Diagonal droplets fall on parched, bare ground baked and burnt by months of relentless African sun. The earth drinks the life-giving water as cooling molecules caress its dehydrated surface causing joy to bubble from deep within each grateful soul. The relief is tangible, the smell intoxicating, indescribably delicious perfume of God. we are not forgotten.
The smell of apples takes me whole body nose, eyes, heart, mouth, hands, even feet into orchards. Coming home from a hot outdoors to a cool kitchen the subtle scent embraces me and allures me to places lush and green. Those green and waxy spheres sitting on my kitchen countertop, others rosy red sometimes pink-flecked or golden hued arranged in glass or wooden bowls in dining rooms or living rooms exude the same enticing power. Don't believe me ... pause and inhale next time your home is adorned with this common yet grand bounty of original Eden. Pause and inhale .... there - you see ... you do smell it... Fresh fruitfulness, Bidding us to take a delicious, juicy bite.
Creativity is our sanity, our soul survivor, our hope to keep believing in a better tomorrow. If we can keep alive the creative flame that is within, willing us live, then we will begin to thrive and not simply exist even if our normal changes. Children who have not been raised with screens in front of their every open eyes show us how they live wholeheartedly through creative play, how they can make something out of nothing and how they get great joy in doing this; how they love being given time in the great outdoors, barefooted, mud splashed, tree-climbing, sky above, joy-filled simplicity, how a whole world can be created with scraps from the recycling basket and snacks can be made up of whatever can be foraged in the moment.
In reflecting on this I came up with this list that helped me to look up from my screen, the news, whatsapp groups, opinions and just focus on what I can control and what I can do to thrive in uncertain times.
What else ….
One of the most powerful forces. We cannot control its advance even if we take the battery out of the clock it still ticks elsewhere. The passing of time, killing time, wasting time, however we use it we cannot get it back. Measured by hundredths of split seconds, minutes, hours days, weeks, months, years. The effect it has on us is dependant on the circumstances in which we find ourselves: We could be sitting on a beach vacationing, running to catch a lift, pushing out a new life in labour, mourning a loved one. Being released from prison - physical or psychological. Sentenced to death or pardoned. We could be walking down the wedding aisle or absorbed in the fickle moments of a temporary teenage romance. Graduating - first degree ... Doctorate. Planting seeds harvesting maize The eternalness of seas and mountains. The beginning the end. The only one bigger than time is GOD.
Hope- epitomised daily in the waking of children, jubilant and expectant, energy levels restored, ready for another day's adventure beneath open sky. Bare-footed, laughing, free. Endlessly creative. Ever hopeful of good Easily content with either bread or water or cake and tea. The spread is not the focus, having something to share together is. Reminders of the intrinsic flame we each possess, yet reason and doubt quench its light before it even glows. Hope for me is spelled, " C h i l d r e n. "
Creativity is our sanity, our soul survivor, our hope to keep believing in a better tomorrow. If we can keep alive the creative flame that is within, willing us live, then we will begin to thrive and not simply exist even if our normal changes. Children who have not been raised with screens in front of their every open eyes show us how they live wholeheartedly through creative play, how they can make something out of nothing and how they get great joy in doing this; how they love being given time in the great outdoors, barefooted, mud splashed, tree-climbing, sky above, joy-filled simplicity, how a whole world can be created with scraps from the recycling basket and snacks can be made up of whatever can be foraged in the moment.
In reflecting on this I came up with this list that helped me to look up from my screen, the news, whatsapp groups, opinions and just focus on what I can control and what I can do to thrive in uncertain times. Doing this, helped me not to give up on dreaming and re-ignited that dwindling inner flame of hope for a better world.
- don't stop being creative
- know that not everything needs to be counted or can be measured
- remove or reduce things you know steal your energy
- drink water
- sleep more
- blue screen less
- be intentional
- spend time under sky
- spend time with paper and pencil
- SMOW - small moments of wonder - under foliage (if possible)
- new angles of sitting and seeing
-sunrise
- sunset
- watch steam rising off favourite cuppa
- birdsong
- birdflight
- wind whispers
- seeds sprouting (in a little cotton wool on your window sill)
- roots growing (a succulent in a jar of water, a herb cutting)
- deep breaths - grateful we can
- patience (with yourself and others)
- other focused
- de-cluttering
- sharing and giving (online for now)
- swopping (recipes; quotes; creative ideas, songs)
- upcycling
what else?
If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs
and wanting you to join them too.
If you can keep calm when admin doubts you
but make allowance for their doubting too.
If you can change and not be overwhelmed by changing
and share your lesson ideas with those less organized
and believe the best even when it is frustrating
and know you don’t always look that good or talk that wise.
If you can use technology and not make it your master.
If you can complete the syllabus and not make that your aim.
If you can meet with success and disaster
and treat those two imposters just the same.
If you can acknowledge when you’re overwhelmed and tired
and breathe a breath that’s deep and long.
You will realise that there is always something in you
that can bring some right when all seems wrong.
If you can let go of perfect planning
and bank your best ideas for another day
and realise there’s more to school than lesson learning
and that often growth comes with space to play.
If you can allow the doubt of parents
and forge ahead with faith not fear
allowing your inherent reason to guide you,
you’ll look back and be glad that you were here.
If you can avoid the clamouring of self enthroned kings
and hear virtue in the common voice.
If you can trust your child-like wonder in the small things.
If you can believe you always have some choice.
If you can dream even when you think dreams get broken.
And allow those gone before to be your sun.
Yours is the earth and everything in it.
And, what’s more,
You’ll be free dear one.
Grass and trees luscious foliage cool oasis refreshing breeze a feast for the eyes treasures to the soul. A busy mind a parched heart find rest and refreshing in the oasis of green.
"a reader lives a thousand lives before they die, the man who doesn't read lives only once" RR Martin Relaxed faces focused eyes concentration. Travelling to not-yet discovered worlds. Learning, living, growing. Such a pleasure to observe the power of imagination at work in this over busy world. Pages turning minds flickering souls thriving dreams taking first flights. Joy bubbling, philosophy percolating. Feeding on the creative energy of foregone giants.
Deadheading – ” the process by which finished rose blooms are snipped off in order to encourage new growth and improve the appearance of the rose bush.”
How can we apply this gardening term to the new year? What can we consciously deadhead, let go of, even if it once was/is a good thing, in order to create more space in our lives for new growth?
I’ve spent quite a bit of time unsubscribing from multitudes of well intentioned email lists I joined for FOMO – but never got to read because it was just too much information clamouring for attention.
And even in writing this little extract, I felt so tempted to add just a little bit more, just another picture, just another explanation. But to be true to what I am saying, about less being more, this is all for today.
ThriveZim Education 