Learning from our elders

We have all heard of other cultures and even our ancestors who looked up to their elders, went to them for wisdom, and accepted elders as their leaders. These days we have lost a bit of that. Many of us have distanced or fading relationships with our grandparents. We are expected to mingle within our group of peers. And politically, retired talented, achieved and wise people are considered a hindrance to the economy.

I have had a long distance connection with my grandmother for all of my life (until these past two wonderful years with her). When we would visit grandma we would try to glean stories from her past, watch her cook amazing meals, and tried to learn what it takes to become so old, so happy, and so settled in life.

It`ll be worth your Time

I need a new watch. Ever since the beautiful Victorinox watch that my mother lovingly bought me for my 21st birthday has disappeared (to be honest, I now can`t remember what happened to it...was it stolen? lost? broken? It was obviously traumatic because I remember it dearly, but have blocked the blackness out of my mind), I have felt a bit naked. Well, actually, at first, I felt naked, very naked. But then I started to enjoy the freedom of not knowing the time. But now, living in Switzerland, it`s a big necessity. The country not only makes cool, very expensive watches, but it also runs like clockwork...literally, to the second. I love running for the train these days and seeing that I still have 30 seconds before the conductor signals that the train will be leaving the station. Those 30 seconds are like gold! I can suddenly halt my sprint and slowly saunter down the train platform as if I had planned this all along.

Ok, back to the point. I need a watch. I have been looking for a new one for a while. Sure, I gaze into the windows of the hundreds of shiny watch stores in Zürich. But what I really need is something with utility. Something that will simply tell me the time, will sit well on my wrist, and is cheap and possibly sturdy enough to survive the moments when I absent-mindedly dunk it in the river or a big muddy hole.

Then I found these. The Face Watch. 

Inspiration

Wow, check out the adventure this guy, Ken Ilgunas, is doing and writing about right now. On September 4, 2012, he started out on a 1,700 mile hike of the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline route. He began in Hardisty, Alberta, Canada and has been hiking south through Canada. By this past Saturday, he has already made it to Oklahoma through a series of foot pain (he broke a toe just before embarking on his journey), interviews and adventure.

He is an inspiration! Not only is he doing something that is quite interesting from an environmental policy standpoint, but he is also managing to keep up on blogging while camping and hiking. I am very impressed!! It was a personal and professional goal of mine that I failed during the Treehugger Tour 2010. The technology is getting better and I am learning with time.

Check out one of his videos from Christmas.