"The way we see the world shapes the way we treat it."
- David Suzuki
Ecology reminds us: nothing exists alone. We’re part of a vast, buzzing web.
I recently learned that flies aren’t just clean-up crews — they’re pollinators too. Apples, grapes, even hops for your beer? Thank a fly.
Today, I’m practicing ecology by noticing the world from a different perspective.
"Every little thing wants to be loved."
- Sue Monk, The Secret Life of Bees
Dialogue is one of nonviolence's quieter tools: listening, responding, and letting ourselves be changed by what we hear.
Origami teaches me this.
I can't force the paper without damaging it. I have to work with its grain, its thickness, its size. Each crease is a kind of proposal. The paper answers by holding, resisting, reshaping.
That's a conversation.
Folding feels like that. It's a practice of shaping without coercion. Of staying curious about what this material - or this person - can become.
Nonviolent communication isn't about winning. It's about tending the space between us - like a small field where many little things can land, hover, and be heard.
Today I'm practicing dialogue by working with different papers and attending to how they respond.
Origami Bee: Designed by Leyla Torres of Origami Spirit, based on an Origami Fly by Angel Ecija
"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."
- John Dewey
Education isn't only something we receive - it's something we participate in.
Every fold teaches me what works and what doesn't.
This dictionary owl is a friendly figure who sits on my desk. He reminds me that the purpose of lifelong learning is not self-judgement, which makes me stop asking questions.
Rather, when knowledge is my companion, something gentler happens. Education becomes an invitation to develop understanding through experience.
Today I'm practicing education by staying curious, letting both mistakes and joy inform my origami choices.
The term comes from the Bible and emphasises that the pursuit of worldly possessions is futile compared the goal of heavenly salvation. It encourages the audience to reflect and repent.
I hope this fly pin makes a softer statement - Less warning, more witness.
As origami ages, creases soften and colors fade.
I could seal my works with some kind of resin or shellac but I don't - not to neglect preservation, but as a practice of appreciation and attention.
In my mind, sealing paper feels false. I would rather let it age with me. I know what will remain is not the object, but a memory and the invitation to fold again.
Unlike an oil painting, this pin doesn't aspire to a museum. It aspires to be brought to life on a jacket or a bag, touched by sunlight and hands and one day, become compost, fertile material for growth.
It is an art, this presence and release. As you can see from the irony of my archived photos and words, it's one I'm still practicing.
May we meet this year’s challenges like Tiger, with confidence, courage and strength!
Designed by Kamikey Origami and folded by me.
Traditionally, Daruma dolls represent dedication and determination. They are purchased (or in this case folded) to empower a wish or goal. The left eye is drawn in when the intention is set and the right eye when it is fulfilled.
My goal is to participate in the #abcorigami challenge set by Leyla Torres in the Origami Spirit Fan Group on Facebook from beginning to end.
Wish me luck 🍀😆 not every letter prompt will be this easy!
