"... to a very large extent power consists in the ability to make others inhabit your story of their reality.
... We are, each of us, functions of how we imagine ourselves and of how others imagine us, and, looking back, there are these discrete tracks of memory: the times when our lives are most sharply defined in relation to others' ideas of us, and the more private times when we are freer to imagine ourselves."
-Philip Gourevitch in We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Yoga, Crochet, and the Internet
This new year, I have started practicing two ancient traditions; yoga and crochet.
I had been intending to take a yoga class for about 5 years but just never quite got to it. My self-image has always included 'nonathletic' as a significant component, so taking an organized exercise class somehow seemed... wrong? Like something other people did but that I did not. Finally, I just decided what the hell and signed up for a class. And it has been good. I may not be 'athletic', but I am contemplative, so yoga works well for me.
And then there's crochet, my other ancient tradition. I was snowed in at a friend's house over New Years and with nothing else to do, decided to learn how to crochet. Turns out this activity was made for me; I get to make creative, unique things but I don't have to be too finicky about the details (like with sewing).
So I now have two new practices that seem to fit my personality and lifestyle well. I'm quite excited to pursue these more.
As I've been learning each tradition, I've been intrequed by the history behind each one. I keep wondering, who was the first person to think of this and WHAT exactly were they thinking? Who was the first person who thought; 'hey, if I arch my back like this, a lot of my stress will go away. I'll call it child's pose' or 'hey, if I wrap this string around this bent twig, I can make this cool thing. I think I'll call it an afghan'.
I am very grateful for these people, whoever they were. And I'm grateful for people who passed on these good ideas to the next generation, modifing them every so often so that centuries later we can still do these things.
I'm also finding it interesting how the internet has helped me with both of these ancient practicies. I can watch youtube videos on how to do a sun saluation and read blogs on how to crochet tea cozies. The interent has been extremly useful for gathering information and ideas.
But, that said, I worry that the internet takes away some of the 'community' from these practices. I don't need to visit my grandma to get crochet tips; I can just google my question. And, I don't need to take a class to learn yoga, the youtube videos are like having one-on-one instruction.
So, I guess the challenge here is to use the internet well; as a tool to get connected to other people and not as a replacement for other people.
I had been intending to take a yoga class for about 5 years but just never quite got to it. My self-image has always included 'nonathletic' as a significant component, so taking an organized exercise class somehow seemed... wrong? Like something other people did but that I did not. Finally, I just decided what the hell and signed up for a class. And it has been good. I may not be 'athletic', but I am contemplative, so yoga works well for me.
And then there's crochet, my other ancient tradition. I was snowed in at a friend's house over New Years and with nothing else to do, decided to learn how to crochet. Turns out this activity was made for me; I get to make creative, unique things but I don't have to be too finicky about the details (like with sewing).
So I now have two new practices that seem to fit my personality and lifestyle well. I'm quite excited to pursue these more.
As I've been learning each tradition, I've been intrequed by the history behind each one. I keep wondering, who was the first person to think of this and WHAT exactly were they thinking? Who was the first person who thought; 'hey, if I arch my back like this, a lot of my stress will go away. I'll call it child's pose' or 'hey, if I wrap this string around this bent twig, I can make this cool thing. I think I'll call it an afghan'.
I am very grateful for these people, whoever they were. And I'm grateful for people who passed on these good ideas to the next generation, modifing them every so often so that centuries later we can still do these things.
I'm also finding it interesting how the internet has helped me with both of these ancient practicies. I can watch youtube videos on how to do a sun saluation and read blogs on how to crochet tea cozies. The interent has been extremly useful for gathering information and ideas.
But, that said, I worry that the internet takes away some of the 'community' from these practices. I don't need to visit my grandma to get crochet tips; I can just google my question. And, I don't need to take a class to learn yoga, the youtube videos are like having one-on-one instruction.
So, I guess the challenge here is to use the internet well; as a tool to get connected to other people and not as a replacement for other people.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Stories
"I find that one of the most important things we are called to do as peacemakers is to find a style of living. How do we live? ... We should try to find a style of life where we live peacefully, where we can find silence... talk must always come from the place of silence and not from a place of agressiveness and power. ...
It is important to discover what it means to listen to others, to understand them, to understand how people function. It's not easy to see how another person functions. There is no point in just telling people what to do. We must discover how to enter into each other's story so that there is dialogue and mutual trust. That is a beginning. But it's still a long road and each of us has our own road on the journey to peace."
-Jean Vanier, Encountering the Other.
It is important to discover what it means to listen to others, to understand them, to understand how people function. It's not easy to see how another person functions. There is no point in just telling people what to do. We must discover how to enter into each other's story so that there is dialogue and mutual trust. That is a beginning. But it's still a long road and each of us has our own road on the journey to peace."
-Jean Vanier, Encountering the Other.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Margaret Atwood and Hope
So yes, I haven't been posting very much lately. I seem to have lost my voice. But the best way for me to find it again has always been to read an author with a strong one.
So, I recently read After the Flood by Margaret Atwood, a follow up to her book Oryx and Crake. This is a distopian novel along the lines of 1984 or Brave New World. In this book, humans have tampered with genetic modification and global climate controls to the point of mass extinction, called 'the flood'.
Life before the flood was depressing... corporations controlled everything, the rich lived isolated lives in protected bunkers, life revolved around the consumption of goods... Essentially all the extremes in our society were exaggerated 100 fold.
This world is probably so disturbing because it makes sense. You can see how we could get there from here.
As depressing as that is, there is hope in this novel. The main characters are women who survive the flood and find a way to go on.
The flood is a rebirth; a second chance.
And I think that's really what hope is; the option of a second chance.
It's not the idea that we humans will figure out our problems and fix everything; but the idea that life will go on regardless. Even when the structures we have built completely collapse, the sun will shine, plants will grow, and animals will 'be fruitful and multiply'.
Having hope does not mean that I have a plan to fix the world's problems. Having hope means that I trust the the good things in the world to survive even the greatest catastrophe.
And that's helpful, I think.
So, I recently read After the Flood by Margaret Atwood, a follow up to her book Oryx and Crake. This is a distopian novel along the lines of 1984 or Brave New World. In this book, humans have tampered with genetic modification and global climate controls to the point of mass extinction, called 'the flood'.
Life before the flood was depressing... corporations controlled everything, the rich lived isolated lives in protected bunkers, life revolved around the consumption of goods... Essentially all the extremes in our society were exaggerated 100 fold.
This world is probably so disturbing because it makes sense. You can see how we could get there from here.
As depressing as that is, there is hope in this novel. The main characters are women who survive the flood and find a way to go on.
The flood is a rebirth; a second chance.
And I think that's really what hope is; the option of a second chance.
It's not the idea that we humans will figure out our problems and fix everything; but the idea that life will go on regardless. Even when the structures we have built completely collapse, the sun will shine, plants will grow, and animals will 'be fruitful and multiply'.
Having hope does not mean that I have a plan to fix the world's problems. Having hope means that I trust the the good things in the world to survive even the greatest catastrophe.
And that's helpful, I think.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Remembering
Today is Remembrance Day and I get to 'work from home' because my office is closed. So essentially, I've been sitting in my pajamas and drinking coffee all morning. I could get used to this :).
Remembrance Day has always been a strange day for me. Remembering the soldiers who fought for my country. Remembering my Opa's stories of the Canadian soldiers who came to his village to liberate them from the Germans. I'm grateful my two homelands could intersect like this.
And I remember the wars and conflicts in other parts of the world, past and present. At the 11th minute of the 11th hour, I pray for peace and security for those with so little of it. And I give thanks for the peace and security I have, and wonder what exactly I'm supposed to do with it.
And I remember saying this poem in Grade 4, with my class in front of the rest of the school:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)
Remembrance Day has always been a strange day for me. Remembering the soldiers who fought for my country. Remembering my Opa's stories of the Canadian soldiers who came to his village to liberate them from the Germans. I'm grateful my two homelands could intersect like this.
And I remember the wars and conflicts in other parts of the world, past and present. At the 11th minute of the 11th hour, I pray for peace and security for those with so little of it. And I give thanks for the peace and security I have, and wonder what exactly I'm supposed to do with it.
And I remember saying this poem in Grade 4, with my class in front of the rest of the school:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)
Monday, November 2, 2009
Food From Weeds
I am delighted to report that Garlic Mustard, a ubiquitous weed in most of North America, is entirely edible. Every part of it, from the flowers to the roots.
AND the leaves stay on the plant all winter long; alive and well, and FRESH. There aren't very many fresh green leaves around here in wintertime, so this plant excites me a little bit. Yes, it's a noxious and invasive weed that is threatening almost all wood-land wild flowers... but if we can just get people to start eating it, perhaps that problem will be taken care of for us :).
I already have plans to make fresh local pesto this winter. Oh so excited! A patch even grows under my window at work, so I'm thinking my contribution to the office's Christmas potluck is going to be VERY local.
I'm almost afraid to tell everyone though in case they eat it all before I can get to it. I probably don't have to worry thought. North Americans generally tend to get queasy when they think about eating weeds...
It just delights me that this frustrating little plant can be turned into pesto. All things have their purpose :)
AND the leaves stay on the plant all winter long; alive and well, and FRESH. There aren't very many fresh green leaves around here in wintertime, so this plant excites me a little bit. Yes, it's a noxious and invasive weed that is threatening almost all wood-land wild flowers... but if we can just get people to start eating it, perhaps that problem will be taken care of for us :).
I already have plans to make fresh local pesto this winter. Oh so excited! A patch even grows under my window at work, so I'm thinking my contribution to the office's Christmas potluck is going to be VERY local.
I'm almost afraid to tell everyone though in case they eat it all before I can get to it. I probably don't have to worry thought. North Americans generally tend to get queasy when they think about eating weeds...
It just delights me that this frustrating little plant can be turned into pesto. All things have their purpose :)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
How to Make Cheese... (I think I've finally lost it)
So somehow I got it into my head that I can make cheese...
I read that most large scale cheese makers find it too inefficient to wait for cheese to curdle so they add petroleum products to allow 'artificial curdling' (read: plasticising).
Even if you're not into organic or whole foods, you have to admit that's gross.
Apparently, once you get the hang of it, it's not that difficult to make cheese. Some soft cheeses take no more effort then making yogurt. And if you have a source of milk (ie a cow or a friend with a cow), it's pretty cheap too (not that I have either).
So, in pursuit of this new hobby, I set off to the library to find books on cheese making. I found a lot of books on cheese eating, cheese cutting, cheese buying, cheese history, love of cheese, but none on cheese making.
Perhaps this was a sign that cheese making was not to be in my future.
But then I found Barbara Kingsolver's newish book: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It's about her family's attempt to feed themselves with only food they or their neighbours grew. Aside from a tonne of information on farming and the food industry, it also contains a chapter on cheese making.
So all I need is a cheese thermometer, rennet, and some starter cultures. Now I'm just waiting for both my roommates to go out of town so they won't think I'm nuts.
I read that most large scale cheese makers find it too inefficient to wait for cheese to curdle so they add petroleum products to allow 'artificial curdling' (read: plasticising).
Even if you're not into organic or whole foods, you have to admit that's gross.
Apparently, once you get the hang of it, it's not that difficult to make cheese. Some soft cheeses take no more effort then making yogurt. And if you have a source of milk (ie a cow or a friend with a cow), it's pretty cheap too (not that I have either).
So, in pursuit of this new hobby, I set off to the library to find books on cheese making. I found a lot of books on cheese eating, cheese cutting, cheese buying, cheese history, love of cheese, but none on cheese making.
Perhaps this was a sign that cheese making was not to be in my future.
But then I found Barbara Kingsolver's newish book: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It's about her family's attempt to feed themselves with only food they or their neighbours grew. Aside from a tonne of information on farming and the food industry, it also contains a chapter on cheese making.
So all I need is a cheese thermometer, rennet, and some starter cultures. Now I'm just waiting for both my roommates to go out of town so they won't think I'm nuts.
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