Life is better together.

People say who you are can be defined both by the way you live life and by how you view the world. I doubt whether or not who we are can ever truly be defined because I feel you and I are always changing. However, I do agree that who we truly are can be seen in our lifestyle - to an extent. I also agree that it may be helpful to identify how you and I view the world, how we think about life.

Now granted, I am definitely still figuring this out, and probably always will be.

Nevertheless, if I take the time now to give you at least a glimpse into how I currently view the world and think about life, I think it may help both of us understand each other better in the future.

The quotes, sayings, and words below express a philosophy that challenges both my way of thinking and my way of living. My hope is that this philosophy may continue to transform who I am. The terms I am about to share with you are those which currently capture and hold my attention; I think about them often - almost every day; thus, you may see them referred to again in future blogs.

If I were to sum up this philosophy in four simple words, the words would be these: Life is better together.

But I feel these express this same philosophy much more fully, powerfully, and thoughtfully. So here you are:

Namaste - many people in India exchange this as a greeting, which can be interpreted as, "I honor the holy one who lives in you" (according to Shane Claiborne's "Irresisitible Revolution"). This, I feel, expresses respect and acknowledges the dignity and worth of another. Since falling in love with this word, I have also discovered the term is commonly used in yoga to express that "the divine light in me salutes the divine light in you." I love both definitions and use this word frequently.

Ubuntu - a Bantu word which expresses a philosophy that says, "I am because we are." So without you, without the rest of humanity, I am nothing. Thus, if you are not well, then I cannot truly be well either. As a community, as brothers and sisters through our human family, we have a responsibility to one another. Thus we ought to think in terms of "we" rather than "me". A small group of people in Kansas City gather together once a month simply to discuss issues related to Africa, and they call themselves by this name; that is where I first heard this term.

"A person is a person through persons." - this Xhasa proverb expresses ideas similar to ubuntu.

Rafiki - "friend" in Swahili. I just think this word is cool and fun to use, mostly because it's the name of the old, funny-looking blue baboon in Lion King.

"If there's enough for one, there's enough for two." - this is a Burkinabe way of inviting a passerby to share your meal. If I have enough food (or whatever goods I have, be it money, clothing, time, energy, etc.) for me, then I also have enough to share with someone else. All I must do is make my own portion a bit smaller in order to make room for someone else.

"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten we belong to each other" - this is simply a phrase written by Mother Teresa that I have grown to love.

"...the only way to find God is...through the service of all. I am a part and parcel of the whole and I cannot find Him apart from the rest of humanity." - just a little piece of Mahatma Gandhi's larger philosophy and way of life, which continually inspires and challenges me.

Love God. Love people. - a concise way of referring to these words spoken by Jesus in chapter twelve of the book of Mark: " '...love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."

an identity crisis

If someone asks, "Who are you?" how would you answer?

This question has recently become a difficult one for me; the uncertainty and confusion I've always felt when someone asks, "Where are you from" (I've lived in two countries, seven states, and ten cities, so I never know how to answer) now pale in comparison to what I feel when someone asks, "Who are you?" Yet I seem to ask myself this every day. Why? I don't know. Maybe because I like to torment myself. Or maybe because I want to find an answer that satisfies... an answer that gives me purpose... an answer that shows me how to live.

I do know a few basic facts about myself (surprise!), mostly from filling out generic forms and participating in "polite" conversations all of my life:

Name: Kimberly, Kim, Kimbo, Kimmy, Kimberlina.
Alias: Darth Vador
Gender: Female
Birthday: 03.26.87
SSN: Ha. I won't post that here even though I'm sure you can find it.
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: Not Applicable
Birthplace: South Dakota
Hometown: I had a nomadic childhood
Music genre: Reggae. Jazz. Any noise that makes me wanna dance.
Film genre: Family comedy, musical, or documentary
Sports: The kind you play with friends
Animals: Cats
Hobbies: Thinking too much. Laughing. Writing too much. Reading.
Occupation: Full-time student with two part-time jobs
University: UF
Major: English
Minor: Education and African Studies
Career goals: I want to keep loving people.
No, seriously: Umm... maybe urban or international English teaching?

Blah. blah. BLAHHH.

But does the above describe who I truly, wholly am? Or am I deeper than all of that?

I want to believe I am much deeper.

But that creates a problem, because then I must ask myself, "Who am I, really?" And that is the difficult version to answer. For me, it is difficult because I'm not yet sure how to differentiate between who I truly am, who I am only pretending to be, and who I desire and hope to become. It is difficult because I don't yet know exactly what I believe or how I want to live. Some days I feel this is a weird, abnormal, emergency situation: I am 21 years old; if I don't get with the program and figure out who I am in a hurry, then I will permanently screw up and waste my life. But other days I feel at peace with where I am and who I am right now, even if I can't explain verbally and precisely who I am. In the words of Bob Marley, "Everything is gonna be all right." If I need to answer some questions with "I don't know yet, and maybe I never will," then that is OK. Maybe it is even normal and healthy.

And yet, I still want to know who I am; perhaps that desire is normal and healthy as well. But even if it is abnormal and destructive, that will make little difference; for the desire exists, and out of that desire, this blog has been born. So at least for right now, the purpose of this blog will simply be to express myself, my life, and what I am learning; maybe this will help me discover who I am; maybe it won't. If you want to join me on my journey, then I welcome your company. Or if you want me to join you on yours, then I welcome that, too. India Arie (one of my favorite musicians) claims in one of her songs, "If you know yourself, then you know me very well." I tend to agree. Maybe together we will discover that although you and I are different, we are also very similar.

Perhaps this blog will develop another purpose as time goes on. But for now, this is all about us: It's just you and me, baby. As I discover me, and you discover you, perhaps we will both discover more about each other, and in the process, perhaps we will both begin to call all of humanity our family.

This is my hope.

Namaste,

~your rafiki


DISCLAIMER:
If this blog gets too personal, I apologize. If they exist at all, then I am oblivious to all blogging etiquette and rules. I believe in and try to practice honesty and transparency. I feel we are all human and therefore all share similar struggles, so why try and hide who we are as if others will be shocked? However, I am aware that - for a variety of reasons - some ideas and experiences are better to keep to one's self or to discuss privately rather than to announce publicly. So I do not anticipate that any shocking content will be published here. But since each person's definition of "shocking" is likely different, you should still consider yourself warned. :-)