Love Letter to Earth

You are beautiful.

You are the air that I breathe
You are always there for me
I have been unaware of how I affect you.

You breathe the dreams of all life.

You are the ground beneath my feet
You have supported me through thick and thin
I have taken for granted your nourishment.

We are connected on the deepest level whether I choose to acknowledge it or not.

You are the water that I drink
You have never given up on me
I will be aware the little things you do, because if you stop, I will die.

You are my everything.

I am deeply sorry for what has happened in the past, so I will do what I can to learn and change what happens now. I hope it's not too late for you to heal. Most of all, I hope I can speak for all humanity.

Love,
Me

Thank you for reading.
Thanks to Blog Action Day for this opportunity to be a part of a worthwhile movement.
For more inspiration, watch Home: http://www.home-2009.com/.
Join me and many others on October 24, 2009 for 350's International Day of Climate Action.
Image of Earth: NASA/courtesy of nasaimages.org

Fire

I have tried to imagine what it would be like if I lost all of my belongings in a fire. I remember a time when I thought I would be devastated; however, recently I’ve thought that it wouldn’t be that bad, if not even positively freeing. I think a big part of change has to do with the fact that I’ve worked on not being attached to things in general, and also because I have been realizing my own, personal value that is not measured by my possessions, if any are even a reflection of my taste.

While on vacation in Bermuda earlier this month, a thought suddenly occurred to me: “what if my place is on fire?” Seeing as how there was no rational reason for this concern, nor was there anything I could do from the ocean, somewhere near the Bermuda Triangle, I let the thought pass.

The day I returned home (Sunday), I went to borrow my landlord’s lawnmower that is kept in my neighbor’s backyard shed. So that I wouldn’t alarm the tenants who were home, I spoke to them directly to let them know I what I was up to. Well, the people I met who I thought were just friends of my neighbors were actually new tenants. Anyway, we got to talking, and they explained to me that while I was away, the smoke alarms in my half of the house went off. Fortunately, my back door was unlocked so when they called the landlord, he gave them permission to go in my place and turn them off. (I don’t mind, especially since the cats were probably losing their minds!) I couldn’t help but wonder if that occurred around the same time the thought entered my head. I offered in conversation that perhaps smoke entered through open windows to set off the alarms, since there was no source in the house to set them off.

The next day, at group (Monday), the topic was attachment, and since the idea was fresh in my head, I shared how I measured my level of attachment to my things by imagining I lost everything in a fire.

Thinking that was all to the possible coincidence, the rest of the week proceeded normally.

The following Sunday evening, Brian and I dropped some stuff off at our new apartment. I returned home as dusk was turning to night, and I smelled smoke as I approached the house. I wondered where it was coming from, and was worried enough that when I opened the door in the grayish darkness before turning on a light, I thought I saw smoke filling the room. Fortunately, that thought disappeared as soon as I turned on a light and I realized that the milky darkness was playing a trick on my eyes. Walking to the back of my house, I discovered that the source of the smoke was a little backyard firepit my neighbors’ were using. Hmm…. I wonder if they used it while I was away, and that’s what triggered the alarms? Case closed.

The very next day (Monday), I finished reading the second book in the Inheritance fantasy trilogy (Eldest by Joseph Paolini), which I began on vacation. In anticipation of reading the next and final book in the series, I looked it up in the library’s online catalog. The next book is titled Brisingr… elven for “Fire”.

Walking Meditation is Awesome

I would like to report that I very much enjoyed last night’s meditation session at the Philadelphia Meditation Center in Havertown. It was the first time I did walking meditation and I had absolutely NO IDEA how it was to be done (does everyone walk around in a circle?); however, the logistics became clear rather quickly – not to mention that it felt incredibly natural. I would love to do it outside.

We also found out that Barry Kerzin, MD, a Buddhist monk, is presenting a talk tonight on “Dependent Origination” at 7pm (check out the link to his bio). I guess I can see Star Trek another night. :)

Dear Self:

I will no longer allow you to make excuses for not being physically active. Yes, you did a great job last summer to get into and stay in shape. And yes, it’s ok that you took something of a break over the winter, but the body has gained weight as a result of inactivity; and the longer you wait to do something about it, the more difficult it will be to return to the pre-winter condition.

Remember the times when you were committed to doing something active every single day? Remember that you actually enjoyed it because you were in shape, and it wasn’t a chore? Let’s get there again. Instead of choosing to relax by vegging in front of the TV, let’s explore that bike path for a half hour or so (yes, you have enough time). Let’s do some yoga (Can’t think where? How about the front porch?) Schedule some weekly tennis. Throw the Frisbee around on the weekend. Pack a bag for the car so you can go to the gym after work when weather thwarts outdoor plans. All at no extra cost. :) Don’t be overwhelmed; take one day at a time; and remember that something is better than nothing.

Avoid the traps.

• not enough time (in the time it takes to convince yourself and decide that there isn’t enough time, you could already be outside jogging around the block)
• nothing to wear (you can wear anything that is comfortable enough)
• hesitation… just do it
• negativity: “don’t feel like it”; “don’t want to”; “I’d rather do something else” (you will always feel better afterwards; but be smart – don’t overexert, and be mindful of ability. If you’re sick or too tired, you risk injury, so don’t be foolish)

Motivation.
There will likely come a time when you won’t physically be able to be active – enjoy it while you can.
Being active will support the many other areas of overall well-being: sleep quality, mental acuity, emotional steadiness, and indirectly, even spirituality.
Doing is one way of being...

• Be generous – activity is required maintenance for the body – take care of it
• Be appreciative of nature – get out there and enjoy it
• Be alive – experience is the stuff of life, from sunshine to sore muscles

Most importantly, always remember that I am here for you. I understand you better than anyone else, and I know where your weaknesses lie. But I also know what your strengths are, and I will help you leverage those to overcome the obstacles. And although I’m more than 100% confident that we can do this, I am also not afraid to get help if it turns out to be needed. Any questions?

Generosity

The most recent topic for the Power of Now Group meeting was “What is your theme for 2009?”

My theme for 2009 is Generosity. This theme incorporates multiple aspects that I’d like to focus attention on while accessing an underlying quality that has been suppressed. As a child, I was generous. Until my parents caught on, I would often give away my toys when I saw how happy they made someone. So, in a sense, I am reclaiming that genuine aspect of myself – one that was truly mine as an innocent child.

So what does generosity equate to, in my life?

Generous to myself

• My body, through fitness, nutrition, general health
• My spirit, through spiritual practice and growth, and connection to others
• My mind, through learning and playing

Generous to others

• Acceptance through patience, understanding, and compassion
• Giving time, attention, and care through being helpful and considerate during any interactions
• Creative expressions of gratitude (for example, submitting positive comment cards with an employee’s name – it may help someone get a raise!)

Generous with money

• Recognize where there is value to me
• Practice “smart generosity” – "feed" areas I want to grow

How do I see a year of generosity changing my life?

I will experience more joy. Generosity feels good as it recognizes, fosters, and celebrates the connection we have with others.

It will be easier to recognize that what I receive may be an opportunity for another to practice generosity. That will help me gladly accept favors and gifts from others without a feeling of obligation.

I will no longer see myself as someone who is struggling to get on with life after a divorce, but someone who has an enormous potential to assist humanity’s evolution toward enlightenment.

If I live with a generous heart, I am giving the universe what I would be happy to receive.