Lise's Lens: January 5, 2023
Lise reflects on the power of relationships, finding happiness, and Julia Child!
WHAT I’M READING
- I just finished reading my first novel by this year's Nobel Prize Winner in Literature, the French writer Annie Ernaux. I have to admit, I had not heard of Ernaux before she was announced as this year's winner…I’m excited to dive into her other works, as well! La Place is a beautiful (and very short) read about her father and life in a small French town. It explores her father's attitudes about education, what he wanted for his daughter (versus what he needed for himself), and Ernaux’s personal journey away from the places and people of her youth.
WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
- I just spent ten days with a group of friends who are older than I. These (mostly) women between the ages of 74 and 85 reminded me about happiness and how we can create it for ourselves (pretty simply, too!). Friends since elementary school, these individuals left their home island of Guadeloupe to attend university in France; most returned at some point to the island. Throughout the years, they celebrated milestones and consoled each other during hard times. They now see each other regularly, packing five or six to a car to visit an art show or see a friend. They sing and dance together. They share potluck meals all the time. And they laugh at themselves!(PS: After my trip, I was intrigued to see the 7-Day Happiness Challenge in the New York Times. Day 1? Take stock of your relationships!)
WHAT I'M WATCHING
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
- On one of my plane rides over the break I started the series on Julia Child. Wow! There is so much about her and the context of her times that I was unaware of … including the fact that her TV presence started here in Boston at WGBH.
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
- For anyone who watched the World Cup these past few months, the fairy tale story of the Moroccan team is inescapable. What I enjoyed most is the capacity of Moroccans, this team, their family, and other fans to take in this experience. Every game won was like a World Cup celebration in itself. And in the end, everyone joyfully thanked their team as if they had won the tournament … because they basically did win our hearts, time and time again. Their capacity for gratitude for their tournament presence, and their enjoyment of each step along their journey is another lesson in how and where to derive happiness. Just take a look at this video of the Moroccan World Cup team headed to its celebration!
The Cambridge School of Weston is a progressive high school for day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and PG. CSW's mission is to provide a progressive education that emphasizes deep learning, meaningful relationships, and a dynamic program that inspires students to discover who they are and what their contribution is to their school, their community and the world.