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Juggling and Olive Trees




I agonise over all sorts of odd things. One of these is the value of protesting. Does it make a difference, or is it a politically pointless form of virtue signalling? I honestly don't know, so figure it's better to do it as it doesn't hurt me and just might do some good. Making a lot of noise sometimes normalises a position that originally is viewed by the community as weird and indefensible. Hence hanging out with Posy and her buddies at Friday's Strike for Climate Action.

The big thing for me is attempting to live a life in which my public views are privately lived out. I don't get this done perfectly. Some days I don't get anywhere near it. But I am trying to live as if I actually believe what all those posters boldly proclaim.

It is the Spring Equinox here in the Southern Hemisphere. Well, yesterday, technically. A good time to plant seeds of change, both literally and metaphorically. Periodically I like to visualise my version of the Good Life. What could it be like to live a a truly local, joyous, wild life? How to fit in more community and friends and family and good food from the earth, and less things that nobody needs, and less busy work with more storytelling, music and juggling?

So this is what I am pondering during our equinoctial hail storm today. What do you think? What is your version of the Good Life?

Mine includes the two baby olive trees I planted in pots this week. One day I will be stacking jars of homegrown olives in my pantry, and bringing them along to potlucks with all the friends and poetry and juggling..




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Anonymous said…
I struggle with the same thoughts. My 17 year old self would have been at a protest saying it "loud and proud." My 58 year old self planted a tree instead. My hope is that protestors of all ages make "protesting" an integral part of their daily life by reusing, planting, sharing, and demanding change.
Cheers Jo!
Patricia/USA
Sunday, 22 September, 2019
Anonymous said…
BTW, I most definitely share your vision of a good life: friends, dancing, singing, sharing food? Sign me up!
Patricia
Sunday, 22 September, 2019
Jo said…
Patricia, ah, thanks for that. I really like that image of 'protesting as an integral part of daily life'. I will remember that. And planting a tree, yes, such a practical response to everything that we have managed to get wrong so far. What tree did you plant?
I really want to implement that Good Life vision (ok, someone else will have to do the juggling). There is such a lot of apocalyptic gloom around. But planting trees and sharing and storytelling are all still free and will make everything so much better..
Monday, 23 September, 2019
Anonymous said…
I planted a Royal Poinciana. It is a beautiful tree that forms an umbrella of shade, a provides orange flowers in the spring and summer. I also planted a small banana tree with hopes of getting some fruit.
Yes, fellowship and community do make this dam apocalyptic gloom easier to handle.
Have a great week.
Patricia


Monday, 23 September, 2019
Jo said…
Patricia, I looked up that tree, and it is a beauty. I am pretty sure I have seen them growing up in Queensland. I hope you have a big yard! Bananas! We had them in our yard when I was a child in New Guinea. The banana bunches ripened in our outdoor laundry and always harboured giant black spiders..
Tuesday, 24 September, 2019
Treaders said…
Your version of the good life looks great to me - family, friends, good food and a less busy life (although I now have a much "less busy" life being retired). And I love olive trees too. I want to plant fig, olive and eucalyptus (well those are the main dreams at the moment) I'm not quite sure where in my garden yet. A friend's husband bought her a several hundred-year old olive tree for her birthday few years ago - man was it beautiful!
Friday, 27 September, 2019
Jo said…
Anna, I hope your retirement is bringing you a lot of joy. I can see by your blog that it is bringing a lot of projects:) Hundred year olive trees were not so much in my price range, so I bought one-year-old ones instead. I really hope they make it to be a hundred years old though, as old trees are beautiful, and the gnarled trunks of old olive trees are wonderfully sculptural. I do hope that old olive trees aren't being yanked off ancient hillside farms or forests for expensive birthday presents though..
Friday, 27 September, 2019
Anonymous said…
I love the line: here my public views are privately lived out. I don’t think I am doing that well enough. And it’s important to me. That integration of values and actions and words.

As to protesting, I think it is great for our young to get passionate. I don’t expect them to demonstrate their green credentials in all aspects of their lives, as our pollies and the critics do. I think the protests also show the ground swell which our pollies need to see.

Lucinda
Wednesday, 02 October, 2019
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