Cleaning the Dirt or A Place of Dhyāna

I spend hours cleaning the dirt on our land on Whalley Road. Each day I put on my dirty cloths, choose music that suits my mood, and get down on the ground to ‘clean the dirt.’ I don’t wear gloves. There’s something about cleaning the dirt that I find peaceful and calming. I know that there is no end to the task. Dirt will always be dirty. I realize it isn’t the product I’m interested in when I clean the dirt. It is the process. I notice the small steps. I appreciate the progress. I love seeing the difference from the piece I’ve worked and the one I’ll work on tomorrow. And I know there is always more to do. It never ends. I hope it never does.

Soon I'm going to put flowers in the garden. Or maybe I’ll plant herbs or vegetables. For now, the garden keeps getting cleaner and cleaner. There are fewer rocks, not as many underground roots from dying trees. The old tree trunks are composting underground so when I find them with my trowel they disintegrate with my touch.

Today I found my first worm in the dirt. Maybe one day the dirt will be clean enough for other animals to prosper. Maybe not!

Gillian Welsh plays as I dig my hands down deep. Both arms are immersed in the earth. I sing and dig and absorb the sunshine energy. I feel the breeze from the beach. I smile. I am happy just cleaning the dirt. I'm just cleaning the dirt.

Enroute

Summer has begun. The ferry glides it’s way through the wild waters of the Canadian west coast and I become aware of the clarity of my surroundings. There is something about landing in Vancouver that trigggers my conscientiousness and tunes me in. It’s like gently maneuvering the knob of a radio that crystallizes the sound, and establishes perfect location of station broadcasting. That’s what happens to me en route to Gabriola. I become perfectly tuned in.

It is a conversation I have often with Paul. He insists that he is transformed when he comes to B.C. “Places don’t change us.” I say. “We are who we are, wherever we are.” But something does change in British Columbia. Life becomes easier. I become more open to let go and just be, and it seems to be easier to embrace my surroundings. I give in to the universe.

Gliding on the ferry I am watchful and aware so as not to miss the presence of seals playfully somersaulting through the waves. They are there each time I make my yearly voyage to Gabriola. They welcome me for the summer as if, they too, wait all year with anticipation for my visit.

Inevitably the heat soaks in as the sun penetrates and I share its warmth with the ferry floors, my fellow passengers and the seals. I am reassured that there is enough for all of us and, as the summer is just beginning I have much time to unwind and reconnect to my world again. Work, play and daily meditation; it's easy to embrace.

Individual Decision Making and Bonnaroo

Every year for the passed 6 years my brother and I make our way to Manchester Tennessee for the annual music festival called Bonnaroo. My brother comes from Connecticut. I come from Toronto. We meet in Nashville, rent a car and spend a wild and fun weekend together.

Bonnaroo is all about the music. The excitement mounts during the year. The line up of performers usually arrives in January and introduces the (approximately) 300 bands that will be playing in the 6 different stages and tents. My goal each year is to attend those bands that I already know and love, and also to seek out new bands to add to my list of favourites.

This year for me there were a few ‘no brainers’. …bands that were up there on my ‘must see’ list. Michael Franti and Spearhead, a hip hop/rocky/ reggae band from California with

spiritual/political messages is one of my favourites. Stevie Wonder, a long time classic was one that I looked forward to hearing. Dave Rawlings featuring Gillian Welsh gave me my Canadian fix. I really like Gillian Welch and loved the entire band.

On the last night I saw Dave Mathews Band. I had never seen them before. That was a treat! Before Dave Mathews, I got to hear another of my faves….Zac Brown Band. I was first introduced to them 6 years ago, my virgin attendance at Bonnaroo. They were playing in one of the very small stages. I sat at a table. There were about 100 people in the room, and I absolutely fell in love with their music. At the time I sat with their fiddle player, Jimmy Dee, after the show. The venue was small and intimate unlike that night when 30,000 people got to hear them, dance to their music and appreciate their vibe.

Choosing which bands I will hear is a challenge. Before the weekend begins, I sit with the schedule of the 3 days. I use 3 different coloured pens. I go through the bands that I undoubtedly want to see, marking them clearly with one colour. My children, familiar with various musical genres, offer their recommendations. I highlight those in another colour. I research unfamiliar bands, sometimes even ‘taste’ their music on You Tube. And so I go to Bonnaroo with some idea about what I want to listen to during my weekend.

But individual decision-making is never that simple. Sometimes the decision I make is not about the music at all. Sometimes the band becomes less of a priority and hanging out with Michael becomes important. I might just check out his choice instead.

Or, maybe it’s raining and the venue I have chosen is uncovered. I might the chose a band that is playing under a tent, or maybe not. I might just withstand the rain for the love of the music.

Maybe I won’t even have to choose! I might be able to figure out how to split my time to

see many bands. The schedules are often staggered to allow for this.

Bonnaroo is a lesson in individual decision-making. I remember that there are many factors that influence the way we make decisions. What we know, how we feel, who we feel like being with are just a few. The important thing is to keep an open mind and to respect the decisions of others. Ultimately…who knows why people do the things they do.

I love Bonnaroo! Everything about it is special. So much music, glorious weather, fun people, and very special time with my brother! What more could I ask for?

Thanks for another great Bonnaroo…Mike! Looking forward to next year.

Teach Don't Tell

Last month Paul and I took our grandchildren to the R.O.M. I think the ROM is one of the best museums I've been to anywhere in the world! The children friendly exhibits allow for complete interaction with the material and the learning can't help but become relevant and meaningful.

We went specifically for the new improved Bat Caves. The Bat Caves is a room with a pathway through the centre. You hear the beeping of the bat’s call and the constant flapping of the wings. If you look up, you see the (what seems like) bats flying. Really, though, it’s just lights flashing on and off to simulate the flying of the bats. When we had walked through the bat cave 6 times, we entered into another room.

Paul took Oscar to check out the Dinosaur exhibit (again). I sat in the animal exhibit with Stella. After some time, she sat down with some paper and pencil. I read a book about water. It was a nice break and we left each other alone.

After a while Stella, came over to me. “Safta, how do you write the number 101?” she asked.

One, zero, one.” I whispered back to her. She returned to her paper. Less than a minute passed. She returned. “How do you write 110?”

At this point I could tell this could keep going on. “Do you want me to tell you the answer, Stella? Or do you want me to teach you how to do this?”

“Tell me.” She said. So I did. Almost immediately Stella, returned. “How about 111?”

I remembered what I tell my students regularly. “There is a big difference between ‘teaching’ and learning.’ Despite what some professors think, it isn’t about giving information. It’s about providing the time to process the information that actually makes the learning happen. Teachers then, provide strategies and time to ‘play’ with the information in meaningful, relevant and fun ways.

“Watch this.” I said to Stella as I grabbed her precious body close to mine on the museum cushion. With available stones we played for a few minutes. We counted the stones, moving them from one column to the next as the number of stones reached 10. We laughed, sitting close side by side. Stella understood. In no time, she was able to write the numerals with a clear understanding of the concept of place value. That’s real learning! And we shared precious time together!

Website Launch Countdown....Welcome!

Tomorrow my website will be launched! It has been one whole year in preparation. Last summer I thought if I hired someone to create my website, it would just appear. I didn’t realize how much work I would have to do to make it happen! Honestly, I couldn’t have done this without Ted Leather, and Allison Rose from Clayrose Internet Connections. They are the creative geniuses who designed the pages and artistically composed the site. My wonderful, brilliant and loving partner Paul supported me right through the process. He regularly helps me in everything I do, and helps me to believe that I can do anything. It has been hard work!

Margaret Wheatley says, “We know from science that nothing in the universe exists as an isolated or independent entity.” I am so grateful to have the support of others and to know that I never have to be alone in anything I attempt to do. I know I can rely on the people around me. We are meant to work together. Even at a cellular level, we seek each other out for partnership.

My website, www.amyblock.ca, is a tool for me to understand who I am and what I do in this world. I would hope it is a work in progress because I want to always be a work in progress. I do so many things and sometimes, even I need to reflect on what I do, with whom, and why. My website allows me to do that. And it also invites others to discover some of what I can do.

I love writing. I love teaching. And I love communicating with people. Keeping a blog is a perfect opportunity to share my thoughts and ideals with others regularly.

Balance is so critical and I strive to model the living of that balance. Work some, play some, pray some, and learn something new each day. Between my work and family and friends, and making time to be alone, my days are full. It is good. I am satisfied.

Please talk to me. This blog is a forum for dialogue. Let me know what you think. Let’s talk. Let’s communicate. Let’s learn from each other. Let’s grow!

Website Launch Countdown.....Welcome

Tomorrow my website will be launched! It has been one whole year in preparation. Last summer I thought if I hired someone to create my website, it would just appear. I didn’t realize how much work I would have to do to make it happen! Honestly, I couldn’t have done this without Ted Leather, and Allison Rose from Clayrose Internet Connections. They are the creative geniuses who designed the pages and artistically composed the site. My wonderful, brilliant and loving partner Paul supported me right through the process. He regularly helps me in everything I do, and helps me to believe that I can do anything. It has been hard work!

Margaret Wheatley says, “We know from science that nothing in the universe exists as an isolated or independent entity.” I am so grateful to have the support of others and to know that I never have to be alone in anything I attempt to do. I know I can rely on the people around me. We are meant to work together. Even at a cellular level, we seek each other out for partnership.

My website is a forum for me to understand who I am and what I do in this world. I would hope it is a work in progress because I want to always be a work in progress. I do so many things and sometimes, even I need to reflect on what I do, with whom, and why. My website allows me to do that. And it also invites others to discover some of what I can do.

I love writing. I love teaching. And I love communicating with people. Keeping a blog is a perfect opportunity to share my thoughts and ideals with others regularly.

Balance is so critical and I strive to model the living of that balance. Work some, play some, pray some, and learn something new each day. Between my work and family and friends, and making time to be alone, my days are full. It is good. I am satisfied.

Please talk to me. This blog is a forum for dialogue. Let me know what you think. Let’s talk. Let’s communicate. Let’s learn from each other. Let’s grow!