“Something there is that doesn’t love a wall…” Robert Frost

I’ve just spent the last two weeks in the country – well, sort of…  Anytime I’m away from chronic sirens, Starbucks at every corner, and mid-day traffic jams, I call it the country.  I noticed a lot of fences there, but these were functional fences, fences with purpose, fences that I understand. So what’s up with us city people and our obsession with fences ?  We put them up around wild stuff and call it “nature.” We put them up around our homes, our stuff, our kids, and our hearts, and call them “safe.”   As I re-integrate back into city-life,  I’m putting it out there that we don’t need fences as much as we think we do, and this includes  international borders, which I think should also be scrapped.  There are two other kinds of fences that are worthy of looking at: those imposed on us by our governments and the powers that be, and the type of fences we build and maintain within our hearts and minds. Let’s begin with the obvious ones…

You’ve probably heard the expresssion, “good fences make good neighbours,” a phrase from Robert Frost’s Mending Wall.  Have a look around. Does it look like we’ve bought into it ? There must have been some seriously effective marketing going on by the fence-building industry; it appears that Frost’s words have become a universally-accepted truth. But if you read the entire poem, you’ll find that the writer challenges the validity of those words;  I think it’s time we also challenge the assertion that fences are necessary, and turn the belief that fences make us safe, on it’s head. Fences, I believe, make lousy neighbours and neighbourhoods, they perpetuate a climate of fear and anxiety, and they get in the way of us living fully and freely with each other. I have a friend whose yard is not ringed by a continuous fence. His neighbour’s young sons frequently show up in his yard, as curious kids do when they’re allowed some freedom to roam and explore. I’d say my friend and the people beside him are good neighbours because they don’t have a wall between them. What kind of neighbours would you have, or be, if you were also free to roam ?

Nature dislike a fence, and this includes human nature, which brings me to the second type of fence we can do without: government fences. Hmmm, what ruling power doesn’t love these ? Remember the G20 Summit in Toronto last year ? The Canadian government spent a billion dollars putting up a temporary fence around a bunch of important people so that they could talk about important stuff without being bugged by ordinary people on the outside. Look at the mess that that created. Fences get in the way of meaningful dialogue, they promote separation, segregation, and secrecy. In addition to the obvious physical ones, fences also show up in the economic, corporate-friendly policies of  governments everywhere, creating a climate of hopelessness, despair, and anger, which, at times, explodes. The revolts we’ve seen play out all across the Arab world are a reaction to the repressive policies of power-hungry, fence-loving rulers. Similar “fences” also contribute to the type of mayhem that erupted on the streets of Vancouver last week. The riot here was not about hockey, and contrary to what many Vancouverites want to believe, it does reflect an aspect of life in and around the city, where many people old and young alike, have been shut out of the club called “Prosperity.” Hell, a lot of people can’t even earn a living wage (now estimated to be about $19 an hour) and toil away in dead-end jobs for less than nine bucks an hour, thanks to a  minimum wage freeze that has been upheld by successive BC governments for eight years now. And then there are the massive spending cuts for fine arts programs, public education, libraries, parks and wilderness centres which rob people of opportunities for enjoyment, for learning, for thriving. If these aren’t fences, then what are they ?

So this leaves us with fence type no. 3, those we have within ourselves. These can be the most damaging of all, and the hardest to spot. What do they show up as ? Fear, guilt, regret, pain, unresolved grief, mistrust, prejudice, judgements… anything that gets in the way of us truly connecting, with ourselves, and each other. Eckhart Tolle writes, “When you give little or no help to others or put obstacles in their path, the universe gives little or no help to you because you have cut yourself off from the whole.” Our internal fences keep us separate, afraid, alone, and desperately unhappy. What do your fences come disguised as ? Begin to see them for what they are and how they work against you or someone else. Notice it, take a step back, and ask yourself, “is this working for me ?”  The dismantling of these inner fences begins when you start to see how they work.

I think we are so done with fences. Fuck’ em, all of them, unless you are a farmer that is, with a bunch of cattle, in which case you are allowed to build something to keep them in. Just make sure it’s minimalist in design so us city folk can get our fill of the country. For everyone else, begin to take a close look and all that contains you, all that RESTRAINS you, in your neighbourhoods, in your governments, and in your own ways of being.

Be foot-loose and fence-free.

Patrick

Life wastes itself while we are preparing to live. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you had one week left to live, would you still be doing what you’re doing now? In what areas of your life are you preparing to live? Take them off your To Do list and add them to a To Stop list. Resolve to only do what makes you come alive.

Bonus: How can your goals improve the present and not keep you in a perpetual “always something better” spiral?    (Author: Jonathan Mead)

Only one week to live ????? I would party my brains out ! I’d bring together all the people who have ever had an impact on me, and we’d all party like there was no next week. We’d eat like kings and queens… totally organic, free-range, fair-trade and FREE.  There’d be music… every type of instrument – drums, guitars, bongos, clickers and clackers, didgeridoos, and more – would allow us to create soul-shaking spirit-awakening music. And when we needed a break, we’d listen to stories, especially those from the elders. They’d remind us of what is truly important in life. I think I’d put up a huge canvas, where anyone could make beautiful art. And maybe another on which we’d create a family tree, showing how we’ve come to be in the same place, tracing our roots, and proving that we are all related, if not by blood, then simply by the fact that we’re standing on the earth. We’d do all of this surrounded by nature, in a field, perhaps by the water. Now this sounds a lot like the International Indigenous Leadership Gathering I attended last week (more on that to follow), not so much a party as it was a chance to be reminded of our connection to the natural world, and how we must work to restore that. I’d borrow that AND party, like a rock star among rock stars. I am rich on account of the people who’ve come into my life, some for a short time while others have remained; all have left their mark, as no one else can. Until the invitations go out, I want to spend more time recognizing/celebrating/thanking all those who I’d like to party with. Call it the perpetual pre-party mode… Happy hour anyone ?

Peace out and party on,

Patrick

This is my response to Day 4 Prompt of Trust30, the online writing challenge… Follow on Twitter using the #Trust30 hashtag

That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him. Where is the master who could have taught Shakespeare? Where is the master who could have instructed Franklin, or Washington, or Bacon, or Newton? . . . Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare. Do that which is assigned you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Identify one of your biggest challenges at the moment (ie I don’t feel passionate about my work) and turn it into a question (ie How can I do work I’m passionate about?) Write it on a post-it and put it up on your bathroom mirror or the back of your front door. After 48-hours, journal what answers came up for you and be sure to evaluate them.

http://ralphwaldoemerson.me/prompts

Asking “personal” questions shows not only that we are curious but also that we care.

I didn’t learn this growing up.  As a kid, I was conditioned to hold back, to avoid asking questions, as if that was somehow respectful of other’s privacy. That’s bullshit. I believe that it’s disrespectful to NOT ask, to dance around the real issues and concerns and life events, to talk superficial when what we really want is meaningful exchanges. If that’s what you want – surface connections – then by all means steer clear of those touchy subjects and focus on sports, the weather, the economy, or who did what to whom. But if you really want to build relationships, if you sincerely want to get to know someone, then ask them about what is really going on in their lives.

ASKING creates OPENNESS creates TRUST creates REAL SHARING creates REAL CONNECTION.

It also shows that you care.

So go on, step up and be wild, and ask someone: “What’s really going on in your life right now ?”

Peace Out,

Patrick

ps: this post was inspired by  the domino project and Ralph Waldo Emerson – Self Reliance. You can follow along on Twitter with the hashtag #trust30

Day 3 prompt: The world is powered by passionate people, powerful ideas, and fearless action. What’s one strong belief you possess that isn’t shared by your closest friends or family? What inspires this belief, and what have you done to actively live it?
(Author: Buster Benson)

Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering

There is a crack in everything

That’s how the light gets in

– Leonard Cohen

The wind is blowing tonight. Looking out into the darkness, I can just make out the Mexican blanket fluttering about on the deck railing. The wind chyme is doing its thing too and I wonder if a storm is approaching. On my laptop, The Stones’ Time Waits for No One plays -  a modern-day truism I occasionally experience lying awake on those restless nights when the wind in my head is ruffling all of those internal post-it notes. “There’s just not enough hours in the day to get it all done,” goes the lament.  Sometimes the tick tock of the everpresent clock is not an issue though… like when I’m doing something I love. It happens when I really show up, when I’m totally there with whatever I am doing.

I have a book for ideas that come to me, and there’s a few in there which are calling to me with an ever increasing urgency. I’m beginning to think though that it’s not so much that the ideas are calling to me, as it is what they represent: who I really am and how I might want to be in the world. There are many ways we can contribute to the world around us; over a lifetime, there will be numerous versions of us, some that work, others that don’t. Eventually, we arrive at a place of knowing who we are and what’s important to us, but this can only happen if we try, if we give ourselves time and space to experiment AND share the results.

Where are you in life ? Are you in the fast lane, are your wheels spinning, or are you stuck on the side of the road ? There’s much to be learned from all three places. Do you have the feeling that you could be doing something else, something that is a truer expression of who you really are ? Are you holding on to an idea or a dream ? Are you waiting for something to happen before you write, travel, quit that job, love someone, move to the country, start that business… ? Are there unfulfilled desires or long held dreams that you’ve put away on your inner shelf marked “Things to do when the time is right” ?  Most of us have one; I know I do.

Try loosening the grip you have on those ideas, those things you think about doing all the time, but are afraid to begin, or finish. How about another truism: “You are not what you create” (thanks Bruce Elkin). Begin to see yourself as separate from what you do; think of yourself as a conduit, that’s right, a pipe, through which stuff flows. Some of it will be brilliant. Some of it may suck. The important thing is to keep the pipe clear, allowing your ideas to move from in here to out there. So what if they’re not perfect. Any cracks show that you’re human, prone to errors and messes that we call “mistakes.” Many of the greatest offerings of all time were initially followed by the following profound expression: OOPS. Put your offerings (the oops and all) out there and simply pay attention; the impact they create will tell you what to do next.

Maybe it’s been a while since you fantasized about escaping your current nine – to – five existence in favor of life of freedom and adventure. Maybe you’ve completely forgotten what it was you used to love doing, if only you had more time. Take some time to remember. Talk to a trusted friend, someone who knows you well; they can help you remember what you always wanted to do. Figure out one small step you can take in the direction of what you want. “You don’t have to go from A to Z, just from A to B.” I heard this from Barbara Deutch, a benevolent kick – in – the – creative – ass if there ever was one. Spend some time with her and she’ll help you get out of that prison called perfection. “You can’t make choices from a place of perfection. There’s no freedom there.” More wise words from Barbara.

Modern life has a way of keeping us so busy we barely have time to chew our food, and so distracted we lose sight of what’s truly important to us (like our dreams and desires). Give yourself the gift of solitude and find a quiet space, away from clocks and cel phones and traffic – all those things that drive us to distraction – a place where you can hear yourself breathe. In that quiet peaceful space, think about what you’d love to do, and who’d you be doing it. The world wants and needs us to really show up, cracks and all.

Peace out,

Patrick

A thousand shining moments are just waiting just to happen to you.

]]> http://peaceofwildthings.com/2011/05/what-are-you-waiting-for/feed/ 0 http://peaceofwildthings.com/2011/04/nature-heals-us-if-we-let-it/ http://peaceofwildthings.com/2011/04/nature-heals-us-if-we-let-it/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:53:16 +0000 Patrick Thrift http://peaceofwildthings.com/?p=333

I am a new day rising / I am a brand new sky to hang the stars upon tonight

-Foo Fighters

Springtime is slowly taking shape here in the Pacific Northwest, as we come out from the darkness of winter, into longer days, warmer temperatures, and brilliant colours everywhere. New life is pushing up through the soil, bursting out of tight buds, and flying through the cool April air, filling our ears and eyes with signs of renewal. So how strange it can be to have to confront death, especially that of a loved one, when all around us is emerging life. My friend Melanie is going through this now, having recently lost her husband, the love of her life. David Bataille died suddenly; he was just 35, lived a full and adventurous life, and leaves behind many to face the mysterious process called grief. This post is dedicated to them both, for the love and life they shared with each other, and all those who’ve known them.

Most of us are not schooled in the ways of death.  Even when we know it’s coming, our reactions, both before, and after, often take us by surprise.  Most people believe in some form of life after death, but we live in a culture that encourages us from early on to believe and behave as if this life we see is all there is. Death and dying is usually fraught with fear and anxiety, because we’re afraid to look at it. We’re not encouraged to talk about it, and we don’t even like suggestions of it. Our elders are hidden away from view, we spend billions on trying to maintain our youthfulness, to distance ourselves, if only cosmetically, from the reality we all face: death. How absurd is that ?

Living in a state of fear robs us freedom and the ability to live fully, to experience all that life has to offer.  If we were to take the time to acknowledge the simple truth that we all will die, then maybe we would stop taking life, and ourselves, so seriously.  Maybe we would adjust our priorities… David and Mel opened their hearts wide to love and life together, with no guarantees. David had a heart condition and they both knew about it. That is courage.  That is love.  They lived and loved fully.

Of all the mysteries we encounter in life, death is perhaps the deepest. Losing someone you love is a painful experience, and there’s no way around that. It can bring us to our knees, but rather than defeat, what if instead we learn to surrender, to all that we can’t see or explain ? What if we were to expand our imagination about life and death and make more room for both ? My wife Laura died one spring day, 14 years ago now; eventually I learned to stop asking “why” and simply accept that there is something greater at work, in life and in death, than my attempts at rational understanding could explain. In time, you learn to trust in what you don’t see. It comes more from the heart than the head.

Nature has much to teach us about life and death, if we would simply take the time to stop and be in it, to be with it, instead of trying to control it, or be separate from it. When words just cannot express the enormous and often overwhelming range of feelings that accompany grief, the natural world has a way of absorbing pain and sorrow, anger and resentment, guilt or regret, without condition or complaint. Nature is where we belong, in dark times and light. I believe it’s where our loved ones are when they slip from view; they are no longer in one place, but in all places.

We are after all, one breath, one love, one life. We are nature, in life and in death. Rather than an ending, see death as an awakening, taking us from what is known, to all that can be imagined, and then some. In time, we can hear our loved ones, in the wind moving through the trees, in the waters that ebb and flow, in the birds calling out, and even in the silence.

Live and love fully my friends.

Patrick

Times Like These

If you don’t like what you’ve got,

why don’t you change it ?

If your world is all screwed up,

re-arrange it. – Trooper

I live in Vancouver BC, a pretty place, as far as cities go, but the truth is, not much happens here.  Sure, a lot of us watched the events unfolding in Egypt, and when the people got what they wanted, we went back to our usual programs. Hell, did we even have to touch the remote ? I couldn’t help but notice how quickly the major news outlets here switched from Cairo to reminding us that it was exactly one year ago when Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics. Suddenly, all that mattered was that we re-live the glory of the games. Well give me a fucking break. The 2010 Olympics – no, the Olympics period, don’t even register on the scale of things truly significant, especially not when oppressed people are coming together and demanding change, re-claiming individual rights and freedoms, working together in the spirit of true democracy. I guess the media here figured it was all too heavy for us.  So it did what big media does: it serves up a “healthy” distraction.  And come to think of it, that’s just what big business does, and big politics too.  They all just keep serving up more of the same old shit.  Do you find the same thing happening where you live ?  “Enough already,” I say.  The status quo is not good enough…

… not when our governments continue to pour untold billions into the military, into needless wars and aggression,

… not when 40 million Americans are relying on food stamps,

… not when hungry kids go to overcrowded schools where they’re pumped full of information from antiquated curriculums,

… not when thousands and thousands of homeless people live on the streets     of every major city,

… not when our kids are routinely medicated with powerful anti- depressants and behavioral modification drugs,

… not when our environment is being destroyed by fossil fuel extraction, monoculture farming, and urban sprawl.

The status quo is not good enough.  What will it take for us, that’s you and me, our families and friends, our neighbors and co-workers… what will it take for us to stand up and say “enough” ?  The people we elect will not do it for us, but we seem to forget this.  One person or one party cannot bring about change, but a whole lot of people coming together can.  We saw it in Cairo.  We saw or heard about people linking arms, working with and caring for each other. Christians and Muslims standing side by side, even protecting one another when things got ugly. What are we afraid of, losing our way of life ? Please see above… our way of life will change, whether we like it or not.

Will it be chaotic if we all take to the streets, following in the footsteps of the brave people in Egypt, in Tunisia, and in many other parts of the world ? Of course it will be, but we can’t let that scare us into continuing with our complacent ways.  Chaos is a necessary ingredient for change; it always leads to organization, until things needs to change again, which they always will. What if we were to welcome a little chaos in our lives ?  We’ve given up a hell of a lot of power, to governments and corporations, to the media, and I think we know it.  It’s pretty hard to be at peace, with yourself, or anyone else, when you feel you have no say, no control, no power. What about re-claiming what is rightfully yours ? That is, peace and power and freedom.

What does freedom look like to you ? Take the time to answer this, and then talk to others about what it means to be free. Stronger communities can begin with one conversation, one question, one tweet…

What is the real impact of the way you live ? Consider those around you, your community and environment, and those in other parts of the world.

What does democracy mean to you ? It is not what we have that determines our freedom, it is what we do.  What actions will you take to bring about social change, environmental stewardship, freedom for all…?

Read Howard Zinn’s A Power Governments Cannot Suppress. That’s what we saw in Cairo. That’s what needs to show up on the streets of our cities, if we want real change, real democracy, real power for the people. Sometimes, to get a little peace (and more), you need to raise a little hell…

Peace and power my friends,

Patrick

Raise a Little Hell

This post is a short one, a brief reminder, one that I am passing on from a wise and wild friend. Sometimes I forget that this blog is as much about WILD THINGS as it is about PEACE. So today’s post is dedicated and directed to the wild thing that lives within all of us, those qualities that make each and every one of us irreplaceably unique and wild.

Perhaps you’ve lost touch with your own wildness. Maybe it’s buried under layers of life, beneath a desire to fit in, to please others and not rock the boat, to be nice… Well, “fuck nice,” I say.   All that being nice will get you is a brownie badge and a pat on the head. Life is way too short, so don’t waste it on being “nice.” Start to rock the damn boat, by being REAL, with yourself, your partner, your families, your boss, with that person you’re always wanting to avoid AND always running into. Yeah, that one ! Be real with everyone you meet. It may be uncomfortable to begin with, but I guarantee you, it’s way more fun than trying to be that other word…

If you are feeling trapped, find a way to let yourself out of whatever cage you may find yourself in. Your own peace of mind depends on it, in fact, it THRIVES on freedom. We were all born to be wild, and free, and at peace. As you set yourself free, you inspire others around you to do the same.

The great thing is this: you only have to take one small step in the direction of your own freedom, towards who you really are and how you really want to be, in order to feel that peace we all yearn for.  That my friends, is the peace of wild things. And just a little bit of freedom can create a whole lot of it. So what will you do today, what is that one small step you can take ? Or even a giant leap… Go on, be the wild thing you are. It may not be nice, but it will be real, and that’s what the world wants and needs -  the real you.

Peace and wildness,

Patrick

…Give up all the other worlds except the one to which you belong. – David Whyte

The peace of wild things… it’s out there AND it’s in here, inside of you, always available, always just a deep breath or two away.  What we see in the world around us -  the peace in nature or in others – is really a reflection of our own, or our potential for peace.

Today, if only for a moment, drop everything else – all of those things on that huge never ending to do list of yours – and drop into the world to which you belong: your own inner peace.  Give yourself that gift,  and then allow it to fill the gifts you give to others, especially the gift of yourself.  However you choose to acknowledge this day, do it in peace my friends.

Patrick

Leave it behind
You’ve got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break…

“Walk On” by U2

Autumn is without a doubt one of my four favorite seasons… Maybe it’s the coolness in the air, or the brilliant colors all around, as nature prepares for winter.  There’s an almost palpable excitement as well, because as the temperature dips, the snow will soon return and with it, the mountains will be calling out to us again.  Change is in the air, and on the ground.  One of our usual trails is now blanketed in shades of brown, green, yellow, red, and orange – layers of leaves that transform the ground, and are a sign of transformation themselves.  While shuffling through them with Kujo this morning, two questions came to mind…

What am I prepared to leave behind ?  What can I afford to hang on to ?

In response to number 1, there’s some “luggage” I’ve been carrying around for a while now that clearly doesn’t serve me, suitcases labeled, ‘Things I wish I woulda/coulda/shoulda done’ or ‘Ugly feelings from a Beautiful World’ or even the innocuous and seemingly benign ‘Miscellaneous Stuff’ – now that’s the one to offload in a hurry !  The truth is, life is far too short to cling to anything, period.

Hanging on to anything, good, bad, or in between, past or present, makes it pretty hard to fully experience what ever’s coming next.  By all means (as in body, mind, and soul) enjoy whatever is in your space right now, or, if it’s not what you want, don’t get too hung up on it, because it’s going to shift, transform, change !  One of the few constants in life, change happens all the time, out there and in here (insert tap your chest icon).

When I consider the true cost of keeping anything past it’s ‘best before date’, there is really very little that I can afford to hang on to.  Peak experiences ? As soon as they’ve happened, they’re in the past. Material stuff ? It only slows us down and takes up space (and, admittedly, I would have a hard time letting go of my bikes). Love ? Even love is not meant to be hoarded, but passed on to others (but don’t worry, true love always stays with us).  What I AM wanting to hang onto though are some basic values, which remind me about who I am and what kind of life I want to experience.

What about you ?  What can you let go of, and what can you afford to hang on to ?

Just like the autumn leaves change color and gracefully fall to the ever-welcoming ground, allow your own “foliage” to transform, from what is, to what was, to what can be.  Let your losses become gifts, your regrets resolve, your anger compassion, your sadness wisdom. Let go of all those cherished moments as well, freeing yourself up to experience more and more.

So what are the vibrant colors of your own “leaves” ? Let them all turn a brilliant shade of gold as they make their way back to earth, feeding the soil of your being as well as that of others, with the nutrients of your life.  Don’t worry about your apparent nakedness, but look around and encourage others to shed the things that want to be shed.  Besides, what difference does it make if we’re all naked together any way ?

In peace and shedding,

Patrick

ps: if you like this, shed some light by sharing while you shed…