Category Archives: Insight

Avoiding vulnerability – friendship lost + found

There is value in being open and vulnerable*, and a price to pay for avoiding it.  When I look back, ‘avoiding’ is what I was doing when I tried to cover up my imperfections, or tried to make a good … Continue reading

Posted in appearances, friendship, Insight, open, parenting, vulnerability | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The auntie thing…

As my nephew and I sat on the back deck drinking beer, watching the trees, and discussing the state of the world, I remembered my relationship with Aunt Mabel, when I was his age – mid twenties. We’ve lived nearby … Continue reading

Posted in aunties, awareness, experience, Insight, Memories, reflections, relationships | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

What’s in a name?

People change their names for so many reasons.  I first became aware of this with women I knew who changed their names as a part of their working through experience of abuse. Then there are those who have felt oppressed … Continue reading

Posted in beliefs, choices, heritage, identity, Insight, names, psychology, reflections | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Occupy?

In the sixties, computers like we have now hadn’t been invented.  They were a ‘futuristic’ concept.  Some of us dreamed that eventually there would be a computer on every desk in schools.  We thought computers would be used to create … Continue reading

Posted in capitalism, causes, computers, equality, exploitation, history, ignorance, Insight, love, materialism, Memories, personal power, politics, poverty, reflections, social change, social justice, values | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Blogging consciousness…

Why do I blog?   Probably the majority of bloggers ask themselves, occasionally, why they do it, what they are after.    Am I posting too often, or too little?   And ultimately “What is my goal?” * When I ask myself why, … Continue reading

Posted in awareness, blogging, consciousness, Insight, personal growth, personal power, Poetry, Reflection, reflections, social change, values | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The habit of despair

Last night I watched the very moving documentary Crooked Beauty* about Jacks McNamara’s  life, art, music, poetry, and activism – threaded through her experience of mental illness.  I’ll watch it again.  I was reminded of something I’ve been thinking about, … Continue reading

Posted in awareness, body, consciousness, Feelings, Insight, personal growth, psychology, reflections | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Different drummer

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. It is not important that he should … Continue reading

Posted in causes, community, consciousness, history, Inclusion, Insight, love, marijuana, personal growth, personal power, reflections, social change, social justice, values, volunteering | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Omar

Omar.   He spoke English, French, German Arabic and Russian well, and a few others passably.   Born in Jordan of ‘ethnic Russian’ parents, he was my ‘exotic flame’. Omar’s passion at the time was writing plays, and he supported himself as … Continue reading

Posted in consequences, education, experience, food, friendship, history, Insight, love, Memories, reflections, relationships | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

My “pedophile” experience

My ‘pedophile experience’   began with a cute little nine month old baby called David.  And it began in the park.  I was ten and living in LaSalle, Quebec. In those days most kids had the freedom to roam about the … Continue reading

Posted in awareness, child abuse, consciousness, ignorance, Insight, modern life, parenting, pedophiles, Reflection, reflections, trauma | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The feel of love…

I have  kept the lace jacket for almost 50 years now.  It was made by my mother’s hand, to go with the peau de soie wedding dress she also made for me. I knew she was doing it partly to … Continue reading

Posted in consciousness, Insight, loss, love, Memories, mother, personal growth, Reflection, reflections, relationships | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment