The Vancouver Winter Olympics (2010) really put Inukshuks on the map when they designed a logo that featured a very colourful Inukshuk. Growing up in Northern Ontario (the Near North), I am no stranger to the Inukshuk, nor to it's most common message - we were here. Now, before you say to me "But Val, it's not an Inukshuk featured on the logo, it's technically an Inunnguaq..." isn't it? Um, er, hmmm - what? Although there is some controversy about the name, I won't get into that here. For now I will say that if the term Inukshuk was good enough for the Olympics, it's good enough for me!
For those of you not familiar with the Inukshuk (or it's variations), if you click here you will see a picture of an Inukshuk; it looks like a piece of art, and, well, it is, though it is much more than that too. There is also a great youtube video here that I recommend. For now, I will simply say that an Inukshuk is a crudely (man)made marker meant to outlast wind, rain, snow, sun, and even grandfather time. It's constructed using only the rocks at hand, and is not meant to be perfectly uniform. Thus, each Inukshuk is recognizable but unique (like snowflakes). And, the most important part - it's "raison d'être"? The Inukshuk serves as a marker. No, not the Sharpie markers of today (but come to think of it, they last pretty well too!), but markers that tell a story like; we were here (mentioned above), or someone was here before you, or friendship is found here, or something happened/happens here.
Why, for example, is knowing that someone was here before you so significant? Does anyone really care that there was another person at the bus stop 10 minutes before you arrived? No, of course not (well, at least I can't think of a scenario that would make one particularly need to take note of that). But, if you were journeying through Arctic lands by foot, or even by horse, in winter snow in unpopulated areas, then would you care that someone was there before you? Yes, I bet you would. I would. Ah, now we're getting somewhere...
So, would that caring be compounded if you or someone with you was ill, or had a heavy burden (like a an injured man)? Probably. It would for me. And would you be especially grateful if those before you (100 years or 100 days before you) pointed the way to safety (water, good hunting, shelter etc)? Yep, I think that would be extremely helpful (especially given my sense of direction!).
Now, I know, you're about to say that's all fine and dandy, but I'm never going to be in the arctic, (unless of course you already live in the arctic!) so why should I care about this? Because you are in the arctic, well, figuratively speaking at least! How do you think you would feel if someone suddenly dropped you out of a helicopter into a deserted blizzard in the Arctic (i.e. informed you that you have cancer and have to have radical surgeries and treatments right away)? Terrified? Is there a word stronger than that? Petrified? Yep, it would be scary - and that's okay. What would make it less scary? Going through it with someone who's already succeeded at it (even if only a little)?
Yep. Learning what you can about the Arctic; it's resources, how to dress for that kind of cold, what to do if you get frostbite, and how to react when a polar bear is thinking you look like dinner, etc. will help you not just to survive, but to thrive as much as possible. The same can be said for recovery - never have there been so many resources on nearly every condition at your fingertips. That knowledge makes a big difference in helping you survive. Living in this technological era with the Internet (though still woefully under utilized I think) not also helps you to survive, but to thrive too. For instance, isn't it incredible that if you are the only person in your entire country with a particular condition, you can still surround yourself with a community of other's who either have the same condition, or have other conditions but share the same kind of human experience? And to be able to do all of that in your living-room via a laptop, well, it doesn't get better than that (well, I guess it does if you don't have to use it because you're no longer ill, but if you are recovering, it doesn't get better than that!). So, given all of that, here's my fear-fighting prescription of the day...
Happy Marking!
For those of you not familiar with the Inukshuk (or it's variations), if you click here you will see a picture of an Inukshuk; it looks like a piece of art, and, well, it is, though it is much more than that too. There is also a great youtube video here that I recommend. For now, I will simply say that an Inukshuk is a crudely (man)made marker meant to outlast wind, rain, snow, sun, and even grandfather time. It's constructed using only the rocks at hand, and is not meant to be perfectly uniform. Thus, each Inukshuk is recognizable but unique (like snowflakes). And, the most important part - it's "raison d'être"? The Inukshuk serves as a marker. No, not the Sharpie markers of today (but come to think of it, they last pretty well too!), but markers that tell a story like; we were here (mentioned above), or someone was here before you, or friendship is found here, or something happened/happens here.
Why, for example, is knowing that someone was here before you so significant? Does anyone really care that there was another person at the bus stop 10 minutes before you arrived? No, of course not (well, at least I can't think of a scenario that would make one particularly need to take note of that). But, if you were journeying through Arctic lands by foot, or even by horse, in winter snow in unpopulated areas, then would you care that someone was there before you? Yes, I bet you would. I would. Ah, now we're getting somewhere...
So, would that caring be compounded if you or someone with you was ill, or had a heavy burden (like a an injured man)? Probably. It would for me. And would you be especially grateful if those before you (100 years or 100 days before you) pointed the way to safety (water, good hunting, shelter etc)? Yep, I think that would be extremely helpful (especially given my sense of direction!).
Now, I know, you're about to say that's all fine and dandy, but I'm never going to be in the arctic, (unless of course you already live in the arctic!) so why should I care about this? Because you are in the arctic, well, figuratively speaking at least! How do you think you would feel if someone suddenly dropped you out of a helicopter into a deserted blizzard in the Arctic (i.e. informed you that you have cancer and have to have radical surgeries and treatments right away)? Terrified? Is there a word stronger than that? Petrified? Yep, it would be scary - and that's okay. What would make it less scary? Going through it with someone who's already succeeded at it (even if only a little)?
Yep. Learning what you can about the Arctic; it's resources, how to dress for that kind of cold, what to do if you get frostbite, and how to react when a polar bear is thinking you look like dinner, etc. will help you not just to survive, but to thrive as much as possible. The same can be said for recovery - never have there been so many resources on nearly every condition at your fingertips. That knowledge makes a big difference in helping you survive. Living in this technological era with the Internet (though still woefully under utilized I think) not also helps you to survive, but to thrive too. For instance, isn't it incredible that if you are the only person in your entire country with a particular condition, you can still surround yourself with a community of other's who either have the same condition, or have other conditions but share the same kind of human experience? And to be able to do all of that in your living-room via a laptop, well, it doesn't get better than that (well, I guess it does if you don't have to use it because you're no longer ill, but if you are recovering, it doesn't get better than that!). So, given all of that, here's my fear-fighting prescription of the day...
- Look for Inukshuks constructed by those who have gone before you. A lot of organizations have support groups/programs for individuals who are affected by severe illness or trauma.Within those groups you will usually find people at different stages of of the process and there is much to be gleaned from others who have been dealing with similar situations for a while. And, as you are well aware since you are reading this, you can find all sorts of blogs about a myriad of topics that might be of use to you. When I started my blog I thought that if I could let even one person know they weren't alone, then there was a point in continuing it. Hey, thanks for reading this blog too:)
- Make An Inukshuk map for yourself. On a piece of paper, consider marking down where you started (onset of illness/trauma), how far you've come (each milestone you've conquered), and where you want to go (ultimate recovery goal). Remember the Inukshuk says "We were there?" -well, be proud of yourself because you are not there anymore - wherever "there" may be. Bring the map back out periodically and be amazed at the progress you've made....
- If you are able, be part of someone else's Inukshuk. Figuratively speaking, be an Inukshuk or even one of the rocks that go into someone's Inukshuk. If you've been "there" in the bowels of the recovery process (hey, that pun wasn't intended!) in all it's - well, we'll say - glory, then consider helping others through it. There's no pressure to do so from me, and there shouldn't be from others either, but it feels good to be able to when appropriate.
Happy Marking!
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