Upcoming Season

We are about to enter a time of year of consumption, consumerism, and cost. Pessimism is not a trait I hold well, so I will certainly not belabour that alliteration. There is a lot of giving, hope, joy, and reflection that the proceeding season inspires in all of us as well. The point here, is that I hope we manage to balance it all, and don’t get run off our feet, with pressure to attend this soiree, or that do. Take the time to do things for yourself, and those you care about, to show them that you care. It certainly does not have to be something extravagant, simply intentional.

Start a new tradition, or carry forward old ones, not because they define you, but because you define them. Know your intentions. Be honest about your intentions. Act with intention. Associate with those who do the same. It helps keep balance.

Handball-Football Balance

I will be brief, as there is already too much out there on this topic, and that is part of the problem. Thierry Henry committed a foul in a football game. In the game against Ireland he did not get caught for performance enhancing drugs, he did not go cleats up into a tackle, he did not head butt an opponent, he did not taunt an opponent or official with expletives, he did not premeditate any illegal action, and he did not dive. Henry made an illegal play. He admits that. However, it is utterly ridiculous that people mention his act in the same breath as pre-meditated doping, or intent to injure actions. A game moves so fast, you react so fast, he stuck his hand out, he did not go into that play thinking “I will hand this ball”.

The bigger issue: it has exposed to everyone that we take sport far too seriously. Apparently FIFA is considering suspending Henry for at least a portion of the World Cup, when the correct thing to do would have been to replay the game. But then again, they can’t do that, because that sets a precedent that could get out of control, and they want to maintain a facade of control over something they have purposefully let get beyond them: the fact the spectacle of sport at this level is somehow larger than life. It is just a game. 22 men chasing a ball around a park.

Sport in life is important, it can bring joy, exercise, camaraderie, and give us role models. Yet, it is not important enough to take politicians, journalists, and our thoughts away from what really matters when we get a bit disgruntled, when we want to blow something out of proportion. It is not so important that the character of Henry needs to be stamped upon. He is simply a man, who had a stimulus-response reaction.

Finally, I feel utterly horrible for the referee and linesman. Their careers in sport at the international level are likely finished. What they must have gone through, and be going through is not worth it. Frankly, the sport has let them down, as Wenger explains below. I love competition, I love sport, I get intense, I have made split second reactions like Henry’s that were illegal in sporting competitions. I make mistakes sometimes. I have played sport at a decent level, and continue to coach. I do not dope, I do not intend to injure, I respect my opponents and officials, I work hard, my character means a lot to me. I suspect these statements are the same for Henry, and I suspect they are the same for the officials of the match. The only things is, I don’t play in, or officiate international matches. How are you different from Henry or those officials? Think about that the next time you read, watch, or say anything else about this incident.

I’ve said more than enough, there are many other things we should be focusing on in this world. The resources devoted to this are insanely unbalanced. I will let someone who knows far more about football than I, and a country-man of Henry, tie things up. Get over it – let’s move on – let’s get some balance back.

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving just might be my favourite holiday. This statement has been met with a few quizzical looks lately, but I am prepared to back it up. It is a celebration that combines tradition and flexibility. Friends and family gather or connect without the stress of gift giving or pressure of other holidays. It is of a secular nature, but can be recognized as important for any number of faiths. Most of all, it emphasizes something that is explicitly simple, yet overwhelmingly important: reflection on and expression of thanks. In other words, it has a sublime balance to it.

While it is important to be grateful throughout the year, this weekend’s holiday helps us draw attention to those things we are thankful for. Relationships, particularly family and friends, are consistently first on my list of things I am thankful for. Last year’s Thanksgiving post was focused on relationships, and a year later I am even more appreciative and fortunate to have people in my life that make me a better person. However, on this Thanksgiving I want to note that I am thankful for my health and physical condition. We often say we are glad to have good health, and wish good health on those we care about, but I find recently that I am rather humbled and extremely grateful to do so much that I probably take for granted. Without being healthy I would not have been able to visit so many of the places I have been to in this word. I would not have been able to engage in so many of the activities that bring me joy. Many of the relationships in my life are fostered by activities that would be impossible if I was not healthy. Finally, my day to day existence is completely easy due to my state of fitness. In short, I am extremely fortunate, and as a result, extremely thankful.

From this extends thanks to specific people. I am thankful to my parents who instilled within me a priority for health and fitness. I am thankful to my friends and family who inquire after my health and encourage me to take care of myself (yes, even though I am stubborn). I am thankful to those friends who I go on outdoor physical adventures with as they place safety and health above accomplishments, records, and summits.

On a specific note, I am thankful for everything I have been, and will be involved in this weekend: spending time with a number of close friends I care about, listening to live music, laughing with friends and family, being active outdoors with awesome people I care about, spending time with family, spending time with little buddies I care about, playing hockey, perhaps watching some film, enjoying a fantastic meal, and having the time to reflect and be thankful. What a great Thanksgiving, filled with so many things that bring me joy, and it’s mainly due to some of you who are reading. I don’t think I could ask for a better one.

I hope you get to spend time with people you care about this weekend.

Merci – Thank you – Happy Thanksgiving!
IR

Fortunate City

Walking

Originally uploaded by irober.

The author is quite grateful and fortunate to live in the part of the world that he does, and finds it helps bring him balance. Perhaps this photo connects with that, perhaps it doesn’t. It is a happy time near where the author lives. Do you get balance out of where you live? Or do we create balance within the environment we live in? That’s all I got for now. I mentioned earlier things would be brief here for a while.

Resume play.

Eve of Tuesday 2009

Sneaking Home

Originally uploaded by irober.

We’ve been favoured with seven days of September prior to Labour Day this year, yet here it is once again: The Eve of Tuesday. For many of us we sit at the cusp of beginnings, changes, and adventures at this time of year. As a result, and as I’ve mentioned before (and before), it seems a natural, and pertinent, time for a little reflection. Maybe not too much mind you, but just a little. We’ve pulled off a lot these past twelve months, and it’s interesting to think that many of the adventures of the preceding 52 weeks were set in motion, at least in some small way, during the days following Labour Day. Travel, relationships, sports, employment, school, and other adventures were all set-in motion a year ago. If you think back, can you recall any that made your past year special, challenging, or meaningful?

This type of post has become a bit of a repetitive annual affair, but some things deserve emphasis, especially as many of us have faced recent adventures and challenges. As the summer closes out, we look back upon the season that is often filled with play, travel, and other adventures. Others look back on goals completed, or milestones reached in the past season, and the past year. The start of September, the change of the season, allows us to realize just how much we have accomplished recently – most of it with each other. It’s also exciting to think that in the next few days and weeks the seeds will likely be planted for the adventures to come, or the near future will provide the setting, people, or tools to allow recently started adventures to come to fruition. As I sneak back into town, on the brink of The Tuesday, I find this long weekend has served as a reminder that it is our relationships that will be our most powerful ally – even if some are our greatest challenges – in the year to come after Labour Day.

As I sit and see today’s sun fade across the water and into the west, I smile when I think of what we will accomplish in these days after Labour Day – the new adventures to come, and so many of them still unknown. I am fortunate and thankful to have amazing friends that will be there in the adventures and challenges. Thus, the usual call goes out at this time of year. Be ready to help those who are lost in their challenges of the next 12 months. Yet, also be ready to turn to friends when you are lost or challenged – it will come, and not always in the form expected. However, that’s exciting, and if we didn’t open the door to the excitement of success and setbacks, then joy wouldn’t be able to come in. Be ready, be open, be friendly, and be a friend to your friends.

I might not be around these interweb parts so much this coming season, so two things. (1) Go to a Terry Fox run on Sunday. (2) I’ll wish you all the best now, and suggest that I might return with more regularity at some point. I’ll never be too far though, and for those of you who know where to reach me, please never hesitate to drop a line or give a ring. We’ll see you soon no doubt.

I’ll let the White Stripes take us into this next yearly cycle. A song filled with hope, smiles, friendship and a bit of the unknown – key characteristics for a successful run at the adventures that are ahead for us this time of year.

Take care,
Peace and love – a bientôt,
IR

Perspective and Travel

Not that long ago, I had the opportunity to spend an evening speaking with some fellow young adults in Lafortuna, Costa Rica. (As always, the term adult applies loosely to me, as I know some debate whether or not I fall into that category). At one point the conversation turned to talk of national and regional identities. The Costa Ricans I was with readily identified Canadians as being polite, peaceful, and caring. When they inquired as to what qualities I identified Costa Ricans with, I admitted my perceptions were relatively new. Prior to visiting the country I read a little bit about the history, geography, wildlife and culture. However, it was not until I actually spent time in the country and interacted with people that I began to get a better sense of the history, culture and people. In reflecting upon my perspective, I find myself wishing I had more time to spend with people in Costa Rica. Similar to my previous experiences abroad, it was the people who were the best part of the country. The moments when one was able to engage people in actual conversations it was evident they were passionate about their nation’s culture and achievements. In response to the question posed to me that evening I felt the people I met to be progressive, kind, joyful, and peaceful. Yet, more than the specifics of the question, it was the nature of the conversation itself that made the evening one of my favourites in Costa Rica.

I was extremely fortunate to participate in a number of adventures and activities in Costa Rica. While these experiences left me feeling appreciative of where I am able to go and what I am able to participate in, I was also left with a number of questions on perspective. Most people in the world will never be able to take a trip abroad. Even fewer will live for an extended time in another country. Is it a sense of flaunting fortune and waste to engage in these endeavours? There is certainly a lot of joy and experiences to be found close to home (more on that in the next post as well). Conversations around national identities and human relationships can happen within one’s own neighbourhood.

Thoughts like these though, actually lead me back to the beginning of the question, and I believe (or at least hope) my perspective balances out. Each time I have gone away for adventures, I have grown to appreciate the adventures right here even more. Conversing passionately about social and cultural topics in a different country gives me a new perspective about these topics back home. It is this worldly perspective that the others may have been referring to when they felt Canadians were caring. By going out into the world and engaging with it, you develop a greater understanding. Thus, in the end I think it is important to get out there if you can, but at the same time, balance it all, and look at your adventures through different perspectives. It is important to at least consider how travel could be a wasteful, narrow-minded, and wealth flaunting activity – even perceived “budget travel”. In this way it serves as a reminder that one should strive to make the activities meaningful, and not just accomplishments or crossing things off lists. Further, perhaps the most meaningful part of travel is the people. The conversation that night in Costa Rica was not on any list of things to do, but it will always remain one of the best experiences there. Be ready for those experiences in your own life, and be prepared to engage in them. Perhaps they are more important, and could come at the cost of the “to-do-list” activities. As was explained to me that night – Pura Vida. As usual, your thoughts and questions are welcomed on this. Maybe I’ve got the balance all wrong – it wouldn’t be the first time.

I am most fortunate to have met some great people while traveling this time, and they helped make the adventures truly awesome and full of laughter. Thus, in closing, special thanks to M, Rainforest Club, and Daniel.

Stay tuned for upcoming posts, in the next few days – I promise! In fact, they’re already partly written:
– perspective on adventure in BC (yes – again)
- Terry Fox Run
– annual Labour Day reflection

Blind Bike Balance

This is Matt Gilman. He rides a bike. As you see, he overcomes a particular challenge that you and I probably aren’t faced with, but does stuff – balance stuff – on a bike that most of us probably couldn’t do. There are always different tools, signs, senses, and mediators to help us balance, if we choose to go after them. When faced with something that throws you off balance from the things you find joy in what do you do? It certainly doesn’t stop Matt from going after what brings him joy. There’s more than one way to find balance in the things that bring us joy, even when at first they may appear lost. Are we willing to go after them, and not be afraid to fall while we do it? If you’re not into watching the whole thing at least watch the first couple of minutes, and then watch from about the 7:10 mark on to get a sense of how things don’t always go as planned. But maybe just watch the whole thing.

more about “Blind Bike Balance“, posted with vodpod

If you dig this kind of stuff, then check out these guys from an old posting as well.

Construction, Power, Thunder and Cycling

Constructing, as in social-historical constructivism. Power, as in who has it, where it comes from and how it should be used. Thunder that accompanied the amazing hours long lightning storm I was lucky enough to take in this evening. All overseen by the thoughts and visions of cyclists that fuel procrastination so well.

Amongst all of this I am beginning to wonder where the balance is? It’s at times like these when we may feel unbalanced when we should ask ourselves if that is really the case. I am fortunate enough to have the time to take in a lightning storm with no worries about where I will sleep tonight or where my next meal will come from. I have the luxury of modern technology to help generate and organize my thoughts about social-historical constructivism and power. I easily engage in the extravagance of following a race half a world away, in depth. Any stress I make a claim to right now are completely self created, with the exception that my tools to create it and deal with it socially and historically acquired. (Try that one on for size).

Thus, is it worth asking ourselves sometimes, whether or not we are actually unbalanced, or are we balanced, but realizing that we might need to readjust the fulcrum? There’s nothing wrong with having the fulcrum in different spots at times. I can think of a number of ways to justify where it is right now personally, and I am certainly not here to gripe, or complain about where it is. I’m only here to recognize that its placing is my doing, and to share that thought – for your thoughts. Take it or leave it as you wish. In the end, this outlook, my sense of balance, and my fulcrum placement are (again) constructed, and yours may be constructed differently.

Now, for what you really came here for: I’m forced to pick Cavendish for a win on les Champs-Elysées. I’ll be pulling for Tyler Farrar though.

Once Upon a School

I have been meaning to watch this talk for a while, but as with many things it kept being put on the back burner. When L. encouraged me to follow through, I was glad that I did.

While I have enjoyed Eggers’ writing in the past, this was the first time I have seen him speak. He meanders in the beginning a bit, and admittedly I was worried about what type of impression he was making, but about half way through, and on to the end, he finally starts putting forward something you can grab on to. The main concept I took away was community building. We ask our schools to do so much, but how does the rest of the community stand with schools, or connect with schools, to help them achieve all we ask? This concept is certainly not the cure-all, but it is something novel, exciting, and perhaps the start of something greater. The idea also does not have to stay limited to English and writing. In every community there are people who have skills and expertise in so many different areas that could help teachers to inspire, support, or engage students. One of the key points he makes in this talk is that volunteers need not give up a lot of time, just that the time is quality.

Schools should spill out into the world, and the world should spill into schools. Besides, who doesn’t need supplies to ward off scurvy?

I particularly agreed, and identified, with his thought that a solid community comes from solid simple relationships, and that solid communities can lead to great things. I’m fond of saying big things come from little things. Be sure to let me know which parts you agreed with, disagreed with, connected with, or questioned.

If you haven’t read anything by Eggers yet, I certainly encourage you to do so. What would you offer to help students in if you had the chance?

Third Anniversary – Friendship

“Friendship, like the immortality of the soul, is too good to be believed. When friendships are real, they are not glass threads or frost work, but the solidest things we know.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

A couple of days ago the third anniversary of Être ou Avoir came and left without any fanfare, let alone any postings. This does not mean however that I forgot that it has been three years since we went live at irober.wordpress.com. Rather, I knew I would get around to posting, and instead have been enjoying some time tieing up some loose ends, and then taking some time with friends, rather than jump on to my computer.

Now that I’m hear and reflect briefly on the past year of both blogging, and the past year in general, I find that friendship has been more prevalent in my thoughts and in my postings. This is certainly not to say that I have all of a sudden seen value in friends. Far from it in fact. For years now I have put a high value on the relationship with my friends (including my family). Regardless of time and space, the relationships I attempt to build with close friends involve trust, care, patience, intentionality and love. While some might see these as being the qualities of a partner relationship, it became clear a few years ago that nothing less should be expected from a close friendship. Values, hopes, challenges, and balance – perhaps the defining characteristics of us all – can all be defined, supported, and achieved with friends of this nature.

The values, hopes, challenges and balance woven into this past year have meant a little less blogging from me. However, they have also resulted in a deepening of my close friendships. Quite frankly, I would not have wanted it any other way. At the outset of this blog I made clear that it is important to be off engaged in other things, especially adventure, instead of typing on a computer. In this past year I feel I have. Further, friends have garnered a great deal more influence in this space on the internet in the past year, with suggestions, feedback, questions, sharing, and conversations. Quite frankly, what would I do without them?

In relation to the theme: I have always tended to lean towards the side of being a friend, rather than having friend. Yet, with personal milestones this past year, overcoming challenges, and the deepening of friendships in all areas of my life – work, play, family, social – I see value in both the being and the having. That being said, the act of being, or existing in friendship, is still one of the finest things in life.

Rather than continue to babble on, about either a third year of blogging finished, or friendship, perhaps a couple of quotes that balance each other off would be more appropriate.

The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention… A loving silence often has far more power to heal and to connect than the most well-intentioned words. – Rachel Naomi Remen

A friend is one before whom I may think aloud. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

As you know, I’m a fan of saying what you mean yourself, but I still get roped into a quote every now and then. I do not fret about this. It will likely continue to happen in the fourth year of this blog. C’est la vie. I look forward to the adventures, and postings of the next year. More than those, I look forward to the continued, and perhaps even new, friendships of the next year, and look back with wonderment, and gratitude.

Thank you. A bientôt.

The most I can do for my friend is simply to be his friend. I have no wealth to bestow on him. If he knows that I am happy in loving him, he will want no other reward. Is not friendship divine in this? - Henery David Thoreau