New Learning = New Minds

In thinking about self-renewal, I realized both benefits and a need for structure/discipline in order to create the habit. The structure is around motivation & energy, ability to fail, seeing things as a child, and interdependence (not co-dependence) with others. With this foundation we can be unique, free, and revolutionary in order to reject norms in favor of building a new uncharted path. Without individuals who are doing this, we lose our independence as a society, become puppets and in my view DIE. It connects with the notion of knowledge management, where we no longer need a party line, an assembly line or to quote Frost, "copy speech," but rather seek new thoughts, diverse perspectives and a vision that will carry us forward into the unknown. In Robert Frost's poem "The most of it, " he says . . .

He would cry out in life, that what it wants
Is not its own love back in copy speech,
But counter-love, original response.

To live authentically, to use our gifts and talents fully, and to be the people are meant to be, we need to strive for new knowledge, genuine responses and an openness to the possibilities waiting to be discovered if only we take the time to notice.

The Power of Observation

In working on a daVinci exercise around sense, I decided to listen to the world for new sounds. (Being in Florence made this somewhat easy)
-I heard Andrew's phone wake me up - meap, meap (old English ring sound)
-Buzz of people in a Piazza - no words just bustles and pitch and constant humm
-Piano hard sound, so confident
-Andrew concerned about his voice on video - too nasal, he begins to experiment
-Other sounds in open air - singing teenagers on train, John Denver like singing man passionately bringing a crowd
-Lots of strange sounding sirens, loud and echoing as they travel down tiny streets
- Il Latino Restaurant, clanking and multi-languages overwhelming our heads and drowning our voices
-Language -Italian, British, Australian, German, French, Japanese highs and lows ringing

In various themed exercises I am overcome by how awareness enlivens experience. So much more is in front of me then I realize. As I bring awareness of self to the world, I am also experiencing new aspects of myself that fill me with both fascination and fear.