Stories
(Art & words kindly from, Stormie Mills. Instagram @stormiemills. Original in colour).
‘A tra poco’ lets take a short break, from destroying our planet, listen to those that will inherit it, learn from the indigenous cultures of the past and see the future in a better way, let’s do more, let’s act, let’s ask those that are in ‘power’ to act on our behalf, repeatedly, or let’s change them out for those that will, let’s stop this circus of stupidity that values today over tomorrow.
The Squirrel Story (from The White Stripes album ‘Elephant’, track 10).
When problems overwhelm you and sadness smothers us where do we find the will and the courage to continue? Well the answer may come in the caring voice of a friend. A chance encounter with a book. Or from a personal faith. For Janet, help came from her faith but it also came from a squirrel. Shortly after her divorce, Janet lost her Father. Then her job. She had mounting money problems. Janet not only survived, she worked her way out of despondency and now she says life is good again.
How could this happen? She told me that late on Autumn day when she was at her lowest, she watch a squirrel storing up nuts for the Winter. One at a time he would take them to the nest. And she thought, if that squirrel can take care of himself – so can I. Once I broke my problems into small pieces, I was able to carry them – just like those acorns. One at a time.
Army of Ink Salute .
It is these inky things that stand me up when I slip up back. Show me forward into places I wouldn’t go all by myself. Write the wrongs through poems and songs. Create picture books of what I can’t tell. Hold me in a silent vigil when I bump and stop. Slow a world too big ad fast into moments precious and still.
It is these inky things that turn the deep end into a puddle I can jump over. Fear into something I can see. Anger into rock the boat defiance (like a wee rabbit thumping its foot). Shift loneliness into along wrapped in a nice warm blanket. Shrink pain to a hurt more my size. Make difference and smallness fell like a snug old fit. Every knock a trip to somewhere new.
And when night arrives … they snuggle beneath my pillow soft like a hidden treat. Riding the rise and fall of a slumbering breath. Catching sweet dreams and soft sounds that awaken a brand new day.
(Reposted from 2010. See also, ‘Peacemakers Plot’, ‘Once Upon A Dark Time‘. All Army of Ink here. In Clunk & Jam book, 2019. Original handwriting by Mags, with a chook feather from Ruth’s farm in Yallingup, Western Australia for handmade book, ‘Rock The Boat’, 2009.)
(Art Harley Manifold, Original in colour)
A strange phenomenon… on Youth Focus camps, spending time with young people – one thing always comes through strongly. 20-25 young individuals arrive to spend a weekend together and often there’s only one thing they have in common – they’re all different. That ‘difference’ too, seems to be the carrier of loneliness, the feeling of disconnection and lack of sense of place in the world. But, over the space of a weekend, that very difference is what unites and strengthens them.
Why? Because, unlike the world outside the camp environment, difference is valued and accepted there. So it’s safe to reveal their true selves, however strange, weird and unacceptable that might be to the outside world. And they are safe also to try on new ways of being without judgement and criticism. And it always makes you wonder … what if being different meant you’d never be alone again…. What if society valued and appreciated difference as opposed to casting aside those who don’t fit the mould.
What if individual flags were flown in the face of the ‘one size fits all’ (we all know it doesn’t). Wouldn’t the world be a far more interesting (and safer) place to be.
Similar posts: Toast To Differences; Good Difference; Difference Matters
The Fringe
What if being different meant you’d never be alone again ?
Imagine…if those of us who felt different could be strengthened in our difference through the sharing of stories….which wouldn’t mean we’d all become the same ….but we might feel less alone in our difference….
(Art by Stormie Mills. ‘Clunk & Jam’ book – a collection of art and stories championing diversity and difference.)
(Ash Browne).
As bush fires rage throughout Australia and news feeds take us live into the tragedy unfolding, its heartbreak and suffering, be mindful of protecting children from the trauma of these scenes. And yourself too. Those affected will need very sensitive care for a very long time to come – and this is already happening through the heartening swell of human kindness that has emerged in response to this tragic time. Keep safe.
There is strength, comfort and hope in art and stories ….
These beautiful image are from a book called ‘The Mysteries of Harris Burdick’ by Chris Van Allsburg. The artist has never been found, nor the stories he wrote about the 14 beautiful drawings (with titles only). They were published as a collection of drawings in the hope that children will be inspired by them – and write their own stories.
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