Indigenous People's Day

Happy Indigenous People's Day! Some people celebrate the second Monday in October as Columbus Day, but many of us prefer to honor instead the people who were here in the Americas for centuries before Columbus "discovered" it.

Many cities are finally making the name change official, adopting Indigenous People's Day to celebrate the people and their culture, and also to reflect on their ongoing struggles in this land. The celebration today includes powwows, drumming, dancing, Native American foods and crafts.

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and how I will step up for the Natural Living Challenge.

This period just after the new moon is the start of the lunar cycle, a time to journey to the well of wisdom and intuition; it's a time to retreat and set intentions, but it's also a yang time to start a new project and take first steps on my intentions. 

Agenda:

1. Read "Tiny Habits"

2. Set intentions

3. Synergy project first steps

4. New morning flow

5. Giving each thing a home

6. A note about appropriation

1. Read "Tiny Habits":

I'm reading this book by BJ Fogg (2020), with the subtitle of "The Small Changes That Change Everything". This is the scripting process introduced in Sweet Spot, expanded on.

Chapter Five is Emotions Create Habits, about celebrating small victories by doing something (after completing a habit) to create a positive feeling inside myself. Remember the little celebrations we do that help a baby learn to walk: Yay! You did it! -- These are the kinds of celebrations I need to really seal in a new habit. Whatever it is, it has to be authentic.

The tidbit from this chapter that got me is: If celebrating the small habits (like getting out of bed after my nap) seems silly, remember that everything starts with a first baby step. The bigger goals are to be energized, and have integrity, and spend time with my grandsons. So, celebrate the tiny step that gets me to that!

2. Set intentions:

Last week I brainstormed some wild and crazy ideas for October, and today it's time to narrow it down a little, to the priority items that I could focus on this next month. This isn't a list of the practical things I need to do this month; rather it's my top actions, studies, and growth goals that fit with the "taste" of this month of my life, and how I want to feel.

After I list my top goals for the next 30 days, I'm ready to set some intentions for action. I chose a few to write today - those I might act on today - then I'll work on a few more each day this week.

I intend to create synergy with my teams (including earthcare, clerks, and family) in our efforts towards Right Action, by communicating my vision, seeking unity, embracing teamwork, and working tirelessly towards a better end, because joining together makes our efforts stronger and more powerful, and I now I can't do it all myself. 

 

I intend to develop new renewal rituals and holistic habits, and a flow that helps me to engage all of myself (physical, mental, spiritual) in my priorities with an inner synergy that energizes me with super power!

 

3. Synergy Project first steps:

I set synergy as my theme this month: the ability to seek unity, embrace teamwork, live holistically, and work tirelessly towards a better end. In the spirit of simplicity, I'm trying to hone in on just a couple of goals for this project, and today I will make a plan and choose the first steps:

• M: Holistic Habits: Develop and refine renewal rituals that have a flow sequence, and that engage all parts of me holistically.
• T: Teamwork plans and visuals: Design a plan for how to communicate my vision for projects, teamwork, field trips, and chore expectations. Consider how I am creating synergy with my teams, developing trust relationships, and realistic expectations with my community, and for delegation.
• Inner Synergy: Make a plan for one priority that helps me to engage all of myself (physical, mental, spiritual) with a surge of energy. 
• Have a  weekly "Right Action" brainstorm for earthcare and clerking. Hone in on the top priorities for the week 
• Have a  weekly "Right Action" brainstorm for myself. Hone in on the top priorities for the week.

4. New morning flow:

Yesterday I tried out a new flow for the morning that worked well: Hygiene -> Art -> Clearing -> Big Home Project -> Lunch. 

It worked yesterday because I had a free morning with no interruptions. But the rest of the week I have a scan appointment, Arthur pick up, ECEF call, Arthur again, then QEW gathering. 

So how can I practice flow even with interruptions? Maybe I can have a mini-flow, where I briefly touch on each thing:

• Quick hygiene = 10 min.
• Tiny art step = 5 min.
• Tiny clearing = 5 min.
• Big Home Project prep = 10 min.

5. Giving Each Thing a Home:
I'm still working to find a zen balance of order that feels good. I have asked myself "Why am I holding on to so much stuff - how can I make letting go super easy? How can I make sorting fun again?"

My current clearing plan is to tackle one room-clearing task, one outdoor-clearing task and one studio task each week. This week I plan to:

• Bedrooms: Craft boxes and papers
• Outside: Clear the pallet and other junk from garden
• Studio: Clear cabinet

My weekly rhythm + extras is:

• M: Garden: pallet, gutters
• T: Recycling + craft boxes
• W: Deep dive in office - clear a junk box off the floor 
• Th: Sort linens, clothes, coats                                                       
• F: Deep dive in studio cabinet
• Sat: Refrigerator
• Sun: In-basket, papers, books

6. A note about appropriation:

When I was teaching art classes, I taught Native American crafts and culture often, because it was relevant to my students, and I always included historical and contemporary images and information. (Go to my sidebar to see the National Art Education Association position statement regarding cultural appropriation.)

But I also sometimes borrow symbols, techniques, and ideas for my own use. Borrowing from someone else’s culture happens all the time. Artists and craftspeople have always been inspired by symbols and images of other cultures. This practice is called cultural exchange. In cultural exchange, there is mutual sharing and mutual respect.

Cultural appropriation, on the other hand, is “the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.” It's when we borrow without permission, and without acknowledgement to the victim-culture’s past.

 

As Taté Walker says in 

4 Ways To Honor Native Americans Without Appropriating Our Culture

:  "There is a fine line between appropriation and appreciation." Most of us intend no harm - we like the style or the symbolism; we like to appear worldly or exotic - but it's time to stop being boorish, insensitive, racist white folks and learn what is appropriate and what isn't. 

Queries:

Am I using items or ceremonies of a minority culture in order to make it a part of my own culture, or to appear worldly? 

Am I creating crafts from a minority culture in order to sell them to make a profit?

Do I know the history of the people, and understand the cultural significance of the item or custom?