Winter to Spring: Igniting Hope Through Curiosity

Winter is soon here. The mornings have this depressing chill, and the days tell me not to expect them to get longer anymore.

It is time to build resilience and bravery and hope they are enough to take you to the spring. As the Buddhist reformer and philosopher Nichiren Daishonin wrote in 13th century Japan, "Winter always turns to spring". Hope is born when everything else is lost. 

Hope is the antidote to autumn. Hope finds cracks for its flickering rays through the dark corners of your hibernation when the days get shorter. But hope does not warm the room or turn the lights on. Hope is just a delicate ray, not an energy source—but a spark that can ignite your curiosity. It shines from within.

When social fossil fuels (the oil of inequality and gaslighting of politics) pollute your world, winter's busy blues and endless meetings dim the light and put dark shadows under your eyes; it's time to let the hope shine from unexpected cracks of serendipity and ignite your curiosity.

When your curiosity burns with an intense flame, even the winter cannot stop you. Your curiosity can bring people closer to you, and you become a magnet of renewable energy. This spiritual fusion energy can transform you and your surroundings. The more you use it, the stronger it becomes.

Curiosity in action

Curiosity - unlike hope - requires action. Hope is not the fuel but a catalyst. You cannot be passively curious. You need to take action, initiate and implement. Hope opens your eyes wider, but curiosity makes you look at your world in a new light.

I attended the CubDupa festival on Wellington's pedestrian wonder, Cuba Street. Wellington felt like a living organism for the first time in years, with thousands of people pulsating through the narrow streets and alleyways that took them to the food stalls and unexpected performances. 

My son had his first photo exhibition as part of his creative collective's combined presentations. People were queuing to see all the art that was on display. My son was happy; he was shining.

In the evening, when he returned home from CubaDupa, he was knackered but happy and said, "Dad, last year I didn't have anything; I just got back from Finland and didn't know a soul in the art circles here, but look what I have got now." 

When he was about to go to his room to get some sleep, he stopped at the door and silently said, "I love you, Dad". Life does not get better than that.

I remember talking about his dreams and aspirations as an artist and photographer last year. He was lonely and frustrated. I told him that hope is a catalyst, but he needs to take curious action and seek the path forward, and it will unfold—often unexpectedly. He followed my advice and took action, and now his life shines. He has found the people he needs to be with. He generates way more energy than he can consume and gives it as his art for people.

And now, it is time for me to listen to my own advice again, find the ray of hope in my slumbering soul, be curious, and take action.

I start the week on a high note, hoping to ignite something new that I cannot even imagine today. I am curious to see what this week brings to me in the middle of the autumn austerities.

How about you?

Ngā mihi

Jussi

This week's book: Promised Land

Barack Obama's memoir, "A Promised Land," offers a refreshing departure from the worn-out tropes of leadership that saturate our understanding of power and influence. 

Through the lens of his presidency, Obama demystifies the role of a leader, dismissing the idea that leadership demands superhuman qualities. His account is notably grounded, attributing success not to the mythical figure at the helm but to the collective effort of a dedicated team. 

This memoir doesn't just talk at you; it talks with you, creating an intimate atmosphere where Obama's voice, rich with experience and emotion, feels as if it's directed personally to the listener, inviting you into a candid conversation.

What strikes a chord is Obama's willingness to expose his vulnerabilities—his doubts, fears, and the mistakes he's navigated. 

The narrative shines a spotlight on the essential qualities of leadership: integrity, empathy, and the relentless pursuit of growth, through stories that illustrate not just the weight of decision-making but the importance of preparation, teamwork, and a genuine connection with the people one serves. The memoir, in essence, serves as a guide—arguing that leadership is not about exceptionalism but about purpose, resilience, and the trust we place in each other.

"A Promised Land" elegantly punctures the balloon of leadership myths, presenting a grounded and earnest account of what it means to lead. This isn't just a book about being a president; it's a book about being a person in a world that demands we navigate its complexities with grace, humility, and an unwavering commitment to the common good.

Promised Land is one of my favourite biographies of all time. Listening to it as an audiobook – narrated by Obama himself – is a treat. It's not often that a president of the US talks directly to you whenever you like.

Get it in Apple Books as audiobook or ebook – or from Amazon.

The quote of the week

Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential.

Barack Obama