Skip to main content

Together


Summer 2018- “I have an idea,” Is probably one of my favorite sentences. Whitnie said it to me a few weeks back. She told me her idea and asked if I wanted to do it with her. 

I love new ventures more than anything. But the biggest reason why I didn’t hesitate to say yes was because of the idea itself. And where it came from. And what it means to her, to me, and hopefully…to others. 

 

Tupo pamoja was a phrase in Swahili  she learned when she was volunteering at an orphanage in Tanzania. The folks there say it. Translated loosely it means we are one. 

 

As we were brainstorming, Whitnie and I discussed the meaning at length. We are one doesn’t infer that we are the same, of course. But more so that we are different-and honor  each other because of our differences, not despite of them. Peace. Sacred. Unconditional. Understanding. Love-- are all written into the meaning of the phrase “we are one.” 

 

 

In the work that I do, it’s the language I already speak. Not Swahili as much (I know a  few words so far) ,…but the language about unified. It’s the definition of yoga itself. And meditation connects us to our inner self which connects us to the whole of it all. The breathe is a universal symbol of our connection to everything. Being in nature reminds us of our connection to the living and breathing planet. It’s about essence-the connection beyond the relationship titles that isn’t tainted with fears. The ones that you can feel whether you are across the room from someone, across town, or across the world.  Even whether you’ve actually ever met yet in this lifetime. 

 

 

So we are handmaking these necklaces, per Whitnie’s idea, in any language that this concept can be translated in, that reflects the language the wearer mostly identifies with or that the wearer traveled to. And each time someone wears one, it’s a tiny reminder to themselves (mostly) and to others, a little bit of what they believe in. That it’s a big vast world. And each one of us has our own story, our own struggles,  strengths. Beliefs and traditions. So we recognize and honor our own place and others’,  in the interwoven tapestry of the big story of the human-earthly condition. 


And that we are never alone. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sunrises

 In early June I had my younger brother John up to a cabin.  He had come a long way to be there with me.  Where he traveled from, the sun rose over the ocean every day and set near the mountains. He could see them both from his porch. Here, in northern Wisconsin, was a small lake, not an ocean. There were no mountains-just a tree line that was sprouting furled leaves not long after the snow melted. And there wasn’t a porch with a view. You had to walk, with warm slippers and hot tea, out to the end of a weather-worn pier to catch the sunrise.  Which I did, while he was there.  I think it was the most beautiful sunrise I experienced in 2023.  I’ve learned that life is funny that way; the seemingly unremarkable moments-can become exquisite when you know…they are fleeting. Or when you face the harsh reality, that they are gone. I never made it to his porch across the world, when he was alive, to share the views he wanted to share with me.  But I’m realizi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Grateful

 I’m grateful for those… Who share sunrises with me, or send them-you renew in me a sense of hope Who hike the trail with me-you help connect me to what is true Who travel with me-to the store, on a trip, in a relationship, or on the journey of this lifetime-you help me experience the comfort of companionship Who have been hurt by me-and hopefully forgiven me, you’ve humbled and softened me to be better Who have been my teacher-you’ve expanded my perspective Who have left me-in a business, a relationship, from this life-you remind me what matters to me, and what I need to care for tenderly Who work with me-on houses, buildings, cabins, businesses and financial plans-you teach me teamwork and how to think wider Who have interacted from a distance-on social media with a comment, as a stranger handing me your child to hold for a photo in India, as a reader of my book somewhere I”ve never been-you’ve shown me how connections matter Who have left this life too early-you’ve shown me what...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rejection

  A bit ago, the Arts Mill had a call for art for the BIG show. I was excited to participate-NSAA is near and dear to me. And it would be my first attempt to paint (and sell) a large canvas. I was pretty proud of the painting I created.  I submitted it. It was not accepted into the show. It was REJECTED. I’m not going to pretend this didn’t sting. Or that thoughts of “well, it’s clear I’m not a painter. I wonder who I should donate my paint supplies to?” didn’t cross my mind. But I always go through the “poor me” stage. After all-being an author means that rejection isn’t new to me.  When I dusted myself off from all of that, I asked the Arts Mill’s director, if I could pay her for a critique of my art now that the show (without my painting) was over. (I get critiques for my writing-why not have a critique on my painting?) She was straightforward and shared her exquisite wisdom in a gentle and kind way, which is the perfect blend for learning. The painting that came forth...
Post a Comment
Read more