Celebrating a Year of Care and Gratitude

Grateful for these activities during my eightieth year, 31 July 2023 - 31 July 2024, caring for world, country, community, friends, family, and body-mind.

Opening Context

Below are a few actions of my eightieth year. I hope that you may find them interesting and useful. Perhaps they will inspire you to share your own actions and reflections.

Caring for world, country, and community

Wrote and published twenty-six Compassionate Conversations on Substack, shared a guest post by my former UNDP colleague Dr. Shabbir Cheema, and turned on the paid subscription option. My chapter on “Compassionate Policies to Relieve Systemic Suffering” was published in the book Applied Spirituality and Sustainable Development edited by Dr. Naresh Singh and Divya Bhatnagar of Jindal Global University in India. The Ukrainian language edition of my book A Compassionate Civilization was published, and Svitlana Salamatova, president of Geopolitical Alliance of Women of Ukraine, came to Black Mountain, NC, with husband and daughter, to give me a copy. The Nepali language edition of A Compassionate Civilization was given to participants of ICA Nepal workshops. My book recommendation was published in the new edition of ICA Canada’s The Art of Focused Conversations edited by Jo Nelson and Brian Stanfield. Wrote on social media almost daily. My five books (a manifesto/handbook, poems, essays, speeches, and autobiography) were available online and in local bookstores.

At the invitation of Vice Dean Dr. Jami Fullerton, spoke on Zoom to Master's degree students at the OSU School of Global Studies concerning lessons from my fifty-five-year international development career. Created a video dialogue for the UN International Day of Tolerance with Dr. Ameena Zia director of Blue Ridge Consulting. Created a video for Ricardo Neves coordinator of Lifelong and Catalyst 2030 on redefining retirement to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gave a video talk, as did Janet Sanders, to the SDG graduates of the Kalpa Academy in Kathmandu, Nepal. Invited by Fayyaz Baquir to give a keynote in a Pakistani SDG online training workshop. My previous twenty-one videos were available online.

Recorded three podcasts with Mary Alice Arre director of Global Heart 2 Heart radio and website including reading eight of my poems from my book Earthling Love, along with two interviews on my book A Compassionate Civilization. Recorded podcast on local activism for The Mindful Marketplace radio show with host Joel Skene. Received advice from Favour Adeola, OSU communications grad student from Nigeria, on how to improve the marketing of my books, videos, and podcasts. My thirteen previous podcasts were online.

Attended local Democratic party cluster and precinct meetings to get out the vote (GOTV) for national and local elections in 2024. Met with the Buncombe County Commission chairman Brownie Newman, vice chair Terri Wells, and the coordinator of water and land regarding multisector and citizen engagement in implementing the county 2043 comprehensive plan. Met with local facilitators Kathleen Osta and Michelle Smith and discussed with local facilitator Diana McCall regarding citizen and multisector participation in implementing the county 2043 plan. Participated in a Ukrainian peace demonstration in downtown Asheville, NC.

Caring for friends, family, and body-mind

Had phone conversations with friends Dr. Nikhil Chandavarkar in Brazil, Dr. Cosmos Gitta in NY, Bruce Williams in Chicago, Jan Sanders and Blase Sands in Omaha, and Dr. Humphrey Nyapuodi in California. Drs. Larry Ward and Peggy Rowe-Ward moved to Asheville from Oklahoma. Myo Myint, wife Aye, her mother Khin, and three friends visited from NY to wish happy birthday. Bruce Williams visited from Chicago to attend birthday party. Blase Sands and Jan Sanders visited from Omaha, and attended birthday party. Local friends Jeni Bee, her daughter and ballet dancer Viviana, Courtney Bruch, Mary Alice Arre, and Diana McCall attended birthday party. Celebrated the completed life of dear friend Rev. Dr. Kang Byoung Hoon in Seoul, Korea.

Enjoyed a multitude of precious moments with my wife Bonnie Myotai Treace. Had celebrative meals with Bonnie, son Christopher, daughter-in-law Jennifer, grandchildren Phoenix and Mariela, Jennifer’s mother, Kathy, and sister-in-law Lisa Lindberg. Contemplated the anniversary of younger brother Duncan’s passing. Visited the Biltmore Estate for a long conversation with Lisa. Heard grandson Phoenix’s band play at the Franklin School of Innovation (FSI); he later interviewed me on my career for his journalism class; he also began driving a car for the first time, and got his own car. Attended chorus and orchestra concert at FSI to hear granddaughter Mariela and grandson Phoenix. Son Benjamin visited from NY and attended birthday party; we also celebrated fifty years of being father and son. Three parties were held for my eightieth birthday (photos are above). Made a trip to Raleigh, NC, with Bonnie and Christopher for Bonnie’s consultation at Duke Medical Center.

Engaged in daily meditation, journaling, and walking in our neighborhood-mountain-forest. Participated in helpful meditations led by Dr. Peggy Rowe-Ward and listened to inspiring dharma talks by Dr. Larry Ward, both founders of the Lotus Institute. Cared for atrial fibrillation by limiting sugar, getting rest, and taking medication. Got laser capsulotomy to improve vision. Had hearing aids recalibrated.

Closing Reflections

I am so grateful for this year of action, connection, and celebration. It is not easy to know how you are impacting others when you are sharing your writing and speaking. You must trust that others are being touched in positive ways, and let go of the desire for direct evidence of results. I am grateful to those individuals and groups who invite me to collaborate with them in sharing my messages around the world in writing, videos, Zoom, and podcasts. I am grateful for sister and fellow activists who are helping get out the vote (GOTV) nationally and locally and are caring for neighbors nearby and far flung.

I am grateful for maintaining contact with friends from my days with OSU, ICA, UNDP, NYU Wagner, and Social Artistry School, and new friends locally and online. I am grateful for being connected with loving family members. I am grateful for the people and institutions that help care for my body-mind.

I am grateful for experiences of loving and being loved as a continuation of an evolving cosmos, a living planet, reflective self consciousness, human sociality, and technological and biological transformations.

Ours is indeed a time of individual, social, and ecological suffering. Please take good care of yourself and others with mindfulness and compassion.

May all beings everywhere, including you and me, realize peace, happiness, understanding, and compassionate action!