Lotus, California:
noun
South Fork of the American River: noun
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While activity often leads to external material progress; relaxation often leads to inner solitude. Despite what society may promote, productivity is not always bustling and visible.
Live in balance. As children
We used to sing because it felt right. The skin on our knees Never smooth or unbroken. Shame On the elements of life that “mature” us That tone our vocals And smooth over our knees. Scars built with tissue Uglier than the wounds themselves. As our knees heal over So does our truest self. Rounding off our jagged edges Into what is expected and accepted. However accepted Not authentic. As children We took deep breaths when needed And cried During the most unnecessary of times Simply Because it felt right. Confession: I am a people pleaser. I often prioritize other's expectaions over what I know is good for me. I believe that all people have this tendancy, but the degree to which we put other's demands over what we need for ourselves varies.
This way of living can avoid conflict on the outside, but on the inside it is an exhausting mess. By fulfilling expectation by expectation you may be pleasing someone, but simultaneously you are depleting yourself of the you that will benefit the world on a higher level than chasing expectations ever will. To my people pleasers out there. Look down at yourself and know that positive interactions with others starts with you and your overall well-being. GO take that walk under the stars alone, GO eat that chocolate bar, GO paint on a canvas using only your feet, and don't forget to keep the picture for you. Once you foster the habit of implementing thoughtful and self-nurturing activities into your life, your generosity, care and love for others will blossom, all starting with the bud of you. It isn't until one is comfortable in their surroundings that they call home and in their own skin that they can begin to explore and benefit from the world around them. Adventure local in order to adventure everywhere.
Each human being has distinct physical qualities. Long hair, lean legs, short nail beds, sparse eyebrows... Furthermore, each race encompasses unique physical qualities as well. Swedes are blonde, Americans are light skinned, and Japanese have slanted eyes (generally speaking).
As humans, we separate ourselves based off of these physical differences. We feel accepted and at ease when our friends have the same clothing style. We feel within our comfort zone when the people around us are of similar physical structure. Through the sense of sight, we categorize ourselves and block each other off. This instinct to build barriers between each other stems from a lack of understanding about those who are physically different. Yes, our world is naturally clumped by race. However now, because of technology, desires for a better life, political foreign relations, and many other reasons, these clumps of people are mixing at a higher rate than ever before. As people from some parts of the globe filter in to other parts-either temporarily or permanently-it has become normal to let the differences of looks and culture be reasons for distance and judgment. In America, perhaps this is because of nationalism. We tend to take pride in the American label, and this includes the physical qualities that stereotypically come with it. We see those who reside in the U.S. that do not fit the American stature as threats to the stability of our Country. This is not a good enough reason to build up walls that separate the races. Walls with foggy scuffed up windows in them that we use to observe each other, fearing the unknown. I am going abroad to Kyoto, Japan to clean the windows and even break down the walls. In a culture so rich and blooming with differences, I am going to challenge myself to see what is there that cannot be seen, and I will document my findings along the way. I hypothesize that there will be no true differences between me: an American 20 year old woman with brown curly hair and green eyes, and a elderly Japanese man with black hair and eyes of a dark hue. My quest abroad is not only dedicated to becoming knowledgeable about Buddhist Tradition and Japanese culture, but also to becoming aware of the prominent and unnecessary separations in our world, and our illusory perception that creates them. |
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