this is part of a topic blogging with friends....
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
outside the box
ah. so this was my brilliant idea. and now i have no idea what to write about. it came about because i was thinking about how i am trying to do something each week that i would not normally do. i am trying to think outside the box of my own life. and have been somewhat successful with this. going to a happy hour to connect farmers with foodies...not really my thing. but i don't know people here so may as well try. and though i have a deep rooted fear of walking into a large group of people on my own, it was actually fine and i knew quite a few people there. so i know it is important to do things outside our comfort zone. and yet what else is there to say. i realize that i like to meet people and put them into boxes. i have all sorts of boxes for humanity, those i feel like are worth getting to know better, those who could be kindred spirits, those who do cool things, those who i find dull, oh it goes on and on. and yet more and more i realize these boxes are all wrong. i continue to make poor judgements. the super christian who i think will drive me crazy ends up being a good solid soul. the mean lady at the farm, ends up being thoughtful and insightful, and spends time with monks. I like to think i don't compartmentalize humanity. but i do. i organize humanity so it will make sense to me and fit within my small frame of reference. and so "outside the box" is a wish for me. to see beyond the walls i have erected within my own life.
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5 comments:
This was so uplifting to read and to reflect upon. I had an experience at the bank yesterday that made me realize how often I put people in boxes as well - sometimes for good and sometimes for bad, and then suddenly something this person does or says changes my view of them and then I have to struggle not to put them into a different box. I am just beginning to realize, this at my age, that we have to allow for the free spirit to flow through each individual and we can not put that spirit into any box! Here, at home, we often talk about "old tapes" - I guess we are only beginning to understand what that truly means.
A great thing to think about! I never would have put you in the farmer box...but it seems like a good fit. :)
Ah, Kate, something I have long struggled with. However, I don't even think I was aware of it at your young age. Let's hope that we can all learn to look and accept people for who they are. Loved your blog.
Mom
I realize just how much I do this lately; despite nice words about people who are different than I, when it comes to it, I find myself despising certain people without even knowing them--because of what they do--LITTERING, or ruining land, for instance, or smoking in a closed car with their kids. It's easy to be cross-culturally appropriate from a distance, but when faced with a person you'd really rather not know, it's SO hard not to be dismissive.
My tendency is to be isolationist and very choosy about my friends. . .but the truth is, I tell myself (grudgingly and not well), everyone has the "Inner Light" as the Quakers say--and our privilege is to find that inner light in each person.
By the way, we will need you to help along our trees when they're older. Please! I find the idea of pruning really intimidating. You've done such a splendid job on that plum!
kim, to the quakers:) sometimes it is so hard to find that inner light. I'd be delighted to help your trees along...though I think you may get great satisfaction over pruning. that process of taking out old wood so new may come in, is rather gratifying and as one farmer stated...very contemplative. and yet it terrified me at first too....so glad you are growing trees...
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