Observation

A friend asks, "Can we believe anything, or is it better to believe nothing except what we experience ourselves?"

The question got me thinking about observation and self-trust.  For much of my life I didn't trust my own observations--I had been thoroughly invalidated for stating some of these out loud.  I thought I had to have a guru to set me straight.  People would say, "You have within you everything you need to know."  I'd look around inside my mind and say, "No I don't.  Nothing but confusion there."  So I think observation comes in two steps and the first is to rehabilitate our own ability to observe.  The second is to observe with integrity and courage.  And not to get scared off by second hand warnings the purpose of which is to scare and nullify us. 

For me it was a matter of figuring out who to trust and even just how far to trust them, hopefully long enough to get my own feet under me.  I tend to trust hopeful things and mistrust downers.  Sometimes I overshoot and have to revise my trust of someone and something.  I'm forever grateful to The Farm and to Stephen and to each and every person I lived with or worked with on The Farm.  I was able to bring myself up to a level of awareness I don't think I would have achieved without that experience.  By the time I saw the limits of our vision and practice, I was able to sort it out without throwing away the sweet truth of what we lived.  Since then I have grown my powers of observation and refined my search while still maintaining the integrity of our vision.  We spiritual hippies made a powerful difference.

Nothing is true for you unless you have observed it yourself.   Love, Patricia

Patricia/Trish Lapidus
Writing Consultant, Life Coach, Author

Including Sweet Potato Suppers, a New eBook
and Long Awaited, Swamp Walking Woman

http://swampwalkingwoman.blogspot.com

 

Everyone Can Write

This is my family and writing blog. It's informal. I invite your comments.

I am a writer and an encourager of writing. Whether you keep a journal for yourself alone or write professionally, I am cheering. I love words and all we are able to do with words.

This is the cover of my book of poems, Red Hen's Daughters, available from amazon.com.

It has never been easier to get feedback from other writers on the net. My latest discovery is a site called thenextbigwriter. People post their work and read and critique for one another. The standard of encouragement and good guidance is very high. Before that I found divinecaroline. This is just to name two. There are more.

Then, when your work is ready, you no longer have to court a traditional publisher if you don't want to. Even if you do publish with a traditional house, you still have to do your own marketing. So, I'm learning how to market my books--and learning what people want to read. There is nothing worth writing unless readers find it worth reading. I will shortly have specific guidance to offer about publishing and marketing your products.

Tell me what your interests are, what you want to read about. Contact me at

patricialapidus@sbcglobal.net

I will send you a gift. Write "gift" in the subject line so I won't miss your email. Love, Trish

Let's Get to Know One Another

And now the CD. Available soon from kunaki.

This is a text CD created with samples from my books. I took the cover picture during cherry blossom season from the street where I live . In the background is West Rock Ridge where I love to hike. The state park offers miles of trails, some up to the top, others around Wintergreen lake.

This is a "you can do this, too" CD.

Red Hen's Daughters

A Red Hen/Red Letter day! My father raised a few different varieties of chickens over the years. The earliest pictures I have, which were taken on the Oak Hill farm, show a mix of black chickens and white chickens. Later he kept Barred Rocks, whose white feathers were striped with black, a series of bars. But my favorites were the Rhode Island Reds with shiny rust-red feathers. The roosters sported long red tail feathers and some iridescent green ones. I could see why they walked so proud.

My book of poems, most of which have been previously published in a number of literary magazines, takes a grownup look at a farm childhood. Why were the hens not allowed to raise their own chicks? That was our top concern--until we noticed the slaughter.

While you are keeping an eye out for the poetry volume, watch also for my CD of samplings. The text tells writers how simple and easy it was to publish the CD. And it gives excerpts from my books. First, the revised edition of Sweet Potato Suppers. Then, a scene from Swamp Walking Woman, a fantasy novel about the strength of women in modern times. At the end of the CD are the first two chapters of Gideon's River, a novel about family.

You could use this method of writing and publishing to introduce yourself and your business or hobby. Keep an eye on my blog for the release of both.

And may your summer be blessed. Trish

The Currency That Is Not Money

     Don't get me wrong.  I have nothing against money.  I like it and use it happily.  

     Money is just a symbol of energy, one that can be used honestly or not.

     I'm reminded of some of Mark Twain's stories.  There was a pattern to them.  Two or three knaves would come to town and trick the innocent villagers--we'll call them fools, meaning no disrespect--out of their hard earned savings, offering health or heaven, the two immortalities for which any of us will trade our life's work.

     There is another currency, and that is community.  By community I don't mean a structured "intentional" community, though those can be done, honestly or not.  I mean the more fluid set of connections available to us all in a variety of circumstances, whether inherited where we have stayed put or created where we have wandered and settled.  

     In these difficult financial times, it is good to remember that less than a hundred years ago people didn't use money as their primary means of survival.  They used their farms, on which they could take care of themselves, and they used cooperation, helping one another at harvest and through the winter.  As an example, my parents and aunts and uncles spent a week every November hunting deer in northwestern Maine.  They were good hunters and they came home with their quota of deer, which the uncles dressed and the aunts packed in freezer paper, a box to go home with every family.

     I'm not suggesting we all take up deer hunting, although deer have overrun Connecticut to such an extent that here hunting is a choice for those so inclined.

     I'm talking about that other less tangible currency, trust and mutual help among neighbors, something to cherish and preserve if you have it, or, if you've been going it alone, something to create with your own offers of assistance to others.  

     Don't let an economic downturn distress you.  It will be hardest on those who have depended too much on others to create work for them.  You CAN make money.  You CAN create paying work for yourself.  More important, you can create a caring community right where you are by inquiring about your neighbors and offering your help.  It's okay to pick and choose.  I'm not suggesting you try to help those who are already dedicated to failure.  Simply, among your friends and neighbors, find the ones who can use your help to get themselves stable.  Helping these is like putting money in the bank, for they will value you and help you when you need it.

     Don't wait until your own need is severe to begin building trust.  Do it now while you have energy to spare.  Here are some ways:  

     1) Get to know your immediate neighbors, choose those who want to win and make mutual agreements about how to support one another.  

     2)  Find a good group that is already helping and pitch in.  Become part of the team.  As an example, check out Plenty at www.thefarm.org

     3)  Check on the members of your family, decide which ones are interested in winning, and help any who need help.

     4) If you are interested in permaculture villages or ecovillages, look these up and learn how they work.  Go to www.thefarm.org

     5)  Help children.  They are our future.  For resources for parents and those interested in improving the lives of children

 Click Here!    

     There are many ways to create community.  Common to all of them is becoming known as someone who can be counted upon.  

     Ask me questions or let me know how it goes.  tjworks09@live.com

Heart and Help for Parents

Being a parent can be confusing and frustrating.  Don't feel bad about not knowing what no one ever told you.  There is help available now!  Nicole McKenzie is my favorite.  She offers free e-classes and many helpful ideas.  She makes you feel like, yes, you can do this!

Follow this link:

Click Here!

Children Love to Help

    When his parents bought a new grill last summer, Zachary, 18 months, decided to help put it together. His father snapped this picture.  Well, snapped is not quite the word for it.  Noah knows how to get down on the child's level and get in close.  

     He caught a precious moment.  I love the look of concentration.

     Having grandchildren reminds me of life with my own children, how eager they were to be able and to make a contribution.  Small children are both exuberantly playful and very earnest.  They know their parents do a lot for them and they need to do their share.  Doing one's part is apparently wired in.  When Noah was a baby sitting in a swing with a tray for toys, he would regularly throw his toys overboard or inadvertantly lose them.  Big brother Benjamin would pick them up for him tirelessly.  And now we have Chanan, Zachary's cousin, planning to put the socks and booties on their next baby.  Both children put in an honest day's work each and every day.  It's enchanting, and sobering, to watch.

     For more information about children, child development, and how to help children, including holiday craft ideas, scroll down to the articles and links below.  And enjoy the season.

     Trish/aka Swamp Walking Woman