The Beauty of What We Don't Know

As I have written here before, I enjoy reading nearly all genres of literature. I have always particularly enjoyed those stories that have a bit of fantasy or mysticism. Not the heavy-handed, supernatural, mind you…Although, that has its place. The real world, if we observe closely, has magic in it everywhere we look. In every culture since the beginning of time, men have cited incidents of the unexplained. Even in our super-sonic, technology-driven, scientific civilization, we come upon things we can’t explain away. There will always be those that claim “coincidence” or “random occurrence,” but I think it belittles the magnificence and mystery of what we don’t know.

Last week I ran across a video a friend posted on Facebook of all things. I usually scroll quickly because of the time-suck factor of FB, but something made me stop and actually watch this five minute film. I’m so glad I did. I’m including the link for you if you are so inclined, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvwHHMEDdT0 , but if you don’t trust links, you can find it on youtube.com under: anna breytenbach animal communicator. It’s the story of an animal sanctuary and a black leopard who had been mistreated and found a home there.

I found the story incredibly moving, not just that the animal found a home, but that it opened up the idea of actual inter-species communication. Even if you don’t believe in it, it is fascinating to watch. I think it spoke to me so profoundly because my first book was written about this very topic. Maybe it’s a skill we once had and have forgotten. What a lovely idea.

                                   Spirit

Perseverance

What separates the men from the boys, so to speak? Women from girls? What distinguishes cowardice from bravery?  We hear all the time that people who do heroic things think of themselves as afraid. So what stands in their stead? Backbone? That’s what my mother called it. And we all know people who don’t have it and those that do. It’s obvious. Desire for it fuels the international obsession with heroes. We can’t get enough of heroic stories of heroic deeds; legends; films of figures so adept and fearless that we watch in awe and admiration.

 

So how does one get it? This backbone thing. Is one born with it? Are we taught? Do we model after watching others? Clearly we model everything else, from copycat killing to fashion. If that were the case, wouldn’t we have a nation of Jason Bournes? Tom Cruises? We don’t, do we.

 

How does one keep on in the face of lethargy, fogginess, lack of motivation or just plain fear? Sometimes I think backbone is simply perseverance; not giving up. It’s the thing that keeps us striving. Georgia O’Keeffe said that she was terrified every single moment of her life but never let it keep her from doing a single thing she wanted to do. So very hard to persevere. So necessary.

 

 

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”
                                                                               -Harriet Beecher Stowe

The Joy Factor

Joy is underrated. Or misunderstood. If you ask someone what gives them joy, often their eyes glaze over, they mumble or laugh self-consciously. “Joy?” they repeat and grimace as if you have spoken a foreign language. Hey, I haven’t asked you to jump off a cliff, I want to say. I’ve just asked what brings you joy. It’s almost as if the old Puritan Ethic kicks in. You know, that one that says we shouldn’t enjoy ourselves too much, attach ourselves too much to earthly pleasures, etc. Is that it or is it that the concept sounds too New Age? (Let’s be honest, here, New Age is no longer new).

Joy is pretty powerful stuff. I mean the word itself is big. It’s right up there with ecstasy and bliss and adjectives like magnificent and amazing (both overused, by the way). It’s not in everyday usage. We have a hard time saying, for example, “You know what makes me happy?” And happy is definitely a couple of steps down descriptively from joy.

I recently asked my son what brings him joy. The reason I asked was that he was a very good-natured, quirky, funny and yes, joyful child. He didn’t answer right away. I asked because he is no longer a child. He is married with a serious job and many responsibilities. Sometimes the journey to adulthood can squash joy. Sometimes we forget to remember it. About two hours later he said, (and I paraphrase) “I thought about your question. I think what brings me joy is having goals. Striving.”

My list for joy is: Writing, Being Outside, Planting things, Trees, Time with my Children, Being in the moment with my Husband, Friends.

So Joy. So important. It makes the cells sing. It gives energy, purpose, life force. So recognize it. Find it and revel in it. Every single time you can. And don’t forget to remember it.

 

So Simple

I am not ashamed to say that I adore watching Oprah Winfrey. I may not be globally considered the most intellectual of thinkers to admit this, but I suspect I am not alone. It’s not so much the celebrity interviews and Master Classes, although I enjoy those as well, but her conversations with the great thinkers, philosophers, teachers, humanitarians. She does us all a great service by allowing us to hear them.

Today I only had a bit of time to watch an episode of Super Soul Sunday with Elie Weisel. I knew of him, of course, and even missed an opportunity to hear him speak due to unforeseen circumstances. What an incredible spirit:  Humanitarian, Author, Teacher, Human-Rights Activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner. She talked with him about his recent brush with death and serious open-heart surgery. He expressed his thoughts upon being faced with death and said, “I have so much left to do, to read, to write, things to tell my loved ones, friends to embrace, conversations to have. I wasn’t ready.” I thought, if after all he has accomplished, he feels he has just begun, I need to be listening. Instead of feeling that a person’s “time” has passed, perhaps it is just beginning. Instead of winding down, it’s really all just preparation for what is ahead.

I constantly am reminded that every day, every moment can hold a lesson.  Even the face of this man moves me. In spite of man’s many missteps, he believes in humanity.

“Whatever you do in life, think higher and feel deeper. Life is not a fist, it is an open hand.”

          -Elie Weisel

 

Soul Festival

I recently attended a local Book Festival. Numerous well-known authors, poets, editors, artists and media specialists were there. Some had set up tables to sell their self-published books; some were there to speak about their latest work; some were there to talk about their artistic journey; some were there to inspire. Sometimes all of the above. I attend this Festival every year. I guess I go to remain inspired, to learn and to be around others who love reading and/or writing as much as I do.

There is usually a center area like a vast ballroom that has been partitioned into row after row of booksellers, booths, big box store-representatives, etc. And let me just say it: Being in that space is overwhelming. And I absolutely love it. It’s like a giant library I can actually buy. I don’t of course, because of being overwhelmed with too many choices but I adore it nevertheless. Just being in that space, surrounded by books is joyful for me. All I can think is, how will I ever have enough time to read everything I want to read? I could have wandered the aisles for many hours. My feet gave out long before my curiosity about what was around the next corner did. I know I am not alone in this. I could see it in the faces of everyone around me. The crowd of literature lovers was impressive.

Surrounding this ballroom was a circle of rooms kind of like a conch shell of chambers. Each chamber held a master class on writing, an author or group of authors talking about craft, poetry readings and on and on. The problem was what to choose.  An embarrassment of riches.

A highlight for me this year was a purely random event. I was pausing at a table of books and suddenly the great artist Jonathan Green walked up. He spoke to the vendor who was selling his books and she asked him to sign several copies. I was a bit awestruck, having been a huge fan of his work and of the magnificent ballet based on his work. He looked up, shook my hand and smiled and I said as much. He was so gracious, gentle and humble.

Jonathan Green

When I walked away I found that I was very emotional. I think it was the fact of being around so much brilliant creative talent. It was all around me. It filled the air. It filled my heart. It filled my soul.