December 07, 2024

Quote of the Week

"Fire merely burns. It doesn't care whether anyone puts a pot on it, fills it with water and puts rice in it to make a meal. To burn is the limit of its duty." -- Vinoba Bhave

Billy Elliot (movie)

Welcome to the world of Billy Elliott, an 11-year old boy growing up in a miners' town in North East England, set in the politically charged moment of mid-1980s. Billy faces a unique conundrum -- his heart is set on being a ballet dancer. But he also knows it is bound to produce a rift in his family -- particularly his father and elder brother -- both of whom are continuing three generations of coal mining work to feed the family. There is an air of expectation in Billy's upbringing that he will continue in their footsteps, or at least choose equally masculine interests. Eventually, his father realizes Billy's talent. This award-winning movie shows Billy stepping aside from norms, not playing to any 'types' -- and being fully himself. What leads him to go after dancing as a passion? What scheme of events help him find this place?

As he auditions for a major ballet school in London, one of the interviewers asks a final question, "What does it feel like when you are dancing?" He responds, "i dunno...i disappear....there is a fire in my body...". Witness the moment here. Mystic-activist James O'dea brought our attention to this teachable moment in Billy's story. We hope you will savor the movie!

As a learning, when we -- parents, children, elders, caretakers, regardless of age -- are faithful to the singular within us, the capacity to view others clearly ascends. What makes us see beauty inside us is precisely what makes us witness it outside, in those around us.

Civil rights leader and theologian Howard Thurman put it profoundly as, "It doesn’t matter whether I become a doctor, lawyer, homemaker. I’m secure because I hear the sound of the genuine in myself and having learned to listen to that, I can become quiet enough, still enough, to hear the sound of the genuine in you."

Reading Corner

Name: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time Author: Mark Haddon
Ages: Parents, teachers, and children over 13

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is told from the perspective of 15-year old Christopher Boone who is neuro-divergent.

As the author poignantly expands: "curious incident is not a book about asperger’s. it’s a novel whose central character describes himself as ‘a mathematician with some behavioral difficulties’. indeed he never uses the words ‘asperger’s’ or ‘autism’ (i slightly regret that fact that the word ‘asperger’s’ was used on the cover). if anything it’s a novel about difference, about being an outsider, about seeing the world in a surprising and revealing way. it’s as much a novel about us as it is about christopher..."

Be the Change

Note what you see, not what you know. Inspired by this adage, identify an entity or a person or a setting at home, in the park, at the train station, grocery store or library. Observe it/them. Notice movements, colors being reflected, materials, sounds or other physical features through touching. Get into details, avoid adjectives (beautiful, gritty, crowded etc). Record observations in your notebook alongside; you are welcome to draw or write or use a voice recorder.

This activity is geared towards parents, caretakers or grown children. The idea is strip away predetermined labels from what we see and sense in the world around. Consider doing this exercise as a practice periodically, in short, five-minute slots.