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- | =====Transiency | + | =====Re-designing A Lifestyle: Summarizing One Year of Transiency==== |
- | My year spent as a MacroTransient at FoAM is now over. One year of not being a student, not being an employee, not being unemployed. One year with no expectations. One year of incredibly pure freedom of action, | + | |
+ | //Michka Mélo, Member and ex-MacroTransient at FoAM// | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | **I have been very lucky. One of the lucky few able to spend a year to experiment, well, anything. FoAM offered me a room, breakfast, lunch & dinner, a little money, and fifteen years of knowledge on change management. For the rest, I was free, as long as I would document what I did.** | ||
+ | |||
+ | **After spending some time getting used to have very light external constraints on my daily life, I timidly started to try out new activities. I learned stuff. I failed. I changed my mind. I discovered that internal constraints were way more tough to get rid off than external ones.** | ||
+ | |||
+ | **While trying out stuff, I got rid of the Self-Sufficient lifestyle hypothesis I had drafted before coming. I decided to let room for things to happen. I worked on my fear of emptyness. I fought against procrastination and pernicious addictions. I unraveled some nodes strongly tightened deep inside, and possibilities opened up.** | ||
+ | |||
+ | **The second half of the year flew way too fast. I am still living under the bounce of the overwhelming encounters and experiences I lived. These experiences paved the way to go. I finished the year by trying to set up the conditions to keep space for experimentations and deep personal work in my post-Transiency life. Because more than meticulously designing a bright future,, what seems the most sound to me is to spend time to know better who I am, and work to find answers to the deepest questions that torment me.** | ||
+ | |||
+ | **I am not sure I can remember last time life has felt so passionnating.** | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | My year spent as a [[http:// | ||
Below is an attempt to summarize this year, and maybe give you a hint of how this feels, or even give you the will to go through the same intense and rewarding process. | Below is an attempt to summarize this year, and maybe give you a hint of how this feels, or even give you the will to go through the same intense and rewarding process. | ||
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====Initial Conditions==== | ====Initial Conditions==== | ||
- | I had met the FoAM team in 2012, as I was an intern at Greenloop. I was in the last year of my engineering studies, and except writing my thesis, I did not really knew what my future was made of. I was quite disappointed by the world of science and technology I was coming from, and trying to find a way to integrate other dimensions to make (bio)technologies more relevant to society. It was the right moment to enter the temple of Generalism. | + | {{ : |
- | However, I was proposed two nice jobs in Paris. One at Sony Computer Science Laboratory, where I contributed to the development | + | I had met the FoAM team in 2012, as I was an intern |
- | The other job was as a Biomimicry Promoter in a governmental agency fostering innovation, Paris Region Entreprises. I met wonderful entrepreneurs, | + | {{ : |
- | After these two passionating working experiences, | + | However, I was proposed two nice jobs in Paris. One at Sony Computer Science Laboratory, where I contributed to the development of the [[http:// |
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
+ | |||
+ | The other job was as a Biomimicry Promoter in a governmental agency fostering innovation, [[http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | After these two passionating working experiences, | ||
===The Self-Sufficiency Hypothesis=== | ===The Self-Sufficiency Hypothesis=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
During one year working full time in Paris, I observed several phenomenon. | During one year working full time in Paris, I observed several phenomenon. | ||
* Even though the work I was involved with was very interesting, | * Even though the work I was involved with was very interesting, | ||
- | * Living at the core of a 10-million megapole made me even more conscious of the unsustainability of our (urban) lifestyles. At my individual scale, I found quite counter-productive to spend so much time & energy at work, to earn money, to buy stuff I could actually do myself instead of buying it from obscure and maybe unhealthy and socially-descructive industries. | + | * Living at the core of a 10-million megapole made me even more conscious of the unsustainability of our (urban) lifestyles. At my individual scale, I found quite counter-productive to spend so much time & energy at work, to earn money, to buy stuff I could actually do myself, instead of buying it from obscure and sometimes |
+ | |||
+ | {{ : | ||
- | Based on these observations, | + | Based on these observations, |
+ | I would increase my resilience, by learning many different know-hows which may be useful, especially in case some unsustainable industries would collapse. | ||
+ | By using fine-tuned appropriate technologies, | ||
- | In addition to correcting my lifestyle | + | In addition to correcting my lifestyle |
- | I entered this Transiency with the idea to implement this hypothesis, or at least test it. It is not exactly | + | I entered this Transiency with the idea to implement this hypothesis, or at least test it. It did not turn out exactly |
====Winter - Decelerating==== | ====Winter - Decelerating==== | ||
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One of the first actions I took when I arrived in Brussels was to sign up to an Aikido class. | One of the first actions I took when I arrived in Brussels was to sign up to an Aikido class. | ||
- | After more than seven years of focusing on mind development, | + | After more than seven years of focusing on mind development, |
- | Why Aikido to reconnect body and mind ? One of the things I also needed to start working on was my recurring panic whenever I was confronting with any somewhat violent | + | Why Aikido to reconnect body and mind ? One of the things I also needed to start working on was my recurring panic whenever I was confronted to any somewhat violent |
- | As expected, it has been far from easy. For the first time since years, I felt completely dumb at something, like if I had no grasp on how to learn gestures. I started | + | As expected, it has been far from easy. For the first time since years, I felt completely dumb at something, like if I had no grasp on how to learn gestures. I had started |
- | After a year of practice, I can feel some progress. I feel more body conscious, and I feel like I am a bit less sensitive in slightly violent situations. New students have arrived in the dojo, and they helped me find out I had learned something. I also decided to go to the training max once a week, to dilute | + | Now, after a year of practice, I can feel some progress. I feel more body conscious, and I feel like I am a bit less sensitive |
===Displaying=== | ===Displaying=== | ||
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In December, I gathered all my notebooks since June 2012, when the Transiency had been proposed to me. I had carefully noted down since then every single thing I wanted to do once I would be a resident at FoAM. | In December, I gathered all my notebooks since June 2012, when the Transiency had been proposed to me. I had carefully noted down since then every single thing I wanted to do once I would be a resident at FoAM. | ||
- | So I took a whole load of post-its, | + | So I took a whole load of post-its, wrote down every single activity and posted them on the wall, attempting to sort them out. |
- | After two weeks of scrutinous transcription, | + | After two weeks of scrutinous transcription, |
===Loving=== | ===Loving=== | ||
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{{ : | {{ : | ||
- | Hopefully, some sweetness was here in the middle of the two hard challenges I just mentionned. | + | Fortunately, some sweetness was here in the middle of the two hard challenges I just mentionned. |
Amélie and I had been together for a few months at the beginning of this Transiency. Thanks to this new period opening in my life, we now had breakfast together every morning. We also spent the Aikido-free (on my side) and teaching-free (on her side) nights together, often doing nothing else than having a tasty (vegetarian) lunch together, and chatting. | Amélie and I had been together for a few months at the beginning of this Transiency. Thanks to this new period opening in my life, we now had breakfast together every morning. We also spent the Aikido-free (on my side) and teaching-free (on her side) nights together, often doing nothing else than having a tasty (vegetarian) lunch together, and chatting. | ||
- | Compared to the lifestyle I had in Paris, in which I would pile up conferences, | + | Compared to the lifestyle I had in Paris, in which I would pile up conferences, |
===Delaying=== | ===Delaying=== | ||
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{{ : | {{ : | ||
- | In January, I was lucky enough to receive a job offer from my Master Thesis Supervisor. He was (and is) starting a small company on the topic of artificial closed-ecosystems, | + | In January, I was lucky enough to receive a job offer from my Master Thesis Supervisor. He was (and is) starting a small company on the topic of artificial closed-ecosystems, |
He proposed me to join in as the first employee of the structure, starting from March. | He proposed me to join in as the first employee of the structure, starting from March. | ||
- | Even though the Transiency work had not been easy so far, I could not think about stoppping so early. I had a lot of deep personal work to do, probably way more that what I envisioned in the first place, and I would definitely not even be started with most of it by March. I had to say now. | + | Even though the Transiency work had not been easy so far, I could not think about stoppping so early. I had a lot of deep personal work to do, probably way more that what I envisioned in the first place, and I would definitely not even be started with most of it by March. I had to say " |
I understood in this experience how hard it can be to say no to an offer when you do not know exactly how to phrase what you would do instead, and you can only intuitively feel it is very important. | I understood in this experience how hard it can be to say no to an offer when you do not know exactly how to phrase what you would do instead, and you can only intuitively feel it is very important. | ||
- | Hopefully, my Master Thesis Supervisor did not take it the wrong way, and offered me the job again last August. But more on that later. | + | Fortunately, my Master Thesis Supervisor did not take it the wrong way, and offered me the job again last August. But more on that later. |
===Cooking=== | ===Cooking=== | ||
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I felt very honored to be proposed to co-teach in such an environment, | I felt very honored to be proposed to co-teach in such an environment, | ||
- | I was confronted their with highly creative students, and a complete new way of teaching. This way of teaching is way more personal, intricated with the personality & life trajectories of these students. | + | I was confronted their with highly creative students and a complete new way of teaching, way more personal, intricated with the personality & life trajectories of these students. |
- | I wish I could bring part of this way of teaching to my engineering school, as I think it would help have engineers concerned with society, conscious of their personal issues, and more able to question the myths and taboos of the society they live in. | + | I wish I could bring part of this way of teaching to my engineering school, as I think it would help have engineers concerned with actual challenges (and not only technical fantasies), conscious of their personal issues, and more able to question the myths and taboos of the society they live in. |
===Gardening=== | ===Gardening=== | ||
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One of the initial objectives of this year was also to learn practical know-hows to include more DIY in my daily life. | One of the initial objectives of this year was also to learn practical know-hows to include more DIY in my daily life. | ||
- | FoAM Brussels gave me a "carte blanche" | + | FoAM Brussels gave me a "carte blanche" |
- | This experiment in itself gave me an idea of how hard it is to rely on my own food production, and how devoted and sedentary I had to be. Which made me re-think completely the self-sufficient | + | This experiment in itself gave me an idea of how hard it is to rely on my own food production, and how devoted and sedentary I had to be. Which made me re-think completely the self-sufficiency |
====Spring - Seeding==== | ====Spring - Seeding==== | ||
- | After decelerating, | + | After decelerating, |
===Reading=== | ===Reading=== | ||
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I needed to feel inspired, and learn from others' | I needed to feel inspired, and learn from others' | ||
- | The Moneyless Man is about the experiment Mark Boyle performed over one year. He tried to live without earning, spending or using any money during one year. It is great book, easy to read, and full of tips on how to reduce your reliance on a destructive monetary economy. However, I could not find any answers to the two most pressing questions I had with moneyless lifestyle: | + | //The Moneyless Man// is about the experiment Mark Boyle performed over one year. He tried to live without earning, spending or using any money during one year. It is great book, easy to read, and full of tips on how to reduce your reliance on a destructive monetary economy. However, I could not find any answers to the two most pressing questions I had with moneyless lifestyle: |
- | * How to get healed in case of a big incident ? Mark Boyle relied on the rights he precently | + | * How to get healed in case of a big incident ? Mark Boyle relied on the rights he precedently |
- | * What happens to your social life with less coherent people ? Mark Boyle says that it was one of the most difficult aspect of his experiment. He could not spend time with friends in money-based social activities, which is OK for one year, but for more ? Does it make sense to transform your social network | + | * What happens to your social life with less coherent people ? Mark Boyle says that it was one of the most difficult aspect of his experiment. He could not spend time with friends in money-based social activities, which is OK for one year, but for more ? Does it make sense to quit constructive friendships |
- | I think it is important for me to be able to meet people which opinions are far away from mines, to understand better their viewpoints and what builds the difference between me and them. I have the feeling that if I live such a life, I will cut myself out of such opportunities. | + | I think it is important for me to be able to meet people which opinions are far away from mines, to understand better their viewpoints and what builds the difference between me and them. I have the feeling that if I live a moneyless or self-sufficient |
- | The Four Hour Workweek is a book about entrepreneurship. This world has always interested me, as I like the strength and perseverance of people getting involved in the creation of a company. However, I always felt distant from them in the sense that I am not attracted by the idea of devoting all my time to one single project, thereby risking to lose everything in case of failure. | + | //The Four Hour Workweek// is a book about entrepreneurship. This world has always interested me, as I like the strength and perseverance of people getting involved in the creation of a company. However, I always felt distant from them in the sense that I am not attracted by the idea of devoting all my time to one single project, thereby risking to lose everything in case of failure. |
- | This book gave me a quite uncommon answer. What if your company was designed to bring you money back to do whatever you want to do ? Even though I do not agree with all the strategies proposed in this book, I like the idea of designing your income source so that you can maximize your freedom of lifestyle - and not necessarily try to merge both. It was a very pleasant, inspiring and thought-provoking read. | + | This book gave me a quite uncommon answer. What if your company was designed to bring you money back to do whatever you want to do ? Even though I do not agree with all the strategies proposed in this book, I like the idea of designing your income source so that you can maximize your freedom of lifestyle - and not through a " |
The full reading list of this year is available [[http:// | The full reading list of this year is available [[http:// | ||
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The very first important trip of this year was to Slovenia, a place where Amélie lived for a couple of years. After visiting Ljubljana and some very nice friends there, we moved to the countryside to spend some time at [[http:// | The very first important trip of this year was to Slovenia, a place where Amélie lived for a couple of years. After visiting Ljubljana and some very nice friends there, we moved to the countryside to spend some time at [[http:// | ||
- | Rolling Hedgehog is a self-sufficiency experiment, led by Amélie' | + | Rolling Hedgehog is a self-sufficiency experiment, led by Amélie' |
- | It was a wonderful stay, however I understood that I would not transform it into a lifstyle. I would love to introduce slices of several weeks of this lifestyle, but I would also like to be able to escape it, and see other people, other places, other parts of the world. | + | It was a wonderful stay, however I understood that I would not transform it into a lifstyle. I would love to introduce slices of several weeks of this lifestyle |
The self-sufficiency hypothesis was dead. | The self-sufficiency hypothesis was dead. | ||
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For instance, after six sessions, I was able to precisely phrase what I felt was my mission in life. I also learned practical ways to be more efficient in my work, especially with unpleasant tasks, and how to deal with emotionnally perturbing events. | For instance, after six sessions, I was able to precisely phrase what I felt was my mission in life. I also learned practical ways to be more efficient in my work, especially with unpleasant tasks, and how to deal with emotionnally perturbing events. | ||
- | I think that this process was one of the two most effective ones in the whole Transiency. I feel like I am work - and do stuff in general - more effectively, | + | I think that this process was one of the two most effective ones in the whole Transiency. I feel like I am working |
- | And yes, I will talk about the second process later. | + | I will talk about the second process later. |
===Forecasting=== | ===Forecasting=== | ||
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{{ : | {{ : | ||
- | Between April and June, the FoAM Brussels Core Team guided me through the [[http:// | + | Between April and June, the FoAM Brussels Core Team guided me through the [[http:// |
At the end of the process, we obtained four scenarios representing extreme situations. Scenario narratives can be found here: | At the end of the process, we obtained four scenarios representing extreme situations. Scenario narratives can be found here: | ||
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It was worth the waiting. | It was worth the waiting. | ||
- | I remembered mentionning the quest for "inner peace" to Vali during our first session. This cycle was basically a course | + | I remembered mentionning the quest for "inner peace" to Vali during our first session. This cycle was basically a series of workshops |
I felt more body conscious, and did recover most part of my focusing abilities. But I also managed way better with emotionnally perturbing events, increased my perseverance in unpleasant or tedious tasks, managed to get back to contemplation on a daily basis, and logically started to find beauty more frequently on my way. | I felt more body conscious, and did recover most part of my focusing abilities. But I also managed way better with emotionnally perturbing events, increased my perseverance in unpleasant or tedious tasks, managed to get back to contemplation on a daily basis, and logically started to find beauty more frequently on my way. | ||
You may have guessed it: with coaching, going through this process was the most positively transformative experience I lived this year, and I cannot not stop being lyrical about it. | You may have guessed it: with coaching, going through this process was the most positively transformative experience I lived this year, and I cannot not stop being lyrical about it. | ||
+ | |||
+ | If you are from Brussels and French-speaking, | ||
===Getting Inspired=== | ===Getting Inspired=== | ||
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{{ : | {{ : | ||
- | In May, I was invited by [[http:// | + | In May, I was invited by [[http:// |
- | On the picture on top of this section, you can see two people. The guy is a former graphic designer. After three months of work, he found out that working behind a screen was not his way. So he knocked at the nieghboring | + | On the picture on top of this section, you can see two people. The guy is a former graphic designer. After three months of work, he found out that working behind a screen was not his way. So he knocked at the neighboring |
And he is only one example of the amazing people I met at the College. And he is only one example of the amazing people I met this year in Totnes, Nantes, Marseille, Paris, Brest and so on. | And he is only one example of the amazing people I met at the College. And he is only one example of the amazing people I met this year in Totnes, Nantes, Marseille, Paris, Brest and so on. | ||
- | I want to keep meeting diverse people in the upcoming years. With diverse interests, diverse opinions, and amazing life trajectories. Because it is so pleasant | + | I want to keep meeting diverse people in the upcoming years. With diverse interests, diverse opinions, and amazing life trajectories. Because it is pleasant, enriching, and it helps me re-shape my vision of the world. |
====Summer - Experimenting==== | ====Summer - Experimenting==== | ||
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{{ : | {{ : | ||
- | In June, my friend [[http:// | + | In June, my friend [[http:// |
- | We had a one-week long research workshop, during which we tried to build supercapacitors out of dead PC batteries. | + | We had a one-week long research workshop, during which we tried to build [[http:// |
It was my first " | It was my first " | ||
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However, reasearching with Paul was completely different. We had a very nice week, I learned tons of stuff, and even though we did not manage to have anything working as well as we wish it would, I felt it was very pleasant. | However, reasearching with Paul was completely different. We had a very nice week, I learned tons of stuff, and even though we did not manage to have anything working as well as we wish it would, I felt it was very pleasant. | ||
- | I think that the combination of five weeks of mindfulness training helped me deal with the frustration inherent to research. But, also, having someone like Paul as a teammate | + | I think that five weeks of mindfulness training helped me deal with the frustration inherent to research. But, also, having someone like Paul as a teammate changed everything. We had very nice discussions, |
After this week, I was no longer sure I wanted to give up on " | After this week, I was no longer sure I wanted to give up on " | ||
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Strengthened by the experience with Paul, I headed towards Nantes, and the [[http:// | Strengthened by the experience with Paul, I headed towards Nantes, and the [[http:// | ||
- | This event aims at offering | + | This event offers |
During one week, we would meet every morning to discuss what were the ongoing projects, and then we would spend the day working on them. Every night there was a party. Wonderful week. | During one week, we would meet every morning to discuss what were the ongoing projects, and then we would spend the day working on them. Every night there was a party. Wonderful week. | ||
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===Designing=== | ===Designing=== | ||
- | {{ :michka:replicating.jpg?400 |}} | + | {{ :michka:designing.jpg?400 |}} |
I was left with the tricky part: designing the lifestyle. Now that I knew most of the components, how could I fit them together in an smooth way ? | I was left with the tricky part: designing the lifestyle. Now that I knew most of the components, how could I fit them together in an smooth way ? | ||
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The current hypothesis I will try from January on is the following: | The current hypothesis I will try from January on is the following: | ||
- | * Most of my income may come from my work at a small start-up, based in Lausanne, | + | * Most of my income may come from my work at a small start-up, based in Lausanne, |
* During these periods, I will partly be traveling around to meet & visit interesting people working in " | * During these periods, I will partly be traveling around to meet & visit interesting people working in " | ||
* I will also spend some time in Brussels, meeting the local communities here I did not take the time to visit yet, and keeping some days available to start new projects at FoAM. I want also to keep some time to read, and explore Belgium more seriously than I did so far. | * I will also spend some time in Brussels, meeting the local communities here I did not take the time to visit yet, and keeping some days available to start new projects at FoAM. I want also to keep some time to read, and explore Belgium more seriously than I did so far. | ||
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Again, I think that the lifestyle balance will be quite good. | Again, I think that the lifestyle balance will be quite good. | ||
- | In terms of coherence, I changed a little bit my mind. My " | + | In terms of consistency, I changed a little bit my mind. My " |
+ | |||
+ | After discussing about it with may different persons, I decided to move towards a more experimental approach, which leaves the issue of consistency a little bit aside, and let space for potentially imperfect though impactful actions. | ||
- | After discussing about it with may different persons, I decided to move towards a more experimental approach, which leaves the issue of coherence a little bit aside, and let space for potentially imperfect though impactful actions. | + | {{ : |
- | The question of coherence | + | The question of consistency |
- | In a way, I am back to the starting point, | + | In a way, I am back to the starting point of a new cycle, ready to test a new lifestyle hypothesis, strengthened with the experience, work and tools learned |
This makes me think that the Transiency will, in my case, continue a little bit as a continuous process for a while. | This makes me think that the Transiency will, in my case, continue a little bit as a continuous process for a while. | ||
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I had to wrap this year up, I would say that I mostly started learned how to experiment at lifestyle scale. Below are a few lessons I learned during this year. May they be useful to you, if you feel like starting a similar process: | I had to wrap this year up, I would say that I mostly started learned how to experiment at lifestyle scale. Below are a few lessons I learned during this year. May they be useful to you, if you feel like starting a similar process: | ||
- | * **External constraints are not the hardest.** Once I had 100% free time to do whatever I would feel so, I started to feel lost. Things that appeared to be very desirable before looked suddenly pointless and boring. More importantly, | + | * **External constraints are not the hardest.** Once I had 100% free time to do whatever I would feel like doing, I started to feel lost. Things that appeared to be very desirable before looked suddenly pointless and boring. More importantly, |
- | * **The deepest personal work is the more transformative.** Learning how to do my own laundry soap was great. However, coaching and mindfulness allowed me to understand better who I am, and unlocked some of my internal | + | * **The deepest personal work is the more transformative.** Learning how to do my own laundry soap was great. However, coaching and mindfulness allowed me to understand better who I am, and unlocked some of my internal |
* **Free experimentation space & time is more relevant than a five-year detailed plan.** I think that the most important ingredient for a life transition is the freedom of action, movement and thought. Leaving room for experimentation and trying stuff was an important condition to learning about myself, and my five year plans quickly became obsolete after small short-term experimentations. Fail soon, fail often, as they say. | * **Free experimentation space & time is more relevant than a five-year detailed plan.** I think that the most important ingredient for a life transition is the freedom of action, movement and thought. Leaving room for experimentation and trying stuff was an important condition to learning about myself, and my five year plans quickly became obsolete after small short-term experimentations. Fail soon, fail often, as they say. |