The New Community

“A healthy social life is found only, when in the mirror of each soul the whole community finds its reflection, and when in the whole community the virtue of each one is living” Rudolph Steiner

I always find it fascinating how life changes things about you that you feel are already pretty much a set part of who you are. I consider myself a fairly solitary individual, I like hanging out with myself, and I definitely don’t have any issues with living on my own. When I was living in Canada I had always sought out my own space, and being on my own was paramount to everything else. It was what kept me sane. It seems however, that times have changed.

I recently moved out to an apartment that was fairly close to the winery where I am working. It was a great spot, a loft, and within walking distance to work. I could step outside and see the mountains in the distance, I was out in the country. I finally had my own space. I was independent again, free to go and come as I chose, and walk around naked when I wanted to. But then it happened. This strange, unfamiliar feeling started to come over me. I missed being around people. I missed having people to hang out and chat with, to share meals and wine with, to talk about life with. I missed being able to just walk to my regular coffee hang outs, or dash out to the corner to get a bar of my favourite chocolate.

Panic started settling into my chest. What was wrong with me? I had always prided myself on being able to spend time alone, and actually enjoy it. Suddenly however, I was craving other company. My cherished independence was flying out the window… this can’t be good.

However, after the heart palpitations subsided, and I sat down and mused over this bizarre metamorphosis that was happening to me I realized that there was a bigger picture to take into consideration and it had nothing to do with losing a part of myself. But rather discovering a new part of myself and learning to integrate it with the old.

Since arriving in Argentina one of the common themes in my life has been community. As a child, the sense of community played an important role in my life, although sporadic. Family get togethers or functions in the Portuguese community were always highlights during my childhood. As I moved into young adulthood however there was a shift to individuality and independence. I stayed in this learning state for quite a long time, the most important years being the first 5 before moving to Argentina. During this time I spent a lot of time on my own, discovering who I was as a person, what my gifts were, being comfortable in my own skin, and just falling in love with myself overall. And I loved the solitude. I learned more about myself in those 5 years than I had in my whole lifetime. And then, just when I finally felt myself standing firm in my own power, my life changed again.

Upon my arrival in Argentina, from day one, I was constantly with people. At first I was a little worried about this because I was so used to spending time on my own that I was afraid I might start to lose it after being surrounded by so many people day in and day out I started having horrific visions of starting to get super cranky and start acting up around all of these lovely people who had come into my life. However the oddest thing happened… I loved every minute of it. Every once in awhile I would take some time to go off on my own, but overall I loved being and living with other people.

One of the beautiful things about Argentines is their love of sharing and spending quality time with people. They know how to enjoy life and share that with others. They get together with friends and family often and share food, wine and time in the most beautiful ways. Either through an asado (this is actually the whole purpose of an asado), or having a maté, or just something simple like going for a coffee. I was sorely missing this in my previous life. However I run with the philosophy that everything happens in it’s right time and you learn what you need to learn at the right time. And I firmly believe that the time I spent on my own and the learning experiences I had in the previous 5 years before coming here were meant to teach me independence and how to love who I was as a person. However once those lessons were completed, the Universe sent new lessons to me in way of a new chapter in my life. And now I am learning about the other end of the spectrum: building community.

One of my goals in this lifetime is to build sustainable communities in different parts of the world. Communities based on sharing, living in harmony with the earth and having fun. It is about building a new framework for living, with less “things” and more experiences. However, in order to do this one must experience it. Well the Universe heard my need and hence my new life and roles in Argentina. And what better country to learn in. :)

Many people consider Argentina to be a third world country. I hear this all the time. Even from some of the Argentines I know. And maybe it is, according to whatever statistics are out there in the world economic circles. However, in my opinion, it is the farthest thing from it. People here may not have all of the material and economic opportunities that North Americans have, however to me they are far richer than most “first world” countries that I know. Argentines know how to express themselves, they express love and kindness with an ease that makes most North Americans I know uncomfortable. They have a genuine concern for those in need. Even if they do not have much, they are willing to share whatever it is that they do have with those that come around into their life. People here know how to have fun, enjoy the simpler things in life like good food, good wine and sharing that with those around them. What has happened to most of our societies in the first world countries in that this important aspect of living has become almost non-existent? When I was back in Canada for the 4 months this hit me the hardest. I remember sitting outside with my friend Joce having one of our many garage sales and the both of us looking around at the empty neighbourhood. It was a beautiful day, yet no one was outside. And this was normal. We never saw anyone. Most people stayed holed up in their own houses, barely ever coming out, never mind interacting with the neighbours. This is obviously a generalization as I know some who do, but really this is fairly common. We felt like we were in the twilight zone. It made me incredibly sad to see people so caught up in their own lives and forgetting to come out of their little bubbles to see how other people were living. And I am not putting blame on anyone in specific, as I used to do the exact same thing. For many years I walked around like a robot just existing and not really living. And here I was again, back in my old stomping ground and seeing people living this same cycle. I feel incredibly lucky to have woken up and had the opportunity to experience living in a different culture that has enriched my life far more than I ever thought possible.

Communities are built on values and principles that are shared by all who live there. And since living here I have been learning what important ones are needed to create a harmonized community. And my learning experiences continue. I only hope that as I learn I can share my new information and experiences with others to help inspire them to better their own lives and live more fully in this life. Life is meant to be enjoyed and experienced. And part of that experience is learning to share this beautiful world that we live in with others.

Saludos!

Chrissie

(Needless to say I lasted not even a month in my little apartment and moved back into the city with friends. I am ecstatically happy being back and my social life has once again taken on a life of its own. :)

Viviendo Tu Potencial

(Foto sacada por Philippe Schell)

“La tarea principal en la vida de un hombre es de dar a la luz a su mismo, para ser lo que potencialmente el es. El producto mas importante de su esfuerza es su propria personalidad.” Erich Fromm

Mientras que estaba sentada a fuera en el patio del viñedo, deleitando de la fragancia del jazmín a lado mío y mirando los loros en sus nidos arriba en el árbol, pensé en la vida encantada que tengo y lo que es la definición de esto para mi. Todos tienen una idea de que es una vida encantada, y todos tienen una idea diferente. Eso es natural porque cada persona es única y tiene diferente perspectivas sobre lo que es la vida. Si no era así, el mundo se quedaba re aburrido.

Generalmente, una vida encantada es una vida de privilegio y suerte. Pero como definimos el privilegio y la suerte? El privilegio para algunos puede ser de ser nacidos con un montón de plata, pero para otros puede ser simplemente a tener la oportunidad de vivir un estilo de vida simple y reducir el paso de vida a uno mas lente. Sobre la suerte, bueno, podemos tener un debato largo sobre esta tema, y si exista o no, pero eso voy dejar para otro día.

En mi opinión, tener una vida encantada no quiere decir que tienes que ser nacido en una vida de plata y falta de nada. Para mi, a vivir una vida encantada es de vivir tu potencial. Entonces, que significa eso?

Potencial es definido en el diccionario como:

· Capaz de ser o hacerse

· Una excelencia latente o capacidad que puede o no puede ser desarollado

Nuestro potencial es grande. Es magnifico en realidad. El descubrimiento que cada uno de nosotros poseemos capacidades y talentos únicos para usar en esta vida es una cosa maravillosa. Solamente la idea que podemos beneficiar el mundo en una manera especial por las capacidades únicas que tenemos es una inspiración. El truco entonces es de descubrir que son estos talentos.

Muchos de nosotros fuimos alentados para desarollar aspectos de nosotros mismos que no están en equilibrio con quien somos y con que podemos hacer en este mundo. Muchas veces quedamos atrancados en las expectativas de otros y olvidamos de quien somos y la persona quien estamos acá para desarollar. Cuando podemos descascar años de condicionar y de crear la creencia que somos capaz de hacer cosas sensacionales, podemos empezar a descubrir los talentos buenísimos que tenemos.

Yo sé según mi propria experiencia que me llevé mucho tiempo para empezar a descubrir mi potencial y en actualidad vivirlo. Durante mi crecimiento y entrando en mi adolescencia nunca exploré quien era y de que era capaz de hacer. Fuera de algunas cosas siempre viví mi vida basada en las expectativas de otros. Dejé los otros a decirme lo que podía y no podía hacer. Y después, un día, a los 26 años, cambié mi vida. Y por fin empecé a explorar quien yo era y los talentos que tengo. Cuando empecé a hacer eso empecé también a tomar decisiones basados en quien era y quien quería ser. Empecé a caminar por una senda de auto-descubrimiento que me llevó a nuevos lugares a dentro de mi y también a ver aspectos viejos en mi de una nueva perspectiva.

Me quedé asombrada con las cosas que de repente era capaz de hacer. Descubrí nuevos talentos que nunca pensaba existía a dentro de mi, encendí viejas passiones, y las integré en mi vida otra vez. Tomé el tiempo para conocer a yo misma y pasar tiempo con “yo”, la persona que había estado cerrada por tanto tiempo. Una nueva persona evolucionó de esto proceso, una nueva confianza en yo misma y lo que podía hacer, lo que quería de mi vida, y lo que estaba lista para aceptar y no aceptar en mi vida. Descubrí que tenía lindos talentos para compartir con el mundo.

Cuando descubrimos nuestras capacidades y talentos, un nuevo concepto de nosotros mismos desarrollo. De repente darnos cuenta de quien somos y quien podemos ser. Esta realización abre muchas oportunidades en el mundo que nunca contemplamos antes. El Universo de repente se aligna y nos ayuda a vivir nuestra potencial que recien descubrimos. Es como el cielo de repente abrió y estamos en la presencia de en cielo lleno de estrellas, brillando fuertes. Y cada estrella representa parte de nuestro potencial que ahora estamos listos para vivir.

El minuto que empecé a descubrir nuevas pasiones y intereses, y empecé a tener fe in mis capacidades, mi vida encantada empezó a formarse. Ahora trabajo con chocolate y vino, paso mis días en uno lindo viñedo, me encuentro con gente fascinante cada día de todos partes del mundo. Me despierto cada mañana invigorada y emocionada para empezar el día. Tengo un fuerte fe en quien soy y que puedo hacer. Estoy por fin viviendo mi potencial.

Vivendo tu potencial es un proceso. Y mientras que te muevas por esto proceso continuas a descubrir nuevas y lindas cosas de vos mismo, y el Universo continua a darte las oportunidades para compartirles con el mundo. La cosa mas importante es que siempre elegimos de vivir esto potencial, diariamente. En haciendo esto, nuestra vida deja de ser aburrido y empieza a tener propósito y sentido. Empezamos a brillar nuestra luz, como las estrellas arriba, con un brillo y fortaleza que empieza a ser una inspiración a otros para hacer lo igual.

Entonces, como empezamos a descubrir nuestro potencial? Pienso que hay un montón de maneras, pero los siguientes fueron los que me ayudaron a mi:

• De que tienes un pasión? Hace una lista. Como estás integrandolos en tu vida ahora?
• Que cosas te interesan o siempre querías hacer? Hace una lista y después empieza a hacerlos.
• Mantiene un diario de las cosas que aprendiste de vos mismo.
• Empieza un diario de agradecimiento de todas las cosas de que estas agredecido cada día
• Empujate mas allá de tus limites. Hace cosas que normalmente no hacias. No importa si son cosas pequeñas.
• Aprende cosas nuevas No dejas tu cerebro quedarse flojo.
• Empieza a visualizar el tipo de vida que quieras vivir. Crea una tabla de visión, con fotos, dichos etc… que representan esta nueva vida.
• Para cada excusa que tienes para no vivir esta vida o compartir estes talentos, escribe una razón para hacerlo o una nueva manera de hacerlo. Seas creativo, piensa “fuera de la caja”.

Entonces que es la vida encantada para mi? Es de descubrir uno mismo, y lo que es capable de ser; es de compartir estes talentos con el mundo; es de siempre luchar de ser mas que sos porque sabes que puedes; es de tomar riesgos y tener fe en el desconocido; es de encontrar felicidad en tu autentico ser. Cuando empezamos en este camino la vida se vuelve nada menos que encantada. Entonces hacemos un brinde (bebo mucho vino en esta nueva vida encantada…) a todos en el mundo que estan, por fin, brillando sus luces. Y nunca olvides que el cielo es tu limite.