BEING TOGETHER TOGETHER

 

GETTING IT TOGETHER TOGETHER  🌲 

Today as we prepare to recognize Earth Day (April 22,2025), I am visiting trees. I am currently standing tall in a huge forest of coniferous trees within my community of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. I feel like one of them; but I am not very tall, just feeling tall and growing. 

As I look around this place I see and feel harmony. I see and feel peace. But I also see and feel something more.

My fellow trees are enjoying their home; they have lived together a very long time. Their branches are swaying and some are stroking each other. I think it is their language. They are communicating back and forth, just like good caring neighbours do. I do feel welcomed and welcome in a sea of peace and harmony. This is how life should be.

I am looking down at their our base. It is rich fertile soil and in that soil sits their roots, and now my roots too. Some are flowing above ground, but most of their longevity has been and is beneath what my still partially human eye can’t see — a living part of Earth beneath the surface. From day one the roots have not changed their ways. They travel deep and horizontally, sending messages back and forth, just like good neighbours do, feeding their stock and others too.  They have found their way, their purpose, their role. They are  embedded, settled and at peace. For them their way is here to stay. I think that is why some of the roots are above ground — it is a message to non-trees: “we are here, we have found our way, and we are here to stay. Come join the fray”!

As I continue to stand here in this quiet forest, I feel a harmony, a peaceful existence on our planet Earth. I think that is how life was intended to be for all who inhabit this planet, but somewhere along the way, separation occurred between Nature and humanity, creating big gaps, disunity and dismay.  Greed, jealousy, envy, ownership, dominance, selfishness. These trees have seen it all, felt it all, but remain optimistic that as more and more people step out of their human-made mainstream comforts and discomforts, the best learning resource for world peace and harmony, may well be right here next to a tree — sturdy, strong and content.

Yes, I am standing tall feeling comfortable in a forest. When I am home, I often do feel like a tree in mini-forests because there are other humans who think like me, feel like me,  and are close to me. We appreciate and embrace our harmony as proud, healthy ‘trees’ in our forest. We just need to keep focused and determined to break the environmental logjams around us, and within the bigger world, subtly and demonstrably, in order to get others to help the earthly ‘waters’ flow peacefully, healthily and harmoniously, as they were originally intended — before it is too late. 

Antoinetta DeWit

April 2025

 

Power of the Human Psyche

 

New Moon Arising

Saturday, March 29 —hail the moon night! 

Ever wonder what makes the planets rotate and revolve around the sun? There are magnetic energy forces up there between them and those forces are part of what makes Earth liveable. It’s why we have flowing water, growing vegetation, wild animal communities, weather variances, seasons and humanity and so much more. 

I look up every now and then and see SkyWorld. The marvels and mysteries are aplenty and I can’t comprehend all of what’s going on but, with an open mind, whenever I go to my favourite outdoor quiet places and raise my arms, with palms up, I meditate and feel a resurgence of inner inspiration, energy, calmness and readiness to keep moving forward. The experience is quite amazing. 

I can only attribute it to how energy from the universe keeps flora and fauna living and dying, weather variances,  water flowing and lifespans evolving, growing and changing. 

That energy up in the universe is what keeps that solar system together with the continuous rotations and revolutions and other activities up there.   Inviting that energy to my inner self is what meditation does for me. 

Without giving it a try, under the tutelage of a learned leader in this revelation, during a couple of full moon nights, I would never have come to this appreciation of the power of SkyWorld, on the human psyche.

BUILDING THE MEMORIES

 

TWO FOND MEMORIES 

From time to time life throws us ebbs and flows, sometimes expected, sometimes not. Sometimes easy to take and sometimes not. But, however it happens, it moves us forward.

My life recently took another step forward at a Writers’ event at Simon Fraser University— one of my Alma Matas. It was a tribute to 2024 SFU alumni published authors.

People who know me well know I am not a stranger to such functions as my work life involved a lot of those events, mostly for others. I’m not big on pomp and ceremony, but this invitation was different. It related to a true passion of mine, and something that has a tangible outcome — a professionally published collection of short stories.

I can definitely remember sitting on the front porch of our home in the hamlet of North Bend, as a ten year old gal, wondering what the future would bring. Since then the ebbs and flows have been aplenty, and each has brought my life further ahead. 

At this SFU Event, as I sat and listened to the speeches, my mind was reflecting on a rush of memories, as this NEW memory gestated.  I felt honoured and humbled to be in the company of a few dozen cohorts with a similar passion. It meant a lot to me to be there and the company of my older brother meant a lot to me too. Two fond new memories made in one very fine day.

TULIP SEASON

THE PRIDE OF THE TULIP 

When I stroll from my car or bicycle to the community pool, at this time of year, I can’t help but notice the flowerbeds around City Hall, the ACT theatre and Art Gallery, and our Leisure Centre. Our crackerjack gardeners use them to plant tulip bulbs in late Fall and now is the time for them to spring up. Springing up is what I see, and it brings out my personal pride in being Dutch.

As I stand there quietly looking at the shades of green, I wonder if anyone knows the story about tulips in Canada?

The story springs back to World War II. Canada provided refuge to the Dutch Royal family during those difficult times, and Canada is also credited for freeing the Netherlands from Nazi domination. As such, gratitude is expressed in quiet ways, the most notable of which is the yearly gifting of thousands of tulip bulbs. I am not sure if all tulip bulbs in all of Canada are gifted ones, but the symbolism of Canada’s connection to the Netherlands holds true in that unique, colourful, iconic bloom.

The Dutch are quiet people. We tend to not express our culture as demonstratively as other cultures; but, we are here, we are proud and we love to see our pride and joy —tulips, spring up for all to enjoy.

Thank you to the gardening crew of Maple Ridge! 🌷 

WORLD POETRY DAY

 

THE POWER OF POETRY

I can remember sitting in a Grade 10 English class when, for the first time in my adolescent life, my classmates and I were introduced to a four week poetry module. It was a new add-on to replace grammar. We were so excited as anything had to be better than grammar!

The introduction was very motivating as we learned that the lyrics for key songs of the times started off as poems. We listened to our favourite singers like Janis Joplin, Leonard Cohen and Gordon Lightfoot, and had so much fun. Through that experience we picked up poetic elements such as beats per line (ionic pentameter) and rhyme schemes. By listening to those lyrics over and again, we also grasped a better understanding of what was being said, and how thoughts were being expressed.

The purpose to that introduction was to lure us to the bigger world of actual poems. This became a struggle and students began to lose interest because metaphors and similes, double meanings and hidden messages, were not their “thing”. It became even less interesting to try to create our own poems based on what we had learned.

Fast forward to my studies at Simon Fraser University in the 1970s — the years of flower power, free speech, hippy life, drugs, sex and liberties. 

One of my Canadian Studies classes included a poetry module. Just seeing it listed in the course outline made me quiver; but, the bolder side of me, now more accepting of the odd and weird and different, opted to find light in the darkness of my high school poetry memories. I knew I would have to step outside of my usual self and approach this assignment very differently.

One of the first poems for analysis had a mishmash of possibly fourteen lines. Some were left justified, some centered and some right. A few only contained two words with long spaces between. I can’t remember if there was any rhyming, but I felt there was a rhythm of sorts — a different kind of rhythm. The general class consensus was how can this be a poem and, if it is, why is it presented in this way? Students felt frustrated overly challenged, and wanted to drop the class. But, I took it as a welcome challenge. 

I decided to not initially focus on the contents, but on the layout. It was mysterious and weird, and it had to be that way for a reason. The reason didn’t come to me right away, but when I put my mind into an almost hallucinating trance, light began to shine through the darkness of the unknown. I then read the lines over and again, and discovered there was a relationship between the layout and the message.

I took my pencil and drew a vertical line along the first letter of each first word and a second line along the last letter of each last word, and an image appeared. It kind of portrayed a naked body, twisted and wretched, bent over and crouched. Very spaced out. I read the poem again and could hear the voice of a sad woman, feeling scattered and shattered, broken and lost. The poem was describing the reality of a battered, defeated woman, stripped of warmth, living a sorry life with no rhyme but, devastating rhythm.

I can remember presenting my theory with absolute confidence to the class. Jaws dropped as I sat there wondering what was wrong with these people. Beyond gasps, snickers and rumblings, they simply could not speak. They thought I was high on something I suppose. I definitely was high, but not on what they no doubt concluded.

I cannot honestly remember enjoying a university class more than that one. I stumped everyone, including the professor who gave me thumbs up and top marks. 

As such my entire insides smiled and, to this day, I continue to smile when I see a poem or challenge myself to write one.

World Poetry Day, for me, is a good day to remember my dabblings with the interesting creative strength of poetry, including its rhyme, rhythm and reason; and, it might be a good day for others to take on a new mental challenge as well. It’s never too late to nurture our intellectual abilities, including our freedom to think outside of our comfort box. No drugs required.

Happy World Poetry Day! (March 21, 2025)

CONNECTING WITH DUTCH ROOTS

 

 

HELLO AMSTERDAM 750!

As a proud Dutch Canadian, this summer I plan to be in Amsterdam. The Capital of The Netherlands is celebrating its 750th birthday. This is a good time to see the city in ways I haven’t previously, as events and tours are planned with celebrations of history and accomplishments at the fore. Future planning and sustainability will also be key parts of the festivities. All in all, it will be a rich and proud experience — of that I feel sure.

I also plan to branch out into the countryside close to Amsterdam, during my free time, where I will find lovely walking and cycling routes amid a Dutch landscape of green fields, windmills and waterways. I plan to walk along the Amstel River, which flows north into Amsterdam. This will lead me to familiar landscapes and footsteps of Rembrandt van Rijn who lived for much of his life close to the river. He was fond of walking its banks and produced some beautiful canvasses there. It was he that said this: “Choose only one master - Nature.”

What I have not shared with many up to now is that my mother’s maiden name was van Rijn, and the possibility of a connection isn’t unrealistic. It’s a mystery I hope to solve.

I am a subscriber to an English language magazine called DUTCH. It features a number of interesting Dutch related things from personal stories, history lessons, legends, recipes, adventures, and travel tips not only specific to The Netherlands, but also related to Dutch communities within communities around the world. 

The feature that is particularly useful to my trip planning this time are small towns within The Netherlands that few outside of the country ever think about exploring. This  has inspired and motivated me to the point that whenever my magazine arrives in the mail, I immediately seek out the small town feature. Those stories are so intriguing and interesting, I have decided to make my 2025 adventure free time focus on small towns close to Amsterdam.

Every town in the world has a heart, has pride and has history.  I am in the right time in my life to do this type of exploratory travelling in my original homeland. The trip planning process  is exciting, but living it will be even more exciting. I will start each day with enjoying a cuppa strong Java and end with a lovely glass of bubbly — peacefully reflecting on the day that was, smiling and whispering the joyous sound of PROOST!, grateful for good health and opportunity.

Give Peace another Chance

 LOVING AND LEARNING

The other day an intellectual friend and I decided it was time for one of our philosophical discussions to help us attempt to figure something out: “Why is society ailing?”

We met at our favourite nature walk area — Deer Lake Park. The ambiance there is almost spiritual in that we meander to and from water, and pass through wooded areas and spot an abundance of birds and ducks. It is quiet and serene, and we walk and talk the entire time.

The topic of the day was particularly timely in that our region had just experienced a few actual earthquake shakes, on top of a metaphoric gigantic  “earthquake” from our once loving and friendly neighbour to our south. Both rattled all of us; but, the latter blindsided and choked us more than the former. This event became the focus of our discussion.

We started by pulling apart the word “loving” and placed it in the context of being patient, kind, thoughtful, attentive, caring and protective. People who were brought up in a cohesive family setting would have learned and lived together harmoniously in that context: Family unity. Family pride. Family love; learning how to get along, problem solve and respect one another. They would then carry those skills forward in all future aspects of their lives away from that home setting — their relationships with personal friends, relationships at work, at post secondary schools, on teams, in groups, with neighbours, teachers, acquaintances etc. Loving and learning, learning and loving, and then carrying all of it forward.

When we stop and think about past wars or conflicts that started and ended before ultimate invasion, the positive ending was the result of both sides applying the definition and principles of loving — listening, hearing, peaceful discussion, collaborating, cooperating and setting boundaries. In Canada, French and English live in tolerable peace. In Aruba, Arubans and Dutch live in tolerable peace. Same goes for the Catholics and Protestants in Ireland and the Basques and Catalonians in Spain. That happened because of a mutual loving, peaceful, respectful approach to problem solving.

Fast forward to 2025 to the “earthquake” that has shattered and choked Canadians shockingly and disturbingly. It was completely void of any semblance of loving; but, overwhelmingly driven by selfishness, greed, envy, anger, jealousy and fear. 

Whether it is within families, schools, workplaces, communities or countries, wars and conflicts that do end well, bloom from the strength and power of loving, and of understanding the value and significance of peace, friendship, respect and unity. Tactics like bullying and intimidation are juvenile and so, so silly. It is totally shameful and embarrassing to live at a time where grown adults are giving themselves the very power that shames them and devalues them as people, and drags others with them. 

When it comes to big scale world impacting problem solving, let’s look at the moderately successful peace loving efforts of Greenpeace, Give Peace a Chance, Tree of Peace, Seeds of Peace, World Peace Foundation — these are a few examples of international efforts to make acquired learning and peace the most valued pillars of life and living on Earth, not only for humans, but for animals, plants, the climate and the air we breath. Their efforts have inched society forward.

Peace, acquired learning and loving go hand in hand  … it really isn’t rocket science…in fact it is not science at all —it is called harmony. It is called commonsense and  responsible decision making. It is called LOVE. Will this ever be learned?

Why is society ailing? Because LEARNED has not kicked in! 

Qi on INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2025

 Qi is Key

There is a woman on Aruba who has been a phenomenal asset to hundreds of tourists and locals over the past 20+years. She teaches QiGong, Reiki and TaiChi on several beach locations, organizes special events, and supports many local charitable causes. On this International Women’s Day, I am pleased to recognize her as a pillar of admiration for all that she does for others, and for her inner self. I dedicate this poem to her.

Note: (Qi is pronounced CHEE) 

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2025 Poem

Qi is Key

May our hearts shine like crystals on March 8th and beyond

As our inner voice beckons to help us respond.

To respond to our feelings, some good and some bad

To feel our inner spirit whether happy or sad.

To recognize the diverse feelings enveloping our core

Using options like QiGong, Reiki, Tai Chi and more.

To know what’s important to keep us healthy and alive

To respect and honour the Qi radiating from the sky.

Join hands with Mother Earth who has been through a lot

Heads up and arms risen, vow to protect what we’ve got.

Hold on to those crystals for they are glimmers of hope

Their inner energy will help us to move forward and cope.

To cope with curtailing adversity, avarice and shame

Giving Mother Earth a feeling of confidence that we’re game.

We’re ready to protect her and all that she’s done

As we stand together to praise the Earth, Moon and Sun.

On this special March Day, we encourage healthier ways

To love life and enjoy living just like our inner voice prays.

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