How To Be: A Monk And A Journalist – My Thoughts And Contemplations

{Journal Musings}

Lately, I’ve been in this head space of reevaluating my lifestyle in relation to the journal, and my purpose with it, whether it’s taking me where I really want to go or whether it’s taking on a life of it’s own and how much of a say-so I have in it all. Praying for direction.

I’m not always the best at keeping myself on course with something, but I’ve stayed dedicated to the journal even during a very challenging time in my life. Still, I can become easily distracted with all the temptations the world has to offer and since I’m highly passionate about life in general, it’s easy for me to take interest in almost anything, including things that might seem polar opposite to cohesion. For example, a monk and a journalist.

And, similarly, for example, a life of hermitage while embarking in public relations. Or an “off-grid” life recorded by technology and uploaded to mass media. It’s the things I previously learned in solitude or as a result of being outside of mainstream that have compelled me to write and share my experiences with the rest of the modern world.

And yet, I feel I’ve barely accomplished what I set out to do and in attempting to accomplish it have had to change my lifestyle to something almost entirely different than what’s familiar to me and to what allowed me to find the time to be inspired in the first place.

Of course when you do something new, you can’t expect to get everything right in every way, especially when you have so little control over things going as you expect them to or wish them to go.

In life there are so many uncontrolled variables that come into play. On the one hand, I live for the uncertainties of life, since they can take me places and open my mind to things I never could have anticipated or imagined, but on the other hand, it can be enormously intimidating and hindering at times.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that all life is about balance and harmony. You have to take the good with the bad. You have to try to weigh things out so that they come out even, not too extreme on one end or the other. Not too over- or under-exerted. I also believe that we only get one chance to live this life the best way we see fit, as much as within our power -so it’s best we don’t weigh in too much on the approval or disapproval of others.

But how to be is not always as clear as we’d like it to be. This is why I’m happy to have found this book of shared letters between Judith Valente and Bro. Paul Quenon:

“How To Be: A Monk and a Journalist on Living & Dying, Purpose and Prayer, Forgiveness and Friendship.”

It seems to have come at just the perfect time.

Before I wanted to become a journalist, my son and I were practicing meditation and how to live “a quiet simple life.”¹ I was considering a life of hermitage -like monks and nuns, or maybe more like some of the other “quiet / slow living” culture enthusiasts I’d found online. Or by knowing about groups like the Amish, Bruderhof; the romanticized ideology of my past Native ancestors who lived off the land in touch with nature… and other nomadic tribesmen like the Bedouins, etc.

A quiet life of solitude away from the distractions of modern temptations and convenience. A life that would afford me to continue in my spiritual journey and creative passions the way I had for the years I’d been a stay at home Mom. A life I knew would slip so easily away if I didn’t make purposeful effort to guard and protect it…

Our First 30 Min Vow of Silence on 01 01 2022

Disclaimer: (Don’t worry, these untreated Wax Myrtle tree leaves are safely edible, although not necessarily advisable. They’re more well-known for their use as a mosquito repellent. *Please wash wild edibles before consumption.*)

In fact, I was almost ready to join a commune when I came to terms with this sinking feeling of possibly never getting to share all of the stories I wanted to and continuing to research and preserve the research I’d already found.

The crux of it… I knew most of (but not all of) these people and places and lifestyles I’d found were mainly as a result of technology and media in the form of documentaries or YouTube vlogs. And for that, I grew an appreciation and interest in continuing the preservation of visual history and stories through journalism. I also had some amazing phone conversations or in person conversations that felt worthy of world-sharing.

The conversations I’m having now are changing because my lifestyle, ambitions and perspectives have changed in some ways -sometimes involuntarily, and again, sometimes a welcome change. But I know if I’m really going to live a life that embodies my values, convictions and inspirations (and has the potential to better the lives of others as well), I have to keep the conversation on track and not be pulled in directions that, no matter how well-meaning or virtuous in their own right, are still distractions to my personal calling or purpose.

I try to remind myself that although my life isn’t exactly what I want it to be right now, this is just a season of my life that may come with a necessary imbalance until it levels out and eventually brings the fruit of love and toil to harvest. In any case, the journey ahead is no more important than the journey of today.

As Brother Paul emphasized to Judith, “The purpose of life is life.”²

Even in just the introduction of “How to Be”, I’m inspired and encouraged by the fact that Judith “first met Brother Paul in 2008 on a reporting assignment for PBS-TV.”³ That began their “lifelong” friendship of letters and visits. And so… the same could be waiting to happen for me. And in a way, already has. It’s confirmation to an idea I’ve been toying with to write letters back and forth with a friend at a commune I visited, and that it may, in fact, be more rewarding (and practical) than trying to keep up with her over the phone or in person as much.

I’ve also been greatly inspired by journalist Ted Conover, who, like myself, prefers immersive journalism (where you live like or stay with the people you are interviewing, documenting, etc). His most recent work show-cases people living off-grid in Colorado (which also happens to be my original destination of choice that I’ve never gone to).

Sidenote: At the risk of this article being any longer than it already is… I have to note here (for the sake of my memory) that it’s quite coincidental that I found Mr. Conover during the writing of this article. I just happened to look him up while studying, thanks to his teaching contributions to NYU used in my coursework. And even more coincidental that the place he found in Colorado was the direct result of volunteering for La Puente, started by a nun! What are the odds?

Forgive me, but I love little coincidences like this… and there are actually a few more, but…

It’s thanks to him as well that I realize, as many seemingly bad coincidences as I’ve had in my life, I’ve had some really beautiful ones as well. And like I stated above: The good must be accepted with the bad. #LifeLessons

Ted has been called a “master of immersion”⁴ and “regarded as one of the finest participatory journalists of his generation.”⁵

“I’ve kind of returned to this approach time after time which has been called immersion writing or immersion journalism where you’re learning not just by people’s answers, but by your whole experience and you can be part of the story.” – Ted Conover⁶

While mainstream journalism is often thought of as being on the edge of information, cut-throat and constantly in demand for the latest, greatest, newest stories and hottest topics, being able to pump out multiple stories a day or week, not all journalism is this high-pressure.

Some of the best journalism comes from months to years of patiently getting to know a source, immersing oneself in the story to understand it better and taking the time to thoroughly research a topic or event, gathering different sources of information and putting the pieces together to form a more clearly-defined picture that can show what fast-paced journalism sometimes misses.

While I believe all styles have their place, slow journalism⁷ or immersive journalism is more of the style of journalism I seek to practice. And I feel confident now that I can find the balance I want between both my personal and professional life. We’ll see ;)… In any case, I’ll be living and writing about life… 🙂

So, my advice to myself and anyone else who struggles with thoughts of giving up when you can keep going, stick with it and chances are, you’ll be far more surprised and delighted by what unfolds than if you lose an opportunity that just may be closer than you think.

If you want to hear more about “How To Be”, I’ll continue sharing my musings as well as a formal book review.

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iam:ForeverBlessed