists who would come in the morning and leave in the evening, the way people come and go to a theme park. The first great escape was when the devastating 1966 flood hit Venice. The progressive sinking of the town has caused people to decide to leave. Maintaining old houses is very expensive, and it’s easier for some to move out than to stay in Venice.
It’s hard to plan your future without a solid foundation. The way your parents raised you, your education, and life lessons have created and solidified your foundation. They form the bedrock for your life that keeps you from sinking into life’s lagoons. Make sure you take the time each day to strengthen your foundation by reading, showing love and empathy for others. Venice is still sinking at a rate of 2 to 3 millimeters per year. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to stop this. However, if you believe your life is sinking, you still have time to take action today.
“If we have built on the fragile cornerstones of human wisdom, pride, and conditional love, things may look good for a while, but a weak foundation causes collapse when storms hit.” — Charles Stanley
Until next month, be well and keep learning.
Ralph
