EVERY DAY'S COURAGE

I am reading a book that I probably would not buy myself because of its content. I got it from Paul, a dear friend who went to an open market in Greenpark where some people were selling their organic products.

She, the brand new author, was selling her first published novel. So Paul bought it and gave it to me. I took it with deep respect a first published novel must be worshipped by everybody not being sure if I would enjoy reading about the story of a small girl who is brought up in a family where the mother is alcoholic and the step father is sexually abusing her. But the story takes place in Johannesburg during the 70s and I felt I have to read about the South African society of that time. A kind of inner curiosity was rising up.

So I started this book only few days ago the book is amazing.

The story is obviously intense and touching but what I like most is the fact that the author writes in first person, being Theresa, the girl; this gives the narration an incredible rhythm because of the alternation of feelings and thinking. It is Theresa who is telling us her most intimate fears, thoughts, hopes, dreams and struggles. It is not somebody else describing her; it is her opening up her heart to the readers and showing what is her world with the difficulties of her daily issues. Telling us how she sees the adults’ world and how she is coping with it.

The book is JELLY DOG DAYS by Erica Emdon.

The reason why I started with few words on this book is because I have been thinking a lot about the concept of COURAGE. This is a story of courage.

What entangles my mind is that I cannot really define courage unless I accept that it is a big pot where there are lots of nice ingredients cooking and melting together.

So this is my recipe, please take note and invite your guests for dinner.

Stewed courage Lorenza’s way:

OPENNESS, FORGIVENESS, ACCEPTANCE, FREEDOM , LOVE everything in abundance and according to your palate.

Being open to Life is an act of courage. It is being fully part of this earthly experience, accepting that we can go beyond the limits of what is defined by our five senses. It is welcoming, heart in hands that Teacher Life is there all the time to bring Her message. Feeling this openness to Life is an act of courage.

Forgiveness can never take place without courage; those who cannot forgive are not brave, they can only stay in the midst of their resentment. Forgiving is moving on, accepting deep inside, what happened. It is not love; it is an act of courage.

Acceptance is taking things they way they are, without being judgemental. It is the way it is, I just don’t define what happens with critical thinking. I do not put the events in the cage of my left-brain, but I let them flow freely in order to let them go and move on. This is very difficult and only the brave ones can acknowledge this mental approach; for me it is a kind of spiritual path that needs lots of courage to be undertaken.

Love. Unconditional love requires courage. Selective love is for everybody, including myself. I am very ordinary when I choose whom I want to love. I am the bravest one when I love unconditionally. Loving unconditionally is the difficult way, it comes from the heart and only few can reach this state of enlightment.

But of course they have got plenty of courage.

These ingredients are all important; they mix and blend altogether into the idea of courage.

One last thought: it requires lots of courage being ourselves and this is the everyday courage. Being willing to follow our passions and dreams, expressing our talents.

Those who can run after their dreams, holding a kite, are the brave ones. Those who express themselves writing, painting, loving, singing, healing, working, cooking, giving, sharing, caring are the brave ones. Those who carry on doing what they love, with passion, after getting slaps from Mother Life, are the bravest of the brave ones.

I dedicate my post to all those who love writing and feel they wish to express their creativity.

With unconditional love.

Copyright2009LorenzaVerdini

THE SEEKERS

Last Saturday I went to a meeting, the second of its kind, in a lovely African Spa close to the Cradle of Humankind which is probably one of the most important archaeological sites in the whole Africa. I love this wild open place because of its energy. I was not going for a massage, shame, but to meet a small group of people who feel to be creative and somehow want to unblock their own creative process. The idea started because we all read or are reading the amazing book THE ARTIST'S WAY by Julia Cameron. This book is basically a 12 weeks course to help ANYBODY, and I really mean anybody, to unblock his own natural creativity, at any level but, most important to me, it is a deeply spiritual book. I have started to read it twice, oh I love this book, but haven’t gone through the whole course simply because I do not feel blocked in my writing. Even though, I joined the meetings with my natural enthusiasm and openness. I can try to describe the situation saying that it is my monthly treat. Two hours of absolute peace, bliss, exchange of energy with lovely people who basically are very spiritual and look forward to express themselves in life through a creative process. The venue is in the nature, African nature guys, where the only sounds are the birds chirping or cry ,depending on the SIZE of the animal…have you ever seen an hadida ? It is one of the most noisy and annoying bird I have ever dealt with, besides ostrich…, the waterfall and the wind’s blow. And us.

In this absolute perfect venue, we do not only share good bruschetta bread with tomatoes and basil, olive tapenade and chocolate cake, sipping coffee the coffee, and I am fussy, in that place has another taste, I swear it becomes good, we share our intimate fears, doubts, hopes, visions. We share our experiences knowing very little of each other. But it is done at such a natural and deep level that it becomes an enriching spiritual experience.

I LOVE THESE MEETINGS. We talk about the impact that the course has on any of us but we always end to talk at a personal deeper level and by the end, when we leave, we are enriched with new good energy. We all come from different backgrounds and life’s stories, cultures and in my case also language but, for a reason I would not exactly know, we all go beyond the superficial level of communication. It is amazing. We will meet regularly once a month I really look forward to the next meeting, probably the group will grow bigger, we are 5 at present.

Driving back home there was a lot of roads work 2010 is behind the corner so the speed was slowed down many times. I was driving near to a very poor informal settlement at a walking pace, Buddha Bar music on, feeling that time had stopped. I could only feel the rhythm of my breath, my eyes absorbing the Life movement in slow motion. Hungry people, poor people, mothers with children on their back, bare foot people, children playing with nothing in the street, men discussing animatedly. Every single movement was slow, I could take all the energy of those people, their sorrow and their happiness, I was them… I don’t know, it probably lasted only a bunch of seconds but it was very strong and deep. Suddenly a loud music covered my soft Buddha Bar, distracting me from my emotion. There was a group of men dancing unrestrained at the rhythm of that music, under a roof of corrugated sheet iron that most likely was as big as my car. It was their discotheque, Saturday Night Fever… I couldn’t help smiling at Teacher Life for this message of Joy at the end of a very busy and rewarding day. So speechless , I could only express a deep gratitude in my heart for the chances I am given every day to learn. I want to be an eternal student, what better than this?

I end my writing today, thanking my friends of the Artist Way Circle for the inputs and energy they give me every time we meet. Thanking my Life for being tough and difficult sometimes, but always a profound teaching. Thanking all the people in the street who, with their endless smile, are teaching me the power of Hope.

I found this quote at the Spa, a gift for all my readers today

In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.

Albert Schweitzer

Love & Rainbow

Copyright2009LorenzaVerdini