Raise your words, not your voice.
It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.
Rumi
If the only part of this blog post you read are the above words of the Sufi poet Rumi shared with me recently by a friend. That is enough.
I had an interesting conversation earlier in the week at a watershed mtg. We were discussing a new development in Stratford and traffic concerns came up. Someone was complaining about the general rise in traffic and I noted it as well. Now, on an average weekday afternoon, there seems to be two lanes of traffic heading in both directions across the Hillsborough River Bridge. I mentioned to those in attendance at the meeting that my own displeasure with the traffic caused me to take a moment and consider the fact that mine is one of the cars contributing to that traffic. It also caused me to consider whether I needed to be on the road at that given point in time; if I was using the privilege of driving a car with wisdom and prudence. (We were on our way to West Royalty for piano lessons which on a personal level could be justified by certain rationale-- but doesn't everyone have their own justifications for being on the road?) The very thoughtful new town planner sat a minute and then said:
"Wow--it's really great that
you were able to make that connection."
It seemed as though he was surprised that I
understood that I was part of the problem and that I was considering my own
role in it. I found it strange that he was
rather amazed by this. Doesn't everyone make connections to the
consequences of their actions--at least some of the time? Or is it our
seemingly profound inability to make those neural connections between
the cause and effects of our actions that gets us into trouble as humans?
I personally think that a lot of the difficulties we are currently facing have arisen due to a lack of making the connection between things.
A lack of a sense of our own interconnectedness with each other and all of the living universe has brought about a sense of divisiveness in our hearts and minds which is intimately reflected in how we interact with the natural world and each other.
A lack of awareness of the power we wield as consumers has allowed capitalism to reach the level where the rich are growing richer at the expense of the well being of the vast majority as well as at a tremendous cost to the environment.
A lack of awareness of the power we each have to effect change in our lives has rendered many immobile and unresponsive.
All of these disconnects undoubtedly have contributed to our current social, economic and environmental crisis.
How can we re-aquaint ourselves with a sense of our interconnectedness with each other and with the living world? How do the daily choices we each make shape the world around us both locally and globally?
Some considerations:
I personally think that a lot of the difficulties we are currently facing have arisen due to a lack of making the connection between things.
A lack of a sense of our own interconnectedness with each other and all of the living universe has brought about a sense of divisiveness in our hearts and minds which is intimately reflected in how we interact with the natural world and each other.
A lack of awareness of the power we wield as consumers has allowed capitalism to reach the level where the rich are growing richer at the expense of the well being of the vast majority as well as at a tremendous cost to the environment.
A lack of awareness of the power we each have to effect change in our lives has rendered many immobile and unresponsive.
All of these disconnects undoubtedly have contributed to our current social, economic and environmental crisis.
How can we re-aquaint ourselves with a sense of our interconnectedness with each other and with the living world? How do the daily choices we each make shape the world around us both locally and globally?
Some considerations:
A possible antidote to commodification and destruction of land, sea, air and community:
- Get to know your natural environment
- Dream and imagine new ways of being
- Seek alternatives to fossil fuel consumption
- Support causes that foster change
- Be open to beauty
- Be open to wonder
- Spend time with someone who might be lonely
- Plant a native species tree
- Turn away from fear and hatred move in the direction of LOVE and PEACE
- Practice mindfulness
- Talk with a farmer/fisher
- Be gentle with yourself and kind to others
- Take time to be quiet/reflective
- Visit with an elderly person
- Respect different ways of being
- Walk, cycle or take public transit when possible
- Learn to value concepts of simplicity: lagom, wabi sabi
- Cultivate an attitude of gratefulness
- Learn to sit with uncomfortable emotions
- Buy locally more often
- Trade/swap used goods
- Buy plastic less often
- Consider your water usage and consumption
- Don’t buy into images
- Appreciate local arts and culture
- Express your creativity
- Talk to your neighbours
- Practice community mindedness
- Acknowledge the impermanence of all things
- Grow a garden
- Hug someone
- Be patient and tolerant in the process of change
- Don't underestimate the power of your own inner voice
Jill MacCormack
Part of this blog post has been re-published from the original Creativity Project posting of several years ago.
The Creativity Project aims to foster an environment of whimsy and wonder for reflection and is open to the general public for eight hours once a year during Charlottetown PEI's grand open air festival Art in the Open. This year's festival will be on August 29th throughout Charlottetown's outdoor public spaces.
Caveat:
Your own moments of whimsy and wonder are available for your reflection 24 hours a day year round.
