A place to posts thoughts during my travels,community, and growth
[Written for Michael Freeman - a man of many talents - wait for the audio I reckon it will be better]
A progressor of progression
Towards a new – open world.
Not so cold
Not so old
So so so much more bold.
A spoon deep in a vessel
Sizzling senses of hot sauces
Brewing…
Of deep support,
sustenance,
and spirit.
His hands like a magician
Crafting unseen grace in the food he touches.
A tapstry of local foods -
a plate of possibilities.
Casting people in a revolution of trance for
Change with their mouths.
A magician unlike others
He’s ready to teach
- You and me -
The magic!
And remove the smoke and mirrors…
Michael
Your a friend I respect
A laugh as contagious as a winter cold
A heart solid like a beetroot freshly picked.
Your not buying into this cash train
Finding possibilities,
Spreading messages,
In the actions you take
The actions you make.
- An actor nota talker -
I thank you
For inspiring, encouraging, and loving me
It’s true -
Our friendship is like glue
Founded on canned foods,
Long talks,
and all the shit that will shift this revolution onward upward and forward.
SALUT!
[I found out just the other day that a dear friend of mine from Australia has passed on after having a diabetic coma. It's really hit me hard as I really saw her as a sister, friend, and awesome person in this world. So to her I wrote this...]
I’m in the process of writing more reflections but for now I’ll post the two blogs that I wrote for work…
A brave warrior fell today…
A life taken by her own hands
For why we will now know.
Skill, Drive, and Smart…
An active activist,
A pusher of progression for progress.
I stop to reflect
On my own dialect,
My own rederic.
A world filled with people
Stronger, faster, and more fit.
Resist an urge to be weak,
To seek individualism.
“We are strong & not meak.”
They cry to passers by.
But my world is different and full.
We need more courage
To stand up to this mirage
Of instant strength…
Of instant strength.
It’s okay to be weak.
To discuss fears & shed tears.
Of Shame and Sorrow.
The breadth of my voice
Speaks gallons of emotions
Gallons of reflections.
My arms open to embrace,
The emotions you face.
To be there…
Solid like a tree – determined to absorb – and transform.
To not mask
These therapeutic tears of growth and trajectory
To something new and less blue.
The news came to me a week ago that someone I had known in Montreal had died – taken her life in an abrupt moment.
I question all of this in my mind. This womyn was positive, an activist, deep thinker, adventurous and really seemed to have so much going for her.
Her close friends, foreign friends, distant friends are all left wondering why? To most there wasn’t any signs that indicated that she was struggling.
But it really begs the point for me. Is there a stereotypical type of person that defines suicidal? No. Not really.
The sea
Full of emotions
Moments of anger, stillness, soothing, and caressing…
Emotions.
It’s heard so many truths,
Felt so many things,
A keeper of keep sakes,
Never to be revealed to anyone but itself.
Headlands creating great divide…
Between the fury and force
Of the sea and source.
Exposing moments of intensity,
Exposing moments of beauty.
I open my heart
To this memory, this land, this place.
It was beautiful and nice to reconnect with her and all my long lost friends around Australia that I haven’t seen in well over 2 years.
Being back in Australia made me realise how much I really appreciated the country, the people, the landscape. Without much thought I found myself reconnecting deeply with all my old friends and loved ones. Having lived in Melbourne I was really settled in the country-side. I realised that 1. years is a fair amount of time to really build up a connection I realised that 2 years is a fair amount of time to really build up a connection to a place. What with it’s vast parks, amazing music, and progressive hubs who wouldn’t think this is a special place!
In reconnecting with people that I lived on intentional community with, lived with in Melbourne, did random train trips with, and so much more it was a special moment. Intersperspective to see and hear how a different and more solid me had emerged. To realise that my growth socially, environmentally, and personally hasn’t stopped. Actually it won’t ever stop [I hope]. I was on a big journey when I first came to Australia and most of that growth I found in Melbourne – while working for Otesha Project (Australia) amongst other random community building projects I was involved with. Surrounded by some really inspiring and amazing people and supportive friends. And now while I have shifted I’m proud to say this progression still exists. Is still living in my blood.
I think that life does deal us some hardships sometimes… and they will continue to happen. But I read this really great quote – wish I had written it down – that stated that without hardships or struggle we have no means to know how to grow. It’s the struggles that push us forward and challenge our heart.
I feel loved. Here in this country. In Canada. And other places in the world.
I feel supported. Unconditionally by my family [though sometimes I've put a strain on our relationship I'm sure]. By really close deep friends and lovers.
And most important – I feel blessed. To have such amazing people around me. You know who you are. The ones that do everything from take that little extra second to talk to someone and connect to really pushing more progressive community, sustainability, and a better world.
Culture.Food.Life.Progression.Community. All of which don’t mean much when they can’t be shared.
It’s like we are bees [or I'm a bee at least]. We all move around to different hubs (homes, places, cities) to collect pollen (or be inspired). And I think being present and just learning, sharing, and loving people has been the best part of my journey (here in OZ and in life).
On a recent trip to the Hastings county I wanted to reduce the emissions of the trip (3 hours west of Ottawa) from Montreal – so I posted an ad on Craigslist rideshare.
The day of the ride I waited for an hour to meet up with the four people who agreed to ride with me – none of which showed up.Needless to say I was a bit disheartened, and felt that perhaps I should have just hitch hiked, ridden my bike, or taking the train out to Ottawa rather than renting a car for this trip.
At the last minute I was contacted by a guy who needed a lift. I’m thinking this is awesome because at least someone will be coming along. In talking with Ray I found out that he was an artist recently based in Montreal – his forum was graffiti-based art. Although not into graffiti since his youth, Ray was exploring his work on canvasses primarily.
At some point my bladder was about to burst – and clearly it’s hard to drive and pee out the window… so I stopped at a gas station. When I got back Ray was listening to his iPod while he waited for me. Ironically, from this point forward Ray continued to listen to his iPod while I drove (read: the remaining 2 hours of the trip). Suddenly, I became a glorified chaffuer for a Montreal-based artist – “Would you like some tea and crumpets with your drive sir?”
Questioning our society
It’s this kind of behaviour that really makes me think about where we are heading with society. Sure it’s not an expectation that we would talk the entire ride, but isn’t there some basic polite principles that can be expected? Am I insane for feeling that this is really anti-social behaviour?
It makes me wonder how we got to this point? Where common norms and respectful behaviour to people has been lost. It’s this attitude of “it’s all for me” or “the world’s an oyster [i'm taking it]” that really makes me sad. Often I see youth driving around with their parents in the same situation as I was in. It appears as though there is no discussion between parent and child and those bright white earphones are hanging from their ears. A bubble is made.
Frankly, if I were an adult in that situation I’d rather listen to the same music as my child then create a situation like that. Tragically, I never told this guy how I felt when he left. He tossed me $15 American dollars and left the car. I felt a bit used.
Does it mean that I’m a jadded-no-longer-interested car pooler? No, it means that we need to work harder at continuing to build back our society from being so individualistic. I think it’s one thing to love and care for yourself and another to really ignore what’s going around you unless it means something to you. Life isn’t here to serve us we are here to interact with it.
Yes take care of yourself, nuture yourself, love yourself, but nuture people around you too. Destroy the bubbles and get to know people around you – build community.
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