Inspired Action and a Little Wooden Fish
Newsletter from October 8, 2025
Hi dear student,
My youngest grandchild just turned two. What to give a little guy that is literally showered on his Birthday with generous presents from friends and relations?
I decided to make him a little wooden fish puppet; the type I teach my students to build in our Academy of the Wooden Puppet. The fish is carved from only two parts connected by a leather strip, attached to a rod with a little wheel that moves the tail when turning it. A simple yet extremely satisfying mechanical experience for any youngster (and their parents). My present came with a set of watercolors so we can paint it together, and a lifetime guarantee to fix it … until he is old enough to do it himself.
In all honesty, the large selection of plastic tractors he received caught more of his attention, and that is ok. I was not trying to compete with those really cool toys. I simply loved making this little fish for him and will continue to be the grandpa that still upholds and nurtures the tradition of little mechanical wonders, that might actually survive the pile of exciting plastic toys that are doomed to eventually land on the landfill. I look forward repairing it with him one day.
So, for me it is not about wood “against” plastic, it is about upholding the understanding and love for wood and natural materials, keeping the balance and awareness of sustainability. Plastic is here to stay, and my goodness do I love my plastic rubber boots living here in Iceland. We have the freedom to make conscious choices.
This choice is important. This choice also applies to other areas of our life that sometimes become overwhelming and “out of balance”. Social media for example is not a terrible thing if we know how to handle it and we don’t let it handle us! Watching the news is important to stay informed yet can become a perpetual shower of negativity if we allow it to.
The world has always been a place of wonder, love, magic and a collection of horrible events all at the same time. What is our place in all this? For most of us it is still a daily choice. Some choose brave activism, some have the guts to work in politic or focus on social opportunities to have a positive impact, yet others teach the making of a little wooden fish. All this counts, all this matters!
Soul inspired action matters, it is the wholesome antidote to becoming paralyzed, to get stuck in the shower of negativity and fear. How do we get inspired to take inspired action? By stopping non-inspired action, by consciously slowing down the automated trot and shutting out those outer detrimental voices long enough that we can start hearing our own voice again. Out of silence and stillness springs inspired action. Inspired action will change ourselves, so we can change the world … possibly one little wooden fish at a time.
Sending my warmest regards and cheering you on, always
Bernd
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