Village Members
It is said that it “takes a village” to do some things. The statement is meant to demonstrate that very often it takes more than just one person to accomplish a task well. Originally, villages were created to ensure the safety of a group. It was also a great way to pool resources. Eventually, the specialization rose to a point where each village had its own master for every task. That person could teach others and keep the whole place from needing to hire someone from another village. Many last names were derived from the actual tasks that a person performed.
Village Habits
In many towns, the baker who lived on your side was the place you had to visit to drop off your dough to bake it. Individuals did not have ovens and a single fire for a small number of loaves would take a lot of wood. More to the point, when you went to the baker you could hang out with the others waiting on their loaves to bake and enjoy sharing time and childcare duties with your fellow villagers. The communal time built the strength of the community. And you were able to see and learn from the baking of others. It wasn’t exactly a sewing circle, but any activity that could be shared decreased loneliness.
Personal Village
Sometimes we act as our own village. We help ourselves. Only you would know when you could use the helpful experience of an elder. Even if you don’t have a handy person for this type of help, you and your brain can think up enough new thoughts to be an advisor. You might benefit from giving yourself the advice you need to hear from a caring parent. The wise words that would be spoken by a close friend can make all the difference if you channel them. The point is, sometimes you are your own village. You do not have to just wait for perfect opportunities, the right person or scheduled meetings. If you can consider the point of view of someone you think might pass some wisdom on to you, start listening for that voice. They really are a part of you.
Village Voice
We are very resourceful humans. We hear voices in our head and sometimes we get good ideas. But we also limit ourselves by not using what we know about the wisdom of others to help us when we need it most. Sometimes no one is there but you. The best part is the creativity that occurs when you look at your own issues from the viewpoint of someone you trust. You probably didn’t know how much influence your village had on you until you needed it. So, use the whole village. That way, everyone has a chance to influence and build up the resources while keeping the whole place safe. Just be careful with the village idiot.
Do you ever know exactly what advice someone would give you even if you didn’t ask? What do you think you are contributing to the village knowledge? Are you aware of your community?
