Legacy, What is a legacy?

 

Legacy, What is a legacy? 

It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see

I wrote some notes at the beginning of a song someone will sing for me

(Great Britain), you great unfinished symphony, you sent for me

(Hamilton the Musical)

Last week a certain celebrity ruler (The Queen Of England) passed away and many are asking what does living a good life mean? While I have no answers here are some questions to consider. (And yes I bet the actual answers are probably blowing in the wind somewhere) 

• Is it whether you chose your path? Or your path was forced on you?
• Is it being an institution that lived a long life? Or changing institutions from the inside out?
• Is it based on your best days? Or your worst days?
• Is it based on when you spoke up? Or when you remained silent?
• Is it based on how you treated other people? Or how others treated you?
• Is it in hugs that you gave? Or encouragement you spoke?
• Is it being a calm presence? Or is it taking action?
• Is it fulfilling a deep purpose? Or simply doing the job you have?
• It is whether you made a difference? Or whether people will miss you?
• How much are we responsible for the faults of the institutions we lead?

No one life will be seen the same way by everyone. Some will think someone was wonderful and wise where as others will think they were the opposite. But we should ask ourselves these questions before we are no longer here so that we can choose what it means to have a good life for us. 

And when you're gone, who remembers your name?

Who keeps your flame?

Who tells your story?

Who tells your story?

Who tells your story?

(Hamilton the Musical)

World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day observed on 10 September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world since 2003.

Around 700,000 people die by suicide every year, with over 75% of suicides occurring in low-and-middle-income countries. Suicide is a global concern and a serious public health issue in every country; however suicides are preventable. By raising awareness, reducing the stigma around suicide and encouraging well informed action, we can reduce instances of suicide around the world.

 

Picture in PDF form so you can actually read it

Short Film: Step Closer (2 min)

Wentworth Miller HRC Speech 2013

Where Wentworth discusses an suicide attempt at the age of 15

Wentworth Miller Active Minds Speech

Where Wentworth discusses an suicide attempt as a freshmen in college.

Some September Activities

 

Each summer for the past few years I make a list of all the live events I go to, color coded by type of activity (festivals, art, music, ....) This summer I got to 100+ events. This year I have decided to try my hand at creating a fall list in a similar style. 

While I often share the fun activities I am doing around Chicago after the fact today I am sharing some of the fun I will be having this month so others could join me if they are so inclined. Note: I will probably circle back to some of these events in future blog posts.  

Tonight (Fri 9/9) 

The River North Design District Walk

The walk is comprised of approximately 22 locations with special events throughout River North, featuring 31 artists and 20 designer vignettes.

This weekend (Sat 9/10-9/11) 

2022 Printers Row Lit Fest

Printers Row Lit Fest, the largest free outdoor literary showcase in the Midwest, returns to Printers Row

Lakeview East Festival of the Arts 

The Lakeview East Festival of the Arts showcases more than 150 juried artists featuring paintings, sculpture, photography, furniture, jewelry and more.

Mondays/Wednesdays for the next 3 weeks

International Voices Project - 2022 Festival 

The International Voices Project is the largest event of its kind in the country and introduces Chicago audiences to some of the most exciting voices on the international theater scene.

A Gentle Vision Of What Could Be

 

As I posted on Goodreads: This was a wonderful little book which reminds you to slow down and ponder questions such as what do we need as individuals and communities, what other and better ways could we structure our society, as well as wisdom such as "You're don't have to earn rest or comfort. You're allowed to just be" while also holding space for the characters to say "But I don't feel like it is true, for me. I feel like it's true for everyone else but not me.

For example, in this story instead of a traditional currency there are "Pebs" (that represent that someone got something of value from you vs. used in direct trade, in some ways they are community level thank you notes) that are more an indication of how well someone is doing within community instead of a punitive means to keeps people from having their basic needs met.

“You’re saying that instead of a system of currency that tracks individual trade, you have one that facilitates exchange through the community. Because … all exchange benefits the community as a whole?” (p34-35)

"Everybody has a negative balance from time to time, for lots of reasons. That's fine. That's part of the ebb and flow. But if someone had a huge negative ... well, that says they need help. Maybe they're sick. Or stuck. Maybe they've got something going on at home. Or maybe it's just one of those times where they need other people to carry them for a while. That's okay everybody ends up there sometimes. If I saw a friends balance and it was way in the red, I'd make a point in checking in (p36)

I love the idea that there is a system that creates natural check-ins with your friends and neighbors. I know there are times where I would be in the red for "Pebs" and it would be a wonderful universe if in those cases someone knew to check-in since those moments are easy to get lost in. 

I also love the honesty of the characters towards the end of the story.

"Do you remember what you said when we were there, about how nothing needs a purpose? How all living things are allowed to just exist and we don't have to do more than that?

Mosscap nodded. "I do, yes."

Dex press their lips together. "That's the heart of my faith, Mosscap. That is what I am saying to everyone who comes to my table. I say it out loud, all the f*cking time. You don't have to have a reason to be tired. You don't have to earn rest or comfort. You're allowed to just be. I say the that wherever I go." They threw a hand towards their wagon its wooden sides emblazoned with Summer bear. "It's painted on the side of my home! But I don't feel like it's true, for me. I feel like it's true for everyone else but not for me. I feel like I have to do more than that. Like I have to have a responsibility to do more than that." (p140-141)

I find I have more than once or twice felt like Dex does where I know how to comfort. listen to, be there for someone else but struggle with others comforting, listening to, to being there for me or being those things for myself. (Like what Wentworth Miller talked about when talking about how to talk to yourself, though in this case it is less how I talk to myself and more how I act with myself)

There is something both comforting and challenging about having others have those same feelings especially when those others live in a functional utopia. 

Reflecting On Resting From Labor

What does it mean to rest from our Labor?

What could this mean as we celebrate Labor Day Weekend?

Here is a collection of ways to rest that I found shared on Facebook.

In what ways do you need rest right now?

In what ways will you need rest this fall?

In what ways will you need rest into the future?

Reflecting On Our Collective Labor

It is Labor Day Weekend. Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894.

Today is a good day to reflect on a whole host of questions:

1. What is considered labor?
2. What labor do we monetary compensate for?
3. Why do we value some labor over others?
4. How can someone work and still not afford basic needs?
5. What is meaningful labor?
6. How does passion connect to labor?
7. How can we make all our workplaces more assessable?
8. How can we cultivating mental health at work? 
9. How can we cultivate or neurodiversity at work?
10. What is the relationship between our work, our labor, and our lives?

Recently there has been an interesting conversation around what some call "quietly quitting":

 

This is a reminder that what we "should" do with our labor and time and energy is still in flux. Different parties have a different view of how much we each should should go above and beyond in our work, in our communities, in our lives. 

For many us whenever we take a moment to pause and focus on our own mental health etc. it feels like we are quiet quitting our lives but if we do not take a moment to pause we will be unable to continue on and be our best and boldest selves. 

Today is a day to celebrate the end of summer, a day to celebrate labor in all its forms, and a day to reflect on the meaning of labor and work and imagine systems that allow us all to thrive instead of feeling overwhelmed and stuck.

Sandman Reflections (Part 4): Do Not Use Your Dreams To Harm

I just need time to think about what to do.

What is there to think about? I'm a goddess. A daughter of Zeus. I am not a possession to be kept and used and traded. You must set me free. You have only to say the words.

I will. I promise. But, um... Do you think you could help me first? Inspire me? Just for one book, and then I will let you go. I swear I will.

Calliope and Richard Madoc In Ep 11 Calliope Sandman

This is the last in a series of posts where I will be exploring some of the themes of Sandman. I am focusing on the Netflix series since I read the comics long enough ago I would not be able to tell the differences lol.

While I am more focused on ideas/themes there will be references that might be considered spoilers. So if you have not seen the show yet watch it on Netflix (Please watch so we have a better chance of getting a season 2)

Do Not Use Your Dreams To Harm

By Dreaming Ace

We shall all dream

We shall all dream dreams

We shall all dream of new tomorrows

But that does not mean 

We are allowed to harm others

In our quest for those dreams

We can not lock up others and their dreams

We can not put our dreams above all humanity

We can not use our dreams to harm

No one wants to be imprisoned

No one wants to be harmed

No one wants to hurt

Asking nicely we shall find that

Many of our Dreams are possible

But But But

If those dreams come at the cost of harming others

We will find that those dreams turn into nightmares in the end

Our dreams should be for creating a better world

Not a worst and darker and more broken world

So far in this series I have covered letting our dreams free, mourning broken dreams, what happens after the quest, asking how we can love life like Hob Gadling, and now to finish off a reminder that we need to be careful of what we dream. Dreams are very powerful and can truly change the world around us but that also means that dreams can be used to harm others. All too often we expect others to serve our dreams and we don't take it well if they say no. 

But dreams that are not freely given are really just nightmares. When we rip our dreams out of the lives of others it never goes well. It is important that we remember that when dreaming our dreams. Are we imagining something better for us all or are we dreaming by locking goddesses in our basement and making them do our bidding?

Calliope is able to dream a better future even after being locked up for decades because her dreams are rooted in something good, something kind, something wise. What are our dreams rooted in?

Snippets of conversations between Dream and Calliope

What will you do now?

I think what I must do is to try to make sure that this never happens to anyone else ever again. 

How? 

I do not know. By inspiring humanity to want better for themselves and each other. By rewriting the laws by which I was held. Laws that were written long ago in which my sisters and I had no say. 

---

I think you should release the mortal now. He has set me free, and without forgiveness, wounds will never heal. 

You would forgive him for what he's done? 

I will not forgive what he has done, but I must forgive the man. Not for him. For me. Will you free him? 

If that is what you wish... it shall be done.