Relative(ly) Rest(ful)

E126: Rest & Recap 18 - Balcony Moments

Dateline: Goa, India

Rest element 18: Community Circles

“Bosle?” (“Are you sitting?”) This rhetorical question is one of the many conversation starters as people pass by amid their own daily commutes.

Our beautiful balconies are one of the special architectural elements of our homes here in Goa. Most homes have one no matter how tiny. They have many purposes: drying the paddy right after harvest, hanging clothes to dry during the monsoon. But their main purpose is to hang out with a cup of tea and connect. It is where we create a sense of belonging to a particular neighbourhood. Some may feel it is getting in everyone’s business! But I think these community circles¹ are the heartbeat of a village.

My cousins are gathered for my aunt’s 96th birthday and their niece’s wedding.

Portonem: The day after the wedding, the bride returns to her home and receives a blessing from the elders.

Welcome to this Rest² Edition. I may not be physically rested, but I’m seeking opportunities for moments of active recovery. And this photo will be one of my lasting memories of one such moment. What you don’t see is what is best about it.

We’ve taken over this corner of our village, all hanging out on our respective balconies in four (arrows) neighbouring houses, reminiscing about games we played when we were children, chatting with each other about our breakfast and making our plans for the day. (Others may say we were yelling across the lane … I would not be able to disagree!) My relatives. My moment of rest and laughter. My great memories. My recovery.

It is an important 21st-century skill to find pockets of peace amid the hubbub.

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Recap: Digest of issues 120 - 125

I again thank all the members of Tribe Tilt who stepped forward to support me by offering to share their essays with my readership while I balance eldercare, sistercare, Flora Project and time with cousins visiting to celebrate family weddings. Thank you

Alissa Mears

,

Angie Wang

,

Brooke Smith

,

Lavinia Iosub

,

Dekera Greene Rodriguez

.

This kind of ecosystem creates sustainability, where we support each other in our moments of need, and provide the frames to allow others to climb, blossom and be seen.

Storytelling to create kinship and relationships has been of the most persistent messages as I reflect on the issues in this past cycle. Each of the writers (many are pst Write of Passage students) that I have featured uses the technique to great effect to get me to think.

Do you want to join our group of writers?

Are you enjoying the range and messaging of these various essays? Come, explore how to its done.
My friend David Perell (the man behind Write of Passage) is hosting a free writing workshop on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 1pm CT. He is sharing the one thing he believes all authors need to build influence via online writing in this increasingly crowded world. It’s one hour and I know David doesn’t put out content that will waste your time. You can sign up here: https://wofp.samcart.com/referral/feb-13/1O1zB42t5P4KxB8 (affiliate link).
Join us in the free class on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 1pm CT. It has been a pleasure to showcase the beautiful writing and insights of emerging writers aged 18-85. Discover some of the tools they have been using to hone their craft and gather the courage (and support) to share their thoughts to a wider audience.

21st-CENTURY SKILLS in this cycle: Story-telling. Understanding the range of change ahead of us, and the opportunities that bring. Planting seeds of hope and opportunity in the mind of our reader.

This proved to be a very popular essay, generating comments and engagement across various platforms. From

James Bailey

I loved your ending: "Through our shared storytelling - and story-listening - we continue to weave new threads into the blanket of possibility that makes our collective tomorrows more plausible." Story-listening - what a wonderful perspective - it's the oxygen for story-telling.

Dekera Greene Rodriguez

story has left a mark on me, and others:

I hear the power of a parent to shape the path forward for their child. I also hear the opportunity for a child to re-write their own expectations

FUTURE OF WORK - storytelling helps us move into the new era more effectively

Linart Seprioto

says

You helped me realize how our world is shifting, and it's important for the people in my generation to understand how we can adapt to these changes. Education and Relationships. You helped me realize just how valuable these two things are.

Emma Dorge

shared

Those beginning parenting quotes bringing tears to my eyes!

Margaret O'Brien

Eric Ho

and others leaned into the idea of 10Xing your concepts discussed in this edition:

I think 10 x health is something that I’m excited by. I’ve tended to focus on the tiny health changes that have outsized effects. But had missed the ones that 10x it!

Healthy relationships are a great indicator for success as per the Harvard longevity study. Maintaining them is an art and an investment

Relationships happen in the details and trivia of life

Wishing you the joy of community and multiple relationships. Blessings.

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Our Tribe Tilt welcomes all our new members. Thank you for joining with your curiosity which we welcome.

This small community believes in the best of humanity - connecting people, sharing ideas, and exploring thoughts respectfully. We support each other. We believe we can make a difference to the people and places that are precious to us. And that the best idea can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time.

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Wishing you and all those you love a wonderful season of joy, peace and recovery.

Stay healthy. From there all else becomes possible.
Karena

1. As the Harvard longitudinal study on happiness described, nurtured relationships (family, friends, neighbours) are a key contributor to a health and happiness https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/harvard-happiness-study-relationships/672753/

2. I write in cycles of seven. Every seventh is a rest edition that encourages the 21st-century skill of planning recovery and reflection into our day. We zoom out, look at the bigger picture, take a breath, and reset. We explore rest-related practices (heirloom skills) such as good sleep, pacing, and recharging. Read this for more on the topic of Rest “THE ONE WHERE… Rest Edition Recap” summary.