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Magnificent Chaos
I recently watched the food series by Stanley Tucci called: Searching for Italy. During his visit to Naples, he referred to his time there as if witnessing a magnificent chaos. The head of the municipal police of Naples said to Stanley, ‘here in our chaos, things work’.
He talked about the unofficial ways of helping the vulnerable and poor folk of Naples, one of which is called ‘suspended coffee’. This is when the public buy a coffee and at the same time purchase an extra one so that the barista can give a free coffee to someone in need. This concept of suspended essentials has been done in Naples for centuries.
Another possible way of describing magnificent chaos is controlled chaos, ‘something that looks out of control, but which functions according to unseen rules or organisation’. What struck me about this small window into the culture of Naples was that many aspects of life of vulnerable people seemed to be cared for, despite the chaotic nature of the way people lived.
“…our team continually work within the present moment, that is being ever present to the emotional, mental and spiritual needs of our customers…”
At our Community Centre that I direct, the workplace for our staff, volunteers and family members can often look and feel like working in chaos, often fuelled by us exploring continual ways of surviving and adapting to our financial and social environment. Despite this, our team continually work within the present moment, that is being ever present to the emotional, mental and spiritual needs of our customers, all whilst looking after their ‘tummies’ by providing good food and drink and all within a magnificent chaos.
This became even more apparent when we were recently given the status of ‘Mental Health Friendly Place’. The person giving the award told us that it seems that we have been doing it for many years prior to this recognition and training necessary for the award. This comment is even more special than the great award, because of our amazing staff and volunteers who have owned the ethos and reason why we function as a community centre and tearoom without any recognition.
Wellbeing is evermore becoming a tick box exercise and funding opportunity; I hope we do not become too complacent as we strive forward in surviving. We remain available to all within our own chaos, to work within the present moment to be able to be flexible enough to cater for varying needs of people who cross our doorway, whilst operating a busy service, it helps us keep our ethos real and not just a tick box exercise.
As we prepare for Christmas in what to many brings about a type of chaos in various preparations, let us remember the vulnerable around us, let us not just give of time and care out of a controlled surplus, but out of our own chaos in the present moment of people’s needs.
Dr Ant Grimley
Director of St Joseph’s Rural Centre and Monos