A Matter of Language

On my recent visit to Arizona/Mexico I was awakened to the power of language when I met an Aztec man, Netse, 70, and his 20 yr old son. Both are descendants of the Mesheeka people, indigenous to the Arizona/Mexico lands. It was interesting and heartbreaking to find out that even though Netse still spoke the languages of their ancestors that his youngest son could not speak any.The son shared that it was a sacrifice they had to make so that he could get an education in English and learn in the same way many other children around the world were learning.

Sometimes I wonder if it's such a bad thing that people around the world are losing their language and culture and instead adopting a global language that increases communication? Or is it just another form of control and cultural hegemony? As always there are many sides to a story and multiple ways of looking at things.

When I look at my own life, I'm thankful that I speak a language unique to my people. When I speak my language I feel connected to my people and the people that were before my time and to those who will come after me. It's also a feeling of pride and being unique in an age that can easily be cookie-cutter monotonous. It's so hard to think that one day I could very well be one of the last speakers of my language. Netse said it best, 'there are certain things that just cannot be expressed in English...'

~Love God,Live life,One Enkounter at a Time~

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A Matter of Time

I don't think it's any coincidence that God's time seems to be the theme for this month. There just always seems to be a time line involved in everything we want to get done. Anyway, as my birthday is fast approaching I've been spending time reflecting, going through pictures, reading my journals just really reflecting to get some perspective. What was interesting was that while going through the journal I just happened to buck up this to-do list...yea...one of those goal to-do lists where I need to do x by y time . Funnily, the list was written back in 2006 and it had check boxes placed next to the goals. I noticed that at least 3 boxes were still not ticked at the time, while others were ticked and dated...and now for the surprise the unchecked were: 1. Become a lacto-ovo vegetarian 2. Go Natural and 3. Something else that I can't quite remember now.. . It was very funny to me, as reading it marked the 8th day since I had gone vegan with no desire for mea...

Empathy?

I feel your pain I look to you and I cannot imagine how You pulled through, how You were able to still go on You were made an example of how I could pull through the storms of life. Could I? What immeasurable strength What grace in the face of hardship For a moment you stumbled For a moment cast down under The burden of despair and the past. Then like an eagle on fresh wind You alight to face the new horizon Staring blatantly in the face of uncertainty To taste the dew of new mercies. Dare I Empathize? You my friend are the epitome of Strength. ~Live Life, Love God, One Enkounter at a Time~

Loneliness Cure: Emotional Hygiene

Before the grumpy cat gets under your skin this Valentine's Day, here are my FIVE favourite quotes from Dr. Guy Winch's TED Talk: "We all know how to care for our physical health but what do we know about maintaining our emotional hygiene?" "We sustain psychological injuries (failure, rejection and rumination) even more than we sustain physical injuries." "Once we become convinced of something, it's very difficult to change our mind." "You cannot allow yourself to feel that a situation is helpless. You have to fight for control over the situation and break the negative cycle before it begins." "When you're in emotional pain, treat yourself with the same compassion you'd expect from a really good friend." For more great quotes listen to his 17 minute talk below: What are your favourite quotes? ~Love God,Live life,One Enkounter at a Time~

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