Shades of Gray

When we think of “black and white” photography, we don’t often articulate the range and depth of the various shadows and highlights that make up the image. Here in the United States, while voting for our next President, most of us got caught up in binary thinking (red vs blue) while anxiously watching continuous news coverage of a hotly contested election. How many are actively seeking to understand the range and depth of the diverse perspectives and assessments of millions of people? How many are stuck in “us-them” constructs?

And where do we go from here?

Let’s begin by remembering that when you ask 140 million people a question, you will get 140 million DIFFERENT answers. When we understand that we are just one of many, is it possible to make space for others to express their hurts and hopes and still maintain our own identity? Peaceworkers in post-war zones recognize this. Without genuine dialogue and reconciliation, the war mindset will continue to smolder. Children will inherit bitter rhetoric laced with argumentative goals of making the opposite side feel insecure and weak. How can we invest in raising up all Americans when we cannot even agree on how to listen to each other?

“E pluribus unum” translates to “out of many, one.” The United States today is one country made up of many people from numerous backgrounds and cultures. By making an effort to experience a different way of thinking, can we be open to the possibility of seeing daily life from someone else’s perspective? Make your goal to understand and listen and your neighbors will feel safe to share their stories and feelings with you. Be disciplined in reserving moral judgment and eliminate the desire to change someone’s opinion. Look for the nuanced gray shadows and highlights to build a better picture of others.

Lobster Power

Like butterflies, lobsters undergo metamorphosis as part of their life cycle and have symbolic associations with powers of transformation and regeneration. They molt their shells and emerge larger and stronger. Dreams of lobsters are interpreted as messages to come out of your shell, drop your armor, and experience personal growth and positive change in your life.

Everyone comes to Cape Cod and wants to eat a lobster. But this is a transformation of attitudes from earlier colonial times and is considered one of the most striking brand identity stories in marketing. In the 17th century, lobsters were plentiful and considered trash food suitable only for poor people. After World War II, clever restaurants served lobster acquired cheaply as an exotic delicacy to inland diners unfamiliar with the crustacean. By changing the perception of peer behaviour through targeted advertising, more people began to order lobster because they perceived other fancy folks were enjoying this unusual food for the privileged and wealthy.

What do you want your personal identity to be? What do you need to shed to emerge stronger and more aligned with your true self?

I Am Enough

Autumn in the northern hemisphere is a visual reminder of abundance as there are signs of harvest all around us. Recently, I spent hours watching three squirrels scurry about a New Hampshire shoreline hiding hundreds of acorns in unmarked caches. How can they remember the dozens and dozens of holes they dig? Turns out they don’t! Instead, individual squirrels eat from the community of squirrel caches. There is no need to remember where “my nuts” are buried because there are thousands of nuts buried all over this squirrel territory. There is enough for all squirrels to eat from all caches, without the burden of remembering where exactly each squirrel buried which nut. Squirrels hide food for future abundance, trusting in the larger community of squirrels who will share their abundance, too.

I do enough.

I have enough.

I am enough.

This is a meditation that I use to remind us of abundance in our lives. We beat ourselves up for not getting everything done perfectly by an arbitrary deadline, not having the right clothes, job, house, car, and sometimes a general feeling of un-named anxiety paralyzes us. Think about the top three things you fear and worry about; it is probable that most of your lists can be categorized into concerns about health, financial security, and relationships. These are universal worries that can overwhelm us, if we don’t actively remind ourselves of our actual worth.

Try this meditation by breathing deep breaths in between each sentence. Take your time to reflect on how much you do and know that it is enough right now. Breathe. Consider what it feels like to shift your thoughts to gratitude for having enough today in this moment. Breathe again. Know that being you, as you are, is enough. You are worthy of love and abundance.

#ChallengeConfronted

What could be better than empowering other women? As a grandmother, why wouldn’t I want to post a black and white selfie on Instagram, to show support for our new granddaughter and all women? #ChallengeAccepted

Except…what exactly is challenging about posting a selfie? Specifically what is the point of this summer trend on social media?

I admit that I jumped on the bandwagon and was initially eager to share this black and white photo of me and our grandchild. But as my feeds flood with copious selfies, I am doubting the efficacy of this fad.

A little bit of research yields the information that four years ago the same hashtag (also with black and white photos) was used to “raise awareness of cancer” (who hasn’t heard that cancer sucks?) and recently women in Turkey used a version of this campaign to raise awareness about violence against women.

But where is the call to action on these vanity posts? How does posting a beautiful selfie raise up others? How does my selfie give protection to Turkish women? Or defeat cancer?

What extra can I do in my own community to actually raise up more women? Support more women-owned businesses? Advocate for equitable access to higher education? Volunteer at a women’s shelter? Donate to international aid funds?

It takes work to get to know your neighbors, shop local, share what you have, ask for help when you need it. Actively taking a stand to build up your community may be uncomfortable and new. What effort can you make to effect a positive change?

For the Love of Lilacs

These are the first lilacs I have grown since leaving Canada in 1994. Their smell is intoxicating and prompts primal memories of my mother. Native to Europe, the lilac is associated with magic, renewal, wisdom, and love. Is it any wonder that this briefly blooming flower reminds me of my magical, wise, loving mum?

Be the change

“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

Gratitude for Books

Books are a part of my identity. As I evolve to deal with my worsening low vision, I grew into the idea of releasing small-type books. While their physical presence has brought me much joy over the course of my life, it is also important to recognize limited space in our home. And these joyful books may produce beautiful experiences for future readers.

Thank you for being my books.