? Why are you receiving this?
Hello habibis!
Welcome to the first edition of our newsletter, which we are calling Are We Home. You can take that title in a few ways. One as a question : “Are we home?” How are we doing on this crazy planet of ours? Are we a home for each other? Have we entered our home, made a home, discovered a home in our hearts? We can keep this question in mind as we travel from wherever we are back home.
This newsletter will have updates on our paths, progress, and lessons learned along the way.
? What are we up to?
J: Earlier : The first half of the year we have tried out living in different places, such as Berlin, Andalusia, and Istanbul. Of course a single visit in one place isn’t representative of the life we could build there, each visit being a unique experience in itself. However, these last six months have helped me feel how much I love living in community, having an active social environment, with space and time for art.
Here are my key take-aways:
1. There needs to be time and room for inward retreat. Like I said a few years ago: a door is meant to open for shared space, and to close for personal space. Whether it’s 15 people living in a flat with shared spaces, or living on your own and racing a daily social events marathon, I’ve personally struggled with the feeling of social overload.
2. The rules should be clear, shared, and flexible. Coming into a space which has no clear rules was unsettling for me, it was chaotic and led to several misunderstandings (at best) and hazardous situations. The more the merrier, and the more the messier. As with any shared space I’ve been to, the sink was often full with dirty dishes, the full-of-clean-dishes dishwasher carefully avoided. When it came to choosing my response to this, after much conversations, complaints and dismay, I saw two possibilities: embrace the situation as it is and let go of my standards, or take care of it myself with as much care and humilty I could foster. It reminded me of the story of Gandhi’s wife refusing to clean the toilets in their ashram.
3. Treat your neighbors well
Obvious no? My neighbors at my parents’ feel like family and friends at the same time, I trust them and we have fun together while respecting each other’s space and time.
4. Clear communication
5. Time for play together
Creates bonds, lightness, fun. As my father says, one’s got to “kiffe la life”. There’s no denying: the older the wiser.
6. Deadlines are great, more deadlines please
I’m rarely as productive as when there are deadlines and people to kick your butt and hold you accountable. Which is probably why I am so much more productive at work than I am on my personal projects…
These days : It is live scribing season! I’ve been going to Paris, Chambery and online conferences to make graphic recordings, the last one being next to the Lac du Bourget, a beautiful environment which I highly recommend if you come to France / Europe.
I’ve been tending to the community garden, planting, harvesting, and most of all simply enjoying slowing down in the middle of greens.
We just submitted a proposal for a permaculture land rehabilitation in Detroit, three lots for $5k and big changes ahead if this is accepted! I feel excited and inspired 🙂
Upcoming : Planning a break from work from september until december. Starting with an art residency in Beirut, for a month. Then joining Bilal in India. From there, three options :
1. Staying in India to follow The Artist’s Way 12 weeks program and learn about Ayurveda,
2. Go to Atlanta and spend time with Bilal’s sister and her kids, followed by some time in Detroit to test the home-feeling of the place.
3. A mix of both.
Votes?
BG: Lebanon team retreat in July. Getting https://bloom.pm’s app ready for launch. Getting a French driver’s license.
? Something we learned recently
- Care for bunnies and live for free
J: I am typing this from a traditional “maison Normande”, aka: a cute house in Normandie, by the sea, nested in the lush countryside. This weekend we walked by the sea, flint cliffs and villages bursting with roses in full bloom. About a month ago I registered to the platform “Nomador”, an international house-sitting community connecting travelers with homes and pets. You come take care of the house and pets while owners are away, you get a free home in a new location, owners feel safe, everyone is happy. Just don’t expect to go somewhere specific at a precise time!
- BG: Recently at the Wellbeing Summit I had the opportunity to meet Satish Kumar. He was conducting a morning meditation at one of the works of art at the event and I just barely made it in time. I had stayed up a bit too late – also looking back I might have been struggling with early symptoms of covid – and I wasn’t feeling up for it. I have also been struggling with a bit of the heaviness I feel sometimes. It could be the war in Ukraine, the youth in Lebanon I know who are constantly asking for money as the country’s currency continues to be devalued, or the fact that I haven’t had an address since June
? Upcoming itinerary
We’d love to catch up with you beyond phone calls, so if you are close to any of these places please do reach out!
BG: July: Beirut/London August-Sept: Istanbul October: India
Plan likelihood : 4/5
J: July : Lille, Paris and surroundings, 18 – 22 : London
August : Lille or Istanbul (TBD)
September : Beirut
October to December : India
Plan likelihood : 4/5 Inshallah
? The top 3 things we are fighting about
Where to live
Dinner time
Joséphine’s stress levels
??♂️ – Bilal Ghalib??? – Joséphine Lesaffre
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