Comments on: Jumping off the High Board http://www.saraparetsky.com/2008/11/jumping-off-the-high-board/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:34:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: ab http://www.saraparetsky.com/2008/11/jumping-off-the-high-board/comment-page-1/#comment-42 ab Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:17:17 +0000 http://saraparetsky.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-42 Phoebe, let me wish you the best of luck. Sara, maybe you should have done your journey? But you are doing so much good now as it is. Last year, I almost bought a farm I couldn't afford. In a sudden rush of courage I decided to finance it by parting off land, build houses and sell them. The reason I wanted the farm (without animals) was that I wanted to create a cultural center of sorts, have a wonderful tranquile place where I could invite talented and politically interested people, people who can write, make art, who wish to make society a better place. The owners wanted me to have it. At the last minute, for several reasons, I ended up not doing it. Wise or unwise? The people living there now have really no use for the whole place, they like it but are a little apprehensive - and there turned out to be leaks from the bathrooms and some roofs. Could I have handled that? If it comes on the market again - will I dare, and will I want to...? Phoebe, let me wish you the best of luck.

Sara, maybe you should have done your journey? But you are doing so much good now as it is.

Last year, I almost bought a farm I couldn’t afford. In a sudden rush of courage I decided to finance it by parting off land, build houses and sell them. The reason I wanted the farm (without animals) was that I wanted to create a cultural center of sorts, have a wonderful tranquile place where I could invite talented and politically interested people, people who can write, make art, who wish to make society a better place. The owners wanted me to have it.

At the last minute, for several reasons, I ended up not doing it. Wise or unwise? The people living there now have really no use for the whole place, they like it but are a little apprehensive – and there turned out to be leaks from the bathrooms and some roofs. Could I have handled that?

If it comes on the market again – will I dare, and will I want to…?

]]> By: Phoebe Hoss http://www.saraparetsky.com/2008/11/jumping-off-the-high-board/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Phoebe Hoss Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:07:11 +0000 http://saraparetsky.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-41 Last spring, at the age of 82, I decided if the memoir I had written about my 16 years trying to save my schizophrenic son couldn't get published ("powerful," agents & editors said, "but how to market it?") I'd publish it myself. I embarked on that enterprise, risking a bit over $1,000 -- a lot in my circumstances -- and was about to ok the final proof this November when I got word that my manuscript was runner-up in a contest to which I had submitted it over a year ago. So now I'm waiting to see if my work will win, which will mean publication by a small press. Whichever way it turns out, I'll be happy -- and will then have to work my fairly diffident self up to promoting it, also a risk -- but if not now, when? Last spring, at the age of 82, I decided if the memoir I had written about my 16 years trying to save my schizophrenic son couldn’t get published (“powerful,” agents & editors said, “but how to market it?”) I’d publish it myself. I embarked on that enterprise, risking a bit over $1,000 — a lot in my circumstances — and was about to ok the final proof this November when I got word that my manuscript was runner-up in a contest to which I had submitted it over a year ago. So now I’m waiting to see if my work will win, which will mean publication by a small press. Whichever way it turns out, I’ll be happy — and will then have to work my fairly diffident self up to promoting it, also a risk — but if not now, when?

]]> By: saraparetsky http://www.saraparetsky.com/2008/11/jumping-off-the-high-board/comment-page-1/#comment-40 saraparetsky Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:15:03 +0000 http://saraparetsky.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-40 All these responses are deeply moving, profound, remind me that risks come in all sizes and guises. Solidarity--yes, it's a lifelong struggle; I like the image of continuing to empower yourself while empowering others. All these responses are deeply moving, profound, remind me that risks come in all sizes and guises. Solidarity–yes, it’s a lifelong struggle; I like the image of continuing to empower yourself while empowering others.

]]> By: solidarity http://www.saraparetsky.com/2008/11/jumping-off-the-high-board/comment-page-1/#comment-39 solidarity Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:28:55 +0000 http://saraparetsky.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-39 Similar to Thoreau, a line I like is by Bob Moses, an inspirational organizer with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee in Mississippi in the 60s. He talks about "casting your bucket down where you are." I believe I have taken many risks doing this both personally and politically. Personally, it's the struggle to overcome the legacy of shame that is so much a part of the Irish Catholic tradition. Being a survivor is a lifelong struggle. Politically, it's staying committed to building a movements for transformative change even when you see former comrades drift away. Continuing to empower myself while I empower others, entails many risks. It may not look dramatic from the outside but embracing the tension that goes with challenging oppressive systems (internal and external) feels just as scary on the inside. At 54, the motivation to keep pushing is still there. Similar to Thoreau, a line I like is by Bob Moses, an inspirational organizer with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee in Mississippi in the 60s. He talks about “casting your bucket down where you are.” I believe I have taken many risks doing this both personally and politically.

Personally, it’s the struggle to overcome the legacy of shame that is so much a part of the Irish Catholic tradition. Being a survivor is a lifelong struggle. Politically, it’s staying committed to building a movements for transformative change even when you see former comrades drift away.

Continuing to empower myself while I empower others, entails many risks. It may not look dramatic from the outside but embracing the tension that goes with challenging oppressive systems (internal and external) feels just as scary on the inside. At 54, the motivation to keep pushing is still there.

]]> By: ab http://www.saraparetsky.com/2008/11/jumping-off-the-high-board/comment-page-1/#comment-38 ab Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:40:11 +0000 http://saraparetsky.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-38 I was a risktaker as a kid. I loved climbing hight trees and find exciting routes up steep rocksides. All that had to be left behind when my kids came along. You don't take risks that could leave them without their mother. But now they are all grown-up and I'm going on a bit, so maybe this is my time to take risks again? ;) I was a risktaker as a kid. I loved climbing hight trees and find exciting routes up steep rocksides.

All that had to be left behind when my kids came along. You don’t take risks that could leave them without their mother. But now they are all grown-up and I’m going on a bit, so maybe this is my time to take risks again? ;)

]]> By: Pascale http://www.saraparetsky.com/2008/11/jumping-off-the-high-board/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Pascale Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:21:35 +0000 http://saraparetsky.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-37 Oh I can relate to this too ! I was laid off too, years ago, and I took the opportunity to set up my own business as a copywriter. It was one of the best thing I did but I do miss the co-workers ... I try to remember the bitchy bits, to fight nostalgia, but there weren't many ! Oh I can relate to this too ! I was laid off too, years ago, and I took the opportunity to set up my own business as a copywriter. It was one of the best thing I did but I do miss the co-workers … I try to remember the bitchy bits, to fight nostalgia, but there weren’t many !

]]> By: Kristine http://www.saraparetsky.com/2008/11/jumping-off-the-high-board/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Kristine Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:24:49 +0000 http://saraparetsky.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-36 I took a big risk earlier this year after I was laid off from my former company. I couldn't find a job in my chosen career so I took a job teaching chemistry at a community college. So different than corporate life! But it's one of the best things I have ever done with my life. I took a big risk earlier this year after I was laid off from my former company. I couldn’t find a job in my chosen career so I took a job teaching chemistry at a community college. So different than corporate life! But it’s one of the best things I have ever done with my life.

]]> By: saraparetsky http://www.saraparetsky.com/2008/11/jumping-off-the-high-board/comment-page-1/#comment-35 saraparetsky Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:38:00 +0000 http://saraparetsky.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-35 Thanks for all these inspiring and thought-provoking ideas. It is tough to leave the safety of the 9-5 world--it took me quite a while to make that jump myself, and I still miss the camaraderie of a team of co-workers. Thanks for all these inspiring and thought-provoking ideas. It is tough to leave the safety of the 9-5 world–it took me quite a while to make that jump myself, and I still miss the camaraderie of a team of co-workers.

]]> By: whitecrane http://www.saraparetsky.com/2008/11/jumping-off-the-high-board/comment-page-1/#comment-34 whitecrane Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:52:59 +0000 http://saraparetsky.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-34 At 50, I walked out onto the floor of a DoJo for my first lesson. At 55 I received my Black Belt. I now help teach women self defense and rape prevention. I couldn't have done it without my sensei, who at 64, is not a force to be trifled with. It empowered me to leave the safety of the insurance field and return to school to work in psychology. It was tough to leave the safety of the 9-5 world. At 50, I walked out onto the floor of a DoJo for my first lesson. At 55 I received my Black Belt. I now help teach women self defense and rape prevention. I couldn’t have done it without my sensei, who at 64, is not a force to be trifled with. It empowered me to leave the safety of the insurance field and return to school to work in psychology. It was tough to leave the safety of the 9-5 world.

]]> By: bookwitch http://www.saraparetsky.com/2008/11/jumping-off-the-high-board/comment-page-1/#comment-33 bookwitch Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:12:28 +0000 http://saraparetsky.wordpress.com/?p=15#comment-33 A whole week? A whole week?

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