Simeon Brody
Well, on Sunday, the event I've spent the past few months organising actually happened. It went off without a hitch, everybody enjoyed themselves, and during it and at the end, lots of people told me that I should feel proud, or asked me if I was feeling proud about what I'd done. However I didn't (and still don't!) have a sense of being proud, and I'm not sure why, as so many others suggested that I should. I do feel happy that it went well, that the weather was unseasonably kind to us (!) and I have a sense of satisfaction and profound relief. Is this pride?
I organised York Green Festival because I am a good organiser, I am passionate about promoting sustainable lifestyle choices and in the past I enjoyed going to York Peace Festival and had a feeling that York needed a summer event with music and stalls. I feel that part of my 'job description' is a social entrepeneur, an innovator, someone who is fearless about venturing into the unknown and giving it a try. Hence the success I've had with starting several community groups, and now my first festival under my belt. But I don't feel pride particularly, just happy that lots of people had a good time, some local groups were able to get their sustainability message accross, and that there were no incidents or accidents to speak of.
I feel that pride is what other people bestow upon a person who's done something worthwhile, something admirable... it's a way of saying thank you. In some cultures, pride is a 'deadly sin' and, knowing that proud people are pretty unbearable, I can understand the warning in 'pride comes before a fall'. But should we have pride in 'doing the right thing', in doing something well? I haven't got a definitive answer, but do know you can't force yourself to experience an emotion if it's not there, nor can you prevent someone who is proud of their actions feeling that way.
One of the things which stands out as an interesting event during the day was at the end, whilst I was litter picking and checking the park for mess, to leave it in much the same state as we had found it in. I found a book in a plastic bag bearing the message 'FREE BOOK', and a picture of a book with arms and legs running! It had been left by someone who has accessed bookcrossing.com, a site which encourages book sharing in an unconventional way. Books to be shared and passed on are logged with the site and then left in public places for others to find, with instructions about what to do with it... A totally wacky and brilliant idea! My found book (bookcrossing identification 095-5322260) is 'The New Vegetarian' by Cox and Crockett, published by Thorsons in 1985, which is when I was a fairly new vegetarian myself!
So I have no need of this book and will 'release' it back into the wild, perhaps at the Big Green Gathering this week, where I'm on the litter-picker, recycle and compost team again.
My 'Green Tip of the Week' is to check out bookcrossing .com, perhaps order some stationery from them for a small fee, and let some of your books start a new life, travelling around meeting new readers and brightening up someone else's life. What a fun way to de-clutter and get some of your books re-used!
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