Dear future partner of life and adventures,
You don’t know me yet, I’m Karla, I’m 45 years old and I’m single. I know that you don’t need me to explain the reasons, if I’m writing this letter to you is because I know that you’re not one of those men who jump into conclusions. I know you’re not one of those men who judge or labels women like me, who’ve chosen to focus in other things other than dating or marriage.
But, as I will make this letter public after being lightly judged by some people, I have no option but to explain the reasons why I’m single. To be honest, I didn’t know if this was the right thing to do, but, after receiving a judgmental message via Instagram, I had no other choice.
I know I don’t have to broadcast my love life on a fake love letter to my future partner in life and adventures, but I think I’ve been patient enough for the past 7 years.
Walking around Shamwari Game Reserve with gear ready to film. 2006.
Confession number one: I wanted a wild life
“How dare you, Karla Munguía Colmenero!? how dare you choose to focus in your professional career, in putting your heart and passion into what you love the most? How dare you dream about becoming a wildlife filmmaker and work for Animal Planet!? How dare you choose this, instead of marriage!?”
Well, yeah, that’s what I chose. That’s exactly what I wanted. I chose this because it is my life and I decided to live it wild and free. And guess what? It’s been quite the ride!
In 2006, I took part on a docu-reality show called “Unearthed”
Confession number 2: I never wanted to be a mom
“Nooo! Nooo! Nooo! How selfish of you, Karla Munguía Colmenero! Who’s going to look after you when you’re old!?”
There’s more than 7 billion people on Planet Earth, so yes, I decided to have a life without worrying about the future of my “mini me”. For example: their education, well being, quality of life, health, mental health, emotional health, integrity, and so on. I know there must be more on this list, but as I’m not a mom, I can’t think of anything else to add. All I know is that when I was 15 years old, these were enough reasons to make up my mind. No regrets at all!
Confession number 3: I’m not a princess
“Surely you’re waiting for Price Charming. Get real, Karla, there’s no single men out there”.
I’m not “waiting” for Prince Charming because I’m definitely not a princess. I’m far from it. I can’t walk in high heels and I don’t use makeup. But, I can change a Land Rover’s flat tire surrounded by elephants. I’ve had to pee right next to this same vehicle while listening to a pride of lions growling close by. I’ve responded firmly to a bull elephant in musth that could’ve killed me. I don’t like long nails because as an editor and script writer, I can’t stand the sound of nails hitting on the keyboard. Plus, let’s be real, long nails are quite unsanitary. Ew.
So, no, I’m not a princess. And I will never be. I stopped dyeing my gray hair in order to stop intoxicating my body and the Planet with chemicals. I decided to stop producing so much waste twice a month in order to “look pretty”. I stopped “obeying” society’s beauty standards and, once again, no regrets.
Filming white rhinos in South Africa, 2006.
Confession number 4: I’ll never be “alone”
“But, aren’t you afraid of being “alone”?”
No, I really enjoy being “alone”. The moments that I’ve spent in the peace and quiet are the moments where I’ve learned more about myself and what I want in life. For example, during my 3 years in South Africa, I spent a couple of months following a pride of white lions, those were the most wonderful moments of my life. Sitting on a land rover for hours and hours, days and days, weeks and weeks, looking at the sunset, then the shooting stars, Scorpion’s constellation “walking” slowly through the sky… those were my best moments of solitude.
But, if I do get to “find” you, whoever you are, I’m sure we’ll have an epic time!
Filming a white rhino horn with anti-poaching team at Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa.
In conclusion
Dearest society, please stop judging, specially when it comes to women who, like me, decided to walk out of this invisible cage in which you want to keep us trapped. We rather explore, discover, focus on whatever we decided to. It’s ok, that’s what life is all about. We came into this world to be free, to enjoy every second of it, so let’s stop wasting precious time on trivialities. Just live and let live!
Karla.