Today I escaped the early bird, mainly on account of the dark weather this morning. When the sun shines I’ll get up at seven, but rain and snow send me back for a trailer to my sleep.

I did get the living room table cleared of the many papers, which are now arranged in sorted piles, awaiting further attention. The pile to sort first remains on said table for that purpose, but it now looks organised:-)!

Later on lunch with Herman and tomorrow with John whom I asked for some help with my computer questions. I spent some time yesterday thinking on my own writings and will expand on that below.

I’ll now have to make my own campfire and maybe even simplify my life with some canned food!

I woke up with some dream images in which I and a well known - to me - friend embrace as we part, after a long journey together. After some disorganised and confusing explorative scenes I start to make my way back to my grounds and say to myself “I’ll now have to make my own campfire and maybe even simplify my life with some canned food!” End of dream.

I am not sure about this dreams implications, but I know it is significant and feel it is preparing me for a parting and a reorientation. Time will tell; I have had dreams of friends leaving at times several months ahead of the actual event.

Yesterday I closed off by noting that we in ‘The West’ must realise that our values are not always welcome in other cultures. Not doing so will lead to violent reactions that are hurtful to all parties.

The following instance comes to mind regarding the ‘West’s’ insistence on educating young girls in countries where that is taboo. I am recalling here the tragic developments surrounding the girl advocate called ‘Malalla’. An other case that is provoking the other culture is the concert in Palmyra, Syria by St. Petersburg’s orchestra. Now ISIS is fighting to regain control of that same city.

The approach I suggest is ‘to go the second mile’ in the case that we want to affect well meant, but controversial change.

The approach I suggest is ‘to go the second mile’ in the case that we want to affect well meant, but controversial change. The first mile is the investment in the intended change, while the second mile is to negotiate with the other party about the implementation.

Omitting that second mile is like putting a bull in the china shop, because of the involved taboo. Going that second mile demonstrates your own serious intent to recognise the values of the other culture and respect its jurisdiction. This leaves the recipient of your good intentions in its values instead of it feeling condemned and diminished, which will be resisted in defense of its own identity.
<9:52am~