Waking Up and Caring for All

Reflections of an elder caring for Earth, society and body-mind

Waking Up

You are an integral, conscious manifestation of the cosmos, the Milky Way galaxy, the solar system, and planet Earth. You are family. You are home. You are meant to be here. And, you are a perfect manifestation. Enjoy manifesting your innate compassion and understanding moment by moment.

Remember that in all of history you are the world-expert in being, realizing, and giving yourself on behalf of all that is, was, and ever shall be.

Infinitely grateful to live in a Goldilocks zone, the habitable zone around a star where the temperature is just right - not too hot and not too cold - for liquid water to exist on a planet which is essential for life as we know it. (photo above of my mountain-forest-sky neighborhood)

We humans did not create the universe, or the Earth, but we have created human society over and over and over. And we can recreate it at anytime we so decide. Is it not time to do so once more?

Everyone is so busy, but where are we headed so fast? Everyone has so much stuff, but what is it all for anyway? Stop. Slow down. Breathe. Wake up. Observe. Feel. Reflect. Tell a story. Let go. Smile. Repeat.

Are you looking at a screen right now? Don’t do it. Are you still looking? Look away. Look at someone, something, anything other than this screen. Look at something alive, look at someone you love, look at something interesting. Just look away. Enjoy. It’s free.

Kindness gives rise to happiness which produces kindness which generates happiness, and so it goes and goes. Or does happiness begin it all? Or are they not one and the same?

Caring for All

I stand with women. I stand with the poor. I stand with the persecuted. I stand with the unheard. I stand with the air, the soil, and the water. I stand with the voiceless. I stand with the weak. I stand with the elderly. I stand with the children. I stand with the plants and the animals. I stand with all who suffer including myself. May my voice, words and actions care for, strengthen, encourage, empower and help release our gifts to the world.

Unbridled capitalism destroys democracy, natural ecosystems, cultural and religious values, individual self sufficiency, public education and health and family cohesion. We can create an economy that cares for democracy, ecosystems, values, self sufficiency, public education, public health and all families.

It has been said that having a black president in the US motivated racists to try to reverse racial equality and justice. In the same way, having a oligarchic-fascist president and administration is giving tremendous energy to the forces of participatory democracy and social justice.

These days we must take special care of ourselves and tens of millions of people who are suffering from political stress syndrome (PSS). Daily we are being bombarded with lies, cruelty, confusion, double-talk, immorality, greed, egomania, and danger. We must not let it make us sick physically or mentally. We must continue to be grateful for our lives and to be inspired activists promoting sustainability and justice. Onward!

I was once told by a wise person that I would live a very long time. I told her that I only want to live if I can be of use to others - to family, community, nation, world, and planet. The wise person said that when I can no longer be useful, then I will leave. Therefore, can I be of use for a very long time? I don’t know. In case I can, I am working to strengthen my body-mind. In less than three months, I will be eighty-two. I am meditating and walking daily. I am holding my weight steady. I am eating a healthy diet. I am trying to sleep eight hours each night. I am continuing to read and to write books and messages on social media, and to speak online. I am a volunteer in a local action network. I am staying in close touch with family, friends, and colleagues.

There is so much suffering in this world. Can I along with others help relieve even a little of it through my words and deeds? Can I along with many others help catalyze a compassionate, ecological local community and planetary civilization? I don’t know. Nevertheless, onward I go in mystery, love, and gratitude. Shall we go together, dear friend?