Episode #2: My Home In Others'

On DOTE, the power of attention, and a song from the Batwa.

For years I’ve been suffering from DOTE – Desire Of Trying Everything.

I coined this term by analyzing how my attention and curiosity make me constantly jump from one thing to another whenever I reach a fair amount of knowledge. I used to love this attitude, and from time to time I still do, but the more I reflect on it (thanks also to the help of precious friends), the more I see how little it helps with compounding effort.

At the same time, I appreciate the gift of attention.

Bringing light to the village. Kisoro, 2022.

Directing awareness and energy toward one single subject is tremendously powerful.

Among the very few times, I felt completely focused on one thing only was when I landed in Uganda. It was October 2022, and I had left the job I loved for six years to start wandering into the wilderness. I took my journal and wrote several pages full of the same affirmation “I will be a photographer”. My attention was fully dedicated to documenting the lives of people living on the outskirts of the Bwindi Forest. And so I did.

Playground. Entebbe, 2022.

While interviewing the Batwa, I kept riding through the soft hills and villages of the Kisoro region to find information about them, and day by day I was amazed by how open people are when they have nothing. I was offered a place to rest during heavy rains, delicious homemade food when all small shops were closed, and hot tea to face cold nights. All this from people who earned in one year less than what I used to make in a month.

I never asked what home was for them, I read the answer in their smiles.

In their simple gestures of kindness and generosity, I saw a profound sense of belonging and community. Their home wasn’t defined by walls or possessions, but by the connections they shared with each other and with their land.

The most important answers are found not in words, but in the silent understanding between people.

I took my first flight to discover what home was for others, and in those smiles, food, and tea, I found a piece of mine in theirs.

On top of Mount Sabinyo. October 2022.

Back to my previous question to John, they performed one of the best songs I’ve ever heard made just with rudimental instruments.

Listen below.

I hope you’re enjoying the journey so far, if so, you can let me know by answering this email. I’d be happy to hear from you.

Thank you for listening, and for your time.

Until the next one,
F