MY TWO BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENTS


It was weird to watch just how stressed out so many people get over the so-called ‘festive season.’ So many seem to ‘frant’ around in a frenzy of spending and consuming beyond budgetry constraints. Whilst in Kendal, a couple of days before Christmas, I recognised an old friend that I had not seen for aeons. I said “Hi” as he paced urgently towards me, “Haven’t seen you for years!” He looked at me in the eye fleetingly, like the shutter of a camera going off, and, not adjusting his pace, just said “Go away!” I obeyed his instructions! From an open shop, adjacent to where I was standing, exuded a familiar Christmas tune, ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ but to a sort of warped reggae rhythm. All of this caused me to wonder where the original spirit of Christmas had gone. It was good to be back home, away from the distorted gallop of it all, and settle down to some relaxing daily chores. This included opening a few Christmas cards many of which contained hand written messages from friends.

One of my best ‘Christmas Presents’ from a very special friend included a supportive, encouraging note, responding to my Down to Earth blog comments. It read –

“I read your blog with interest and a personal recognition, Edward, of the fight within – How hard it is to maintain a balance between gloom on the global front and the personally positive. Keep positive and don’t let the worries gnaw. Remember Candide who set out with such idealism to change the world but ultimately realised the paramount need (and reality) of ‘cultivating his own garden.’ You and Romola are both an inspirational example on that front – literally and metaphorically. If you are counter to the modern flow, I have the feeling that in a couple of generations you’ll be seen as well ahead of the game.

The bigger picture for climate control is, I’m afraid, a matter of political diktat on a level that democracies and five-year mandates cannot manage. Furthermore, even caring people I know won’t sacrifice enough of their comfortable, consuming lifestyle for their children’s children, and that includes me, although I’ve thought much more about cultivating our own garden more simply, since the arrival of a much loved grandson.

I do believe in your ‘snowball effect’ to some extent; what it will need is the example of key trendsetters from the world of media and art fame. That or the shock of polar bear or gorilla extinctions, the return of major famines etc.

In the final analysis, we’ve just been far too successful a species at the expense of too much that is irreplaceable. Crisis is building its head of steam. My hope is that the ingenious human animal will survive it somehow in a more humble, repentant form – and that my grandchild will be part of this.”

My other best ‘Christmas Present’ from a second very special friend, also written as part of her Christmas message talked about the “….mission we are all on, which is to live fully and vitally, in the present, because neither past nor future exist. We need to REALISE what REALLY matters which is love, joy, laughter, music, song, dance, delight, delectability, wonder, surprise, and to wake up every morning and say to oneself ‘Thank you for another day in which to play, work, live and love….. and even more wonderful to feel part of the consciousness that can enjoy all of this…..So, goodbye apocalyptic angst…..just for now we’re still here…..WHOOPEE!’”

In relation to the above comments of my two friends it is interesting to link their joint sentiment with the current thoughts of a Dr. Chris Johnstone who has just published a book entitled ‘Find your own Power.’ – all about shifting away from being personally overwhelmed by the demise of Mother Earth world affairs towards positive engagement and action as part of the cure. Like my friend, Johnstone promotes the idea of inserting ‘enjoyment’ into the take-action-remedy. He likes the idea of “beautiful action” that meets personal as well as planetary needs. He states - “ If there is to be a Great Turning towards a life-sustaining-society, we need to design an approach that makes this ENJOYABLE.”

So, in an attempt to elevate myself above this somewhat grey, soulless, flat January day, I DO like the idea of responding to Dr Johnstone and my two friends and being part of putting on hold the weighty doom and gloom and setting sail via proactive example into a future based on quality celebration, enjoyment, canny ingenuity and original innovation. In effect being part of a new set of pioneers. The REAL pioneers!