So
this is January. These are the urgent days when so many of us are reinventing,
while furiously filling blenders with chia seeds! YES to healthy movements, of
course. It really is a funny old month all in all.
How
was your festive season? Were there any moments you'd save?
After
many Christmas Days abroad, I spent my time this year volunteering with The
Food Bank. On a day that I've been historically doubtful of with its lavish
spending on mountains of gifts for only some, I witnessed 400 people being fed
by 50 or so volunteers - using a tiny kitchen and lots of plug in hot plates in
corridors! Pretty doubt abolishing, all in all. There was more to this nativity
scene than just the food.
As
the meal came to an end, some real festive magic had occurred. Within a few
hours friendships had been carved out and connections made. Children of all
cultures scurried round the edges of the room playing. The homeless community
of Oxford danced in the middle of the room to Syrian traditional music, hand in
hand with the refugee community that have just arrived in the city. For one
whole day no one was less or more than anyone else. Most importantly, no one
needed to explain themselves or their year round situations. I can't really
think of a more fitting Christmas situation, regardless of faith.
At
a time of such confusion on our planet, politically and emotionally, I couldn't
help but be overcome with the shared feeling of hope I had just experienced. As
I drove home to have an evening meal with my own family, I realised how strong
the power of kindness had been. And how, if harnessed, it really could be the
answer to so many of the January fears we might be facing.
I
have been told many times before that kindness is weakness. Media and social
culture have repeatedly informed me that the nice guy finishes last. Am I wrong
to ignore that?
I
have debated this repeatedly during my process of developing the Liberty's concept. I started out with a vision of a physical space within which anyone
could come to simply have the room to develop whatever skill or artistic sense
they wished to, with personal healing as a happy by product. This is still my
vision. Along this 5 year journey I have passed through some key processes that
have contributed to our direction.
As
you may have noticed, I have changed the title of this blog; formerly 'Journey
to Liberty's' it is now 'Living Liberté'. Because perhaps it isn't so much
about the journey towards. Perhaps Liberté as a concept really can live out in
our day to day. What if our journey forwards is, in fact, also the destination
itself?
A
few days ago I was challenged more than ever to look at what my own beliefs
are. I found myself in a situation where someone formerly dear to me challenged
me on my perspectives. I was dismissively informed that I "still have a
lot of figuring out to do" and that he "hoped I would realise that
love and kindness isn't something to rely on".
My
response?
Life
is not so simple (thank goodness) that there is one generic answer to
everything. Kindness is a behaviour and an approach, but not a solution in
itself. I think kindness is borne from wider vision, in seeing why the world
might be as it is, rather than just hating its initial appearance.
I
maintain what I have always believed in. Which is belief in empowering other
people through kindness, not shocking or saddening them into seeing. I would go
as far as to say that this applies in our daily lives, and much further afield
globally. If we were to spend more time using the aspects of kindness that are
acceptance and listening, then we might not be forced to suffer so many human
atrocities as we have done in the previous years.
Readers,
I don't have all the answers; I used to cause chaos in my own life by searching
for them all. But now I hold back the hunting dogs, and instead try every day
to just stick with my belief in better. This won't change.
My
own life currently consists of some of the hardest work I have ever done. I'm
training to become as physically strong as I can in order to pursue my
ambitions with aerial dance work. This involves 6am wake up calls for PT
sessions, gruelling training schedules, and plenty of time on my own critiquing
my development. It's tough going. But not as difficult as it is to live in a
trapped life. For every moment I am tempted to complain, I swallow my words. At
this present moment, I couldn’t really ask for more.
Here’s
to a healthy, happy 2017!
Helen Victoria
#liberté