How to Plan your Death for Your Best Life

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Apr 14 0

The following poem is Inspired by Mona Simpson’s eulogy for her brother Steve Jobs.

- – - o o o – - -

Journey

Life can feel like a journey, climbing towards some near or distant peak.

Celebration

The party on top making it worthwhile.  The lessons at the bottom appreciated later.

Inspiration

Inspiring goals, inspiring dreams.  Calling us on.

Energy

Driven by inspiration’s energy, achievement’s fire.

Novelty

Taking strength from the old, ever-thirsting for the new.

Challenge

Sometimes drowning

Hope

Breath is the spark

Choices

Circles to cycles

Connection

The whole is the part

Story

Chapter, character, series, setting, epoch, epic

Death

Find me mid-ripping-yarn.

- – - o o o – - -

Life may seem like a continual pursuit of peaks, but stories are more easily shared, so thinking of life like a bunch of exciting stories is a view which is more present and allows a whole community to share in creative joy challenge and experience.

Inspired by Mona Simpson’s eulogy for her brother Steve Jobs.  (Well worth reading)

Waldorf School Education for New Parents

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Feb 11 0

A Waldorf school education (also known as Steiner school) is a big decision for any family to make.  Added to the normal considerations, comes the attempt to understand the Rudolf Steiner philosophy and influence on your child’s education now and for years to come.

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) created a huge body of writings and lectures over his lifetime, much of it deeply philosophical.  One thing I believe helps is building practical links the Steiner philosophy and the practical implementation.   To this end, here are some questions that new parents will face with answers which I hope will provide insight into what is a lifelong process of learning.

Rudolf Steiner, Founder of Waldorf School Education

Steiner Concepts

There is a fundamental goal in Steiner/Waldorf education to encourage the development of free individuals.  Steiner envisaged that when someone is truly free, they would effortlessly yet strongly follow their life’s purpose and thus would make greater progress towards their own fulfillment and society’s advancement on multiple levels.

Because freedom is so critical to spiritual and personal development, it is necessary to understand the basics before the complex.  Understanding the basic before the complex means that if there is something wrong in the end product, the individual creator (author, painter, doctor, computer scientist, …) knows the end-to-end process, and has a far greater ability to adjust and achieve the desired result.

Any result or system is made up of many parts, and understanding the relationship between the parts and the whole is critical in understanding systems be they products, processes, ecosystems, individuals or societies.

Systems pass through cycles.  Those who recognize and accept cycles and patterns live freer because they better see the structure in the chaos.

Questions and Answers around Waldorf Education

What were Steiner's interests?

Steiner had wide interests and founded several movements and distinct large bodies of work including:

  • Waldorf school education - There are now over 1000 schools both public and private teaching the Waldorf curriculum.
  • Anthroposophy - Balanced spiritual understanding enabling true freedom and advancement of body, mind and soul.
  • Biodynamic agriculture - Foundation stone of organic farming today.
  • Anthroposophical medicine - Basis of the complementary medicine movement.
  • Architecture - Steiner designed over a dozen buildings and is an inspiration for many significant modern architects.
  • Eurythmy - Movement form (like dance) linking words, sound, form/shape, rhythm and movement.

Why do Students Learn to Read Late?

In evolutionary terms, writing evolved before reading.  Children should be able to write and even make a book before reading, otherwise they spend years before they come to understand that they too could be an equally great author, painter or book binder.  Learning to read is a demanding skill to learn, and deferring it, allows additional time for building communication skills including verbal expression skills and more complex listening skills.  Reading is slotted in at a time when the child is ready and finds it easy.  In modern society, creativity is far more highly rewarded than consumption, so this fits well with encouraging creativity first.

What's the Point of Crafts?

Each craft is a chance to learn.  For example, watercolor painting is a way to express emotions and also develop an understanding that everything has properties which can be directed. Sewing instills the knowledge that a child can change their environment through their own efforts by making new clothes to protect and warm.  In clay-modeling where you can keep adding material teaches lessens about balance and proportion (a person with a huge nose would eventually unrecognizable).  Similarly, wood-carving teaches about when to stop because you can not add material, you can only remove and although you have to remove, you also have to stop.  Metalwork teaches possibilities and phases some metalwork forms are possible when molten, other forms achievable through beating and polishing.

What is Eurythmy?

Eurythmy is a movement form where voice is made visible.  It links sound and movement together.  It is a recognition and clarification of the power in words and expression.  Eurythmy is taught in all Steiner schools and provides a significant challenge for each student whichever stage or age they are at.  Some students gain from the flowing movement, some from the linking of hemispheres, coordinating left and right sides of the body and brain through movement, language and music.  Later students overcome shyness and group coordination as well as build creative works.

Why Celebrate so Regularly through the Year?

Apart from recognizing and expressing gratitude which is a good habit, celebrations mark cycles.  Starting the celebration of cycles early and continually, allows the child/adult to gather multiple perspectives (eg each year) on a cyclical event.  This allows a much deeper understanding (over time) of preparation, action, experience and perspective.

Why is Music so Important?

Music is important for a many reasons.  Creating music is a whole of brain, coordinated activity.  It can be thought of as another language with known cerebral benefits. In later years, it is a group activity requiring social interaction.  It is also a form of expression (like verbal communication and painting) which can allow children to express and better understand their own feelings.  Playing music also improves hand-eye-ear coordination and there are the benefits that come with learning to both play by ear (aural to physical) and learning to read music (visual-physical coordination).

Music also allows continual development over a lifetime – there is no upper limit. It is a skill which can be started, enjoyed and improved from a very young age through adulthood.  This is important because it allows an understanding of effort and results.  Music also carries with it responsibilities which can be instilled from an early age (eg. care of the instrument and practice)

Why Learn Languages from an Early Age?

Steiner was one of the first to introduce language so early in primary school, an approach with benefits that many public and private schools have now followed.  Learning a second language through immersion is invaluable for problem solving and expression later in life.

Why is Television Discouraged?

TV is discouraged for a number of reasons including TV’s studied effect on

  • reducing child movement
  • reducing child creative/unstructured play time
  • reducing communication and interactions with parents and others
  • breaking/reducing attention span in children (eg background TV has been found to draw children’s attention 20 seconds on average)

The net result of TV (including educational programs) on young children has been demonstrable language delays.  In practice, there are wider and longer implications.  Steiner Schools definitely discourage TV for students, taking a conservative stance.  As a family, it is sometimes tough to explain to a neighbor who wants to defend their decision (and right) to allow their children TV time, so it is probably just best not to go there.  It should be noted that other groups including American Academy of Pediatrics have a similar policy recommendation of zero  TV, but for younger children.  Something critical to Steiner education is imagination as well as how and where children visualize stories.  TV alters this natural visualization ability.  Later years: According to my understanding of the Steiner approach, the time to introduce TV would be once children can explain the physics and electrics behind how TVs function.  A similar approach is taken with plastics and other man-made materials.

Why are there Strong Themes for each Year Level?

In keeping with understanding the basics before the complex, the whole Steiner curriculum is built roughly following the evolution of human history and development.  From the timeless (fairy tales/myths/legends) to the ancient (BC/old testament), the development of logic (eg Greek/Latin) through feudal/medieval to modern.

Strong focus themes are used to gain a deep understanding of topics. For example, if studying the Greek period, then …

  • the story of Odysseus might be told
  • the class may learn to press olives and make foods from the time
  • the weapons and armor might be made from wood and leather
  • the tactics of field battle at the time of  Troy might be worked through
  • a play from the time would be performed
  • the geometry and acoustics of amphitheatres would be studied
  • vases or oil lamps similar to those of the time would be made
  • the Olympic sports of the time would be practiced likely adding distances and arcs
  • …

Are Waldorf Schools Religious?

Religion as a subject is rarely taught in the Waldorf school system (possibly in later years as a study of various religions), that said, the philosophy is based on a universalist Christian system for marking the celebrations through the year and bringing in the ceremonies and celebrations from other religions as they match the curriculum, location and even student body.

Is Immunization of Children Discouraged?

My understanding on this is that the Anthropological Society and Waldorf Schools do not officially take a line on immunization where it relates to the parental decision.  However, people within the community in many Waldorf schools may takes a conservative line of avoiding immunizations for fear of either overloading the child or exposing them to mercury and other toxins or risks. This can appear as a policy but is not.

Anthropological Medicine practice does have views on the topic, but ultimately the approach to family health is the individual’s decision.

Is Steiner and Montessori Education Similar?

Montessori has similarities with Waldorf/Steiner, in that both provide a holistic philosophy to child learning.  Both Montessori and Steiner support the arts, and discourage TV.  However, Montessori is different from Steiner in the expectations of how the child best learns with Montessori promoting a self-driven, fairly independent approach based on the real world whereas Steiner encourages imagination and creativity using a structure more similar to a family/community to support learning.  Steiner/Waldorf and Montessori schools differ also in their view and use of toys.  The Montessori children treat the world as a toy so the practical is play where as the Steiner approach tends to encourage the extension of the imaginative/creative childhood.

Taking an example of putting things away after work(Montessori)/play(Steiner), the Montessori approach would be that it is good and even fun to do the work putting things away.  Whereas the Steiner approach would be that the things themselves like to be in their proper places so the children help restore harmony.

The differences can seem subtle or significant depending on your philosophy, but that’s the point.  Every individual carries a different philosophy.  Steiner himself believed that philosophy itself is evolving and is at different stages across time and communities.  I think it is fair to say that having both systems makes for a stronger society through diversity.

 

Further reading

There is a massive amount of literature from and about Rudolf Steiner.  He was a prolific writer, and many authors have expanded on his works.  Some (most) of Steiner’s works can be pretty tough to get into.  I feel I benefit most from the practical works on a topic like felting and crafts and the below, but you had best do your own research

Conclusion

In many ways, Waldorf school education treats children as evolving adults.  Correspondingly, Rudolf Steiner’ writings and Anthroposophy in many ways, treats adults as evolving children. Neither being in any way condescending.  To understand this, think of yourself standing on a the bank of a river.  When you look at the river, is the river what you see?  Is it the river’s beginning? Is it the river’s end? A river is a river, unique at any point on it’s journey – as are all children.

Ramon

How the Moken Sea Gypsies Knew About and Escaped Death in the 2004 Tsunami

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Jan 22 0
Mokens escape Tsunami picture of traditional boat

Picture:davestamboulis.com

The nomadic Moken people in Southern Thailand have lived with and on the sea for centuries.  They live on the coast and in their boats all their lives and the children learn to swim before they can walk.

In 2004, the Indian Ocean earthquake and following tsunami took the lives of over 227,000 people, but the Mokens and a few other coastal communities survived with either minimal or no loss of life.  How?

The  Moken believe that the waves are created by the spirits of the sea, and have a legend about “Laboon - The wave that eats people”.  The legend describes how when the spirits are angry, the sea recedes, then a monster wave comes onto the land to eat the bad people and cleanse the land.

The elders had passed their story down through generations, and in December 2004, those who knew the legend saw the change in the sea, saw the dolphins swimming to deeper water and followed the elephants to higher ground.  Even more importantly, they convinced others to follow them despite being called crazy or even ‘drunk’ in some cases.

The Sea Gypsies escaped the Tsunami because

  1. Within the tribe, they knew the signs.
  2. They believed in their own knowledge and convinced others to believe.
  3. And they took action.

It is an amazing story and fascinating to think of the knowledge and power contained within stories and legends as well as the impact the leaders can have in society when they take action.

Have an awesome week and remember to pass on your stories to those who follow.

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How I Saved Over $3250 Last Year on Utilities, Restaurants and more

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Jan 16 2

Saving money is great because any money you don’t spend is what I call fun money – Money you can put towards whatever you want.  How to save money on expenses is however a combination of ideas, discipline and effort, so here is how I saved over $3000 last year.  I hope you get some ideas, let me know if you have some other ways to save beyond Utilities, Restaurants, and Travel.

The keys to saving are:

  1. Address the big expenses first, that’s where the real savings are
  2. Search the web for better deals
  3. Get competitive quotes and let the person you are negotiating with know you have other offers
  4. Be a little flexible and consider the alternatives
  5. Check the ins and outs of contracts and know what type of offers typically apply to whatever you are negotiating
  6. Consider buying in bulk
  7. Form good savings routines around restaurants, outings and habits
  8. Always remain friendly with the person you are negotiating with
  9. Have a plan then ask for the discount
  10. Prioritize the discounts on reoccurring services because often one negotiation saves you ongoing.« Continue »

Helping Others Doesn’t Always Help You

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Jan 13 2

The desire and ability to help others has long been seen as a positive and encouraged through society, schools and parenting.  Whether it be helping the proverbial old lady across the road, a new buddy you’ve been paired up with at school or volunteering, helping others is seen by all as a good thing.  There are good reasons for helping others, but if we all spent out lives assisting old ladies to dodge cars, no one would get very far. So when is helping others a good thing and when are you sacrificing your own potential?« Continue »

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