If you are planning on visiting the historical sites around the Cusco Region in Peru, one thing is for sure — if you let yourself, you can lost in the mystery. Qenqo tempts you with the undefined, seducing you through the mysterious formations and architecture that abound in the vast ruins of  past civilization.s  Some will tell you Qenqo was built by the Incas others will tell you they built upon a much earlier site. Either way, the natural formations, carved structures and caves will tempt your imagination.

Just 15 minutes outside of Cusco lies one of the largest holy places in the region — the Qenqo Temple. Though not its original name, Qenqo, in Quechua, means labyrinth or zigzag, named by European conquerors who based it on the canal that runs through the main structure, which is that of a gigantic monolith.

The entire site can be found stretched across a hillside of what is known today as Socorro hill and its area covers an entire 3,500 square meters.

As with most of the ruins in the Inca Empire, the purpose of the Qenqo temple is unknown but one common theory stands — it is believed to a be a holy place where death rituals took place. It is also clear that the canals were used to carry liquid that could have been corn beer, holy water, or even human or animal blood. The liquid may have been used for sacrifices or as a process in death rituals or as a way for religious leaders to determine whether the dead lived a good life by the direction the liquid flowed. The canal then leads to an underground chamber, that is aptly called the Chamber of Sacrifices. The underground space is believed to be a place where noblemen were embalmed and mummified in preparation for the afterlife..

Another chamber, which is thought to be an amphitheater is formed in a semicircular shape that is 55 meters long, containing 19 niches along the wall. It is believed to be a seating area for ceremonies and rituals but recent theories suggest that it was once part of a base of a large wall where statues were placed for worshiping. But again, this only a hypothesis.

Another structure, which is located before the open area, stands a ruined standing statue of some sort. A block of stone that stands 6 feet tall rests on a rectangular pedestal and could’ve been destroyed by conquerors who wanted to eradicate idol worship in the region.

There are many strange formations around the site, some natural, others made by ancient architects.

Most of the magnificent structures and history of the Inca Empire were lost when the Spaniards came and destroyed much of the ancient city during the colonial period of the 16th century. The Qenqo Temple is one of those sites whose purpose we will probably never know for sure. But one thing that many historians agree on is that the Qenqo Temple is a place that is heavily hinged with the ancient civilization’s respect and honor for rituals, even with death.

Most visitors stay within the well defined zone of Qenqo. But just a stroll down the hill towards the eucalyptus forrest, you’ll find another set of formations. Those formations are encircled by a brick wall, obviously built in different period  The larger or megalithic stones were likely the original build and the Incas or another civilization repaired the wall using local fieldstone.

The field itself has scattered stones withe steps formations and ancient puzzle pieces. The porous surface of the stones in this section all appear as they’ve endured some sort of water damage.

What do you think?

I tend to have more of an anti-authoritarian approach in my opinions about school, but these five  ”truths” answer the question “What does school really teach children?” quite nicely taken from this post.

What does school really teach children?

1. Truth comes from authority
2. Intelligence is the ability to remember and repeat
3. Accurate memory and repetition are rewarded
4. Non-compliance is punished
5. Conform: intellectually and socially

As I dug deeper, I have found that there are many critics quite vocal about the  traditional schooling paradigm as it functions today.   I have never worked in the schooling system, therefore I have no first hand knowledge. My interest is that as a parent,  but being outside of the system for a period of four years I see the indoctrination as an experience I had as a child and worse, an experience my son started to endure during his public schooling experiences in the Los Angeles county.

I found this article, and with permission,  we are reprinting it here. This article is written by Eric Anderson.

I feel this article should be read by every parent who has school age children and living in the United States.

Unschooling is a word coined by negating the idea of schooling; it starts off with a negative definition. What, specifically, is it about schools that unschoolers want to do without?

The School Organization

• Breaking up the day into learning time and play time.
• Starting and stopping learning (or shifting topics) according to an externally imposed schedule.
• Telling students what they should care about.
• Telling students when they should care about it.
• Telling students what is good enough.
• The complex hierarchy with the student at the bottom.

The De-humanizing Aspects of Schools

• Having to ask permission for basic human needs.
• Having to supply “acceptable” excuses for absence or lateness.
• Routine abridgment of human (constitutional) rights.
• Standing in lines, waiting for everything: food, water, attention of the teacher, time on the computer, etc.
• Group rewards and punishments.
• Neglect of individual gifts and problems.
• Moving at the sound of a bell.
• Students coming to view themselves as products, moving down a 12-year assembly line, with bits of knowledge poured in or bolted on by others as the belt moves along. Seeing the primary responsibility for their education as being in the hands of others.

Isolation from the Real World

• Segregation by chronological age.
• Separation from family.
• Isolation from the working world.
• Isolation from the effects of age and disease.
• “Free” education isolates children from economic reality.
• Subject matter is divorced from context.

Schedule Rigidity

• Having to be in school at certain times means you can’t see the World Cup or a solar eclipse if it happens during the school day, and you can’t see the late show or a lunar eclipse if you have to get up in the morning.
• Having to be in school limits your ability to travel.
• Having to be in school limits your ability to do any time-consuming worthwhile activity.

Note that these issues do not address the questions of “problem schools.” They are unrelated to questions of crime, drugs, threat of violence, time spent in forced commuting, illiterate teachers, etc. The problems unschoolers specifically care about exist (to a greater or lesser extent) even in “good” schools.

Moreover, many educational reform proposals act to make these problems worse. Improved security measures increase the dehumanizing aspects of school “discipline”. “Back-to-basics” programs increase the rigidity of the curriculum, and often further divorce it from context. “Mainstreaming” programs exacerbate the effects of a one-size-fits-all curriculum, and often take up huge fractions of teachers’ time and energy. Many reformers want to increase the number of hours in a school day or schooldays in a year, eliminating the chance for a student to educate himself in the off  hours. The solution to the problems inherent in mass-produced education is not more of the same.

Unfortunately, telling what unschooling isn’t doesn’t tell what it is. In some ways, all homeschooling is unschooling — we don’t isolate our kids from life, or move at the sound of a bell, or require permission slips, or neglect the individuality of our children. Where unschoolers differ from other homeschoolers is the extent to which we let children be responsible for their own education.

Unschoolers believe that the natural curiosity of a healthy child, given access to a rich environment, will lead the child to learn what he or she needs to know. When learning comes about as a result of the child’s desires, it is absorbed easily, enthusiastically, openly. The child works harder because he is doing what he thinks is important, rather than what someone else has told him is important. New knowledge starts with a context because it fits in with things the child already cares about. Learning driven by real desire is so much more efficient than passive absorption that unschoolers can tolerate much more exploration, dabbling, dawdling and play than can curriculum inflictors. The unschooling literature abounds with stories of children who paid no attention to math or reading for their first ten years and then caught up in just a few weeks.

When learning is imposed from without, there are many deleterious effects. The child may not be ready for the material or may be beyond it; the child may resist it, either because he has something better to do or just out of general orderliness. When you force a topic, you short-circuit precisely the volitional parts of the mind that are critical to real learning. You may produce memorization, but cannot effect understanding. You risk the child developing a dislike for the topic, for the teacher, and even for learning itself.

Child-driven learning is fundamentally active. Children are doing things because they have taken responsibility for carrying out the actions needed to fulfill their desires. Unschooling is centered around the idea of learning, with the student as the center of action and the source of activity, rather than on the idea of teaching (with the teacher as the center of action and the source of activity). Not only does this make the learning more effective, but it encourages the child to develop virtues: independence, self-reliance, and a sense of responsibility. The child learns that if he wants something to happen, he has to make it happen.

As Jim Muncy pointed out in his “spectrum of unschooling” post [home-ed mailing list, summer of '94], homeschoolers unschool to varying degrees. Unschooling families do not set up miniature classrooms, with time set aside for studying, a parent playing the role of teacher, formal lesson plans and imposed curricula. Beyond that limit, we differ in how much order we try to lend to the learning process. “Radical” unschoolers impose little or no structure, though books and such are available to act as guides. Others allow children to learn what they wish, but provide strong organizational assistance to help the children reach their goals. (Assistance can take the form of lessons, or workbooks, or even assigned projects.) Some families use curricula for some subjects (often math) but are freer with others. Most try to squeeze learning out of the activities of everyday life. The common bond is acknowledging that the enthusiastic participation of the child is the most important single factor in the child’s education.

I am convinced unschooling is the best choice for us. I would urge you to consider all the information in this article too and share it with others who may not have even considered unschooling as an option.

( Part one of this post called The Long and Winding Road – Loving Someone with Depression can be found here. If you haven’t read that post yet, please read it first, otherwise this post won’t make much sense)

“All outer conflict triggering us emotionally in an uncomfortable way reflects our states of unintegrated inner turmoil. Our only choice now is between engaging reactively in outer drama, or allowing the play of outer drama to facilitate us into a responsive and compassionate awakening to, and integration of, our inner turmoil.”
~Michael Brown (a different Michael)

Michael was depressed.

I know for sure because he told me so. Micheal thanked me for showing him something he refused to look at all of his life. He explained to me, that for the past 47 years of his life, he thought feeling that way just normal.

Micheal said that he was sorry he let his depression come between us. He said he had slipped into a dark hole and couldn’t find his way out. He told me how ashamed of his behavior and hoped I could forgive him.

“Of course,” I said. “I love you. I am here to support you through whatever you are going though,” I said with all an open heart.

Michael promised me he’d seek help for his depression.

And I believed him.

I was so grateful we were talking again, and even though there was a full two month lull in our communication, I felt confident we could move through this together.

Thankfully, it seemed Michael was back to his old self. He smiled and made a promise to me, “I’ll do everything within my power to not let it happen again. I don’t ever wanna hurt you again.”

With a controlled exhale, I realized I believed him.

The man who had let me spend most of the previous year loving him, seemed to be waking up. It was as if the cocoon he’d been sleeping in was finally starting to crack.

Gently, I asked “what you want in terms of your life, your future and me?”

His response was soft and assured, “to keep on loving you…”

My heart sung and once more I felt assured. Our silence was always comfortable and I didn’t feel need to break it in that moment.

After a long pause, he continued to speak. “….but there is not much I can do right now, I can’t leave my mom,  I can’t take away my kids from their friends, all I can do is love you in silence….”

In that moment it didn’t quite register, but it almost sounded like I was being dumped. No, that’s not what was happening….

Michael was finally out of his depression and I was happy to have our lines of communication back open. English wasn’t his first language and I certainly didn’t think he was ending it. But I didn’t want to push anything, since we hadn’t spoken in six weeks and I feared he was still in a fragile state. But still, I couldn’t ignore the hot  rush to my head like a warning beacon.

He continued, “I know we would have fun, sharing our lives together, yes sure I want that, but fact is, it is not possible…”

But somehow, this didn’t make sense to me. He just told me he loved me. He had just thanked me for helping him realize he was suffering from depression. HE JUST TOLD ME HE WANTED TO SPEND HIS LIFE WITH ME. Were his reasons for not wanting to continue because of his kids, and his mom?

I wasn’t sure how to proceed, so I pressed on. “Why is it not possible?” I asked. “But you say you can’t let go of me, you say you want to spend your life with me, then why can’t you Michael? Don’t you think your mom and children want you to be happy in your life?”

No response.

“Michael,” I said, “Don’t you deserve love?”

Silence. I waited….

Nothing. Silence.

Then it occurred to me ask this question:

“Michael, are you married?”

Finally, his reply:

“I am.”

Then, I shut the laptop, and walked out of my house into the cool Cusco air…

- – - – - – -

“Most people who want a relationship believe that a mediocre relationship is better than no relationship at all, but we do not aree with that. In other words, since the potential for a glorious relationship always exists — we never encourage settling for less.”

~Abraham-Hicks

Ok, I’ve cried enough.

Again.

I processed as much as I could then I realized one very important thing. This relationship has played itself out. With Michael, I am so very sad this is the end of the road. I loved every moment of our connection, but I invite no more drama into my life.

Honesty.

That’s a concept I really have to think about. I’ve lied to immigration at a border crossing before, stating I only intended to stay in the country for 3 months, when I really didn’t know how long we intended to stay. I’ve lied dozens of times in my life, saying things that I felt served the situation better in order not to hurt people. But somehow I don’t think I’ve ever chosen to live a lie.  Is there a difference though? Do my past actions make me a dishonest person?

I am human. So is Michael.  I am not virtuous as an “identity”. I am honest, because I live quite transparently and I don’t conduct myself in any way that I’m ashamed of….

…yes, that’s it.

I choose to live authentically. I live with love and overall, that makes me pretty honest. Especially in interpersonal matters. Especially in matters of the heart.

Do I believe the story of “truth” is the most important thing? Actually, no, not always. I understand reasons people lie. I get it.

However, had I known Michael’s situation from the beginning, I honestly would have had to make the decision if it was something I wanted in my life. But I’m not conventional, and as long as he wasn’t deceiving anyone I likely would have accepted it. But now, knowing that Michael is habitually dishonest with the people in his life which damages his own psyche, not to mention his relationship with everyone around him I have a difficult time reconciling with that.

Ugh, I can’t even imagine what damage he’s done to his children as a result of not being authentic.

And the damage he’s done to himself is apparent. The depression, I suspect, is an internal result of not living authentically. Lies create incongruity in the way a person functions in the world. I can’t imagine how living a lie every day of a person’s life cannot effect them. And not living your personal truth to any degree eats away at your very soul, so I think…

But it isn’t so black and white.

If Michael was willing to make a change in his life, I didn’t see his current situation as a deal breaker. The way he explained it to me was his marriage had been over for many years but jointly he and his wife had  decided to stay married for the children only, but live separated lives. (If that was the truth.) Still, that wouldn’t have been my choice on how to conduct my life. I wouldn’t have chosen to lie to my children, my family and everyone around me. Nor would I have made the choice to start a new relationship with another person without being honest.

So in one last attempt, I pressed to Michael, “Are you choosing to remain living in the web of lies you created or are you willing to start living your truth?”

His response?

He didn’t honor me with one.

But he did give me more silence.

And with that, I understood. He had no intention of changing his life, his lies were his world, his self created hell that drew him deeper.

“…his lies were his world now….”

And because he didn’t honor me with a response, I suspect Michael is too cowardice to face his own truth….

The lies…..I believe, part of the source of  depression…

I know Michael has become a victim to his own unconsciousness and paying for it dearly through his depression. I don’t believe Michael ever intended to hurt me. I do believe he loved me dearly. But the lack of integrity of who he has become over the 47 years of his life is not a person I choose to be in my life at this point.

And so, I remain single.

This was just over month ago.

Today, I can finally smile once again. Life is really good. I know that.

LIFE IS GOOD.

And I’ve decided to create a space  for an emotionally healthy, unmarried, authentic, gorgeous reflective soul of a man to come into my life……. who happens to adore our lifestyle and really adores me.

Do you happen to know him?

Families on the Move

We have been blessed to connect with many amazing families online, all of whom have adapted a travel lifestyle in one form or another.  We wanted to take the opportunity to introduce you to them here and highlight the positive aspects travel has had on their families. Welcome our interview series called Families on the Move. Miro & I are honored to a part of this global community we consider our extended family.

Meet the Family Behind Where’sSharon.com

Sharon, 34, the biggest travel addict of the family and currently studying to be a maths and history teacher!
Joshua, 32, the muscles behind our travelling operation
Soraya, 2, a fiery redhead, who loves travelling nearly as much as her mumma
Isaac, 13 months, our big blue eyed boy who loves food and all the attention he gets overseas

Where are you now, where have you been and how long have you been traveling?

Back home in Melbourne, Australia

We just spent 7 weeks travelling through Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Taiwan.  That was our first trip as a family of 4. I have travelled to over 70 countries in total.

Why do you travel as a family?

Because it is awesome!!!

More seriously though, I believe travel is the best way to learn about the world and yourself.  Like many people, I thought my travels would be over, or at least would change drastically with children, but this is not the case. The only thing that has really changed is the rewards – they have increased dramatically!!  My two year old just loved our recent trip, so much so that she had a tantrum when I said we had to fly home!  She still talks about it all the time and keeps asking for another holiday.

What are some of the benefits your family has experienced as a result your travels?

The quality family time while travelling would be its top benefit.  There are so many distractions at home (like work!) that make it impossible for us to spend so much stress free time together.  It has definitely made us all closer.  I find travel also does wonders for my self confidence and I am sure it will for our kids too, as they grow older.

What inspired you and your family to incorporate travel into your lifestyle?

The fact that I believe that you can learn more by travelling than what you will ever learn at home.  I feel like I am living life more fully when I am travelling.  I think it is important to challenge yourself and get out of your comfort zone.  I see travel as a gift and one I definitely want to give my children.  I grew up in Tasmania, and I know many people who have barely left the state.  I want my kids to have the world perspective that I never had while growing up.

How do you address education while you are traveling?

The kids are so young, so this is easy.  We just do the same things we do at home (like drawing, naming items, etc).  I found our two year old’s vocabularly improved significantly while we were away, thanks to being around two adults all the time and all the different things we had to talk about.  It will be more challenging as they grow older, but I also can’t wait to educate them about the world as they travel, and hopefully my teacher training will help with that.

Can you share one of your family’s most memorable experiences?

So far, it would have to be my son’s first birthday on the island of Boracay in the Philippines.  Such a stunning location for my special little man’s first birthday.  He may not remember it, but I always will.  It does raise the bar high for next year though!

Can you share one story from your travel experiences when you and your family had an “aha moment”.

The first day we were travelling overland in the Philippines.  We were worried how we would cope with a baby, toddler, two suitcases and three day packs on public transport, but we managed it all no problems!  We felt invincible after this, and it was a great moment.  It has opened the door to further travels for us, now that we know there is no reason to use the kids as an excuse.

What’s next?

We are currently planning a 2 month trip to USA, Costa Rica, Panama and the Caribbean for the end of the year and an even bigger trip is planned for after that.

Name:  Sharon
Facebook Page:  Where’s Sharon and Family
web site: www.wheressharon.com

On a beautiful Cusquenian morning, I was honored to sit down with documenatary filmmaker, Seti Gershberg and ask him about his latest project, life and inspiration. I met Seti here in Cusco, and have been following his project for several months. Seti has been living and studying with two of the indigenous groups of Peru for almost two years. His experiences have been preserved in his latest documentary film project called  The Path of the Sun.

This project has caught my attention for more than one reason: 

First, Seti has lived, studied and practiced with the leaders of  Q’ero community, an Andean peoples who believe they are the direct descendants of the Inca. The Q’eros are known for their ancient knowledge and believe they are the  keepers of ritual and ceremonial practices of the past.

Seti has also worked with a number of Curanderos from several areas within the Peruvian Amazon.  He has explored the jungle communities in Pucallpa, Puerto Moldando and Manu. His investigation has taken him into the rituals surrounding ancient plant medicines, including ayahuasca  which is believed  to cure illnesses and addictions, heal mental distress and provide personal growth.

Both communities have preserved their connection to spirit, energy and drawing upon the ancient knowledge that has been passed down from generation to generation.

“What value does shamanism offer the global community in the 21st century?”

But the main reason I was so excited to sit down and talk to Seti about his project, was that he is committed to living, exploring and pursuing his inner passions driven by inspiration.

Seti left his lucrative-conventional life in Chicago to follow his path. He explores Peru’s native ancient traditions on a quest for  positive growth with a focus on both personal and universal transformations. Seti’s film seeks to answer the question, “what value does shamanism offer the global community in the 21st century?”  Through the documentary viewers are guided through the mysteries and rituals exposing the ancient knowledge contained within.  This, Seti Gershberg believes, is indeed the path to the sun.

Seti Gershberg

Seti Gershberg, an anthropologist, filmmaker, photographer and student of shamanism originally hails from New York.  He moved to Chicago in 1999 and quickly became established as a featured video artist and photographer in the city’s thriving electronic music and emerging art scene.  Gershberg, a former artist in residence at the The Chicago Art Department,  performed with musicians at numerous festivals including Lollapalloza where he and Dj Mixmaster Mike from the Beastie Boys collaborated.

The Path to the Sun is a feature length film, now in post production. The film explores shamanism, ancient wisdom and sacred plants. The documentary seeks to  answer the question “what value does shamanism have for the global community in the 21st century?” The documentary will be released to film festivals around the world beginning in the Fall of 2013. More information about the film can be found at ThePathoftheSun.com and on Facebook

Other Inspiring Souls

As Miro and I have traveled throughout Latin America, we continue to seek out others who are living thier inspiration and Seti is certainly an example of that. Here are other inspirational people we’ve met on our travels: 

Chris, who walked from Los Angeles to Brazil, meditating on the prayers of others

Alisha, who dedicated one year to serve humanity traveling from Ecuador, India, Uganda to work with children

Diego, who dedicated his life to the children on the street of Nicaragua and opened up a school for clowning, street performance and juggling creating an international theater group

Ainara, who for almost  two years traveled through Central and South America seeking out stories of happiness and filming their stories for her documentary on Latin America

Chris, who gave up his comfortble life in Atlanta, Georgia to live his dream: guiding motorcycle tours in Guatemala

Roxanne, who traveled to 12 countries designing programs for women in conflict zones

Jamie, who has been traveling around the globe on his bicycle for over 10 years,  spreading a message of peace and hope. Remarkably, Jamie traveled on a tandem-style bicycle, inviting people to join him on the journey and filming their encounters.

Peder, a former millionaire-entrepreneur who settled in Nicaragua and started social programs for the poor, a school, a shelter, a soup kitchen and a museum. He now lives  his life in service

I consider myself lucky.

I also feel on many levels this sort of violence doesn’t come into my life since it’s not something that really enters my consciousness. I know it’s out there, but I believe wholeheartedly that that which you give your attention to becomes your reality.

I tend to take the high road on most occasions. I don’t like confrontation, nor do I like aggressive behavior. So choosing to live a peaceful life is my conscious choice.

Overall, I consider myself a gentle person.

Two weeks ago, I had to let all that go and pick up a rock to defend myself.

This was big for me.

During the afternoon, I was walking down our street, just returning from the bakery. A  man was walking towards me. He was Peruvian, somewhere in his early 30s. He was looking at me, and as he walked passed me, his hand reached out and grabbed my crotch!

“What the fuck just happened?” I thought.

I flung my body around to face this man who had already passed and said the deepest, most powerful voice I could muster, “ASSHOLE!”

He stopped, looked at me and laughed in my attempts to be powerful.

I felt humiliated, small and powerless.

I kept on walking, breathing through my teeth.

I could feel his energy, his thoughts. He had anger and aggression towards me, a gringa with blond hair, walking down his local streets. He had so much anger towards what I represented to him in that moment and there was a heavy story playing in his head and I could feel it. I felt like a non-human in his presence and his Latino machismo was so big, there wasn’t room for me, the person on that road.

I walked further, still about 5 minutes from my house.

It started to rain, so I ducked into the little tienda just a few feet in front of me. As I stood in the doorway, I noticed the man had turned around and had been following me, and I hadn’t even noticed. I was caught in my thoughts, not aware of what was happening around me. The man walked past the tienda, slowed at the entrance where I was standing, looked in and smiled at me.

His look was menacing, and I felt my blood pressure rise. For the first time in my life, I experienced rage ignite within my body, I understood the expression ”my  blood was started to boil”.

In that moment, I realized I was not afraid of this man.

I was angry.

I was angry that he was fucking with me, and approached me with the attidue that he had power over me.

I stood in the door of tienda and gave him enough time to for him to pass. Then put my scarf over my hair in attempt to stay dry from the rain and set out.

He was standing there waiting for me. I look at him, gave him a scowl, made my eyes smaller and meaner pressed with anger and bent down and picked up a rock.

I showed him that there was a rock in my hand and took all the physical power in my body, and channeled it all through my hand, into this palm sized rock. My arm was rigid and I was holding his glare.

He laughed at me, turned and walked down the road, the same direction I walking, but in infront of me about 50 paces.

Halfway between the tienda and my house, he stopped on the side of the road. I could either pass him, letting him walk behind me or I could too stop.

I stopped, held the rock in my hand and faced him with my face scrunched up but holding dynamic power in my body that was able to snap in any moment.

Again he laughed.

Just beyond him, but before my door, was the gate to a hotel. There were people standing out front of the entrance to the hotel. I walked passed my predator, gave him a look of death, and stopped where the other people were in front of the hotel. I stood with them, while watching this man pass me. I figured he should think I was staying there and not know where I was going, nor know where I lived.

He laughed at me, while he passed. I could read his energy, a game of cat and mouse with him, he believing he had the upper hand.

He reached the end of the road, just passed the entrance to my house. He stood there, at the end of the road, while I remained at the entrance to the hotel, just a hundred feet behind him. He turned around, spread his legs a grabbed his own crotch and made an obscene gesture at me. Then he broke into laughter once again and exited down the steps and was out of sight.

I waited another moment to make sure he wasn’t popping his head back around the road. Maybe he was waiting for me beyond the stairs, maybe he wasn’t. I crossed the road, put my key into the door, and turned around once more. He was no where to be seen, so I dropped the rock.

Safe inside my house, I felt angry. I felt angry that another human being was so aggressive to me for absolutely no reason. I felt angry that it was necessary to embody such rage. I felt angry that this was the interaction I just encountered.

Then I felt empowered that I found my own strength.

But I equally  felt pissed off that this man had flung his aggression upon me.

————————-

I’ve seen this man two or three times since. I walked passed him with Miro as he was tending his newspaper stand on the street. Yes, I know where he works, and he didn’t see me that time. The second time, I was with a group of friends in the market. It had just started to rain so we were standing at the entrance waiting for it to stop. Then he walked through the entrance and was standing face to face with me. My heart raced, but I stood with my feet solidly on the ground. I think he realized that I was standing with a large group of people, and many men.

He looked frightened. He looked small. He even looked remorseful. He scampered by me, very quickly and got lost in the crowded market.

Guess what? I felt sorry for him. I can’t even imagine what was going through his head to make him act so aggressively towards me. But the dance we dance with one another is just that, a dance. He didn’t hurt me and in my heart, in my soul, I don’t believe this man is a bad person.