It Takes A Village

"It takes a village to raise a child is an African proverb which means 

that it takes an entire community of different people interacting with children in order for a child to experience and grow in a safe environment. 

The villages would look out for the children."

I'm sure everyone has heard the adage that it takes a village to raise a child. I raised my brats for the most part in a small village in the Interior of BC and I can tell you this is true. The people of that village who knew my kids really loved them - they celebrated victories and provided support during difficult times. They also handed out discipline when required, likely more than I know. I remember when one of the RCMP officers who knew our family saw them on rooftop downtown, he didn't call me, he didn't give them a lecture.... he said... well, I won't say what he said but he dealt with it. 'Nuff said. (It involved the words "stupid" and "fucking" and "kids")

The Fire Hall was a big part of our world when we were raising our kids. Their Dad was a volunteer with the department and the kids played there, helped out and it was a part of the fabric of our life. They learned about service to community, dedication of friends and how love, respect and loyalty matter. My Jacky attended the Nova Scotia Firefighters School and I have no doubt the experience from home helped to guide that decision and his absolute passion for the work. He has been fighting forest fires here in BC this week. Let me tell you how that unfolded....

Barb saw an ad for a company hiring firefighters and sent it to me for him.

Tracey helped find him a place to stay where the company is based because it's her home town.

Louis gave him A CAR.... because he needs one right now.

Here's the most beautiful part - our entire province is on fire and where was Jack deployed? To the hometown where he grew up, to the village that helped to raise him. This is the place that helped him to develop the qualities required to do this job that he loves so much. 

He wears a necklace everyday with the GPS coordinate from this community, because it's where his roots are. Honest-t0-god it just about makes my heart explode. Thank you Nakusp.

Kintsugi and Gratitude

Kintsugi is the centuries-old Japanese art of fixing broken pottery with a special lacquer dusted with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. This repair method celebrates each artifact's unique history by emphasizing its fractures and breaks instead of hiding or disguising them. Kintsugi often makes the repaired piece even more beautiful than the original, revitalizing it with new life.

The past few weeks have been full of unfolding insight, jarring recognition and soul filling gratitude. I feel myself tentatively peeking around the corner and it's a little exciting. Nothing big or life changing has happened, but a corner has been turned. Indifference is in the rear view mirror and I'm finally for the first time in a long time excited about life. Is it the amazing Okanagan sunshine? Could it change drastically with the first snowfall in a few months? Maybe. Feel free to rub it in my face if that's the case, but for now I'm gonna be happy.

7 years ago (thank you Facebook memories) I left my home of 20 years for an exciting life change that was a devastating failure in one sense and the launching of incredible, unexpected things in another. It was a beautiful disaster and, while it broke me more than I thought was possible, I feel the cracks filling with gold and I don't think I'd change a thing.

4 years ago I began training for a job that has become one of the most meaningful experiences of my life - only motherhood beats it. I have the privilege of serving my community and society in general and was born to do this work. I feel it in my bones and I don't take it for granted for a minute.

My adult kids are squished in with me for the summer and it's amazing. It's almost certainly the last time the 4 of us will live together under the same roof and I never imagined I would have the opportunity to experience that again in this lifetime. We are surrounded by the love of friends and family (SO MUCH LOVE) and I'm incredibly grateful because that love is the gold that has helped us to all be OK through some difficult times.

I'm learning that gratitude is a choice. It's a lens to view your world through and it's a balm for the soul. It just feels better when you open your eyes in the morning and take a moment to think about what's good. Being grateful doesn't mean everything is awesome. I worry about a million things and am bitter about others. Some people have it much better than me.... others have it far worse. It doesn't matter. It's about the lens you view it all through. My mother taught me how to use that lens and my father carries on her legacy in that regard.

I have felt broken and unworthy for far too long and I feel that shifting in a powerful way.
Kintsugi.