Coming soon. The simpler life
Posted At: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:02 PM | Posted By: Jon Katz
December 31, 2008 – Getting as much e-mail as I do, it is sometimes possible to see themes emerging, from disparate parts of the country. One thread suggests that the media view of America is too narrowly focused, and is contributing to a sense of panic. When you look at the world in terms of the stock market, it is easy to miss some significant occurrences running alongside.
Almost all of my e-mail talks of a simpler, healthy life to come, a time of limits, realism, greater awareness of waste and the environment and greater connection to people and community.
I think these threads are wise, and people far from power centers often have a better perspective than the experts. For me, living on a farm, this has concrete meaning, which I am just beginning to explore.
In order to live my life, and protect the farm, I am rethinking the farm. A woman wrote me this afternoon saying she would no longer read my books or my blog because I had sent Elvis to market, and I wished her a Happy New Year and agreed that she would be happier reading someone else.
What I thought, though, was that I am determined to preserve the farm, control it, bring it into the new times with clarity, thoughtfulness and some wisdom.
I am also rethinking my life along these lines. I’d like to write this weekend about what I mean by a simpler and more meaningful time, as I am just beginning to sort the idea out. It is somewhat about money, of course, but also about other things – food, waste, love, friendship, spirituality. It will be fun to try and sort this out, and I appreciate and welcome the many idea I am getting from all of you.
I no longer have any doubt about my own me: things are challenging, but they will be better, and to some extent, that is a choice. Beyond the fluctuations of markets is life itself, and hope and the joy that is always there, if we are open to it.
Luna's Life
Posted At: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 9:27 AM | Posted By: Jon Katz
December 31, 2008 – Storming. Talked to the farmer who took Harold, Elvis and Luna. The steers were slaughtered, their meat going to a homeless shelter for teens. Luna, however, fell in love again and has been bred, and is believed to be pregnant. Good for her.
The snow is building again, fitting for the end of 2008. I’m getting a good response to my meme that 2009 will be a better year. Planning a quiet New Year’s eve, going to visit a friends mother and bring her some dinner. I am grateful for my friends, my family, my life. Joy is available, if you are open to it, and I am. I am in a blogging fever this weekend and want to take good photos and write about friendship, fulfillment, and determination to move past panic and fear and live life.
Bottled water
Posted At: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 9:13 PM | Posted By: Jon Katz
Old farmhouse, Hebron
December 30, 2008 – Thinking about my own life, as well as the times, I was reading a piece that made me think better, saner times may be coming. America has the purest, safest, best water in the world. More than 3 billion people in the world, according to the U.S., do not have access to clean freshwater. Americans do, and they spend 10 billion dollars a year to buy bottles of water, much of which is tap water put in bottles. This is how our economy works, I guess, creating needs for things we don’t need at great expense.
I often buy those bottles of water, but I think I may stop. Not only is the tap water good, but there are all those millions of plastic bottles floating around piling up in dumps. It is insane, as is the market and the panic surrounding it. The guy at Glens Falls Toyota is right. We have to change the narrative, and I am working on it, taking a good look at the way I live, the things I buy and spend. From dog treats to water to my Satellite TV bill, to the number of animals on my farm, I am rethinking my life, and am increasingly coming to believe that we are not heading to Armageddon, but a saner, simpler and more coherent world.
This has become personal, as it reflects itself on the farm, which is, day by day, becoming a different place. More about that as we approach the New Year.
Hospice Journal, Izzy.
Posted At: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 3:38 PM | Posted By: Jon Katz
Joy
Posted At: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 10:07 AM | Posted By: Jon Katz
Minnie the barn cat
December 29, 2008 – A friend told me recently that there is joy in being alive, whether you are happy or not, or whether or not you have difficulties in life. I believe that. Working in hospice, living on this farm, writing and taking photos, I find joy in my life every day, and more than once. Life is not to be wasted, or overwhelmed with gloom and worry. I am not always happy, and there are plenty of problems for us to wrestle with – money, jobs, illness, misfortune. I have no time for pollyannas, or those who seek perfect lives outside of their own.
Life is not always good, and things do not always go our way. None of us have perfect lives, or lives defined only by happiness and good fortunate.
Life is defined by the pain and challenges we experience as much as the good luck and happy times.
This, then, is the joy of life, at least to me. The opportunity to create, to seek and find love, and most of all, the great good fortune at having the opportunity and time to live, grow, learn and struggle to be better.
2009 will be a good year for me, because that is my choice, and I mean to make it happen. That is the joy in being alive. My life is not only defined by trouble, and there is plenty of that, but by fulfillment, creativity, the joy of being an artist, the good fortune to be a writer, and the human connections I am learning how to make. Precious stuff.
P.S. I am a big believer in memes, ideas that are spread electronically through the culture. The media meme, popular right now, is that we are all doomed, going over the cliff, heading for ruin. My meme is that things are going to get better, healthier and more meaningful, despite the pain and trouble. Do your part. Spread the word. Send your signal. Our meme is better than theirs. “Out Of The Shadows” can now be pre-orderd.
