Via Basel: Hope and Joy

Katherine Ross, Cut from the Same Cloth (detail)

I fluctuate and have my seasons just like the calendar, Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring. Well, not quite in that order and regularity but still there is a rhythm to it. My history, my genetic predisposition, and events out of my control, all have input in these seasons of my life, with a combination of a closed circular mode along with a progressive linear one. By that I mean, yes, the same seasons come back year after year, yet they’re never the same. They change and vary in some aspects and also have a coexisting sameness, an oxymoron of sorts. 

After a grief-filled spring from multiple losses of loved ones, culminating in a July of losses remembered and honored, this month of August comes fresh with a distinct shift. There are Baptisms and Birthdays to celebrate and Weddings and Anniversaries to enjoy. These are personal and family-oriented ones. On a larger scale I have been caught up in the exhilaration of the Paris Olympics, the beauty and pageantry, along with the human individual achievements and stories. There is even a shift on the political front, at least in one party, where the baton is passed to another generation with a significant mood change following. Living in Chicago, I notice the energy and vitality all around as it prepares for a major convention. Even the weather has been cooperating with moderate temperatures and sunny skies and masses flocking to the beaches and lakefront and outdoor concerts in Millennium Park. 

I don’t know about you, but I am tired of pessimism, anger, and blame. There is certainly continued suffering, with wars and injustices all over the world and problems at home, but for a while at least let’s focus on Hope and Joy while gently holding the broken world. We need a break from bleakness.   

Katherine Ross, Mighty Oak

I dedicate this post to my daughter Mandy who brought me hope and joy with my two granddaughters.

Basel Al-Aswad, father of EIL founder Christopher Al-Aswad, is a yogi trapped in an Orthopedic Surgeon’s body. His loves in life include reading, writing, hiking, enjoying nature, meditation, and spending time with his large Iraqi family; now, semi-retired, he is exploring new avenues in medicine, education, public speaking, teaching, and social engagement.

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