Have you noticed?
Have you heard
the laughter
that comes, now and again,
out of my startled mouth?
– Mary Oliver (Heavy)
Dear Friends,
There is only one word on my vision board right now: Joy.
This is quite different from just last year when I was brimming with ambitious plans and hopes for MA…many of which were realized!
I wrote the word down earlier this year when it struck me that nothing I had going on would matter if I couldn’t find reason for joy in it. And by joy, I mean what poet David Whyte describes as “… a deep form of abiding love, the raw engagement with the passing seasonality of existence, the fleeting presence of those we love understood as gift; what is, and will never be again, going in and out of our lives: faces, voices, memory, aromas of the first spring day or a wood fire in winter, the last breath of a dying parent stored in the memory as they create a rare, raw, beautiful frontier between loving presence and blossoming absence.”
The Baganda (Uganda) say: Ekibaawo kimala. This means: That which is available is adequate, and yes, all of what Life has made available to me so far this year, has been adequate for joy. It is possible to be joyful, even in the midst of grief, confusion and rage so overwhelming, it dried spit in my mouth. It is possible to find some perspective, to humble oneself in the face of Life’s magnitude, to see humor in situations and accept them for what they are, to forgive and try to forget, to be grateful for different experiences, and feel compassion blooming into a generosity of spirit which leads one to choose the kindest possible course of action toward oneself and others.
So this is my invitation to you, dear friends: look for joy. And when you find it, whoever you find it with, hold it close.
Curating MA is definitely a source of joy for me these days, especially when I look back at the things you all loved. A particularly delightful moment from July was this glorious explosion of creativity and color served by the Surma and Mursi of Ethiopia’s Omo Valley. Also, fun to revisit is this conversation with Mel of
in which we discuss the dark side of family dynamics as expressed in folklore from the African continent. (Complement this with this talk!)I’m fervently looking forward to what joys August brings my way, and one thing I already know is that half the fun will be getting to share it with you!
Be well,
Helen