I am working on new projects: artistic, entrepreneurial. I’m excited, and I hope some of ya’ll join in.
Part of what I need to do, as I reinvent, is to choose the Cauldron I want to work in, i.e. the context I construct to create from, so my best contributions might emerge. Here’s the Word Salad of Remembrance that emerges from that query. It occurred to me it may resonate with my friends, so I shared it here. Apologies in advance: I indulged in making them all start with the letter ‘C’. ‘Cause ‘C is for Cookie,’ but it’s also for a whole lot of other tasty things.
Kind of.
Read on, below the photo. Lemme know in Comments (see? Another C!) which one(s) resonate with you.
*Curiousity. I practice curiousity. I ask a question, or several, before I leap to certainty or judgment. The many perspectives, the many cultures, the many facets of this wild humanity-- fascinate me. I know there is no such thing as ‘the answer’ or ‘the science,’ but only a process of inquiry that we can apply in biological, social, physical, artistic fields. This leads to constantly evolving data and wonder-filled upgrades to my understanding. Curiousity makes delight and falling in love over and over again possible.
*Communication. I am intrigued by our human ability to communicate through so many media. The array of channels we have evolved to convey thoughts, emotions and energies are a miracle of creation. I desire to upgrade my skills, always. Relating is existence.
*Circle. I value the imperfect perfection of The Circle. Hearing from everyone and listening well is hard sometimes. Finding solutions that will support the most people and other beings is work. But I trust the process of hearing all, and holding all, more than I trust excluding those who are inconvenient to me. Shining a light on perspectives I believe harmful makes them visible and disinfects our collective wounds. Forcing them to hide lets them fester and breed.
*Content. I prefer content over tribe. In politics, I don’t listen through filters of upholding abstract ideas of ‘left’ or ‘right’; I listen for what policies they want to implement, choose accordingly, and then follow up to see if they’ve been implemented. Same-same with the individuals I relate to in daily life. Content, character, and actual behaviour are what counts. Words and mannerisms are an appealing aesthetic for my senses. But without content, they are the emperor’s new clothes.
*Confusion. Confusion is a garden of delights where I get to play, explore, write songs, and dream on it. Better to open the door to confusion than to be prematurely certain.
*Critique rather than Critical. I focus on behaviours in myself or others that can be reinforced, or upgraded. Being critical, judgemental or shaming of our personhood—holding you or me a ‘less than’ person for whatever way we look, sound, exist, or hold opinions that are different—is abhorrent.
*Complexity. Likewise, I notice complexity. Whatever interest group me, my kid, or my friend might be a part of: I know there may be times when that interest ‘appears’ to be in conflict with someone else’s interest. I leave room to complicate the narrative rather than attempting to control my fear with simplification. I have the maturity to notice my breath when I feel threatened, and query whether my neighbour might also feel threatened.
*Clarity. When I see darkness and disturbance in the world, I also ask myself: where is the darkness and disturbance within? What clarity and course-correction can I seek in my internal and external world? Lingering in blame is a waste of my energy.
*Courage. Curiousity, Complexity, Confusion, Circle. . . all require Courage. I don’t know where I find it. Some days I don’t find it. But I know my courage as a strength, and seek to stand in it.
*Cooperation. Although it is par for the course that human beings compete in some ways, I love to cooperate wherever possible. I prefer to ‘chunk up’ from the details, and to understand that it is you-and-me vs. the problem, not me vs. you-are-the-problem.
*Community. I have cares and questions about what community is, what makes a strong community, what it is to be a contributing community member, and how we go about participating well—locally and globally.
*Creativity. I am creative. In my work, my art, my parenting, my friending, my community contribution, my garden or my sewing room. I have faith in the infinite Creative Energy that flows through humans. I imagine and hope that if this is tapped and well-channelled, we can solve most problems. We can share a more nourishing existence, together.
*Kindness. When I don’t know what else to do for myself or anyone else, I notice where I can simply be more kind. I forgive myself when I’m a hot mess. I show up tomorrow, and embody a better version of myself. I imagine others are doing the same.
Do any resonate? Do you have another practice, or a possible upgrade to offer?
‘C’omment, please!