Freeconomy Blog
Thu
07 Feb
Work is love made visible...
| 9 comments |
The events of last Monday will have a profound effect on me forever. On the surface, it could all seem quite trivial - I post a piece about having problems with my footwear on here and about 24hrs later I have a new pair of sandals delivered by two of my very best friends.
But the string of events which occurred to make it happen was far from trivial. People reorganised their working days at the drop of a hat, emails were sent around the country looking for information on my location, strangers went out on a search, and friends travelled a long distance and waited hours on the side of the road to deliver them.
For me they didn't deliver sandals that day. They delivered love, a love packaged by every single person who played a part in it. It was deeply moving. Sometimes when you are walking on your own you can feel quite isolated and you have no idea what is going on in the rest of the world. And to see so many people go out of their way for me without me knowing about it was so touching. You get a huge sense of being cared about and that is the greatest feeling in the world.
Work is love made visible. Friendships and community, and not money, truly are the real treasure in life. If the economy went completely pear-shaped tomorrow, do you think cash or community would be security to you? I know where I stand on it.
I just realised it's been a few days since I have touched base. Monday was a great day even before the events I've just outlined. Met lots of great people, got lots more publicity for the freeconomy community and the sun shone all day. I ended up meeting some Southampton freeconomists in town and one of the very kind chaps gave me a hot bath and bed for the night, easing the aches from a very busy 50km days walking and talking.
I woke up the following day though in a lot of pain. I had strained a muscle in my left thigh from overcompensating for the pain in my feet. So I looked at a map and seeing it was only 32km to Portsmouth, decided to hobble along there. Meanwhile the muscle was rapidly tightening and feet rapidly bruising.
It's funny though, you do find ways of dealing with it. I remind myself that it is only sore if I decide it is sore. And there is a switch in your brain that, if you can find it, you can flick to knock off the pain. Not wise long term as pain is Nature's way if saying there is something not right. But it can get you through some rough points.
And the pain is strongest first thing in the morning - those first few steps really wake you up. You just got to roll into a stride, starting at literally a snails pace softening up the blisters and bruises, and slowly telling yourself what a huge gift it is.
And it is. Each step I take in pain and joy is my way of telling the world how much I care about the breakdown of everything I see as being beautiful in this world. And when the sign reads 40km to the next destination and I'm already in limp mode, that, along with all you guys, are what keeps me going.
So the walk to Portsmouth became a day of reflection for me. Chris and Suzie, the sandal deliverers, relayed a lot of what was happening in the 'outside' world regarding Freeconomy and the pilgrimage and what was stemming from it. And having read a lot of the comments on here, I had a lot to think about. I have learned so much in such a short time, and trying to get to grips with where it is all going is quite difficult when you are quite removed from all the activity.
Just on that, it is so uplifting to see so many overwhelmingly positive remarks about this community and the pilgrimage in the testimonial section and in the comments on the blog. It's very strange for me seeing something that was still an unhatched egg four months ago develop into a worldwide movement of people looking do to things a bit differently.
But it's also really good to see the not so positive remarks. The fact it has provoked a response from some people is very important, and every opinion on it is valid. I don't pretend to have all the answers and so I am always looking to be questioned.
The one thing I would ask people to do is not see this community as an attack on anyone’s way of life. All this is another way of doing things, though in my humble opinion, a more beautiful way. But it's not for everyone yet, and that's OK. For now anyway - my research still leads me to believe that it way become a necessity at some point in the not too distant future.
And I have noticed a couple of folk believe I am wrong to go to poor countries without money, and hence placing a burden on them. It's a very valid point and one I obviously thought a lot about before embarking on this. My take on it is this. The so called 'poorer' nations - the word ‘poor’ always being used to describe financial status and not a level of happiness - are being told by the institutions of the west that they must go down the same route as us and that financial gain equals happiness. This then gets backed up by a media structure controlled by a few very powerful people with very definite agendas.
What I want to relay to these people is that somebody in the west, who has had a fair bit of the wealth that they desire, has chosen to give it all up and walk across the world to tell them that financial wealth does not equal happiness. And if the trends in the rates of suicide, depression and addictions are anything to go by, it probably has the opposite effect.
But not only that. If you have ever travelled Asia, you will know that to even offer most people in that continent money for hospitality received is a huge insult, as for them 'paying-it-forward' is still a way of life. It's only us brainwashed westerners who think that everyone thinks like we do about 'giving' and money.
Anyway, on to more logistical things. Due to an immense amount of emails from people who want to meet up for some walking and talking and to stop members of the media wasting lots of litres of oil trying to find me, I have decided to start publishing an itinerary for a few days in advance. I will be taking the 'A' roads between these towns and generally leave around 7.30am in the morning.
SO here's the rough plan for the next few days, though I should add that I cannot guarantee it for obvious reasons.
Friday - Bognor Regis - Worthing
Saturday morning (6am start) Worthing - Brighton (inc. possible Freeconomy get together if anyone wants to come down!)
Sunday - Brighton
Monday - Brighton - Eastbourne
After that, who knows! Now back to soaking ‘the boys’ so I can hopefully get back on the road in the morning!
Comment on this Post:
PixieKat comments ...
Mark - you got your head screwed on and your heart beams bright!
Much love & respect m’dear
xxx
Helen comments ...
Hi Saorise,
- I’ll be in Brighton on Saturday. It would be great to catch up with you again, I’ll bring some cake, what are your plans?
Helen
(The Film Student)
Prasenjit comments ...
I just heard about you from Gandhi’s official organisation. I am an Indo-Canadian currently living in San Diego. I really appreciate what you are doing and your message. I am an avid Gandhian, I shall pass on news about you to whoever I can :). Cant wait till you get to India, you’ll love it there! And people will love you back! Especially in the state of Gujarat..I grew up there (just a few hundred kms northeast of Porbandar in the city of Baroda)..people are really friendly and they will definitely get your message! Good luck to you!
Paul and Jacky comments ...
Wishing you healthy feet on your journey.Your story is already being passed to many and it is a wonderful thing that you are doing....good luck on your journey and those who cannot be with you in body are with you in spirit...positive energy is infectious and we have the rash to prove it....haha............
Helena comments ...
Love, your views on the bad as well as the good are succinct and salient - it makes me proud to know you, to be part of this with you, to learn with you. Whoever reads this, whoever knows you, whoever feels they have some sort of affinity with what you’re doing will know what I mean when I say (type?) you will succeed in anything you do because the word ’failure’ is not part of your vocabulary, therefore it has no place in your life. (And you’re slowly eliminating the word ’should’ too!) But because of this, the perspective you offer is constantly gentle, accepting and powerful; inasmuch as it offers great scope for self-questioning and reflection. You’re a darlin me old scorcher, all my family and friends love you too - and now you are part of the family, the love just keeps on growing!
In weakness there is strength, in desparation there is hope, in tears there is passion and in this world there is a huge community that has bonded on this common ground. Thank you for initiating this and bringing us together, now let’s all go out, spread the lurrve and smile at strangers! (Not in a weird, scary way though).
Much much love, light, kisses and blessings. xxxxxx X
tashakalisher comments ...
Seems to me that the world is full of everyday heroes ..... Thank you.
Much love
XXX
Doctor comments ...
Glad I found your site. I had heard about it. You are right.
Dave
Karma comments ...
"And I have noticed a couple of folk believe I am wrong to go to poor countries without money, and hence placing a burden on them. It’s a very valid point and one I obviously thought a lot about before embarking on this. My take on it is this. The so called ’poorer’ nations - the word ‘poor’ always being used to describe financial status and not a level of happiness - are being told by the institutions of the west that they must go down the same route as us and that financial gain equals happiness. This then gets backed up by a media structure controlled by a few very powerful people with very definite agendas.
What I want to relay to these people is that somebody in the west, who has had a fair bit of the wealth that they desire, has chosen to give it all up and walk across the world to tell them that financial wealth does not equal happiness. And if the trends in the rates of suicide, depression and addictions are anything to go by, it probably has the opposite effect.
But not only that. If you have ever travelled Asia, you will know that to even offer most people in that continent money for hospitality received is a huge insult, as for them ’paying-it-forward’ is still a way of life. It’s only us brainwashed westerners who think that everyone thinks like we do about ’giving’ and money."
This is a load of B.S. Sorry budy but I spent a year living in a refugee communtiy in India and I can tell you you are wrong. Poor people are generous but they will not have kind things to say about you if you do not return their generosity and they will certainly be glad to see you leave if you are unable to reciprocate.
In some of the areas you were planning to travel thorough many people do not have enough to eat properly let alone pay for a sick family member or friend to go to the hospital or afford to heat their homes in winter. They would not appreciate hearing the obvious lie that they are better off than people in the west. Depression, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse are huge problems in developing countries and the third world. One example is the horrifying number of Indian farmers who commit suicide every year because they can’t feed their families or pay their debts.
Another point. Around 200,000 Tibetans have excaped from Tibet by walking over the Himalaya’s in winter. Around 4000 make the journey every year. The journey takes around a month and many die of exposure, fall into crevases and die slowly calling to their helpless friends above for help, some lose limbs to frost bite and some get shot by the chinese or raped by Nepali border guards. They give up their homes, posessions and families, usually forever. They don’t compare themselves to Ghandi or the Buddha.
