Easing in
Small projects to warm up, and big thoughts about how to live this year.
A few recent things
“But, of course, nobody ever has time or can ever afford to do poor work; that poor work is affordable is an illusion created by the industrial economy. If bad work is done, a high price must be paid for it; all “the economy” can do is forward the bill to a later generation—and, in the process make it payable in suffering.”
-Wendell Berry, Home Economics
Ooooooof, Wendell Berry’s thoughts and words hit hard. This is a thought that troubles me: our current desire for things to be quick, convenient, and cheap is going to haunt the next ten to a hundred generations (as if it’s not already haunting our own!).
I think about the world’s children now, how we expect them to fix all that we failed at. To me, seeing the children as our only hope is actually a dangerous thought. It’s a passing down of all of our guilt and greed, then washing our hands of it because we have raised children who want the world to be better. I think it’s our job to make the world better for all future children and model exactly what kinds of humans we hope for them to be!
Becoming a parent really turns a huge mirror in your face and forces you to confront all sorts of things that you thought you had locked away. Kids won’t let you hide any part of yourself. They reflect right back to you what you value and who you are.
I have a 2500 word rant typed up about plastic that emerged after reading Home Economics, but I think it needs another week or so to stew before it’s ready to publish. So, I’ll leave you with this: it’s a new year and a common time to reflect and plan for the year ahead. If you were to do one thing for the next generation this year, what would it be?
Housekeeping
I paused paid subscriptions for now. I’m publishing less often than ever, but enjoying it more when I do write it! So, we’ll see how the year shakes out.
See you next time!
Bekka