Oh, I see! moments
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11

May

Recovering Our Awe of Nature

by Joyce McGreevy on May 11, 2020

A sunrise in Ireland is awe-inspiring, a reminder that noticing nature every day reflects a cultural attitude of valuing the environment. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

When had we last watched the sunrise?
© Joyce McGreevy

What Does Nature Need Us to Notice?

Have you noticed it? While life in self-quarantine has restricted our movements, it has also unleashed our senses. As the range of our territory has contracted, our attention to the environment has enlarged.

We’ve had to slow down to the speed at which a flower grows, and now, something has begun to blossom. In moment by “oh, I see” moment: we’re regaining our instinct for the awe of nature.

A sapling in blossom in Ireland is an awe-inspiring sign of spring. a reminder of our instinctive need to notice the beauty of nature. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

In Ireland, a moment of attention blossomed into awe.
© Joyce McGreevy  Read more...

 

Ireland/Nature Discovery

28

Apr

In a World of Worry?

by Joyce McGreevy on April 28, 2020

A wall with a small opening reminds the author that cross-cultural tips for care can help you stay calm, even when the world is in crisis. (Image © Joyce McGreevy)

When we feel walled off and overwhelmed, we can still find an opening for calm.
© Joyce McGreevy

10 Cross-Cultural Tips for Staying Calm

As sheltering in place continues and some news proves more stress-inducing than helpful, staying calm is not always easy. Happily, there’s a world of ways to maintain equilibrium. Oh, I see: Wherever you live, cross-cultural tips like these can help restore your inner balance.

1. Begin Where East Meets West—Meditation

Meditation’s stress-reduction benefits are backed up by science. While silent meditation works wonders for some,  others may prefer guided meditation. The app Ten Percent Happier is geared to skeptics, first timers, and the downright fidgety.  Read more...

 

Clever Ideas/Crossing Cultures/Worldwide Sites

21

Apr

In Home Lockdown, What Sustains You?

by Joyce McGreevy on April 21, 2020

A couple preparing for Seder in their kitchen to share with friends online keep a cultural tradition during the pandemic lockdown. (Image © Jamison and Wendy Clifford Reeves)

Jamison and Wendy Reeves cook supper (above) to share
Passover Seder online with friends (below).

Friends sharing Seder online while maintaining social distance keep a cultural tradition during a global health crisis. (Image © Jamison and Wendy Clifford Reeves0

Both images ©  Jamison Reeves and Wendy Clifford Reeves

Keeping Cultural Traditions
Despite Social Distance

Recently in Bulgaria, Hristina Bareva’s mother  celebrated an important cultural tradition—her Name Day. “Name days are a big thing in Bulgaria,” says Hristina.  So big that “you don’t need permission to visit [the honoree’s] home. It’s socially accepted that you are welcome.”

Palm Sunday is designated for anyone who’s named for a tree or flower. That includes Hristina’s mother, Margarita, after the daisy. In any other year, Margarita would have spent the day offering visitors homemade cakes.  Read more...

 

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/Worldwide Sites

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