Tag Archives: joy
#TakeAKnee = We Can Do Better
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American is all a twitter (pun intended) over NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem before a football game. So many think that the players are being disrespectful to the military, the flag, country, etc. That they are being “un-American.”
Take A Knee means we can do better as Americans. In this case, we can do better about social justice in particular about how law enforcement treats blacks. There has been much evidence that justice isn’t always blind, and, therefore, #TakeAKnee is to bring attention to that issue so that we can do better as Americans.
NFL player, Eric Reid (no relation), was the first player to kneel with Colin Kaepernick in 2016. He did so to protest police brutality and was motivated by his faith. “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead,” he said in a New York Times interview.
American was founded on ideals– with an “L” about how we can do better. “Liberty and justice for all” “All men are created equal” We didn’t implement these ideals well in the beginning. We, eventually decided we can do better. So we abolished slavery because we decided we can do better and not enslave people for economic gain. It took a civil war, but we did it. We eventually granted women the right to vote because we believed we can do better. It took protests and imprisonment and punishment, but we did it.
Civil rights, women’s rights, human rights… it’s not about taking away someone’s rights, it’s about we can do better about moving closer to living the ideals of the founding of our country.
We don’t have leaders in DC, or in many houses of faith for that matter, who are willing to express thoughtful language that inspires us to do better. So it’s up to us, we the people, to be careful with each other. Focus on what we have in common. Have compassion for each other. Remember, we don’t really know what others are experiencing and so let’s listen, connect, try…
We are the ones who can do better.
The Pursuit
“And I dream too much
and I don’t write enough
and I’m trying to find God everywhere”
-Anis Mojgani
Where is Sacred Space?
Your sacred space is where you can find yourself over and over again.
-Joseph Campbell
It’s Simple, Really
“But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?”
-Albert Camus
Do It
Go all the way with it.
Do not back off.
For once, go all the goddamn way with what matters.
-Ernest Hemingway
Someday
Conditions are never perfect. “Someday” is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you. If it’s important to you and you want to do it “eventually,” just do it and correct course along the way. -Timothy Ferriss
Cuba: Days Eight & Nine
“Ever Onward to Victory”
Our final two days were back in Habana.
Impressions:
Yes, Cuba is poor in materials and even natural resources.
Tourism seems to be its most stable and successful business.
Outside Habana, the country is a beautiful island with hills, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, biospheres, chickens roaming everywhere and roosters waking you at 4:45 AM.
People outside walking, walking, walking, hitching a ride when they can, rarely a private car in sight.
Food extremely limited in variety but served with pride in generous portions.
Music.
Dance.
Heat. Humidity.
Kindness. Smiles.
Feeling, not like a tourist. No begging. No hassles.
Cubans love their country and see its flaws. They want a better standard of living but don’t want to be “too commercial like America.”
Cubans we met love Americans and think our two governments are “silly and we need to be friends.”
Cubans love Fidel and know he’s “holding on too much to the revolution.”
Cubans love Raoul and “believe will take us forward.”
They are proud of their schools and medicine.
Stay in a Casa Particulares with Cuban families. The hospitality is enriching to the soul.
Eat in a palador, not restaurants for the same reason.
Swim in the sea.
Hike in the hills.
Walk the tobacco farms.
Learn the revolucion, Bay of Pigs, and the embargo from their perspective.
Buy books written from their perspective.
Leave behind as much as you can: lotions, sunscreens, toilet paper, mosquito repellant, clothes, tips… the staff at the casas appreciate it greatly.
Listen as much as you can.
Ask questions.
Learn as much Spanish as you can and speak it.
Leave behind your kindness and compassion.
Take with you a better understanding that people are people.
We really want the same things.
Cuba: Day Seven
Cuba may be poor and lack so many resources, but it is a beautiful island.
We spend an hour in the morning walking through the national park ” El Cubano” in the mountains of Escambay, just a thirty minute drive outside Trinidad. The area is lush with a diversity of plants, birds and animals. We had a guide who first attempted to narrate us through the biodiversity of the area, but we were rebelling that morning and were focused on reaching the end of the trail where a waterfall awaited.
Of course it was hot. Of course it was humid. It’s a tropical island.
The walk was up and down easy hills and we were all drenched in sweat when we reached our destination. The waterfall cascaded into a clear pool of cold water. Most of our group stripped to our swim suits and jumped in.
Our pace one tour was slowing down. We only had another day together and by now, clusters of friends had formed: the under 40 New Yorkers; the two families bonded withe 50-something couple from New York; the 60-something couple from Oregon protecting the married mom traveling alone;the two single men from California each kept to themselves, but not awkwardly so. The group worked well together during our nearly two weeks together.
We asked question of our guide and office other about Cuban politics and life; American politics; each others jobs… not surprisingly a high percentage of the group worked in non-profits or higher education. We were balanced by our New Yorkers working in advertising, law and “investments.”
Dinner was at Playa Ancon.
Our bus stopped at what seemed to be someone’s house. It was our caterer and our musicians for our evening on the beach. The beach was almost vacant and what few people were there left soon after our arrival because a storm was blowing our way. We thought for sure were we about to be hit with a tropical storm, but, Dady, our lead guide said, “Let’s see…”
Everyone left the beach except us.
We were rewarded for our faith.
The few raindrops didn’t even dampen our clothes.
The sunset performed for us along with our musicians. Fresh fish, veggies and rum…an abundance of rum along with a few Cuban cigars.
Celebration in the joy of Cuba’s beauty.
Cuba: Day Six
Trinidad, Cuba.
The first time I’d ever heard of Santeria and seen the Casa Templo de Santeria: Yemaya was on the Departures TV series when Canadian travelers, Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach, walked into what appeared to be a regular storefront business on the cobbled streets of Trinidad.
What they found was a black “doll” dressed in all white sitting on a chair in the middle of an empty room. She represents the sea goddess, Yemaya.
It’s startling not just because of what it is, but the room has an energy and calmness at the same time. A very palatable feeling.
The high ceiling, white walls and blue fish and water paintings created a calm and cooler atmosphere contrasting heavily with the heat, humidity and ruggedly cobblestone streets of this UNESCO cited Spanish Colonial city located in the southern, center part of Cuba.
Our group had an appointment with the Temple Priest to learn about this religion that mixes traditions and beliefs brought by West African slaves and over years, mixed with Spanish Colonial Catholicism.
More than 70% of Cubans practice this religion. Many come to the Priest for advice about work, love, decisions to be made… the advice is typically a mix of prayer and rituals centered around plants, fruits, vegetables and animals.
The Temple is closed on Sunday because the Priests attend mass in the Catholic Church.
This is when I wish I had started my Spanish lessons earlier so that I could return and converse with the Priest. Through our translator I learned the Priests only wear white and the people I had seen in the streets in all white were either devotees of the religion or studying to become Priests. Unfortunately, my infant-level Spanish prevented me from further engagement.
Dady, our lead guide had given us all street maps of Trinidad because “the streets all have two names and are confusing because they follow no pattern.”
Boy, was she right.
You learn early that the center of this small community is at the higher elevation and our casa was “down the slope.” Streets and cobbled and challenging to walk. My husband and I were lost on our afternoon walk and about to head in the completely wrong direction when our son spotted us and put us on the right course.
Hot. Humid. A much poorer community than Cienfuegos the day before.
The peak tourist season had ended which I liked, but it made for empty streets and empty bars.
Our casa was “under construction” and more “rustic” than others. The family, however, was as warm and kind as we had learned to expect. We had lunch there and were served our first treat of Cuban helado. My husband had both chocolate and vanilla.
He and our son met up with others in the group that evening to find a hotel to watch the NBA playoffs.
I stayed in the room to write and read my book on Che I’d found in the town earlier that day.
