The Duty To Care.

Magnolia Flower - Image Taken on Earth Day 2017, April 22nd.

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, joy, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that the other day my daughter was working on a school project that involved using modelling clay. The texture of the clay was tough. To mold and mix the clay with another color required effort. She said to me, mama this is taking too long. I replied, yes I know. This scenario made me think about the idea of slowness, and how as a society we have forgotten what it feels like to slow down. so this activity with the modelling clay is a nice example. We are getting so used to getting everything in an instant, to slow down and wait is a feeling of rarity. 

     These thoughts can also be related to those of being alone, in solitude when we would like to take the time to wonder. We need to have this time to wonder and to think, and truly this can happen in this period of slowness, weather we choose to go for nature walks away from the chaos, or a place that we simply enjoy. We need to take time out for this, be it a physical or spiritual activity. What I am finding is that the period of slowness is actually becoming a source of anxiety for individuals, because it means to arrive in a place of unknowingness, to be in the unknown. 

     This state of being can be equated to that of loneliness / solitude. The thought of being alone is also a source of anxiety. However, we must be able to learn to be in these spaces so that we are able to have a relationship with the self as well, and when we are in these phases or stages, we know how our body / emotions will be able to cope.

Duty of Care
 

     As educators we have to build in these reflective spaces, so that these traits could potentially be developed early. Just as we have a responsibility for the love and care of the World and Earth, we also have a duty to the torch bearers of tomorrow. Students must be given the opportunity to seek out the new. And as educators and leaders we have a duty and authority, to protect the new ideas that are being developed, to ensure a care for the Earth and World, for present and future generations.

     A duty of care for the new is the duty of authority. It is also a duty of the new to respect the work of those who have worked hard to protect and care for the very values that we cherish. So the work of the new actually involves an inter - generational relationship. These relationships and spaces for the purposes of developing social thought, are vital if we want to make progress.
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The Science March
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     A Note: The March for Science that took place in the USA on April the 22nd, I am actually quite proud of. It must be remembered that historically the scientists , social scientists, were always in a battle with political structures. Whilst introspecting the what ifs, science demands the new. Science demands progress, something that Governments, political regimes and structures may not always be inclined to welcome.

Dedication: These thoughts are dedicated to all those who seek out the new, let us do this with love and care, with the values that are cherished. My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :)  

​Notes: These thoughts were originally hand - written on April 22nd, 2017.
Image 1 - Personal Collection
Image 2 - Web Link
Image 3 - Web Link