As I adapt and manipulate the teardrop template,
I have been thinking about how the Brennan family
and their descendants adapted to the changing circumstances of their lives.
Different climates -
dry Western Australia,
tropical French Polynesia,
icy Canada,
cold New York,
bleak London.
Different living conditions -
tenements in industrialised cities,
tents and temporary shacks in the Australian desert,
cold, poorly insulated buildings in Belfast and Dublin,
wooden and tin dwellings in New Zealand.
Different social climates -
confronting the policy of breeding out 'half-caste girls' in Western Australia,
facing prejudice against Irish Catholics in America,
a pioneer spirit and 'can-do' attitude in New Zealand,
'ownership' of women within marriage which allowed domestic violence,
issues of land ownership,
inter-marriage (religion and race),
rights of women to work and to vote,
rights and treatment of indigenous peoples,
control of populations by governments.
Death of siblings and children,
injustice and penal colonies,
the violence of world war,
closed adoptions,
the stigma of solo motherhood,
desertion and abandonment,
suicide,
gender difference,
remarriage and blended families.
Differences in diet,
health care and traditional medicines,
language and traditions,
dress,
social class,
availability of education,
modes of transport.
In each situation,
the people involved had to reflect on their foundational beliefs,
consider what needs to change,
what can be discarded and what must be retained.
They had to adapt skills they had to a different and changing environment.
Just as I have to reflect on the foundational shape (the teardrop),
consider what needs to be changed
and what can be retained
(the long narrow arms are consistent throughout).
I had to adapt the body shape to reflect the character that was emerging.
Adapting to change is easy for some.
They seek the novel and the different.
They look for and revel in challenge.
They focus on the present moment but with a heart for a different future.
For others, change is just too frightening.
Their lives need structure and routine.
They shoulder familial responsibilities.
They deal with small, incremental changes from the known.
If there are large demands for change, they crumple or withdraw.
I have been thinking about how the Brennan family
and their descendants adapted to the changing circumstances of their lives.
Different climates -
dry Western Australia,
tropical French Polynesia,
icy Canada,
cold New York,
bleak London.
Different living conditions -
tenements in industrialised cities,
tents and temporary shacks in the Australian desert,
cold, poorly insulated buildings in Belfast and Dublin,
wooden and tin dwellings in New Zealand.
Different social climates -
confronting the policy of breeding out 'half-caste girls' in Western Australia,
facing prejudice against Irish Catholics in America,
a pioneer spirit and 'can-do' attitude in New Zealand,
'ownership' of women within marriage which allowed domestic violence,
issues of land ownership,
inter-marriage (religion and race),
rights of women to work and to vote,
rights and treatment of indigenous peoples,
control of populations by governments.
Death of siblings and children,
injustice and penal colonies,
the violence of world war,
closed adoptions,
the stigma of solo motherhood,
desertion and abandonment,
suicide,
gender difference,
remarriage and blended families.
Differences in diet,
health care and traditional medicines,
language and traditions,
dress,
social class,
availability of education,
modes of transport.
In each situation,
the people involved had to reflect on their foundational beliefs,
consider what needs to change,
what can be discarded and what must be retained.
They had to adapt skills they had to a different and changing environment.
Just as I have to reflect on the foundational shape (the teardrop),
consider what needs to be changed
and what can be retained
(the long narrow arms are consistent throughout).
I had to adapt the body shape to reflect the character that was emerging.
Adapting to change is easy for some.
They seek the novel and the different.
They look for and revel in challenge.
They focus on the present moment but with a heart for a different future.
For others, change is just too frightening.
Their lives need structure and routine.
They shoulder familial responsibilities.
They deal with small, incremental changes from the known.
If there are large demands for change, they crumple or withdraw.