Laila Ibrahim's Blog, page 4
September 23, 2015
Imperfect or none? That’s the only choice
I often say you can have imperfect community or no community, but perfect community is not at option. I’ve been going to the same church for more than 30 years so I’ve had ample opportunity to practice being a part of imperfect community. Sometimes it is no fun at all. But other times, something happens at church that makes my heart soar, causing all the frustrations and disappointments to be worth it.
As I embark on a career as an artist it strikes me that the same principle is at work in art. You can make imperfect art or no art, but perfect art isn’t an option. As soon as I had that realization, I understood that it’s true for all human endeavors: you an be an imperfect parent or no parent, but perfect parenting isn’t an option. Nor is perfect cooking, cleaning, teaching, building, loving, meditating...the list goes on and on.
I find this notion very freeing. Perfection is not an option so I don’t concern myself with it. I don’t have to do things ‘right’. I just have to do things and then see what parts of it come out right. I act, I notice, I reflect, and I revise. Not a bad system for making art...or a life.
As I embark on a career as an artist it strikes me that the same principle is at work in art. You can make imperfect art or no art, but perfect art isn’t an option. As soon as I had that realization, I understood that it’s true for all human endeavors: you an be an imperfect parent or no parent, but perfect parenting isn’t an option. Nor is perfect cooking, cleaning, teaching, building, loving, meditating...the list goes on and on.
I find this notion very freeing. Perfection is not an option so I don’t concern myself with it. I don’t have to do things ‘right’. I just have to do things and then see what parts of it come out right. I act, I notice, I reflect, and I revise. Not a bad system for making art...or a life.
September 16, 2015
THE VIEW FROM MY INTERSECTION
Mad max or Star Trek Future?
(justice) I grew up watching Star Trek. I’m told I saw the original series when it first aired, but it was watching the reruns, and then the continuation of the series, that deeply shaped who I am.
Star Trek teaches us over and over again that cooperation, respect, and diversity make life better for all beings. We learn that you don’t have to be a human to have humanity. And that struggling with morally ambiguous questions is a never-ending privilege that come from exploring borders. Star Trek teaches me that working together we can solve the toughest problems of our time. Food, energy, tolerance, respect, and justice are all abundantly possible. The future I see in Star Trek is the future that I want-- and the future I’m working for.
I often despair at the futility of that kind of hope. But the alternative is entirely unacceptable. The alternative leaves my descendents in a Mad Max world: a society without empathy, resources, and trust, in a world full of fear and scarcity?limitations.
I’ll never know which future we humans will get. Likely it will be somewhere in the middle. But I’ll do my part, however small, to bring about the world I’d want to inherit.
(justice) I grew up watching Star Trek. I’m told I saw the original series when it first aired, but it was watching the reruns, and then the continuation of the series, that deeply shaped who I am.
Star Trek teaches us over and over again that cooperation, respect, and diversity make life better for all beings. We learn that you don’t have to be a human to have humanity. And that struggling with morally ambiguous questions is a never-ending privilege that come from exploring borders. Star Trek teaches me that working together we can solve the toughest problems of our time. Food, energy, tolerance, respect, and justice are all abundantly possible. The future I see in Star Trek is the future that I want-- and the future I’m working for.
I often despair at the futility of that kind of hope. But the alternative is entirely unacceptable. The alternative leaves my descendents in a Mad Max world: a society without empathy, resources, and trust, in a world full of fear and scarcity?limitations.
I’ll never know which future we humans will get. Likely it will be somewhere in the middle. But I’ll do my part, however small, to bring about the world I’d want to inherit.
September 9, 2015
The view from my intersection
Delusions of Time Self-reflection
In the future, my life is always spacious. I have all the time to do what I’ve planned. And believe me, I make plans.
Then the future comes and suddenly it looks a lot like the present I had been planning from: already so full that I never get to most of my to-do list.
Last spring I decided to blog for a year starting on my 50th birthday. I imagined that I’d have plenty of time to do that once I’d stopped working and became a full-time writer. And I've missed my first deadline. But, you see, our friend Dan is dying, and I started classes at Berkeley City College, and our daughter Kalin is moving out of the house, and friends are visiting and, and, and…Well, LIFE. There is always life.
Amazing things came from my decision to start writing a novel for my 40th birthday. It wasn’t an easy or straightforward path to get YELLOW CROCUS into the world. I missed a lot of self-imposed deadlines. But I muddled through and now I’m a full time artist—well, except for the rest of my rich and full life :)
So I’m sticking with my decision to blog each week, though I’m starting a week (or is it two?) late. I always want there to be LIFE in the midst of my life. So I’ll make my plans, deluded that I’ll have all the time in the world in my mythical future, and I’ll muddle through in the reality of now.
In the future, my life is always spacious. I have all the time to do what I’ve planned. And believe me, I make plans.
Then the future comes and suddenly it looks a lot like the present I had been planning from: already so full that I never get to most of my to-do list.
Last spring I decided to blog for a year starting on my 50th birthday. I imagined that I’d have plenty of time to do that once I’d stopped working and became a full-time writer. And I've missed my first deadline. But, you see, our friend Dan is dying, and I started classes at Berkeley City College, and our daughter Kalin is moving out of the house, and friends are visiting and, and, and…Well, LIFE. There is always life.
Amazing things came from my decision to start writing a novel for my 40th birthday. It wasn’t an easy or straightforward path to get YELLOW CROCUS into the world. I missed a lot of self-imposed deadlines. But I muddled through and now I’m a full time artist—well, except for the rest of my rich and full life :)
So I’m sticking with my decision to blog each week, though I’m starting a week (or is it two?) late. I always want there to be LIFE in the midst of my life. So I’ll make my plans, deluded that I’ll have all the time in the world in my mythical future, and I’ll muddle through in the reality of now.
February 5, 2015
Laila Ibrahim Discusses Yellow Crocus on BlogTalkRadio
Did you miss hearing Laila Ibrahim on BlogTalkRadio the other day? Well don't worry! Hear Ms. Ibrahim discuss her compelling novel 'Yellow Crocus' on The Book Experience with Ms. Chanel. Simply click HERE.
February 4, 2015
Review from Literary Critic, Ashley Fae
"Yellow Crocus is a stunning story about love, loss and the beauty of beginning again. The pages of this novel are filled with such emotion that it's breathtaking."This was the opening response from Ashley Fae, book critic for Literature Junkie Extraordinaire, after finishing her review for 'Yellow Crocus'. She continues her review by saying, "This compelling historical novel is a richly evocative tale of love, loss, and redemption set during one of the most sinister chapters of American history. From the plot to the characters, every inch is beautifully written. Without a doubt in my mind, this is one book that begs to be read and remembered for years to come. A story that changes ones life and the way one looks at the world. A novel that reaches out an touches the soul.
You can read the full review here.
