October 2016

Mestizo Futures

October 10, 2016 Finding The Good Musings

My daughters and I attended an inspiring Hispanic Heritage Month presentation at our local library on Saturday.  The presenters were two local creative activists – Eutimia Cruz Montoya and Adrian Molina, a.k.a. Molina Speaks.  Montoya is “lineage-raised contemporary curandera (spiritual healer), herbalist, licensed acupuncturist, Real Foods Activist, and Food Systems Educator” — a “modern day medicine woman”.  Molina “describes himself as a Chicano/Latino/Indigenous/Mestizo Futurist” who uses poetry and hip hop lyrics to share the voice of diverse communities and a connection to the natural world.  These two powerful young artists expressed a strong love of humanity, family and the connectivity of all peoples in both traditional and contemporary stories, songs, and dances.  My daughters and I enjoyed the presentation immensely!  If you have an opportunity to experience the work of either of these individuals, I strongly recommend it!

One term that caught my attention was the positive claiming of the word “mestizo” — which both referred to as persons of mixed ethnic heritage, often both Indigenous and European.  Both my husband who is Cherokee and mostly German and my daughters (adopted through foster care) who are Mexican and Caucasian could claim this term to describe themselves.  Our country is trending toward this demographic and I believe it is a beautiful progression.  Montoya and Molina spoke of the importance of celebrating all heritages and moving toward a more inclusive future where all individuals are equally loved and respected.  That would be a beautiful world indeed.

What The Heck is a Witness Post?

October 8, 2016 Musings

Witness Post Sign

Just an example of one of the odd little things that catch my attention.  I saw this sign near the field where my youngest daughter had soccer practice this week.  I wonder about its history and its purpose — the sign has certainly shown some wear and tear!  According to Wikipedia (<sarcasm>the most trustworthy of sources</sarcasm>):

The National Geodetic Survey (NGS), formerly the United States Survey of the Coast (1807–1836), United States Coast Survey (1836–1878), and United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) (1878–1970), is a United States federal agency that defines and manages a national coordinate system, providing the foundation for transportation and communication; mapping and charting; and a large number of applications of science and engineering. Since its foundation in its present form in 1970, it has been part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), of the United States Department of Commerce.

Wonder if I could find that “nearby survey marker”…

A Little About Me

October 4, 2016 Miscellania

I still get very high and very low in life. Daily. But I've finally accepted the fact that sensitive is just how I was made, that I don't have to hide it and I don't have to fix it. I'm not broken.

I am officially a middle-aged woman, Colorado born and raised, who has reached a point in my life that I don’t care much what people think of me — until my anxiety takes hold and then I do.  I’ve struggled with chronic depression (dysthymia) and anxiety for most of my life although I didn’t have a name for it until life forced me to address my mental state a few years back.  I’ve learned to manage it, most of the time anyway.  I’m also STRONGLY introverted and a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).  While I try to focus on the positive, it’s hard not to see these traits as both a blessing and a curse.  While my sensitivity allows me to see, hear, and feel the beauty in subtle things, I’m also easily overwhelmed by the ever-increasing and chaotic stimuli in our world.  Due to these stresses and other choices I’ve made in my life, I developed fibromyalgia (chronic pain) – a lesson in how important it is to take care of one’s self.  I love the fact that my empathetic and detail-oriented nature allows me almost instinctively to know how to help others but sometimes I go overboard, offering help where it might not be wanted.  Worse yet, I feel pulled to help others that might take advantage or not warrant my concern.  Most of the time, I love people and want to see the best in humanity, but I all too often find myself devastated and heartbroken by the pain and suffering people cause each other and our natural world.  I yearn to withdraw into myself and ignore the world.  Hence, my moniker, the soft-hearted misanthrope.