I Love Green

CBC Radio had a great line-up today. The first story was about the former mayor of Bogota, Columbia, Enrique Penalosa and how he pedestrianized the city, not without major flack, including an impeachment movement. Some consultants from Japan came in and said to build more highways and he said no. Instead, Mr Penalosa introduced "no car" days and many pedestrian- only intersections. More sidewalks and bike lanes were created. Money was spent on public tranportation and developing public green space.

Mr Penalosa is now an international consultant, specializing in sustainable city planning. He speaks around the world about how making a city more liveable makes for less pollution and for much happier citizens. I don't remember too many details, but one thing he said stuck with me: "Democracy is not just people being able to vote, democracy is all about the good of all the people, not just private enterprise".

It's so refreshing to hear that democracy is not synonymous with capitalism, as we North Americans have so readily bought into. But then, it's ironic that Enrique Penalosa's first book is titled "Capitalism: The Best Option". More reading required, I think.

Now That I've Got Your Attention

I'm really excited about the Christmas break. Mostly I'm looking forward to family discussions, horsing around, meals and walks together. Jessica is coming home for a week or so. Paul will be around for some of the days. Gillian will be house sitting so we can gather at a new place for an evening or two. We hope to meet with friends. On Christmas Eve we will be at the Yale property with a big bon fire, a lit up live tree, presents, and hot drinks. Come join us.

Swallowed

I've never felt this way about a job before. I can't let it go. My life seems to be swallowed by it.

The Community Adult Literacy Program will only develop if I push it forward. There is no inherent momentum yet. I have to constantly talk about it, contact people, ask for volunteers, find the learners, meet with potential community partners, write, tell, act the story. The problem lies in that I don't stop when we shut off the lights and lock the doors at the office. My head is constantly in a spin about what to do next and who to talk with.

I'm so tired by the end of the day that I don't have much left for my family. Even when I'm with them, sometimes I find my mind wandering to the next event that I have to plan and promote. So many evenings and weekends have been and are going to be swallowed up, if not with billable hours, than with thinking and planning hours at home when I want to be focusing on family.

I don't resent the job yet. I'm passionate about this program and how it can help people increase their quality of life. I just want some down time to run, or write, or play games or read, or hike or paddle without the project's magnitude seeping in.

At some point I'm going to have to realize at some level that no matter what happens to the program, I've done my job and then some.