4/7/2017 0 Comments the together projectBrave Ones, A story about this project: As some of you already know, I've been in Asia since late October 2016. After being lost and excited and numb and inspired, it's the place where my heart told me I would need to grow next. It's funny the way these things happen, really. I thought studying was the right thing for me at the time. I found myself hassled and overwhelmed with the infinite list of majors I could see myself fitting into. I spent countless nights trying to find where that next part of my life to take place. I was convinced studying in Europe was the key and I became consumed with the idea of leaving America; not knowing where or how it would happen. International study seemed like the "next logical option." I couldn't believe the stress I was putting myself under for something so ridiculous- being pupetted around by the idea of needing to find the perfect major. A loud, "hey Johanna, WHO do you think you are?!" yelled at to my teeney, unknowning mind one night after spending hours online searching for the perfect major, country, etc. to spend the next 3 years. I thought to myself how I was living in a country where this was made possible- to choose where you want to go- to have ACCESS to an education. I am so close to the opposite end of this- even my stepfather has had to work since he was an elementary school. Instead of being in class, he was needed to work the fields from dawn until dusk for his family. I looked at myself sitting on this pedestal of privilege complaining about having to find which country to study in, thinking of all of the people in the world who could only dream about studying. I wouldn't be this person. Nope, a life without appreciation is not my thing. So I instead went onto a volunteer website to clear my head and make myself realize how many more options there were. That if I don't study in a classroom setting, I would learn by doing, experiencing, and living. I've found I learn most and most intensely while I travel. At this time I was also reading The Alchemist, which so tenderly supported me in listening to the knowing voice inside my head. My refuge. I bought myself a ticket to Asia just after that voice in my head told me "Thailand". I can't explain this voice. But it always speaks up when I need it most. It's the same, steady voice that told me "It's okay" the morning I woke up to my flight back to America after living for over a year in Europe. And although it has been clear to me the moment I heard this voice where I had to go next, it has not been so clear to those around me. Don't get me wrong, I have received overwhelming support- especially from those who I have least expected it from. But, I have found such a great difference in reactions when I told others I would go to Asia than when I told them I would be living a year in Europe. No, the voices of fear and judgement were loud and more frequent this time around. I was angry and upset that people who didn't know anything about Asian culture decided they could judge an entire country- better yet, continent. I was hurt. Aren't we all a part of the same family, anyway? I was hearing heart wrenching things too, like "they're poor over there." What do you do with a judgement like this? Aren't we pretty "poor" in things like relationships nowadays? And putting our ego first? What is "poor?!" And why was money and the morality of others been put on the same plane of importance? I was in my third country of this trip, Myanmar, and at this point and all I received by these people was the kind of goodness that changes your heart and entire being. I thought of how backwards we had it all. Offended, angry, and cranky. I don't know how to be patient sometimes. I complained a lot. Got tired of it. Then I tried to sit with my thoughts for long enough to know what to make of them. What to do? I didn't want to just moan about these people and their mindsets because nothing will change when you try to retaliate with a judgement on their judgement. Instead, I've been thinking about something compassion-filled that I could do to help. So, this became the beginning of The TOGETHER Project. I've photographed these people with the hope of at least a single person will begin shifting eyes of fear to eyes of curiosity. Judgement in so many cases is rooted in fear. I think so often to myself, and say so often to others of how connected we are- how much more alike we are than different. We have lips and two eyes and a nose. We have ears and a heart and lungs and bones. We laugh and we cry and we feel inspired and sometimes nothing at all- and together we are totally and completely human. Beautifully, imperfectly human. I hope that in these photos that beyond the differences, we can more than anything see the similarities. Sisterhood. The love of a mother. Joy, strength, insecurity, silliness. The craving of cigarettes, the need to learn, or even just another day at work. Across the globe, we are all feeling these emotions even if it looks different from culture. We are so much more alike than what we think we are. All my love, -J
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