Ubuntu
I've been told several times lately that I should start blogging. I always shrugged it off because, you know, who wants to read what I write? That, and other little stupid insecurities: What in the world would I title it? What kind of layout is cool enough? What, if, I, use, too, many, commas (I don't know why I have such an insecurity about commas...)? What if I misspell words and people think I'm an idiot (my sister and aunt Heather are English teachers, so I'm naturally more self-conscious of my grammar!)? How am I supposed to come up with cute little titles to my blogs? What if I'm a little too honest or people misinterpret my blog tone of voice and get offended? I only have things to write about like once every 2 months, which makes for a boring blog. Other people have GOT to be better at blogging than I would ever be. Also, I thought that maybe if I started a blog I would write less, kind of like when you "have" to do something it makes it not as fun, like if people wanted to read what I write it would put more pressure on it to be good and I would end up hating it.
But here I am, and for a lot of reasons. One being that I read lots of blogs of authors that I love, friends, or random blogs I stumble upon while perusing Pinterest...and I love them. I can't wait until they post more. They're like short stories or chapters instead of the whole book. Sometimes they're insightful, funny, sad, educational, or so painstakingly honest that I find myself envying their transparency. (If you're reading this and you post your blog to facebook and we're friends, I probably read your blog and love it, so thank you for inspiring me). That's one reason I am here--maybe I have some thoughts that you have too and maybe I can write them down for both of us and give you some tangibility (is that a word?) to what you're feeling and couldn't write yourself. Maybe you disagree with what I write and it makes you stronger in what you believe. Maybe I can be honest enough that it will challenge you to be honest with yourself. Maybe I can get past my insecurities and say what I need to say.
The other reason, and main reason, I decided to start blogging: Ubuntu. It's such a weird little word, isn't it? There is so much truth, so much weight, in one little funny word. And I love it. Like love it so much I want it tatted on my body, but maybe I'll just live it out instead and save my next tattoo for a Spring Break/midlife crisis moment. And if you're reading this and didn't know I have a tattoo: it's white ink, on my left foot, and YES my grandma Betty knows about it and has already disowned me ;)
I read about ubuntu in a forward by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a book I was given 4 years ago. Because I can't summarize it and do it justice, I'm actually going to copy it here; you deserve to read it in its original glory, trust me. (Oh, and don't try to google it or you'll read about a computer operating system called ubuntu, which is not what I'm so passionate about.)
"In my culture and tradition, the highest praise that can be given to someone is 'Yu, u nobuntu,' an acknowledgement that he or she has this wonderful quality: ubuntu. It is a reference to their actions toward their fellow human being, it has to do with how they regard people and how they see themselves within their intimate relationships, their familial relationships, and within the broader community. Ubuntu addresses a central tenet of African philosophy: the essence of what it is to be human.
The definition of this concept has two parts. The first is that the person is friendly, hospitable, generous, gentle, caring, and compassionate. In other words, someone who will use their strengths on behalf of others--the weak and the poor and the ill--and not take advantage of anyone...And because of this they express the second part of the concept, which concerns openness, large-heartedness. They share their worth. In doing so my humanity is recognized and inextricably bound to theirs.
People with ubuntu are approachable and welcoming; their attitude is kindly and well-disposed; they are not threatened by the goodness in others because their own esteem and self-worth is generated by knowing they belong to a greater whole...Put another way, 'a person is a person through other people.' No one comes into the world fully formed. We would not know how to think or walk or speak or behave unless we learned it from fellow human beings. We need other human beings in order to be human."
Ubuntu. Say it out loud, let it roll around your tongue. Let it settle in that little part of your heart you know it tugged at! It's beautiful, isn't it?
We are made for community. We grow because of one another. I think blogging is small way to become connected, to somehow contribute to ubuntu. I want to live, be, breathe ubuntu. If I have learned from other blogs that I've read and stories that I've heard, then maybe someone else can learn from my blog and my stories, even in a small-scale way and get a little ubuntu in their life.
I don't promise to be grammatically sound and perfect. I can't promise I won't overdo the commas (or parentheses...I like parentheses). I won't promise you'll always agree with what I write. I can't promise weekly insightful or funny or tear-jerking posts. But maybe these words will find you where you're at and whisper something like, "me too." Maybe you will learn a little about a lesson I learned the hard way and not have to do it the hard way. Maybe you'll laugh or cry your way through these words and come out a little more whole on the other side. Maybe you'll be pushed to be more open, more transparent. Maybe you'll start your own blog!
I am because we are. Maybe you'll be, because I am.
Welcome to my little blog! May you be ubuntu, may you find ubuntu. :)
But here I am, and for a lot of reasons. One being that I read lots of blogs of authors that I love, friends, or random blogs I stumble upon while perusing Pinterest...and I love them. I can't wait until they post more. They're like short stories or chapters instead of the whole book. Sometimes they're insightful, funny, sad, educational, or so painstakingly honest that I find myself envying their transparency. (If you're reading this and you post your blog to facebook and we're friends, I probably read your blog and love it, so thank you for inspiring me). That's one reason I am here--maybe I have some thoughts that you have too and maybe I can write them down for both of us and give you some tangibility (is that a word?) to what you're feeling and couldn't write yourself. Maybe you disagree with what I write and it makes you stronger in what you believe. Maybe I can be honest enough that it will challenge you to be honest with yourself. Maybe I can get past my insecurities and say what I need to say.
The other reason, and main reason, I decided to start blogging: Ubuntu. It's such a weird little word, isn't it? There is so much truth, so much weight, in one little funny word. And I love it. Like love it so much I want it tatted on my body, but maybe I'll just live it out instead and save my next tattoo for a Spring Break/midlife crisis moment. And if you're reading this and didn't know I have a tattoo: it's white ink, on my left foot, and YES my grandma Betty knows about it and has already disowned me ;)
I read about ubuntu in a forward by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a book I was given 4 years ago. Because I can't summarize it and do it justice, I'm actually going to copy it here; you deserve to read it in its original glory, trust me. (Oh, and don't try to google it or you'll read about a computer operating system called ubuntu, which is not what I'm so passionate about.)
"In my culture and tradition, the highest praise that can be given to someone is 'Yu, u nobuntu,' an acknowledgement that he or she has this wonderful quality: ubuntu. It is a reference to their actions toward their fellow human being, it has to do with how they regard people and how they see themselves within their intimate relationships, their familial relationships, and within the broader community. Ubuntu addresses a central tenet of African philosophy: the essence of what it is to be human.
The definition of this concept has two parts. The first is that the person is friendly, hospitable, generous, gentle, caring, and compassionate. In other words, someone who will use their strengths on behalf of others--the weak and the poor and the ill--and not take advantage of anyone...And because of this they express the second part of the concept, which concerns openness, large-heartedness. They share their worth. In doing so my humanity is recognized and inextricably bound to theirs.
People with ubuntu are approachable and welcoming; their attitude is kindly and well-disposed; they are not threatened by the goodness in others because their own esteem and self-worth is generated by knowing they belong to a greater whole...Put another way, 'a person is a person through other people.' No one comes into the world fully formed. We would not know how to think or walk or speak or behave unless we learned it from fellow human beings. We need other human beings in order to be human."
Ubuntu. Say it out loud, let it roll around your tongue. Let it settle in that little part of your heart you know it tugged at! It's beautiful, isn't it?
We are made for community. We grow because of one another. I think blogging is small way to become connected, to somehow contribute to ubuntu. I want to live, be, breathe ubuntu. If I have learned from other blogs that I've read and stories that I've heard, then maybe someone else can learn from my blog and my stories, even in a small-scale way and get a little ubuntu in their life.
I don't promise to be grammatically sound and perfect. I can't promise I won't overdo the commas (or parentheses...I like parentheses). I won't promise you'll always agree with what I write. I can't promise weekly insightful or funny or tear-jerking posts. But maybe these words will find you where you're at and whisper something like, "me too." Maybe you will learn a little about a lesson I learned the hard way and not have to do it the hard way. Maybe you'll laugh or cry your way through these words and come out a little more whole on the other side. Maybe you'll be pushed to be more open, more transparent. Maybe you'll start your own blog!
I am because we are. Maybe you'll be, because I am.
Welcome to my little blog! May you be ubuntu, may you find ubuntu. :)
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