NomadicEducation: 2012

It is difficult to write about genius without wanting to articulate the peculiarity of it. Genius strikes us as a unique phenomenon, as existing in a class of its own, and who wouldn't like to be able to say that they have risen to that level?

But the task is demanding, partly because it is difficult to capture the nature of genius, and partly because genius takes on so many forms. We can rhapsodize it, we can offer some kind of illuminating analysis, we can call on our poetic talent, our dramatic sense, our metaphorical power, our depth of characterization: but what we really seek is something that exists inside us, something that will single us out - that conveys the particular quality of genius we wish to express.

What takes the usual talents of an individual of their particular calling to a higher degree? What distinction lies in the quality of work which one produces? Upon what capacious versatility does genius draw?

Everything

©Sophy Laughing, Adare Manor, Ireland

Having lived, worked, and gone to school in a number of countries, I often find myself dealing with transitions from one culture to another. For most people, the key element of this transition is adjustment - adjustment at the individual level.

Adjustment, for most people, relates to homesickness; without which, there wouldn't be a need for adjustment to the host environment. Separated from the memories, loyalty, and the sense of attachment that arises in our lives, which often times define and shape a person's individuality, it is no surprise that when people leave home they experience a sense of loss...

However, learning new languages, eating new foods, and creating new memories restores our sense of "home" and within time, we adjust, move on, and find "our home away from home."

In this sense, nostalgia, for me, is a fun activity. It's about discovery; discovering what I like, what I want to try again, and places I want to revisit (either in my mind, by reading and learning more about it, watching a film on it, or sifting through family photos). This for me is nostalgia: a second change to enjoy pleasant experiences, sensations, and moments.

Nostalgia isn't just a thing of the past. Nostalgia can be like a hopeful daydream, like when you're planning a vacation or eagerly anticipating the litter of puppies your dog is about to bring into the world (our dog is about to have puppies!). In this respect, nostalgia is a mental break from our daily lives, from actions involving or work or interactions with other people (or ourselves, i.e., our mental dialogue of never-ending "To Do" tasks).

Perhaps this is why nostalgic moments cause us to pause and reflect, to take stock of who we are based on what we know about ourselves and the world. It's about creating and stimulating within ourselves a sense of awareness of our personal history, a way to identify patterns in our lives and search for alternatives or those things we label as "necessities". It's about taking stock...

Today, I decided to take stock of a few of the moments that cause me to pause and reflect on the ever-evolving nature of personal identity...