A recent phone interview by a Stanford University post-doc asked me to answer deeper and deeper questions on the foundations and motivations of the work we all contribute to Repair Café, tinkers, tailors, organizers and participants.
I answered the top layers easily: raising zero waste consciousness, decreasing the landfill, decreasing consumerism. I proudly spouted some permaculture principles. She was researching and writing on Maker Culture primarily based on sharing hardware and software in the computer world. She was hunting for tendrils of linkage to the growing world of volunteer repair people who were sharing skills not related to cyberspace.
Then she took me to another level beneath those answers and I heard myself talking about sharing skills, sharing friendship, finding abundance locally, building community, healing the earth. She was a sociologist so I felt comfort discussing this level with her.
I answered the top layers easily: raising zero waste consciousness, decreasing the landfill, decreasing consumerism. I proudly spouted some permaculture principles. She was researching and writing on Maker Culture primarily based on sharing hardware and software in the computer world. She was hunting for tendrils of linkage to the growing world of volunteer repair people who were sharing skills not related to cyberspace.
Then she took me to another level beneath those answers and I heard myself talking about sharing skills, sharing friendship, finding abundance locally, building community, healing the earth. She was a sociologist so I felt comfort discussing this level with her.
She asked me again for the underpinnings of those responses. I talked a little more about ideas of altruism generating happiness, a base feeling that motivates humans. I started to venture into reorienting ourselves to the interconnectedness of all life, something we have forgotten that our ancestors knew, just a little concerned that I may be crossing the line between the more quantifiable answers I presumed her to be seeking and the more mystical aspects which could be rejected at any moment. Instead she listened patiently then, to my surprise, she courageously asked me one more time what could be beneath all that.
I felt sure she thought I might laugh at her question, just as I thought she might dismiss my prior answer. Instead I felt a musical trill in my heartbeat to be honored with the joy of looking with this bright, young, academically-minded woman at the roots of what we do, why we care so deeply about our planet, our planet-mates, life as we know it. I paused not because I didn't know the answer I wanted to give, not for fear of how she would take my answer, but to savor the words I was about to say. I felt such gratitude that this stranger had phoned me to take me on this personal and even intimate one hour journey. I replied, “Well, it is really all about Love.” Yes, I saw a capital on the word as I spoke it with new understanding of its power. I heard a pause on her end then in a very small breathy awe-filled voice she just said, “wow”.
That tiny wow was a spark in the mind of a young woman who may share new insights though her work. It is the ripple each of you is sending out. And it all goes with deep thanks to each one of you who has participated even in the smallest way with Repair Café. Your ripple is felt more distantly than you imagine.
— Therese Brummel
I felt sure she thought I might laugh at her question, just as I thought she might dismiss my prior answer. Instead I felt a musical trill in my heartbeat to be honored with the joy of looking with this bright, young, academically-minded woman at the roots of what we do, why we care so deeply about our planet, our planet-mates, life as we know it. I paused not because I didn't know the answer I wanted to give, not for fear of how she would take my answer, but to savor the words I was about to say. I felt such gratitude that this stranger had phoned me to take me on this personal and even intimate one hour journey. I replied, “Well, it is really all about Love.” Yes, I saw a capital on the word as I spoke it with new understanding of its power. I heard a pause on her end then in a very small breathy awe-filled voice she just said, “wow”.
That tiny wow was a spark in the mind of a young woman who may share new insights though her work. It is the ripple each of you is sending out. And it all goes with deep thanks to each one of you who has participated even in the smallest way with Repair Café. Your ripple is felt more distantly than you imagine.
— Therese Brummel
