Last night I remembered I had bought a DNA sample kit from National Geographic’s “The Genographic Project”. I don’t know why that suddenly popped into my head. I had bought the kit early this year out of curiosity, but hadn’t done anything with it. Untill today.
The Genographic Project means to map the migratory path our ancestors took when they left the African plains a mere 2.000 generations ago. Call it genetic archaeology. I found it exhilarating to maybe get a glimpse of my own personal family history, not by name and face, but by genetic lineage. What if this project could tell me where I come from, how I fit into the bigger picture? And when I know, what would that mean for the path that lies before me.
Maybe, remembering I had that kit sitting in a drawer, isn’t a coincidence. As I am watching the accompanying DVD, it does make sense. My Q4 challenge. Bear with me.
Just before Christmas 2008 I went to Curaçoa in the Netherlands Antilles to train a group of people in the basics of creative thinking. I ended up staying with Geerdine Kuijper, a Dutch artist who moved to Curaçao about 40 years ago. She’s in her seventies, but has the zest and gusto for life many 20-year olds could learn a few things from.
She lives and works at her Art & Nature Inn, which is basically a handmade compound with several apartments. No excessive luxury – don’t let the pool fool you – no restaurant or room service, just the basics: a clean and cosy room, handcrafted with love, a sincere welcome and a host who will take you in as if you were family. It is a place without the airco, but with a true and beautiful soul. What more do you need?
Geerdine is, by any standard, an exceptional person who made a huge impression on me. Looking back on it, I feel very fortunate to have spent a week at the Inn just before embarking on my PtO journey. I think it was exactly what I needed.
Geerdine and I stayed in touch. We write good old fashioned handwritten letters and occasionally talk on the phone. She was willing to give me my final “Connect to Anyone” challenge in this year of the arts.
This is her challenge for me:
“From the shadows into the light, through diversity, lies the force towards unity and a new world”
There. Can you imagine that this assignment needed some sinking in on my part? I didn’t have a clue what to make of it and very soon I got stuck, seriously stuck. I struggled with what, how, why, what for – and in the meantime, the days just flew by and only have three months to pull this off – where, what shape, which starting point… Was I loosing the flow I felt I had just gotten into, doing Gerry’s photography challenge? Was it me slipping into my “old” habits and life again? Was PtO really this fragile? Should I stop being so hard on myself or push even harder? You know these questions, you’ve been there, I’m sure. I couldn't even bring myself to post the challenge when I got it, over six weeks ago.
Yet here I am. I just wrapped my samples into a little plastic back and am about to head to the post office to send them to Houston, Texas. In 4 to 6 weeks, I should get the results. I don’t know why this link between the Genographic Project and Geerdine’s assignment is significant, I just feel that it is.
“From the shadows into the light, through diversity, lies the force towards unity and a new world”. Isn’t that exactly what our ancestors did when they set out to find what ever it is they were looking for, or where driven by whatever called to them?
One thing I do know. I need to let go of my 3 month per challenge dogma. This is something I cannot do justice if I’m preoccupied with looking at my watch the whole time. I feel in my heart Geerdine would agree. And as I am writing this something changes inside of me. The feeling of having lost a month an a half subsides and is overwritten by a sense of … I can’t really put my finger on it, but it’s calm, serene and grounded feeling.
The Q4 challenge isn’t a Q4 challenge anymore. It’s a warm invitation to let go of the clock, my agenda and the pace I decided on almost a year ago. I’m allowing myself to let this final arts-assignment take as long as it feels it needs to. I’m letting go of this being MY task and MINE alone. Whatever comes from this, I won’t be doing it alone.
Take care,
Karl
Esther Verwoord 21 November 2009
Now Karl,
Mooi verhaal.
"Waarom heb je zo'n rigide indeling van tijd gemaakt? Dat lijkt er bijna op alsof je naar een bepaald doel werkt. En als dat er niet is binnen de tijd dan is de challenge 'mislukt'",was de gedachte die ik had toen ik een aantal weken geleden las over je project.
Maar toen bedacht ik me dat het misschien wel zó was: kijk maar waar het eindigt maar wel binnen die tijd. Je meot toch 5 jaar verdelen. Je moet toch ergens een grens stellen. Echter wat je nu lijkt te doen spreekt veel meer vanuit je intuitie. En dat je wel zult weten wanneer het genoeg is. Wanneer je klaar bent om los te laten en om verder te gaan. Bovendien kunnen er dan meerdere dingen door elkaar lopen die elkaar ook beïnvloeden zoals in het echte leven ook al het geval is niet waar?
Het is precies dat gevoel wat me bij COCD gebracht heeft. En nog steeds weet ik niet wat het precies voor mij kan betekenen. Eigenlijk begrijp ik er steeds minder van! Al die energie gisteren heeft dat gevoel alleen nog maar eens versterkt. Laat maar komen, ik zie wel waar het 'eindigt'.
Good on ya! See you.
Grote groet,
Esther
Loes 4 December 2009
Hoi Karl,
"From the shadows into the light, through diversity, lies the force towards unity and a new world” Ik laat de woorden landen, maar ze aarden nog niet, ze blijven zweven. Een mooi begin van het
weekend.
Wat een uitdaging!
groeten,
Loes
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