a little note on modesty

"Modesty is dangerous: If we believe we are here to do something, if in fact we have the daunting task of turning around a system which appears destined not only to degrade, demoralize and dehumanize us, but to destroy the ecosystem in the process - we don't have time for outdated social customs.

You need to tell me what you can do, what you are good at, how you can contribute to helping to make these changes.

And i in turn need to tell you the same.

Anything less endangers us.

Anything less leaves one of us wondering why the other is not being clear, 'Are you unaware of your gifts? Are you unsure of them ? Am i wrong in estimating your ability?'

Paxus Calta

the rest below is personal view of Stella

- take what you like, leave the rest - ok:

What permaculture activists are doing REALLY is the most important job on the planet.

And it is also one of the HARDEST jobs on the planet.

There is NO justification for belitteling ANY of this work, in any way, whether it is intentionally or not, whether it is belitteling a little or a big achievement, whether it is the work of an experienced permaculturist, or a new one, whether it is someone else, or YOUrself.

We need all the encouragement and support we can get.

I think we are

FAR too modest

in the permaculture movement.

It has it's charm but it definately has it´s

BIG downfalls

too.

For one, most people - in the 'general public', but increasingly, and tragically, even in our growing PC community - have NO IDEA just how much amazing work we're doing - collectively and individually.

So we have lots of ridiculous situations happening, where for eg. companies get set up with 'sustainability experts' who have very little idea what they´re doing (in comparison to your average permie), but are great at Public Relations - and raising funds with this.

Another (in my mind, tragic) thing that happens, is that as our community grows bigger, our 'youngsters' or 'newbies' don´t know the people who put together the great treasure-chest of knowledge of Permaculture Praxis ... and so often don´t quite understand it and so perhaps not use it so well.

There are of course a number of

PRACTICAL reasons

for the general permie modestly problem:

• if we're very busy doing amazing stuff, for a long time, surrounded by equally amazing permaculture designers ... it just all seems completely normal to us (what's the big deal, what's there to shout about)

• being very busy DOING means we can´t be quite so busy documenting, or publishing our work - but also that nobody realizes that there is some important work to be documented... because you´re the last person who's going to find the time to do it (this is one of the reasons to tie this Institute in with the DiplomaProcess)

• being a good pioneer, practician or activist does NOT, necessarily, come with being a good organizer of info, or good at communication (nor necessarily being good at team-work .. eg. 'prickly pioneers' etc.)

• we can generally see everything that still NEEDS to be done, and so loose sight easily of ALL that we've already achieved

• and we want our projects and work to be known, not ourselves. But I think people tend to work the other way: they won´t get involved in your project unless they feel they know the PEOPLE in those projects.

• doing very satisfying work often comes with a fairly well healed ego, we don´t feel the *need* to brag quite so much ... but the fact remains that it might be a good idea to do it anyway. Not because we need it, but because the worlds needs us to stop being so modest.

• and perhaps there is even another reason ... that we realize we're so brilliant that it´s frightening :)

Another reason to Brag ...

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you NOT to be?

You are a child of this Universe.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won't feel unsure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of Evolution that is within us.

It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.

As we let our own Light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

erroneously credited to Nelson Mandela

Andy Warhol is famous for saying that one day "everyone will have their 15minutes of fame", and should have their 15 minutes of fame.

And this is perhaps as good an anti-war strategy (War-Hol: Holiday from War?) as we can do on a personal level: jealousy being how people (especially colleagues) often start up 'wars' with each other. Without even realizing.

This has often the effect of the most cooperative-loving amongst us to (mistakenly) try to avoid these painful wars by 'hiding our light under a bush' (english expression), but infact we could do a lot more towards long-term Peace perhaps if we did exactly the opposite: encourage ALL of us brag as much as possible!

But especially to

APRECIATE each other as much as possible

One possible future thing I´d love us to add to the PROFILES Protocol a section of Apreciations ... where we can leave apreciative and supportive comments of our colleagues, of each other.

These can also act as references on the profiles (from a professional point of view).

But I especially think they would be important in order to start CONSCIUSLY SHIFTING our Permaculture Family's Culture towards much better self-care.

Apreciations are a basic ingredient of people-care.

Apreciations, validations or 'positive strokes' are also called "Social Vitamins" and they are ESSENTIAL for our health.

Don´t assume your permaculture colleagues are getting them at home (just because you are, perhaps): often our work does not get us showered with apreciation even though it can be important work for our communities, or the planet in general.

Infact the more radical our work is, often the more threatening to the system, and the more difficult the social atmosphere can be for us.

Too many permaculturists die too young!

When we don´t get enough Social Vitamins ourselves it is easy for us to stop giving them to others.

Yet this (very important) side of our social 'gift economy' can be boosted up and gotten going again simply by starting to GIVE.

.