“modern society, based as it is on the division of labor,
can be preserved only under conditions of lasting peace.”
-ludwig von mises
—
happy labor day in the usa
to all of those who labor
wherever you may be
—
image credit: google images
Sep5
Tag Archives: community
Aug15
act.
yesterday
i went to the official opening
of the local headquarters
for
my choice of candidates
for the office of
the next
president of the united states of america.
when i pulled into the parking lot
there was not a space to be had
there was a torrential downpour of rain
yet people of all ages
were waiting
and
pouring out of the door
and
once i walked into the room
there was
so much enthusiasm
and
so full of hope
and
postive thinking
it was overwhelming
i’m excited to say that
tomorrow i’ll begin helping them
to try to make it all happen in november.
—
“act as if what you do makes a difference. it does.”
~william james
—
image credit: googleimages
Jun8
soul music.
we stopped to listen to an ensemble of young girls
playing lovely music at the weekend farmer’s market.
their teacher said they were in the 8th grade
where everyone is asked
to contribute something to the community.
these girls chose to offer what they had to give –
their natural gift of music.
they had to organize the day
by asking permission to play somewhere
finding transportation
planning what to wear
being on time
introducing themselves
and
remembering their music and instruments.
all of the money they earned
from passers-by
went to a local charity.
it was a beautiful lesson.
—
“music is the movement of sound
to reach the soul for the education of its virtue.”
– plato
May27
work.
“the supreme accomplishment
is to blur the line between work and play.”
-arnold j. toynbee
May10
caring.
the playground community
was worried
and
unsure what to do
how to help
there had been an accident
it had happened to one of their own
one’s hair somehow
got wound around
the button of another
the two involved
sat down next to each other
(no other logistical choice really)
one put her arm around the other
one big one
helped them to unwind it
one turned away
unsure how to help
one stood by
ready to help
one stood at a safe distance
watching closely
helping by being near
and
in the end
all was well
once more.
—
without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.
anthony j. d’angelo
Mar31
“the belonging you seek is not behind you. it is ahead.” ― Star Wars: The Force Awakens
the only remaining incan rope bridge
the Q’eswachaka rope bridge, suspended over the apurímac river in peru, is a piece of living history. it is the last of the rope bridges that once connected the incan road system, and dates back about five centuries. rebuilt from twisted cords of grass by residents each year, it is a piece of history that is not only still in use, but regularly renewed.
the bridge—spanning 118 feet and composed of local grasses—is remarkably sturdy: it can hold thousands of pounds of tension. but perhaps the most remarkable thing about the Q’eswachaka is the local community’s ongoing dedication to keeping it in working order.
the bridge, though strong, only has a lifespan of one to two years before it begins to weaken. since the structure was first built nearly half a millennium ago, residents of nearby towns have fastidiously rebuilt it hundreds of times. they continue to rebuild it to this day, with each family contributing some 90 feet of rope.
—
“true belonging is born of relationships not only to one another
but to a place of shared responsibilities and benefits.
we love not so much what we have acquired
as what we have made and whom we have made it with.”
—robert finch
—
credits: atlas obscura, anna green, mental floss
Jan11
detroit renaissance.
on a downtown detroit day
discovering
beautiful little gems
in so many
unexpected places
buoying our hopes
for a city
that has not given up
and is beginning
to thrive once again
in spite of
challenges
that once seemed
insurmountable.
—
“there is no power for change greater
than a community discovering what it cares about.”
– margaret j. wheatley
Nov30
never worry about the size of your christmas tree. in the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. ~ larry wilde
at the community tree lighting
with singing and people and candles and chilly air
and then this guy snuck in
—
our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred,
and we are better throughout the year for having,
in spirit, become a child again at christmas-time.
~laura ingalls wilder
Nov28
thank you for giving.
grandbaby b and daughter deliver
—
three of us:
one daughter, h
one grandie, b
and myself,
(not the wisemen)
delivered gifts
of thanksgiving baskets
filled with donated food
provided by many,
to families
in the struggling community
around the school
where h teaches
each and every day
surprise gathering
—
and how lucky
that we were able
to show up
at one of her student’s houses
and the little one was shocked
when she opened the door
and saw her teacher, h
standing there
smiling
with a basket of things
to make her holiday special
and when this child
with so many life challenges understood
that her teacher had chosen her house to visit
she grabbed her hand and didn’t let go
and her baby sister came to join in the fun
and grandbaby b joined in the fun
another surprise
—
and on the next day of school
this little student
who didn’t have much to call her own
brought a gift
to thank her teacher, h
and told her:
“you brought me thanksgiving food so I brought you a balloon.”
and the joy of giving
just kept rolling on.
—
there are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.
– khalil gibran
Nov23
warmth.
halifax, nova scotia’s residents have recently been seeing an interesting sight: coats tied to street poles. at first, one might think that these clothes are lost, but they’ve actually been put there for a specific reason. if you look closely, there are labels attached to the jackets that read, “we’re not lost! if you are stuck out in the cold, please take me to keep warm!”
every year, tara smith-atkins works to help the homeless brave winter’s freezing temperatures. she asks the community to donate old coats and then invites local children to help her tie them to lamp posts for those in need. they also bring along scarves and mittens.
as the kids are tying outerwear to the poles, she aims to teach them an important lesson. she explained, “When we got back in the car after an hour on the street, they were all freezing and crying for the heater to be on and complaining because they were cold. and they were bundled up.” not only is the compassionate woman working to help the homeless, she’s also teaching young children the significance of what they’re doing. next year, smith-atkins hopes to include a $5 voucher in each coat pocket so the wearer can buy themselves a hot meal.
—
credits: halifolks, tara smith-atkins, amy poehler’s smart girls, ann gragert
I didn't have my glasses on.... 