24/30

The formatting of the fonts for this post is incorrect. There is a black hole of blogspot through which the correct formatting was sucked away. Hopefully, one day it will be fixed.

For a large portion of my life, I have spent my summers at Camp Winnarainbow. Each morning our director, Wavy Gravy, reads from a collection of books. One book often read from is Robert Fulghum's "All I really need to know I learned in kindergarden." For the most part, each of those things listed are pretty much all I need to know as well, "clean up your own mess...flush...be aware of wonder..."

For my 30th birthday I thought a lot about what I have learned thus far. I thought I could make it to 30 big lessons but so far I am only up to 24. What I realized is that these lessons didn't come from books or inspirational quotes read in the bathroom, they came from living. Mostly they came from watching the way the people I love live their lives and listening deeply when they tell the truth.

Below is my list and the people who came to my mind as I was writing down these lessons. In some cases I heard someone say something and it has become something I pull up when I need the reminder. In other cases, I have watched the way someone has lived their life and their way has stuck itself deep into the fabric of my I understanding of the world. In every case, I have forgotten to mention someone, so don't take offense, memories are malleable. The list has no order and will grow, take it as a rough cut.

1. Cook, especially for those you love. Mom, Kathy Spear, Brian Sweeney

2. Play games regularly. Brianna, Rami, Cassidy

3. Eat meat. Annette, Jeremy Fisher

4. Work really hard with people you love, for the sake of something you believe in. Jerica, Ori, Savannah, Matt, Catherine, Jah & Wavy

5. Women need to be in positions of leadership not because they have better ideas then men or because their gender affords them greater compassion but because young people need to see reflections of themselves in positions of power. I believe this to be the case for all young people of all races, classes, genders, ethnicity or religion. The group of young women all under the age of 10 that surrounded me after hearing me speak for no reason except to hold my hand and Ida McCray.

6. As protection from loneliness learn how to carry the love of your friends and family with you all the time. Patch

7. Don't be afraid of the dark. Jeremy Fisher

8. Learn your art and pursue it with a veracious appetite. Max, Yakira, Brian Coffey, Octavio, Jose Garcia

9. Work becomes dignified when you know it to be for a larger good. It doesn't really matter what it is, for the most basic activities are necessary for a fully functional whole. Dad, Jundit, Jah, Giulio

10. Go outside. Mom, Dad, CWR

11. Make friends that can stand in for family. Turn those families into communities where you can live, work and grow. CWR, JJSE, Amanda, Ariel, Brianna, Cara, Brooke, Eli

12. Care about the details. Kathy, Elliot, Dad, Nick

13. Not every detail matters. Mom, Matt Alexander, Mike Wakerly, Nick

14. The ability to laugh and to make people laugh is of great social importance and will build the best kind of revolution. Zappo, Avery, Jory, Patch, Brianna, Catherine, Giulio, Wavy, Mike Wakerly, Darrick Smith, Amanda, Alison Sweeney

15. Dance for yourself- perform to share that joy. Marsha, Maisha, Aisha, Yeshi, Bashari, Cara, Rami

16. Know where you come from. Ariel

17. Meditate. CWR, SF School of Massage, Quaker Hall

18. When life gets really messy, chop wood and carry water. Robert Owens Greygrass

19. Give more than you receive, but receive enough to know why you give. Jah, Dad

20. Getting older makes you sexier. Jennifer Fleming

21. Take yourself on dates. Brianna

22. Rules of love: Affection, Attention, Appreciation and Anticipation. Patch

23. Develop a Jedi Mind. Darrick Smith

24. Let people in. Lavonda, Cristy, Antonio, Yakira, Amanda, Brianna, JJSE, CWR