Any magazine subscriptions I have usually connect me to some interest I simply can't seem to give any real time to right now. But the subscription reminds me that my passion for that hasn't disappeared. It is just on indefinite hold. The last subscription to avoid the austerity cuts to the Davis budget has been the Small Farmer's Journal.
This old style print periodical is a a perfect mesh of beauty and practicality with some absolutely delicious prose placed within every quarterly publication.
My favourite quote on the inside cover of the latest edition:
"I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do."
-Willa Cather
This old style print periodical is a a perfect mesh of beauty and practicality with some absolutely delicious prose placed within every quarterly publication.
My favourite quote on the inside cover of the latest edition:
"I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do."
-Willa Cather
Resignation holds almost entirely negative connotations today, but, in fact, is not all that bad.
I like resignation. There is a kind of peace that comes with it. The best definition I could find was: "an accepting; unresisting attitude, state, etc.; submission. i.e. to meet one's fate with resignation".
I appreciate that there are times not to resign. But I think, today, we underestimate the value of this state of being.
This Christmas I tried to practice a little resignation. This Christmas I have enjoyed starting and ending my day in PJs and, most days, accepted that I still didn't know what dinner would be at 4:45pm.
Instead of listing my new year's resolutions I have adopted an "unresisting attitude" to whatever the new year brings. Submission is probably the hardest thing we, as modern humans, try to do. I'm gonna give it a shot.
This picture below of Ysabeau is the most "resigned"-like picture of her I think I will ever get.
I like resignation. There is a kind of peace that comes with it. The best definition I could find was: "an accepting; unresisting attitude, state, etc.; submission. i.e. to meet one's fate with resignation".
I appreciate that there are times not to resign. But I think, today, we underestimate the value of this state of being.
This Christmas I tried to practice a little resignation. This Christmas I have enjoyed starting and ending my day in PJs and, most days, accepted that I still didn't know what dinner would be at 4:45pm.
Instead of listing my new year's resolutions I have adopted an "unresisting attitude" to whatever the new year brings. Submission is probably the hardest thing we, as modern humans, try to do. I'm gonna give it a shot.
This picture below of Ysabeau is the most "resigned"-like picture of her I think I will ever get.
With young children prone to going delirious with the onslaught of gifts I had a lot of anxiety about building up the Santa tradition into a gluttonous tradition of gifting frenzy.
But on Christmas morning, Ethan read this little letter from Santa addressed to him and his siblings In an age of materialism and, might I even suggest, an unreasonable rationalism, this moment of playfulness stands out and enchants. I see that Ethan (at 10 years old) wants to acknowledge the secret and join the adults, but instead he delves deeper into the play and continues to choose wonder over the material "truth".
Perfect.
In years to come, instead of 'discovering the lie', I think he will simply become the storyteller and join the cast in different way.
I took Ysabeau to see Mozart's The Magic Flute and she was enchanted by the bird-man character Papageno. I think she knows he isn't real but her delight is in watching him play out a "wonder"-ful part.
We need some soul-play as humans. The deep-feeling storytelling that we do in the very depths of us.
But on Christmas morning, Ethan read this little letter from Santa addressed to him and his siblings In an age of materialism and, might I even suggest, an unreasonable rationalism, this moment of playfulness stands out and enchants. I see that Ethan (at 10 years old) wants to acknowledge the secret and join the adults, but instead he delves deeper into the play and continues to choose wonder over the material "truth".
Perfect.
In years to come, instead of 'discovering the lie', I think he will simply become the storyteller and join the cast in different way.
I took Ysabeau to see Mozart's The Magic Flute and she was enchanted by the bird-man character Papageno. I think she knows he isn't real but her delight is in watching him play out a "wonder"-ful part.
We need some soul-play as humans. The deep-feeling storytelling that we do in the very depths of us.
Something so wonderfully simple about the nativity story. Not simple at first glance: teenage pregnancy, seeming infidelity, moving while pregnant, refugee situation.
A baby, a poor peasant girl, a labourer. This family trio deliver a great gift to humanity in a very simple and humble way.
Their little story reminds me of my favourite line from Gandalf in LOTR. "I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love."
Ordinariness. Resignation.
A baby, a poor peasant girl, a labourer. This family trio deliver a great gift to humanity in a very simple and humble way.
Their little story reminds me of my favourite line from Gandalf in LOTR. "I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love."
Ordinariness. Resignation.
But before I let you think that this Christmas was one of deliberate and attentive gift opening, turn-taking traditions - there was some gluttonous ravaging of wrapped presents. Resignation, right?
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