wisdom

Years ago, when watching the Food Network, I quickly found my favourites: the quirky chef, the one who helped us navigate meals in a short span of time, and Ina, who was always a welcome visitor. Whether it was the relevance of the show's location to my world, her empathetic joyful demeanor, or the deliciousness coming out of her kitchen, I don’t know, but I’ve always been a fan of Ina.

Achieving work / life balance is commonly a goal most of us are told to strive towards. Like climbing a mountain, once on the top, a sense of accomplishment, possibly even fulfillment, awaits. Certainly, the concept of “balance” is welcoming and conjures up a picture of the harmony that exists when both sides of the scale are perfectly even and almost ethereal.

But, how long will that last? 

There are seven sacred teachings in the indigenous culture that relate to common morals, but it is connected to the medicine wheel: a four-direction circle that consists of four colours, black, white, yellow, and red. The medicine wheel is separated into these four directions, and each direction represents the spiritual, emotional, physical, and intellectual ways of life. 

Most of us stumble into adulthood a little battered and bruised, which means we must attend to our wounds before leaping into the lives we were meant to lead. Maybe we have patterns of behavior that involve abandoning ourselves in times of stress. Perhaps our responses to love are still subject to the family programming we received as children. Or maybe our lives have been adversely impacted by a materialistic society steeped in straight, white, cis male supremacy. Whatever the case, nobody is beyond the power of redemption or outside the reach of kindness.   

Publisher’s note: We are so pleased to publish this excerpt from an extraordinary new book by Neil J. Farber, MD, entitled Serendipity: Recognizing and Utilizing Common Everyday Events to Enhance Your Life and Career. In it, Dr. Neil Farber uses powerful examples of serendipity from history and his own life to show you the skills you need to prepare for, recognize, and ultimately take advantage of everyday unexpected occurrences. 

The most powerful and important book I've read this year? No question. Dawn Again: Tracking the Wisdom of the Wild, by Doniga Markegard, is eloquent, inspiring, and a must-read for any global educator. Markegard's memoir traces her beginnings from wildlife tracking to a more concerted effort of support and practical advice for wilderness education and living wisely on this planet. Through it all, her voice rings clearly for teaching about the earth, about the wildlife on it, and living responsibly and well.