Realising year end

When I was a kid I liked to imagine living in a world filled with the best rituals from all the cultures of human history. Every day I learned of another group of people doing something interesting, and my world--my worldview--was renewed and refreshed. I can't say that happens as often any more, but I do think that one of life's great pleasures is realising new things, and realising things anew. Given the incredibly narrow and focussed range of my recent activities, the things I realised this year were profound for me but probably don't resonate much with others. Still, here are five I want to take with me across the threshold tonight:

First, the dissertation is a test of scholarship, not writing. A thesis isn't a book, it's an argument. Make it, get rid of the rest, and be done with it.

Second, just because I can write something doesn't mean that I should. There is a kind of critique that makes me an arsehole instead of a scholar, and a tone that makes me pretentious instead of interesting.

Third, teaching is the facilitation of learning, not the imparting of wisdom. The only bad days teaching are the days I forget this. (Some people remember how you make them feel more than they remember what you say. Me included.)

Fourth, in a profession that places so much value on my mind, it's crucial to balance that with better care for my body and spirit. This is a never-ending struggle.

Fifth, none of these realisations need interfere with my dreams of herding alpaca and sheep, and becoming a warmly and softly clothed cheese maker.

Happy New Year!

Happy holidays

Of all the events marked by ritual, I think that the long descent into night is amongst the most important to me. Truth is I've never really adapted to the northern climate; each and every year I genuinely wonder if I'll make it through the winter. Sure, there are moments of exquisite pleasure that only snowy days offer--like now--but it's just so bloody bleak most of the time that all I can do is endure. Nonetheless, I've learned that patience is indeed a virtue and alongside the pain, there can be a lot of pleasure in tests of endurance. Some of it comes from the satisfaction of emerging safe and sound on the other side, but along the way there's also the simple gratitude that comes with learning who your true friends are, and the gentle joy that comes with surrendering to the situation.

Fellow northerners, may your light burn bright on this longest of nights--and may everyone find peace and joy in the coming year.

Update: Old Soviet Christmas card collection (via)

Affect

"The radical novelty of modern science lies precisely in the rejection of the belief, which is at the heart of all popular religion, that the forces which move the stars and atoms are contingent upon the preferences of the human heart." - Richard Adams


Update 05.12.07:Should have actually looked this up before posting. In the comments, Jean-Louis attributes the quote to Walter Lippman which makes much more sense but, sadly, isn't quite as interesting.