Seeing Stars

Ever experience one of those days when the world seems a little too close?  In a cramping your style sort of way?  I'm pretty sure they're not a rarity in this world that grows exponentially busier with each passing day. 

Today was a beautiful spring-like day that reminded me I should be missing the sunshine during these winter doldrums.  The experience is no different than being reminded of the never-ending assortment of totally unhealthy food out there smack-dab in the middle of your newest diet.  In any case, due to the impeccably clear conditions of the day, which lasted a good portion of the day (at least up until the moment I stepped out of the doors of work), I was able to spot some stars burning in the night sky.  As I gazed up, I inhaled a deep breath of warmer-than-usual air and was grateful for the moment of space and gentle reminder that we're so stinking small.  This helped me conclude that the worries of the day are even smaller, making them insignificant in the final analysis.  It also made me think of  Don McLean's song, "Vincent," which was an unknown song to me for way too many years of my life.  And then there's Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night" painting.  So many great treats these fundamental elements of our world afford us.   

If worries are measured in importance against the stars that burn beautifully for us in the night sky, the worries quickly melt to nothingness.  I chuck this up to be a great little note to self:  Self, it all gets better if you just look at the stars.    

 

Living Passionately: Part Deux

Not long ago, I dedicated an entry to the acknowledgement of Gabby Giffords' bravery and greatness as a result of living passionately.  Today, I want to take the time to acknowledge a recent loss in the world of freestyle skiing, which also demonstrates another flavor of passionate living.

Sarah Burke, a freestyle skier and Canadian native, seems by all accounts to have been a pioneer, amazingly talented athlete and also a good human being (which, in my opinion, trumps all).  Her tragic end came as the result of a bum landing while practicing in her long-time domain of the halfpipe.  I've skimmed several different stories, telling her story and the story of that day, and the best and most comprehensive I've found was published online by SportsNet.  Of all I've read, this was simply a case of someone going through the motions of their workday and unexpectedly encountering a split-second, random complication that proved fatal.

The part of Sarah's story most interesting to me is that which tells of her intense sense of self.  She was dedicated to perfecting her practice of the sport, but she also expanded on this passion and worked very hard to advance opportunities for women in the sport.  She married a fellow skier and, together, they enjoyed what most would consider extreme fun (speaking for myself only, helicopter skiing is not on my list of pastime activities).  But, the theme throughout her story is one of passionate living. 

The safety of the sport, as a whole, was of course called into question after Sarah's accident.  But, with some reflection, I fall on the side of personal freedom in this.  My father was a coal miner his entire career, and he similarly walked into dangerous conditions every single day of his time as a miner.  I'm sure there are many other examples of individuals serving professional roles that entail danger, but as with many, Sarah seemed to simply want to live her passion.  Who can blame her? 

From the day we're delivered into this (sometimes) unforgiving world, we begin a journey as an ironically fragile (and yet superior) participant of that world.  Life is quite a miraculous feat when successful.  Just because there are 6.8 billion of us, it doesn't change the fact that there are a million internal and external forces of nature that must flow in harmony for us to sustain life.  So, in reflecting on the life of Sarah Burke, I will be reminded of the intense and lasting force of passionate living, but I will also be reminded of the intense fragility inherent in each and every human life. 

Sunrise Songs

I can't think of a better way to start the day, than to wake up in the morning with a song playing so loudly in your head, minus any technological intervention, you can't ignore it.  This happened to me this morning, and as I reflected on it, it seemed like my subconscious DJ that chose the track had exercised some musical genius.  On a day when the sun was bursting through the window as I woke, Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" song was on loop in my mind.  What a great way to start the day with a sense of ease, happiness and optimism.  (As the 45 mph wind gusts blew the snow early in the evening, the tune had somehow faded, but it was an awesome start!)   

I'm curious now to track these sunrise tracks and see if there's any rhyme or reason to them.  Are they dependent on mood at bedtime?  Will the sunshine always encourage some awesomely optimistic and happy track?  These are the times I wish I could search through volumes of records of general population to find out such things about the wider world.  This is like the 100% certified organic of the iPod/iTunes shuffle setting. 

As I go to sleep tonight, I will beg my mind's DJ to not get stage fright and to please treat me to a brand new and enjoyable track tomorrow. 

  

Furry Friday

 

Meet Lotus. This is my favorite feline and best pal. I adopted him a year and a half ago from the Belmont County Animal Shelter. They, in fact, warned me of his eccentric ways, gently nudging one another and mumbling, "She's taking the bad kitty." This was not an overwhelmingly encouraging sign for a soon-to-be-owner-who-just-lost-her-beloved-cat, but I thankfully chose to follow through with the adoption and was madly in love with Lotus shortly thereafter.

It didn't take me long to choose a name for my new addition.  I had, sadly, lost my other cat, Lewis, very suddenly due to what appeared to be a congenital heart defect.  So, going through the motions of adopting a new friend was something very therapeutic.  In doing so, however, I definitely didn't want to lose sight of what I had just lost.  I wanted to honor my previous experience but also capture some sense of renewal.  Deep, I know, for naming a cat.  In any case, I loved the idea of the lotus flower, which grows out of the muddy bottoms of ponds and yet breaks the surface with a glorious flower bloom.  My hope was to have the same experience with this new little spirit.  

Lotus has become a hallmark of home for me.  He's very dog-like in many ways, playing fetch with his favorite stuffed mouse and bird, greeting me at the door, hanging out with friends (because cats need friends, too!).  But, sometimes, at the end of a long workday or long day, period, I'm pretty sure he has no idea the humbling reminder he hands me.  His entire life is built around my comings and goings and the time I make for him.  And regardless of how often I leave, he's always at the ready when I return...full of love and kitty vigor.  What more can a kitty mama ask for?

Small Town-ness

Growing up in a small town comes with such a mixed bag of experience, an unmistakable flavor.  While many will vehemently argue that the small town experience encourages cultural isolation or inexperience an insular ways, I've realized recently that there is a certain emotional phenomenon that, I think, results from this same small town experience.  For lack of a better description, I guess it's just a small town-ness that can't be dismissed. 

I recently watched a documentary called Hey, Boo:  Harper Lee & To Kill A Mockingbird.  This novel was a repeating theme in my life from elementary school up through a book club I attended in the not-so-distant past, but I never really knew a whole lot about Harper Lee.  So, this documentary motivated me to learn some more about her by reading the transcripts of the few interviews she's ever done.  One of Harper Lee's key concepts in her writing of this novel was to capture and preserve rural Southern culture.  She elaborated on its differences from urban culture.  Everything from its (former) lack of industrialization, resulting in more interaction between people and less distraction, to its lack of cultural events came up as things that helped shape the rural cultural landscape.  She also stated many times that she wanted to capture the universality inherent in this culture, just as many authors had formerly captured universality in other (particularly urban) instances.  This made me think about growing up in Wheeling and what could be drawn from that as particularly unique and also universal. 

One thing that I kept returning to is how, in this small town setting, everyone knows everyone.  This is not always true in Wheeling, but it's almost guaranteed that if you don't know someone, there is someone in your close circle who knows that person.  And sometimes, there's even a realization that you do actually know the person.  In any case, after some reflection, I finally arrived at a "so what?" about this small town phenomenon.  This is where the small town-ness comes in.  I believe, in my own case at least, it created a strong sense of empathy from a young age.  The empathy grows out of the fact that you usually do have some personal tie to almost everyone, so when anything happens, there is a closeness to it that you don't always have in larger cities and towns.  You grieve with families on a regular basis, as they lose loved ones, young and old.  You share in their joys with the addition of generations and promotions and other successes.  You rally with the community in concern when an outcome is in limbo, threatening. 

In any case, what this experience created for me was a universal sense of empathy.  There is a closeness that I feel to all people, regardless of where they reside on this great planet, because all I've known is to feel this closeness.  I think that it creates a rich sense of community and unity, regardless of whether this is at work, at home or abroad.  It is my nature to meet someone new and desire a closeness, often dismissing any sense of competition, superiority or sense of "other."  It could easily be interpreted more widely as a form of gossip or drama, but in reflecting on my own experience, I think I would say I feel fortunate to have lived this experience.  It has instilled in me an unwaivering sense of appreciation and interconnectedness with others.  And that, my friends, is a fulfilling experience.    

Political Ennui

For any audience member taking in last night's State of the Union Address, it was difficult to miss the overt displays of boredom, smug disagreement and overall lack of interest.  Whether it was Eric Cantor's epic struggle to mute any facial expression or the mechanical and empty applause of others, the clear message was that Washington, DC, and the United States leadership has become so wrought with bipartisan fervor that there's no longer a common theme or purpose to be found anywhere.   

Everything now is a debate, and within the various debates, meaning seems to be lost and individual or partisan vendettas reign.  Even this traditional report, which is meant to inform and rally the members of Congress and present an opportunity for thoughtful consideration or even (scandalous!) unity in purpose, includes the opposing party's response.  The fact that this began happening in the 60s and continues today proves the undoing of our nation's leadership has been incubating for some time.  And why this would ever seem like a good idea, I'm not really sure.  Taking just a minute for consideration, it immediately becomes clear that this "response" is never going to be someone standing to profess their alliance with and belief in the nation's president and his parties legislative goals.  It's simply another medium of disagreement and chaos.  How can anyone keep track of what issues are truly at hand when there's a constant volley that makes the core set of facts a moving target?  It would be like every news report being countered by a "response" or competing news unit's interpretation of the facts.  This happens frequently, too, but just imagine if this lack of grounding was found in every area of life.  Never mind the fact that it seems to have the greatest hold in one of the most important areas--our nation's leadership both on the domestic and international stages.     

When reading articles, watching news reports, listening to radio commentary, the only common theme these days seems to be the disunion in politics and nation-building.  This trend undoubtedly leads to a common disinterest and lack of confidence in the system.  It seems a systemic collapse into political ennui, which has reached record heights and has affected most everyone--both representatives and constituents alike.  Rebuilding a sense of confidence and recovering a state of balance and progress seems just out of reach.  But, for the well being of our nation and world, let's hope that someone steps up and helps end this "waiting for Godot" moment in politics. 

 

 

  

Striking Your Own Fancy

The dawning of the newest season of "Oscar buzz" has caused me to ponder the question of whether our quickly growing information technology arsenal is speeding up the extinction of individualism. 

One of the easiest ways to denote the importance of any object you describe is to add the tag of "...it was nominated for..." or "...he/she was endorsed by..." or "...it was highly rated by Consumer Reports..."  Have you ever wondered what the world's people did before this information was easily attained?  More importantly, could it be that these easily accessible resources make us think a little less about what we actually like? 

I am a true lover of the "Flixster" app on my iPhone, which handily provides the daily movie times for virtually all movie theaters within my reach.  The app also includes all commentary offered via the Rotten Tomatoes web, which provides movie reviews far and wide.  All movies have a percentage approval from both everyday viewers as well as the elite critics circle.  If you see a red ripe tomato, you have a winner, if you see the green splatter of what once was a tomato, then you're going to have to suffer through the potential film of choice.  I find myself often trusting these ratings without hesitation, and I've not had a problem in doing so, for the most part, but I wonder how people made movie decisions before this all existed. 

This movement reminds me of the overarching theme of globalization of all things.  In the sharing of ideas, it seems we run the risk of perhaps having fewer promoted for consideration.  And then we run the risk of becoming a world of followers.  So, in this ever-condensing world of ideas, I think I will actively work to seek out opportunities to differentiate.  Not to the extreme or so as to become counterculture, but perhaps just a enough so that I can look at some of these measures of success (the Oscars, the Emmys, the Grammys, the Nobel prize in literature, the Booker Awards, film critics, newspaper editorials, etc.) and occasionally recognize that something has been missed.  Something that I perhaps stumbled across all on my own and can appreciate, minus all of the buzz.      

Living Passionately

Today marked a day of at least two major headlines.  One of those two was the announcement that Gabrielle Giffords would step down from Congress.  Ever since the unfortunate events of January 8, 2011, I've paid fairly close attention to the progress the congresswoman has made.  I listened and watched to find out that she survived.  I listened and watched to find out that she was progressing as needed.  I listened and watched to find out if Mark was going to, indeed, make his last mission in space.  I listened and watched as Gabrielle gave her first interview with Mark by her side.  Gabby and Mark went from a couple of people I had never heard of to a couple of people I am grateful to have in this world every day.  

Strip down the public personae, and at the heart of this couple, you have an amazing amount of love, first, but in the backdrop, you also have incredible demonstrations of work ethic, bravery, loyalty, patriotism and inspiration.  It was no surprise, for instance, when I viewed Gabrielle's videotaped message today and instead of feeling disappointed or shocked, there was an overwhelming feeling of excitement for what's to come for her.  Her outlook is contagious and inspiring, and that has never changed.  

While the face of politics contains indelible blemishes from adulterous acts committed and bipartisan disrespect, this undercurrent of hope and bravery that Gabrielle Giffords has introduced to the dialogue seems almost misplaced.  This is not to say that she doesn't have or never had any mistakes to contribute, political or otherwise, but rather to say that out of all the stories we endure with regard to our political system and those participants within it, this one is one that brings unbelievable value to the table for adults and children alike. 

As Gabrielle Giffords dedicates herself to the current task assigned to her, my hope is that her story can bring others to their feet and inspire action.  Gabrielle's story has taught me that to live passionately is to do so across all areas of one's life.  We've heard the stories of her constantly visiting her constituents, dedicating herself to their needs and causes, but what we've had the precious opportunity to also see is how that same spirit of passion has lived on in her survival and recovery. 

I have not seen any stories in which she and her husband are dissecting what happened that day last January or stating what should or should not happen to the shooter.  What I see is two people living passionately, despite an awful situation, and continuing to light up the room with their optimism.  I see two people redirecting their attention from what they did over a year ago to what they must now...but happily so.  Making the best of it.  And if Mark Kelly and Gabrielle Giffords can make the best of a gunshot to the head, then I have great hope that I, too, can make the best of all of the little complications (comparatively speaking) each day brings.  It is also a great reminder that this spirit of hope and optimism is contagious.  Think about this the next time a "downer" conversation comes up and try just a brief application of positive thinking.  The rippling outward of good is amazing to watch.        

When Nature Inspires

Thanks to a free birthday day off that my firm allows all employees, I was able to start an extra long weekend today.  Because I didn't have to worry about hitting the office, I decided to catch up on some items in my Netflix instant queue.  I was so inspired by both, I have to share the recommendations with any Tribute readers out there. 

Last night, I watched a documentary produced by National Geographic, called The Appalachian Trail, or the AT as many hiking/outdoors aficionados would refer to it.  My first reaction was one of awe at the assortment of flora, fauna and landscapes available to those who take this trek.  On a recent trip to Colorado, two Ohio Valley natives and I discussed the grandeur of the Rockies in the context of how distinctively different they are from the Appalachians.  But, not once, would any of us utter a word about a lacking of any sort on the part of the Appalachians.  Nor could anyone argue that any of the rolling mountain ranges along the AT are lacking.  The images of the mountain landscape National Geographic offered were nothing short of breathtaking--and I don't even own a fancy TV that would've made them extra special.  The other thing that struck me about the thru-hikers (or those who undertake the entire trail) is that there is a distinct culture that has developed as a result of this trail, and it affects each and every hiker who takes to its paths.  Not only that, there are amazing samples of wildlife to also add to its charming existence.  For instance, in the segment of the trail that cuts through Virginia and the Shenandoahs, there are packs of wild horses that hang out along the trail.  According to the documentary, they came about simply as the result of some random horse escapes and comings together.  Isn't nature just awesome?  Left to its own devices, it's far more creative and complex than any man-made anything.

The other film I watched is called 180° South, and this film featured the journey of one adventurer (Jeff Johnson) in which he made a similar pilgrimage as that of two of his idols, Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkin, to Patagonia.  This film was great because it offered amazing images and scenery, but it also told a really interesting story of the climbing/surfing culture of the 1960s and the modern day culture of outdoors enthusiasts.  The really awesome message underlying this entire film is that nature is worth it.  It's worth putting everything down, it's worth fighting for and protecting and, most of all, it can offer some of the most rewarding gifts in return.  At the core of nature is a certain simplicity, compared to our incredibly fast-paced and technological world, and yet it takes a lot of hard work to achieve this simplicity as a human communing with nature.  The men (and women) featured in this film offer such inspiration for putting the hard work in and living the simplicity.

Maybe it's the New Year spirit, or the spirit of a new decade, but I see some serious potential for the adoption of some of the tenets from each of these films in my life.  Hope you can take a watch and walk away even half as blown away.   

Upon Turning Thirty

Upon Turning Thirty

Every day is an adventure, taking me here and there,

I never know where it might stop or if I should even care.

But on this day, I ring in thirty, and more humbled I could not be,

I only hope the next ten are as fruitful as the first three.

My wishes are quite simple, I have only three,

To give to this world and receive of this world and have great company.

When the sun sets and the moon takes its place, when thirty is no longer new,

I will be lying in bed wondering what, in this decade, lies in lieu. 

And then a wise thought will slip gently into mind,

Reminding me of that something much more important to find.

That in my day, my every day, the most valuable thing that waits

Is the present moment at my hest, the one taking beautiful shape.

~ c.e. chase

Consuming War

As I made the commute home from work this evening, listening to All Things Considered on NPR, a thought occurred to me.  Every time I turn on the news, regardless of medium, I hear at least one reference to war.  Sometimes this is a part of a human interest story, part of an economics story or part of a politics story.  But, just as often, it is the entire story.  In other words, the story--or the news--wouldn't exist were it not for war existing.  Perhaps I have a faulty memory, but I tend to believe it hasn't always been this way. 

It did make me wonder, though, what the news could possibly be like without any wars on which to report.  And, this day in age, would this be better or worse for the news industry?  Already, it seems that at every turn, the news is reporting on random acts of violence, transportation accidents and other deflating happenings.  War is definitely not a happier story, but without the subject, would our news grow even more dim and superficial?  I am probably a news snob, as I prefer outlets like NPR and PBS Newshour to any other network reporting, and I enjoy sitting down, old-school style, with the New York Times on Sunday mornings.  But, even the outlets that are known for more in-depth reporting or those that focus on the arts or intelligentsia, as a whole, are riddled with stories from or about the various war fronts.  So, now that we've arrived in this historical moment when war is such a large part of our every day culture, is it possible to go back to a time of peace?  While 5-10 years ago, this may have been a somewhat absurd question to ask, it seems valid.

Business, economics, the media, society--these are all immersed in the war culture.  Just as the economic crash of 2008 has forever changed the way global economics works, it is very possible that the chronic states of war have done the same.  There really isn't a foreseeable end to the general state of unrest.  And it could be possible that the changing politics, encouraging a more constant state of unrest, is a result of the newer generations of men and women who have grown used to the thought.

So, will war ever be over?  Or are we destined to now become full-time war consumers?  Day-by-day, soaking in more and more of the war culture through our media outlets and, one day, no longer noticing that so much of our news surrounds an unfortunate and completely avoidable state of unrest. While this seems totally plausible, I will continue to hope not.    

Sink or Swim?

Have you ever watched swimming competitions on television?  Have you noticed how easy the athletes make swimming look?  Next time you catch a glimpse, you should take a moment to appreciate the effort that goes along with the smooth, competitive swim stroke that these athletes demonstrate.

Over the holidays, a couple of friends and I ventured to the pool at a local gym.  Due to issues stemming from a foot injury, one of the two friends wanted to learn to swim in order to compensate for the unfortunate loss of ability to engage in any other form of cardiac exercise.  The other of the two friends, a kind and patient soul, offered to assist in teaching the basics of the freestyle form of swimming.  I joined in simply because I had time off from work and couldn't think of any better way to kill some time.  I figured it would be fun and, if nothing else, healthy.

We arrived at the pool, two of us craving our morning java and the third strolling in a few minutes late due to her unwavering respect for coffee first thing in the morning.  After several iterations of the mechanics of breathing as you swim, I thought that I would surely be able to complete at least one lap competently.  I was so wrong!  The intersection of the correct arm motion, correct leg motion (don't dare kick from the knee...only from the hip!) and coordinated breathing proved too much for me.  For some reason, my out breath extended beyond the time of my face being in the water, which meant that my in breath stretched beyond the time of my face being out of the water...which meant I partially drowned with each stroke.  Combine this struggle with goggles that kept bursting off of my head at every turn, and you had the makings of the perfect, not to mention hilarious, silent movie.  While I may not have taken the trophy for fastest learner, I'm quite sure I proved most entertaining to all in and around the pool, which included many regulars. 

The lesson learned was to have respect for athletes across all sports because you simply never know until you try it, exactly what efforts and skills are required.  My guess is that my next pool experience will be reserved for that time, hopefully way down the road, when I must resort to "aquacise" classes due to the deterioration of my joints.  But, should I decide I'm really up for a challenge before then, a true test of coordination and cardio endurance, then swimming will be just the ticket.  

Photographic Grandeur

As a friend and I embarked on our inaugural New Year's Day hike at Tomlinson Run State Park, we shared a laugh about how many pictures both of us are apt to take during the course of any given event.  We also happen to take many of the same pictures.  In the end, the only difference is we each walk away with a collection of pictures that feature the other of the two of us.  So, we eventually combine and have the comprehensive snapshot of our outing.

While this habit may be one that seems a bit tedious to others, I   started to reflect on why it is that we would be this way.  My only answer is that we both revel in the novel perspective we gain with pretty much every step.  It doesn't matter how many fallen trees we see on any number of forest floors.  Each new one we come across offers a hidden world to be explored visually.  Whether a new color, a unique flaw or a simple expression of beauty, it's like my eyes crave the novelty, something new to scan and absorb.

The great gift in this appetite for the visual is that there is almost always something in our presence that can be new and appreciated.  And every once in a while, it's this type of fresh vision that can help renew our overall appreciation for the complexities and beauty available in the world around us.  Go ahead and try it sometime.  Pause amidst your busy day and just find one thing to take in.  I promise that while not every thing spotted will be fascinating or full of beauty, it will connect you with the world around you.  And this can be very satisfying.        

Creativity + Socialization

In small town living, there is rarely an opportunity like the one I experienced with a few friends one evening over the weekend.  In a totally indirect way, I came to find out about a new program in Wheeling called "Paint n' Sip."  I came across a flyer for the December offering and, with great excitement, asked a friend if she'd be interested in joining.  Since my New Year's Eve weekend would be, otherwise, pretty mellow, it was the lone item of major interest, and it did not disappoint!

The idea of Paint 'n Sip is to have about 35 individuals reserve spots, in advance, for an evening of painting.  The most important note is that absolutely no talent is required.  The only requirement is that participants show up, pay the reasonable $35 to paint, and bring along a beverage of choice (the most common beverage of choice in our class was wine) as well as a creative and enthusiastic spirit.  All materials are provided, so we arrived to two large rooms stocked with canvases on easels, a large assortment of brushes, paint colors and other various tools.  There is a single image that the class is instructed to paint.  In our case, it was a guitar amidst a fantastically colored backdrop.  One of my friends and I slightly modified ours to be violin images since we both play and adore the instrument.  In addition to the common theme of image, the background music for the night was Beatles music (how can any beginning go awry when Beatles music is involved?).

So, we arrived, got positioned at our respective easels and immediately started getting into the Beatles groove.  The instructor provided details in very manageable doses and walked everyone through the mechanics of producing the common image.  The instruction was minimalist so as to promote personal exploration and creations.  At the midpoint of the evening, we took a break and snacked on a delicious assortment of crackers, cheeses and fruit as well as hot apple cider.  Afterwards, everyone returned to put the finishing touches on their pieces and gathered for the group photo.

I've been told this type of program is available in other places around the U.S., and I would highly recommend it as a fun way to spend time with friends.  It's so unique and free-spirited, and you walk away with your piece as well as very fond memories of an evening spent allowing your creative spirit to reign.