4100 children will die today from water-related diseases.

As unbelievable as it sounds, almost a billion people on this planet don’t have access to clean drinking water.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to change that?  And, maybe even save a life?

We can!  And, here’s how you can help.

My friend Courtney Carver is giving away her 44th birthday to bring water to those in need.  Her goal is to raise $4,400 or more by June 5th.  She’s very close to the half-way mark.  If she reaches her goal, on her birthday, she’s going to celebrate by giving all her books away for free on that day, and other goodies too.

I just made my donation and it took less than a minute.   I would love for you to join me.  Whether you give $4, $44, or $144, it will make a difference because 100% of your donation will directly fund water projects.

Read about Courtney’s Campaign and then follow the link to donate.  Thanks very much for your generosity.

From a spiritual perspective, practicing generosity helps to alleviate  attachment, which is one of the main causes of suffering in your life. Thus, when you give with a pure heart, helping others helps you too.

May all sentient beings have an ample supply of clean water, and never suffer from water-related diseases again!

P. S.  Please don’t put this off till later.  If you’re like me, despite the best of intentions, it may not happen.  If you are inspired to help, just pop over and donate right now.

I’m so glad you’re here!  If you liked this article, please consider subscribing for free updates by email. And, please help get the word out by sharing this post.  With love, Sandra

Last night, I went to an introductory talk on Sexual Shamanism and Conscious Sensuality.  Apparently, we’re so disconnected from our bodies, our senses, our sensuality, and our sexuality that many people will pay upwards of $3,000 to tune back in.

Sexuality workships aren’t groundbreaking, however.  Research into the human sexual response began in the 50′s with Masters and Johnson, and people have been exploring ever since, and long before then too.  But, now there are new buzz words like “Shamanism” or “Consciousness” giving the topic a slightly different twist.

I took away some new perspectives from the talk, for which I am grateful, but I quickly tired of the overused lingo.  In particular, the repetition of the phrase “harvest your power” annoyed me to no end.

One of the listeners expressed a concern about harvesting one’s power.  She thought it might increase ego, the opposite aim of spiritual practice. The presenter reassured her that humility and integrity are essential to personal power. So no worries! But I wasn’t fully convinced.  Because, honestly, any approach can be used to bolster ego.  Ego is clever in its relentless attempts at self-deception.

As one way to harvest their personal power, people were encouraged to stand up in front of the group and share their most secret sexual fantasy.  If you’re an inhibited person, this exercise may indeed make you feel more powerful, at least momentarily.  Or you might just feel stupid or embarrassed and want to hide in a hole.

“Is this the true path to personal power?”  I wondered.  Don’t get me wrong.  I think this type of workshop serves a purpose, and can definitely increase your confidence, self-acceptance, sense of ease, and your ability to experience pleasure.  It just may not be the whole banana.

Three Essential Elements of Personal Power

All this talk about harvesting power stirred me to clarify my own definition of personal power.  Before you slap down several thousands dollars to learn how to harvest your power, wouldn’t it be smart to first know what personal power means to you?  Just to be sure you get the right thing?

My version of personal power is slightly different than standing behind a microphone and revealing your sexual secrets or what it feels like to be turned on to a group of 60 people.  These are three essential elements of personal power from my point of view:

• A Boundless Wisdom that sees the world and the self as it is, ever-changing and inherently non-existent. This means recognizing there are two aspects of mind:  the essence of mind and the appearances of mind (thoughts and emotions).  Then choosing to rest in the essence of mind rather than becoming entangled in all the projections like hope and fear, negative emotions, stories and dramas.  Naturally, this takes time and practice.
• Immeasurable Compassion, which expresses itself through the Four Boundless Qualities of love, compassion, joy and impartiality and extends to all living beings.  These are qualities that you too can learn to cultivate.
• An Infinite Power or Capability to liberate others from suffering and delusion, once we’ve actualized these qualities to a greater degree.

Everyone of us is naturally endowed with these three profound qualities, but usually we are so caught up in the projections of mind we fail to realize or cultivate them.  The way to practice them is through meditation (mindfulness and awareness) and compassion practice.

When these three qualities begin to manifest, even to a small degree, your mind and life will begin to change.  You will find:

• self-acceptance
• an ability to let go of expectations and judgments
• less negativity
• a sense of being well in your own skin
• confidence
• kindness, love, compassion, and joy
• a feeling of being more in touch with yourself and with others
• a sense of responsibility for your thoughts, words, and actions.
• feeling as though you are directing your life rather than being constantly swept into a rapidly running current
• able to unfold into whatever experience presents itself in life
• humor and spaciousness
• integrity and authenticity

In short, wisdom and compassion are the essence of true power.  True power is embodied, in my opinion, by people like the Dalai Lama, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr, and Aung Sang Sui Kyi, but their aspiration isn’t necessarily to achieve personal power.

True power is also expressed in everyday acts of kindness when our ego is not in the way:  caring for an ill or dying parent, helping an elderly person carry a heavy shopping bag, encouraging a child.

An incredible potential lies within you ready to be unleashed.  Are you ready to release the floodgates holding back limitless love and profound wisdom and discover a greater measure of personal power?

What are your thoughts on personal power?  Do you aspire to have personal power?  What’s your definition of personal power?

I’m so glad you are here!  If you liked this article, please consider subscribing for free updates by email. And, please help get the word out by sharing this post.  With love, Sandra

If you love books, trimming your library may be one of the hardest steps you take on your path towards greater simplicity.  But, think about it for a moment.  How often do actually return to a book in your collection?

After hauling all our books cross-country in 2001 (20 boxes), my husband and I sold or gave almost all our books away when we moved to France in 2006.  We “loaned” around 500 books on Buddhism to The Center for Wisdom and Compassion as I couldn’t quite bear to make it final.  I sold my other titles – an assortment of health, personal development, and odd topics – as used books on Amazon.

I loved having a vast reference library on Buddhism.  Ironically, sadness and attachment welled up in my heart as the truck with all “our” books on Buddhism – all about non-attachment and impermanence – drove away from our apartment.

It was just a temporary feeling.  Soon we set off across the ocean with our 50 remaining books in tow, a small collection of core Buddhist texts.  I didn’t have a second thought for all the books we left behind.

Three years and three months later, that heavy suitcase of Buddhist texts traveled with us once again across one and a half oceans with a continent in between when we moved to Hawai’i at the end of 2009.  Since then, this essential book collection has ballooned to include titles on health, happiness, and healthy house design – probably 150 or 200 volumes in total.  This doesn’t include my husband’s books, just mine.

Live What You Read

Fortunately, the Kindle came to my rescue a few years ago.  The Kindle represents an excellent solution for me because I’m sensitive to must, mold, dust, and printer’s ink (though better than before). Frankly, a library is a far better answer in terms of the environment, but it itsn’t a good option for me.

Despite having this electronic wonder, I don’t buy books willy-nilly for the Kindle.  I limit my book purchases because I think it’s important that I try to practice and live what I read instead of simply reading more and more.  And, in fact, all the wisdom I truly need is contained in a handful of books.

When I started my simplicity experiments last year, I reluctantly looked at my current library knowing most of it would have to go.  I began by attempting to divide my books into three categories:

• Must have
• Maybe
• Give away, sell, or throw away

But, I didn’t make much headway.  I ended up with about 10 books in the give away pile and another 10 in the to be sold pile. Everything else was in limbo.

Go At Your Own Speed

This is what I discovered.  At least for book lovers, letting go of books is a process that takes time.  It won’t necessarily happen the first time you give it a shot. As time moved on, I became acclimated to the idea.  I found a few more to move over into the good-bye pile.  Then, a few more.  I promised myself that I could repurchase a book on Kindle if I really needed it.

When I recently moved into a 450 square foot studio with my husband, I allocated two shelves for books.  I’ve made a big dent into paring my books down to fit on these two shelves.  I’m a bit of a trickster though as they are wide shelves that can accommodate two rows of books.  I’ll probably end up with about 75 books.

Is this a failure or a success?  I consider it a positive step forward.  I can envision letting go of a few more of these books as time goes on, but I don’t feel I have to right now.  Downsizing is individual.  You make the rules that work for you.

Here are a few lessons to take away from my experience:

1. You won’t necessarily miss most of  your books when they are gone.
2. You can repurchase a book if you really need it.
3. You’re library will just grow bigger and bigger unless you’re intentional about it.
4. Downsizing is a process.  Go at a speed that works for you.
5. Downsizing is individual.  You don’t need to go to an extreme – like zero books – unless that truly suits you.
6. Most importantly, live what you learn instead of mindlessly devouring more and more.

Book Giveaway:  Naked in Eden

As I learn to let go of my books, I would like to pass on some of my favorite titles to one of my readers – I’m so grateful for your support!  This week, I’m giving away a hard copy of Naked in Eden, My Adventure and Awakening in the Australian Rainforest by Robin Easton.  Naked in Eden is a memoir, wild adventure, celebration of nature, and profound inner journey.  This is the Amazon description:

“’You must be mad to live in the bloody jungle, mates.’ Not mad exactly, just disconnected and seeking more meaning and adventure in their lives. An eccentric free spirit who never quite fit in, Robin Easton saw her soul mate in Ian—a rugged, rowdy Aussie who wanted out of the confines of his family’s business. Together they planned their Great Escape: to live off the grid in a remote area of Australia’s Daintree Rainforest.

But as their Jeep wound its way closer to the tiny black dot on the map, Robin couldn’t have fathomed just how the jungle would test her mentally, physically, and spiritually. As she came face to face with her fears of deadly snakes, leeches, and man-eating crocodiles, she began to unravel the mysteries of life and death, love and loss, and nature and humankind. Hidden in the forest mist, she discovered our biological relationship to the natural world and our unique place in it.”

This is my personal copy so it has some underlining and margin notes, but is generally in great condition.  Leave a comment about your own inner quest, travel adventure, or experience downsizing your library on this post by Friday, May 17th at 8:00 p.m. PST to be entered into a drawing to win this book.  One person will be chosen randomly to receive the book, however, books can only be sent to addresses in the United States and Canada.  Please make sure to leave an e-mail address with your comment so I can get in touch with you.  I may continue with more book giveaways if there is interest.

Be sure to sign up for Robin Easton’s Naken In Eden Facebook page for an incredible stream of wildlife photography, inspiration, and wisdom.  That way, everyone wins!

Looking forward to your thoughts on adventure, transformation, or simplicity.

I’m so glad you are here!  If you liked this article, please consider subscribing for free updates by email. And, please help get the word out by sharing this post.  With love, Sandra

I felt struck by lightening when I suddenly became chronically ill in 2004.  I fought the change with all my might.  I wanted this new distress to have a name so I could fix it and make it go away.  I spend untold hours and dollars exploring solutions from doctors to healers, vitamins to herbs. All these  remedies, the ones that work for everyone else, only made more worse.

I didn’t look within to consider how I could elegantly adapt to the new circumstances.  I didn’t consider lifestyle factors that might be contributing to the situation, or deeply seated, stale patterns that might be influencing my way of being.  I was stuck in place, running like mad, and suffering more and more.

This was primarily due to fear.  I clung to the belief, “There’s nothing wrong with me beyond the physical issues.”  So naturally, all I had to do was figure it out.  I couldn’t look within because distorted brain messages originating in my childhood made it shameful to do so.  I refused to see the interconnection of body, mind, and spirit.

The Opportunity in Shift Your Perspective

When circumstances change in your life, your are presented with an opportunity to shift your perspective, and possibly transform your life.  Changes, small or big, soft or dramatic, are heaven sent gifts if you are able to see them that way.  Most importantly, they can enhance you spiritual perspective inspiring you to use your time wisely, learn to quiet your mind, open your heart, and reflect on the true purpose of life.

I’m embarrassed to tell you how long I kept fighting!  It was a very long time. But everything shifted when I stopped fighting, and started accepting and flowing.  I could have saved a huge amount of time and energy if I had stepped into the center of change instead of struggling against it.  But, I know better than to indulge in regret.

Question for Reflection:

Is there something you’re fighting against in your life?  Can you imagine seeing it in a different way?  What might it be saying to you?

Spend some time with this reflection over the week and see what emerges for you.  This is part of my occasional series of compelling questions to provide stimulus for positive change.

I’m so glad you are here!  If you liked this article, please consider subscribing for free updates by email.  With love, Sandra

Writing Prompt:  Tammy Strobel  Image:  Public Domain Net

Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and it’s beauty. – Albert Einstein

Discovering true happiness and freedom depends entirely on developing an all-encompassing compassion.

Genuine compassion is said to encompass four qualities:

• Love (sometimes called “loving kindness”)
• Compassion
• Joy
• Equanimity

When these qualities are developed to their fullest, they are known as the Four Immeasurables or Four Boundless Attitudes, meaning that we extend them to all without bias.

As you cultivate these qualities and make them more immeasurable, negative emotions like anger, attachment, jealousy, and partiality will gradually diminish. In their place, you will uncover your kind heart and a more enduring sense of happiness.  At the same time, your relationships with others will come to be characterized by greater warmth, friendliness, and clarity.  Sounds good, don’t you think?

In this new monthly series, I will be writing about one of Four Boundless Attitudes on the first Sunday of every month.  Then, if you wish, you’ll have a whole month to practice it before we move to the next one.

The Intelligence of Impartiality

We’ll begin with impartiality, which is sometimes called equanimity, lack of bias, or impartial equanimity.  Normally, when you speak of the Four Boundless Attitudes, they are listed as love, compassion, joy, and equanimity in that specific order.  However, when you practice them, equanimity comes first.

Why is that?  Without impartiality the other three qualities of love, compassion, and joy will be limited in scope, reserved only for those you hold as your dearest friends and relatives.

Impartiality means feeling the same degree of benevolence towards everyone, regardless of whether they appear to be a friend or enemy.  It means letting go of aggression towards adversaries as well as giving up our obsession with family and friends.

That doesn’t mean impartiality is a bland state devoid of feeling.  Quite the opposite, when you cultivate love, compassion, and joy for all.

The Fleeting Perception of “Friend” and “Enemy”

Impartiality is predicated on the idea that our perception of “friend” and “enemy” is highly changeable.  Take a moment to recall for yourself instances when you’ve become estranged from a good friend or have developed a close-knit relationship with a former enemy.  Divorce is often one of the best examples of love gone sour.  And, it’s not unusual to feel alienated from your children or parents at one or more points in your life.

Thus, the notion of “friend” or “enemy” has no permanent basis whatsoever.  It’s just a fleeting perception that is likely to change as circumstances transform.

Consider this ironic twist:  In Eastern religions, it’s believed that those closest to us have been reborn into our lives due to “karmic debts” we’ve incurred as a result of negative actions in the past.  Ironically, your beloved may have been your worst enemy in a past life.

Regardless of whether this is true or not, you can see the flimsiness of the concept of “friend” and “enemy” by examining your own life.  Think of all the suffering and disappointment you’ve endured by attaching too strongly to the belief in the permanency of “friend” or “enemy”.

“Consider carefully what you mean by friends and enemies.  When you look into it, it is obvious that there are no such things as permanent, enduring friends or enemies.  Those you think of as friends have not always been so.  Indeed, they may well have been your enemies in the past, or they could become your enemies in the future.  There is nothing certain about it.  Why should you be so compulsively attached to particular people?  Are not all your relationships temporary?  In the end, whatever may happen during your life, the time will come for you to die.  Then you will have no choice but to part from everyone, regardless of whether you feel attachment or aversion for them.  But everything you have done in your lifetime, all those actions motivated by attachment and aversion, will have created within you a force that will then propel you to the next life, in which you will experience their result.” – The Heart of Compassion by Dilgo Khyentse

The long-term consequences, you see, of indulging in preferences is not a positive one.  Instead, wouldn’t it be wonderful to feel close to everyone?

In this week’s Big Island Weekly, a story about the Slack Key Guitar Master, George Kahumoku Jr., said he exudes “aloha” in everything he does, and he instantly treats everyone he meets like “ohana”.

“Ohana” means family.  There are many deep meanings to the word “aloha” – beyond hello and goodbye – but simply said it means treating everyone with love, respect, and compassion based on recognition of our interconnectedness.  This is impartiality in action with the flavor of aloha.

Just imagine what the world would be like if, like George Kahumoku Jr.,  we aspired to treat everyone as family or as our closest friends.

Training the Mind In Impartiality

Most of us are riddled with attachment to friends and aversion for enemies.

Just think for a moment what happens when you go to a party.  Do you see everyone equally with the same affection or do you gravitate towards some and avoid others?

What happens when you see someone walking down the street?  Do you immediately form concepts about the way they look that are tinged with either like or dislike?

That’s the case for almost all of us if we don’t actively train our mind in impartiality.

It takes dedicated training to see everyone as equally deserving of your love and compassion. But, when you do, you will begin to interact with everyone in a friendly and respectful way.  And, don’t you notice how people tend to light up when you embrace them with a warm smile?

You can cultivate impartiality by meditating on it everyday for a stretch of time.  Quiet your mind, and then recall people you consider as enemies. Question that designation.  Give them the benefit of the doubt.  At first, practice seeing them in a neutral way without aversion.  Then, gradually see if you can raise the bar, and see them with love and compassion.

There’s no need to stop loving your family or friends.  But remember, attachment only causes suffering as it’s so entangled with hope and fear, expectations and disappointments.  So just practice seeing these close relationships in perspective, and try to loosen the stranglehold of attachment.

There’s no greater time to practice genuine compassion than right now when the world is so filled with turbulence, stress, and distress.  Start by cultivating impartiality, the first of the Four Boundless Attitudes.

Please join me!  Compassion is my 2013 word.  Writing about it helps me stay on track with softening my heart.  I’ll be practicing impartiality this month.  I hope you will join me.

Do you consciously cultivate impartiality?  What do you think about the idea?

P. S. It’s not too late to join the Fire of Love Experience with Satya Colombo, which begins May 7th.

I’m so glad you are here!  If you liked this article, please consider subscribing for free updates by email.  With love, Sandra

Image:  Public Domain

“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.” ― May Sarton

What is authenticity? Can we ever be fully authentic?

I have been contemplating these questions since reading Who Are You? A Primer on Defining What You Stand For.

Authenticity is not necessarily easy because we’ve all been programmed in one way or the other: to please, to get ahead, or even to fail. Thus, even when we strive to be conscious, we may respond habitually to a person or situation. These habitual patterns are deeply embedded in our brain, and, some would say, in our intricate cellular memory.

For example, I sincerely advocate kindness. Am I always kind? No, I confess, I’m not. I’m human, I’m fallible just like you. I would bet very few of us are able to perfectly match our ideals and actions.

Be Relentless in Your Pursuit of Authenticity

Although it’s challenging to be continually authentic, we can get closer if we are committed and relentless in our pursuit of presence and coherence. And, I think it’s very important that we strive to do so. Why? Because living in integrity makes life so much easier for both you and those around you.  Living in integrity will change the world.

It turns out to be just the opposite from what you might imagine.  You might fear rejection if you follow your inner promptings. That could happen, but ironically, it won’t matter as much. Because, the more you are true to yourself, the more you will feel, as the French say, “well in your skin.”  You will feel more at ease, content, complete, and good about yourself. The more you are true to yourself, the more you will want to be true to yourself.

But this is not an egotistical pursuit.  The closer you will get to your true self, the more you will find kindness and compassion.

Let’s be honest though, it takes time to erode away the conditioning, and consistently express what’s true for you. Those who operate on automatic may not even be aware of the disparity, but a certain tension always accompanies them.

Being authentic takes courage. It means:

• Getting quiet and listening to your deepest self.
• Observing your patterns; the ones that obstruct authenticity.
• The willingness to continually practice being true to yourself.
• Being honesty with yourself and others.
• Striving to be congruent in your words and actions.
• Accepting your foibles, and loving yourself anyway.

Authenticity may be a buzzword often used these days in marketing as well as personal development, but that doesn’t make it any less essential.  The commitment to authenticity is one of the most important steps you will ever take towards finding true happiness and freedom.

Becoming Who You Truly Are

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” ― C.G. Jung

Learning to be authentic is a continuing, perhaps even lifelong process. Your true self may only speak in whispers, while your conditioned self screams at top volume. The voice of your authentic self may float quietly at the edge of your consciousness barely perceptible unless you are intent on hearing. Your inner critic may dominate, or your insecure child may throw a tantrum sweeping you into confusion and distress.

You will need to peel away many layers of conditioning to find and express your true self. There will be many times when you stray from the path of authenticity. This is par for the course. What matters is that you recognize the pattern and return to your true self as soon as you can. This will prevent many forms of adversity from taking place.

To find your true self, you must continually follow the thread of your inner voice, skillfully distinguishing between egoistic lures and true wisdom. Ultimately, you will discover there’s no permanent self to be found.  Just a continuing awareness watching the ever-changing display of mind and life.

A Possibility

It always helps to have friends on the path.  If you feel you need support getting connecting with your authentic self, finding your deepesting calling, and expressing it in the world, you might be interested in the Fire of Love Experience created and facilitated by my friend Satya Colombo.  He calls the experience, “an epic voyage of awakening, flow, and rediscovering your soul’s calling. This program is not for everyone, but it might be for you if you would like to find and live your inner truth and have the support of a like-minded community.  If you are curious, please read more.  The program begins May 7th.  Please note this is an affiliate link, but I only want you to explore it if it feels right to you.

What are your thoughts about authenticity?

I’m so glad you are here!  If you liked this article, please consider subscribing for free updates by email.  With love, Sandra

Image:  Michael Gabler

Welcome to my monthly collection of interesting personal development articles from around the web, books, and resources plus a mini-monthly review.

Outstanding Articles and Books

• Understanding Inappropriate Behavior
• Are You On a Path to Nowhere?  How to Gain Clarity and Live Passionately
• 10 Ways to Develop a Mastery Mindset
• Thirty Five
• 12 Key Zen Habits
• What Is Stress and Why You Might Experience It More Than Others
• Think Magic
• The Future of Advertising
• Simply Perfect Food
• Boundaries and Burnout
• Focus, Take Action, and Invent Something New
• You Can Be Busy or Remarkable – Not Both
• You’re Approach to Mistakes Defines Your Success

I haven’t had time to read much this month, but I’ve been revisiting books on food intolerance and food sensitivity to help reduce pain and inflammation.  The right diet does wonders!  Two of my favorites include:

• The Low Oxalate Cookbook
• Dealing with Food Allergies, A Practical Guide to Detecting Culprit Foods and Eating a Healthy, Enjoyable Diet

Great Courses

If you are new to blogging or would like to learn to blog more effectively with simplicity, focus, and integrity, you might like The Goodblog Project.  I highly recommend this 4-week course, which begins May 6th  This is the last time Courtney Carver is offering the course so don’t miss out if you think it might be for you.  You can read all about The Goodblog Project in this article:  A Gentle Approach to Better Blogging.  As a graduate of the course, I’ll be participating too.  Maybe I’ll see you there.

On the very same day, I’m starting Tammy Strobel’s course Writing in the Digital Age.  I can’t wait.  Although I’m a seasoned writer, I look forward to learning all of Tammy’s tips and tricks, and connecting with a community of wordsmiths.

The Heart of April:  Change

Writing a brief monthly review helps me to celebrate my accomplishments and stay focused on what really counts.  Sharing my review may inspire you to be more intentional too.

Placing Sacred Objects in the 4 Directions

In April, my husband and I moved from a 1,800 square foot house to a 450 square foot studio with space (outside) for an orchard. Living in close quarters has gone remarkably well.  Still, one room is a little tight for two, especially when it comes to sound travel.  We plan to expand our living space a bit, but our goal is to live more simply.

Although it’s an intentional and joyful change, however you look at it, moving is stressful.  Here are three practices I employed during the transition to modulate the stress effect.

1. Do less.  Since you are doing more with the move, cut back on other activities in your life.
2. Be compassionate towards yourself.  Tense moments will arise!  When they do, take a moment to express compassion towards yourself.  Use encouraging words, take a step back before the tension mounts, and forgive yourself for any transgressions.
3. Be kind to yourself.  Our days have been full and demanding, but we almost always ended them by taking a relaxing soak at the warm pond.

Flavor of the Month:  Happy Transition

How was your April?  What did you learn this past month? 

I’m so glad you are here!  If you liked this article, please consider subscribing for free updates by email.  With love, Sandra

Honolulu

Dwarfed by the thunderous roar of the elevated freeway, I felt an urge to jump on a return flight. A busy metropolis, Honolulu instantly overwhelmed me with its overcrowded, unending expanse of concrete and construction juxtaposed against an innocent sky, sea, and smattering of proud peaks.  Houses, stacked one just above and behind the other, tightly lined every hillside.  High risers dotted the stuffed lowlands.

“Little Boxes” – The 1963 Pete Seeger hit – played in my head:

“Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same,
There’s a pink one and a green one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they’re all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.”
-Malvina Reynolds

But now, it’s ever more toxic ticky tacky and they don’t all look just the same.  Unlike the Daly City, California sprawl,which inspired “Little Boxes”, many Honolulu homes are large, unique, and upscale.

Trapped in minutely moving traffic, I wondered,  “What did this island look like 100 years ago?”  Coming from the Big Island of Hawai’i, I could easily imagine a tropical green expanse.  Is this human progress or human travesty?

Density is the nature of large cities.  I’ve enjoyed living in San Francisco and have spent long stretches of time on the magical isle of Manhattan.  Why was it bothering me now?  In fact, city living is said to be more ecologically conscious.

Nevertheless, my heart hurt for the the land.

In this moment, Honolulu embodied – in my mind – the danger of short-term thinking, self-interest, greed, and ignorance.  Like the blob from outer space, humans seem intent on possessing every inch of beautiful earth no matter how harmful their impact.

Although Honolulu has it’s unique and charming characteristics too, a frightening panorama of unsustainable living had captured my heart and mind.

Perfect People, Perfect Fruit

After snaking through the city for an interminable length of time, we headed out of Honolulu up around the southern tip of the island catching only fleeting moments of spacious relief before more home-packed valleys and hillsides appeared.  We intended to take refuge at Lanikai Beach, on the windward coast of Oahu.  Consistently rated as one of the top beaches in the world, this white strip of sand, we discovered, runs adjacent to a neighborhood of tightly crammed upper class homes.  Even on the beach, everyone looked so perfect, pretty, and wrinkle-free.

Following our dose of sun, wind, and water, we stopped for lunch at Whole Foods, a gigantic natural foods super market.  A vast array of unblemished fruit and vegetables, gourmet meats and cheese, premier wines, and packaged goods lined an incalculable number of isles, promising to satisfy any culinary proclivity or possible taste desire.  Given my mood, the sheer abundance struck me as gluttonous.

Our return route took us through a tunnel conveniently carved through a small mountain, theoretically making access to Honolulu quick and easy.  But, the horrendous amount of traffic limited movement once again to a snail’s pace as we traveled past more rows of “little boxes”.  Ironically, the lion’s share of my time in paradise was spent in traffic.

What is Sustainability?

I didn’t have a chance to travel around the whole island of Oahu, and can only wonder if there is any green, open space to be found.  This visit to the big city shook me up, making me question whether the world is on a sustainable path.

What is sustainability?  Simply said, it’s not consuming more than our total resources can provide.  It means not just taking into account one’s own needs, but the needs of the world, and the needs of the future.   It’s logical, common sense.  Yet our everyday desires and actions seem to constantly override the need for sustainable living, threatening our very survival.

Sustainable development requires that we see the world as a system in which our actions impact one another, near and far, through space and time.

“Modern science speaks to us of an extraordinary range of interrelations. Ecologists know that a tree burning in the Amazon rain forest alters in some way the air breathed by a citizen of Paris, and that the trembling of a butterfly’s wing in Yucantán affects the life of a fern in the Hebrides.” – The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Our Actions Have An Impact

A spiritual person doesn’t think of their own benefit alone or go for immediate gratification.  They have a vast vision for the world at large.  They think beyond this life alone, considering the impact of their thoughts, words, and actions in every sphere, and on people everywhere.

Taking responsibility for our actions lies at the core of spirituality as well as the ecology of the planet.

Sometimes I wonder if we can ever repay our sins against the earth, the sky, and the seas.  But, even if the whole world is unconscious, isn’t it our personal responsibility to do our best and act with integrity?

The organizers of Earth Day 2013 tells us:

“The environment faces a multitude of challenges today. From climate change to species extinction, our planet and its inhabitants are continually facing man-made threats that must be averted. Lend your voice to a campaign, and help us work toward a sustainable future.”

Here are some steps you can take if you too are concerned about the future of this planet:

• Take part in Earth Day – today, April 22 – and gradually integrate sustainable actions into your everyday life.
• Learn how to reduce your plastic consumption.
• Experiment with these 11 ways to reduce your oil consumption.
• Stay tuned in and keep learning how to live in a greener way.
• Read about the environmental challenges we face, and how to respond to them with mindfulness and awareness

You don’t have to be a perfect environmentalist.  Just start with one step.  Then take the next.  Let’s see how far we can go together.

What are your thoughts about Earth Day?  Are you taking any special steps toward a more sustainable future?

I’m so glad you’re here!  If you liked this article, please consider subscribing for free updates by email.  With love, Sandra

Ahanalui Warm Pond, Hawai’i

When busy stops it can be a shock.  It takes time to acclimate to quiet time off.  At first, you might find yourself looking for something to do.  In fact, in the face of free time, there’s the temptation to shift the focus, but still keep doing too much.

My recent week off from work coincided with a busy time in my personal life. We began moving to a new home.  At the same time, we were preparing to plant a small orchard. Nevertheless, I was determined to capture periods of quiet time, and to take at least one full day of much needed rest.

Downtime is one of the best ways to reset your nervous system, defuse stress, and give your health a boost.  But these days, we almost need a primer to relearn how to stop.  Here are some of the quiet indulgences I enjoyed intermixed with more ideas I’ll be trying out in the coming weeks.  Maybe these tips will help you master the art of tranquility too.

10 Ways to Enjoy Your Quiet Time Off

1.  Do you need sleep?  When there’s nothing to do, you might suddenly discover how tired you actually are.  You deserve to sleep late and take a limitless number of cat naps. I slept till noon one day and didn’t think twice.

2.  Practice the art of doing nothing.  Sit still and bring your senses alive.  Listen to the wind as it sifts through the trees, perk up at the taste sensations of your next meal, feel the sun penetrate your skin, bask in the sensual life.

3.  Go slowly.  Whatever you do, slow it down to half-pace.  Dare to feel what it might be like to live at a reduced velocity.

4.  Sit still after meals. Instead of routinely popping a pill for indigestion or heartburn, try allowing ample time for digestion.  Sit quietly for 10-30 minutes after a meal.  Can you stop yourself from jumping right up?

5. Practice mindfulness.  There’s no better time to practice mindfulness than when confronted with wide-open space.  Observe what tugs at your sleeve. Be aware of the habits of your mind, words, and deeds now exposed ever so nakedly.

6. Putter.  You don’t have to do nothing at all.  You could learn to putter instead.

7.  Soak in the healing qualities of water.  I luxuriated in a lava-heated, mineral-rich pond almost every day for up to an hour at a time.  You can create a similar experience with an Epsom Salt bath.

8.  Casually pull weeds.  Don’t fret over your begonias, plan your next vegetable patch, or attack your weeds ferociously.  Just enjoy the simplicity of pulling weeds while keeping your mind free of excess thought.

9.  Pause for afternoon tea.  Experiment with a daily tea ritual, which creates space for an infusion of slowness into any overly busy day.

10.  Test your capacity for silence.  How long can you go without talking?  Is it 5 minutes or 50?  A day or a whole weekend?

When you attempt to be quiet, emotions may arise like loneliness or fear.  And, restless may manifest at the bodily level.   Simply be aware of whatever arises in the continuum of your mind or in the physical realm.  Let it pass by like a cloud in open space.  Despite the strength of its allure, in essence its impermanent and can never last.  Have the courage to remain like a mountain while all else speeds past.

Our bodies and brains need the restorative effect of quiet time off.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could take a week or more off?  But don’t worry if you can’t.  You can also benefit from an hour, a day, or a weekend of quiet time – whatever you can pull off.

When’s the last time you had quiet space in your life?  Do you integrate quiet regularly or does it scare the heebie-jeebies out of you?

News:  Need help starting a blog or learning to blog more effectively?  The last season of The Goodblog Project with Courtney Carver begins on May 6th.  I recommend this course highly.  You learn what really counts when it comes to successful blogging.

I’m so glad you’re here!  If you liked this article, please consider subscribing for free updates by email.  With love, Sandra

Image:  © S. Pawula

In these chaotic modern times, most people live in their head rather than their heart.  Busyness, independence, accomplishment, success, and even a focus on self-improvement often take priority over people, and a direct experience of the world around us.

But, in reality, living in your head may unconsciously be chosen because it protects you from dreaded feelings of vulnerability and fear. What if your Achilles heel was exposed or even the real you?  You might be subject to rejection or even failure.

Inhabiting your head is also a habitual way of being you probably learned as a child from parents who also live in their head.  Unless you break the cycle, there’s a danger you will pass on this life-dampening habit to your children as well.

You might believe you can “figure it all out”.  And, once you do, you’ll have it right and live a happily ever-after life. But, is that really the case?  Isn’t life a constantly unfolding mystery with unexpected twists and turns inviting you to be present to each rich and never to be repeated moment in time?

Take a Chance and Drop Into Your Heart

Take a chance and drop into your heart. See what it’s like!  You’ll probably see life in a far more vivid and nourishing way.  Being heart-based doesn’t mean being mushy, sentimental or blinded by love.  You will actually find true intelligence there.

When you drop into your heart, you can discover:

• Openness
• Receptivity
• Clarity – options and solutions arise spontaneously on their own
• Relief from the endless mental chatter
• Greater stillness
• A grounded feeling of ease
• Deeper empathy
• A simplicity and spaciousness of mind
• A sense of balance between the world of matter and the life of the spirit
• A desire to connect with the intention of harmony and peace
• Boundless joy, love, and a wellspring of compassion
• A stream of nourishment for yourself and others

Shift Your Focus from Your Head to Your Heart

How do you drop into your heart?

It’s easy.  Just shift your focus from your head to the physical center of your heart.  Rest your attention on your heart area and see what you discover there.  Try to see, hear, and feel from your heart. When thoughts and emotions pull you away, just bring your energy smack-dab back to your heart.

It’s a practice and it will take time.  You’ll find yourself distracted at least a hundred thousand times.  Just keep returning to the sense of presence in your heart.

Won’t the scars of pain be exposed at the same time?  Yes, they probably will.  Gently lean into the pain and fear.  By simply being present they will dissolve on their own.  Have the courage to stay with it, and you will heal your deepest wounds.

It so revitalizing to let the mind melt away, and instead be present from the heart!  Give it a try and see what you think.

Where do you roam?  In your head or your heart?  I would love to hear your thoughts.

I’m so glad you’re here!  If you liked this article, please consider subscribing for free updates by email.  With love, Sandra

Photo:  Raghith