If social enterprise was in a relationship...

If Social Enterprise was in a relationship with the Other Sectors, its facebook relationship status would be “it’s complicated.”

http://nicktemple1.files.wordpress.com

Social Enterprise is a sweet, quirky little lady who shies away from commitment and labels, but who absolutely loves spending time with Business, Nonprofit, and Public Sector.  If she was being honest with herself, she would admit that she is a bit of tease.  She loves each Sector so much that she’s actually begun to take on the qualities of each. 

It’s not really fair to the others.   

When they go out together, she steals all of the attention.  She’s a hot little number.  And she has a lot to say, and a real way with words.  She’s ambitious and bright and has good intentions.

When she talks to her friends, she’s all, “I think Business is so smart and he’s obviously going places in life; I can really see a future with him.  But Nonprofit has such a big heart and I really love his spirit; he makes me to want to be a better person. And well, Public Sector is just so strong and charismatic; besides, you know he always finds a way to make me laugh, even when he screws up.”

And obviously she can’t decide.  So she sees them all casually.  She gets what she needs from each of them and kind of does her own thing. She’s young and independent.  This is her prerogative.

But, sometimes, it gets complicated.

www.justmeans.com

 

If you’ve never heard of “social enterprise”, good for you!  Dear, lucky you…

If you’ve never heard of “social enterprise”, then your language is probably joyfully devoid of excessive use of terms like “incubation of innovation” and “impact investing” and “scaling up sustainably” and “disrupting the system”.  

You’ve probably never in all your life experienced as much “inspiration” as people who talk about social enterprise either.

www.ebbf.org

I know how I sound.  I sound a little cynical.  And I don’t mean to be.  Social enterprise is a fantastic model and concept for achieving positive social change.  But I am an over analytical person who would rather ask questions than have entire conversations in buzz phrases.  (My mom always supported this question asking thing… she said that that’s how we learn.  She’s very wise.)

And, to be fair, if you’re just realizing that I’m a cynic, then we clearly haven’t met and you don’t read my blog regularly.

But, my point is, it’s complicated.  Think about it.

(I’ll have new thoughts soon.. probably.)

P.S. I know I’ve hyperlinked the crap out of this post, but I wanted to give you a taste of perspectives and issues that exist.  If you want to know more, OMG there is so much more.  Just Google it, my friends.

Some thoughts that aren't mine.

I think I'm out of words at the moment.

But I'll share these few tidbits on one of my favorite topics - open urination, of course!:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20601552 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-20202339

Things are complicated.  Think about it.

Today I miss...

And for more fall beauty: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-20510889

Reflections on travel

Halfway through this journey (holy crap!, it’s halfway over.. don’t freak out), I suppose maybe some reflection is warranted.  Let’s start with some thoughts on travel:

Perusing old landmarks up North several weeks ago, I was struck by the change in my perspective on travel. 

Standing among centuries old architecture, I remembered how I felt in Rome during my first trip abroad when I was 14.  I remember the feeling of awe and of feeling small in an ancient, historic, storied place among the ruins.  Rome remains my ‘favorite city’ because of that feeling. 

I wonder if I would respond the same if I went today.   

Probably not.

I’ve moved on to a place of appreciation.  Beauty and amazement, yes, I see it – but with much more surrounding it.  It’s less overwhelming and inspiring.  It’s meaningful, but with fewer emotions attached.  I wonder if this change comes with being ‘well-traveled’ or with age or with my personal journey to becoming the skeptic (stoic?) that I am.

The experience isn’t less; in many ways, it may be more.  I see more of the story.  I care more about the people (and the food) beyond the monument – the now, how the past still mingles with it, and where it may be going next.  Perspective has changed – mostly for good.

But that innocence that was there when I was 14, standing among crumbling pillars imagining Cesar and Cleopatra in my mind’s eye, is enviable.  That emotion and wonder is coveted. 

I want my nieces and nephews to experience that.  I want them to have the sense that the world is bigger (in so many dimensions!) than their purview.  Travel almost necessitates discarding one’s boundaries.

More thoughts on travel:

• The best travel advice I ever received was to take pictures of people (including you) in front of monuments, scenery, etc.  You’ll look at these for memories more often; you can’t capture the in-the-moment-beauty of a thing in a snapshot anyway.  (I don’t always follow this rule, but I should.)
• The thing I’ve learned most from travel is to look out windows and over ledges, always – the perspective is different, and often exquisite.  Look through things, past them, deeper, closer and you’ll be amazed…most of the time.
• Sometimes being surrounded by beauty and antiquity makes me sad.  I can’t pinpoint the reason why, but I think it’s to do with the pensiveness that 'old' requires.
• Travel can very easily be substituted for exercise.  Two forts in two days = best workout ever.

http://thecultureur.com

 

How to do Thanksgiving in India

My family most certainly knows the kind of obsessive Thanksgiving control freak that I turn into beginning around midnight on Halloween. 

Turkey carving

Generally, the story goes: spend about 2 months looking at recipes and watching cooking shows; send out the email invite/request for potluck items about 3 weeks ahead of the holiday; create a menu and grocery list about 2 weeks prior; buy the turkey in time for it to thaw in the refrigerator; finish grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Kroger; and finally cooking and baking for 3 days before the entire family comes to my parents’ house for feasting and fellowship.

It’s a process. And I love it.  It is the best part of the year, no questions asked.  Cooking, productivity, organizing people, family, wine, cornbread dressing, pie – ..these are a few of my favorite things..

Alas, you may wonder how I was surviving in India, without a family to boss around, without an oven, without a tv for obsessive recipe refining.  I admit; it was tough for a few weeks.

BUT then, the Sunday before Thanksgiving a couple of dear fellows said to me, “Would you want to help coordinate Thanksgiving so we don’t have to go to a restaurant? Can we do it at your apartment?”

Football watching

(Be still my heart. All is well with my soul.  Oh so thankful!)  I replied, “Yes, of course, I’d love to.”

And then, I organized and cooked and was productive.  And it felt like family: lots of noise and helpfulness and debates and laughter. And there was wine. And the boys put on some football. It was generally accepted as a success.

So what am I thankful for this year:

• My family at home that puts up with my bossy holiday organizing every year. And who Skyped in twice for Thanksgiving.  And who are super supportive of me, always.
• My new small community here in Hyderabad that facilitated my obsessive tradition making this year.  And who roamed around the city shopping and baking for a week, which are great feats in this town with limited North American ingredients and ovens.  And who keep me sane on a daily basis in moments of questionable mental health.
• My friends that sent sweet virtual messages from so far away. And who manage to make me smile every time I hear from them these days (and always).
• And for the small miracle that is pumpkin pie, turkey, and cornbread dressing in India.

I hope you each enjoyed the holiday with an equal amount of gratitude as I did.

The Feast

Also, if you have never tried to explain Thanksgiving to someone who is not American, I wholeheartedly invite you to try.  It is fascinating and really makes you reflect on the holiday’s meaning… which is obviously the feast. 

(Ok, or maybe, it’s a time to share your blessings with those around you that you are grateful for each and every day of the year.)

Questions that need answers: yoga edition

I confess: I like yoga. I do. Kind of a lot.  

Mostly because it’s exercise that doesn’t require me to move too much, which is kind of amazing.  And because lying around with your feet in the air is oddly fun and refreshing. And because India requires that all residents enjoy yoga – I’m pretty sure that was on the visa application.

Despite my new devotion to the yoga, I sometimes wonder:

What exactly do open hips feel like?

Talk to anyone who has done yoga for any significant amount of time, I dare you.  They will tell you how amazing “hip openers” are; proceed to stretch in ways that send their legs in opposite and twisting directions; and then tell you how “open” their hips feel.  It feels great when your hips are open, I hear.

I don’t get it.  I feel the stretching when doing pigeon pose, I do. But, post-pigeon, I can’t say that my hips feel that much different.  It’s not like doing the back stretches that make me feel like I’ve relaxed my balled up muscles. That feels different afterwards. But open hips? I don’t get it.

Are your heels really supposed to be on the ground for downward facing dog?

I don’t think this is possible.  When it looks like the girl in the video is doing it, I’m positive it’s an illusion. 

I'm sorry, what? You want me to put my leg where?  What do you mean “if there’s space”?

Put my knee behind my shoulder – yeah, ok. Lean forward after contorting myself into some kind of animal – sure, let me get on that.  Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense.  It makes my face twist in the same direction as the instructor’s entire body. And that’s when I retreat into child’s pose or downward facing dog.  I can do those. 

Are sit-ups really yoga? (Don’t lie to me.)

Sometimes I do recognize these exercises.  Boat pose is so a sit-up.. a sit-up that you hold.  Be straight with me – I can handle it.  At least they call the pushup a pushup.  Just don’t lie to me, yoga. 

Why are we facing each other?

You should know, I am a really bad yoga-direction-follower and end up doing the opposite of the instructor – every damn time.  And I don’t realize it until I am in the middle of the pose and staring my yoga partners in the face, which shouldn’t happen.  I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

Do I want to stand on my head?

No. No, I really don’t.  It looks like it hurts. And it’s a little scary. 

Maybe I’ll get there one day.  Maybe.

This is relaxing, huh?

It is.  It really is - especially weekend group yoga sessions that are also somehow hilarious.