writing

The Wisdom of Other Places

/ Elizabeth Gaucher / Leave a comment

I love the take on life lessons and philosophies expressed by cultures other than my own.  I always end up seeing things in a richer and often more entertaining way.

"The lion while hunting does not roar."

Case in point:  A fortune cookie last week asked me to remember that “the lion while hunting doesn’t roar.”  I have never lived around lions, so this was not part of my wisdom bank until Iopened that cookie.  It makes perfect, beautiful sense, and now I know how to express an old idea in a new way.  Another favorite that was posted on my refrigerator for months was this saying from Bulgaria: “It is permissable to walk with the devil until you have crossed over the bridge.”  Well said.

From words we simply don’t have in English (deja vu) to metaphors North American culture can’t concoct, there are many wonderful ways to express life and its stories.  We are lucky to have access to global experiences when it comes to trying to figure it all out.

Update on WV Childhood essay project

/ Elizabeth Gaucher / 3 Comments

Last night I received the most amazing proposal for an essay — what it was like growing up thinking certain things that are very real were actually urban legends, and what it was like to negotiate growing up with that confusion.  I am inspired by the creativity and courage people have!

For anyone still wishing to joining the Essays on a West Virginia Childhood project, here is our timeline (flexible):

September 1, 2010 or sooner — share with me your proposed essay title and basic subject matter, as well as your estimated number of pages.

September 30, 2010 — share a draft of your essay (or final if you do not request any feedback).

October 15 — I’ll have feedback to anyone who requests it.

November 1 — We will make our work public.

Some ideas to consider are:

  • How was your childhood different from what you see in WV today?
  • Who were some incredible characters from your growing up?
  • How did you spend your free time as a child?
  • What role did your family members play in your life?
  • What kinds of friends did you have? Any special animals or pets?
  • What was your school experience?
  • Was there an especially difficult event or dynamic in your childhood you want to explore in writing?
  • Do you have what you might consider a uniquely WV element to your childhood, such as growing up in a coal community?
  • What about social divides — were you a have in a world of have nots, or vice versa? How did that shape who you are today?
  • How did you feel about WV growing up, and why do you think you felt that way?
  • Were there any special areas of the state you visited as a child that made a lasting impression on you?
  • What were your dreams or assumptions about the future when you were very young? Did those turn out to be on target, or different from life now?
  • What observations do you have about the children in your life now, and what they are experiencing?