My morning Chi Kung and reading the Tao Te Ching have pushed me in a direction that I've been seeking for a long, long time now. I'm really excited , in a peaceful and healthy way, about the place I'm finding my spirit nowadays. What's more, the speed of this country and culture has begun to work its magic on me. To be here for any length of time, and remain sane, one HAS to develope patience. Everything moves at a different beat, and everyone recognizes a different speed--a different time for conducting one's daily life and affairs. What better place for learning to slow down and begin to appreciate the moment. I think we've so slowly and imperceptively developed an entirely new approach to everyday life that our return to the "American Dream" will in fact be a tough transition. I'm positive that this slowing down is one of the best things that has ever happened to us. It's funny...for this is one of the many gifts that i had not anticipated, yet, again, it is probably one of the most valuable lessons we've recieved thus far.
And here i am...everyday feeling like life couldn't be fuller and more fulfilling. How lucky am i to be free of my chains...ha, ha, ha....I have to laugh at myself for writing this...my chains will always follow me...i suppose it's how much heavier or lighter they become that is my task.
So, here we are again. It's Sunday on the finca and I just finished sharpening Mary's machete for work tomorrow. I still need to touch up my "alcapolco" for cleaning coffe and my "cuta" for chopping lena (wood for cooking). Albertina, the woman I'm eating with, is down with a cold and could use some help with carrying lena. We planted beans together today and i helped her out abit by carrying a load of wood that she had gathered. I really prefer not to carry lena on my head, but i still lack a "necapal" to carry it as i'd prefer to--or at least how all the other men carry it. The rain has passed now and the setting sun is finally peeking through the clouds. Another full week of work then a Saturday to reward us for our labors. Two new vistiors arrived an hour or two ago. One of them sits beside me as i write. He's slapping at the flies that are biting him, but he still hasn't changed into a pair of pants yet.....Ohhhh, how he'll be scratching tonight and tomorrow. They seem very pleasant and peaceful. She's over playing with the kids--Monopoly of all things.....she's already put her pants on but remains sockless in her sandles...she'll learn...probably sooner than later. But life presses on, as it does everywhere.....and now is my time to recognize it as it passes............
-ryan
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3 comments:
Waaaaaw, you almost sound like a zen monk Ryan, Guatemalan peasant life seems to do you much good.
Reading your blog, it's nice (I don't have many good words in my vocabbulary), you can see the changes you guys are going through and have gone through. Whenever you guys go back, I'm sure it will stay a a good memory for a long time, and I guess it allready changed your lifes. IF you ever go back. Maybe it depends on whether your apetite for beer and pizza grows big enough :) Just joking, have a good time overthere. And keep up the good work.
Many greetings from Holland, Ruben.
Hi guys-
I haven't checked up on you in while, but now I do and wow, it sounds like you've found everything you were looking for. Everything that's good for the soul even if it's rough on the body, like hard work and furious biting insects (and no pizza or beer). I was all prepared to be unspeakably jealous until it occured to me that there's no reason at all that I can't do exactly what you're doing, or something similar. So, thank you so much for reminding me that there are wonderful things to do in the world and that ordinary people can do them. And thank you for doing those wonderful things.
... and we can decide how heavy or how light those chains will be...
Arlene
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