Mining Nuggets

From the *real* Bill Ayers

Quote of the day

Demonization, guilt by association, and the politics of fear did not triumph, not this time. Let’s hope they never will again. And let’s hope we might now assert that in our wildly diverse society, talking and listening to the widest range of people is not a sin, but a virtue.

Bill Ayers in today's New York Times.

Oh - and, of course I had to comment in the comment section:

December 06, 2008 5:34 am

I am so pleased to hear from the *real* Bill Ayers and most 

grateful to the New York Times for printing this piece. It was 

the most painful part of the election for me to see Bill Ayers' 

name dragged through hateful hysteria, for his work and life 

experiences have served as models for me in the work I do. I 

wish Bill Ayers and his dear family a peaceful and 

happy holiday season. Indeed, I have been holding 

them in my thoughts for months.

— Tamar Jacobson, Philadelphia

Memoir reflections

When I write my memoir, I want to talk about the loves of my life. There is much to process, and what better way to do it than by writing through it. 

Recently, I was thinking about my third husband who, about a year or so after our divorce in our last ever conversation, said to me pityingly "Do you still have only one coat?" I knew what he meant, the instant he said it, because I have never felt deserving of possessing more than one coat. Such an expensive item! Why would I ever need more than that? However, I was surprised that he had thought about that during the fours years we were together. I guess we can never know what another person is thinking unless they tell us! And vice versa, of course.

These past couple of months I have rectified the coat situation considerably. I wish I could tell him that. Indeed, I just purchased myself a Parka and a rain coat! You see, almost a year ago, life partner bought me a gorgeously warm winter coat, and I have enjoyed feeling warm, comfortable, and even looking good in it. I must admit that it makes me feel worthy of being loved. Deep and complex feelings just about a coat! But then, again, lately I have been feeling more and more deserving of all sorts of feelings and things than ever before in my life. And so, psychological connections are being made. Now, I am allowing myself a separate coat for different situations. And, I am doing this all by myself without counsel or advice from anyone else. Just simply, while browsing through catalogs, I discover coats that I would like to wear for different occasions, and allow myself to buy them.

There is much more to be said on the subject of deserving, and past loves in my life. It is complex because it involves me thinking about my sexuality, intimate relationships, what I have learned or know about loving someone, and certainly what I think or thought I was or am worthy of. The stories have started to rise up within my brain and unravel out. Yes indeed, the process of memoir reflections has begun.

A year ago at Mining Nuggets: From one "inner-most-bean" to another

As in: mental health

Quote of the day

And it [blogging] clearly serves a positive function for me - not just the therapeutic value of pouring out said sorrows, but also the positive effort required to make sentences, paragraphs, take photographs. It brings me out of myself as much as it allows me to go in. Says my friend, Jean in an email to me today.  

Checking out Twitter this morning, I found an update from Andy about a meme that is apparently traveling the Internet lately: 

Five things I do that help me keep mentally well.

Although I am not aware of the rules about how and what and who to tag and such, it sounded like something I felt like thinking about. Mental health is of paramount importance to me, as I am sure that most of the readers, who stop by here, know by now. Plus, Andy described in his Twitter update that he could only come up with two - which gave him pause to reflect further. For me, that became an instant challenge to myself.

So, here goes: Five things I do that help me keep mentally well.

• Number one: Self alteration work in any form that I can - therapy, journaling, group therapy, bibliotherapy ... 
• Number two: Reading - mainly non-fiction, but lately I am enjoying reading memoirs and learning about other people's lives. It feels almost like participating in group therapy or support group work.
• Number three: Walking, practicing yoga daily, and especially pranayama [breathing type meditation exercise].
• Number four: Opening myself to loving - life partner, son, cat, friends, nature, humankind, work, students, colleagues - life! This has developed over the years through deep, tough, excruciating self alteration work and by allowing myself to feel angry, and, thus able to forgive.
• Number five: Most important of all. I have learned to separate myself out from other people's deeds, behaviors, or words, and realize my own reality.

In conclusion, I must add number six: Blogging. Writing this meme. Expressing myself out there to the Universe - the Cyber space community - because, as Jean says: It brings me out of myself as much as it allows me to go in.