Change of heart

Hello and Namaste!

I was going to write this week about the evils of Propylene Glycol,Sodium Laural Sulfate and the fiasco that is Susan G. Komen and their ridiculous partnership with KFC. But after a recent trip to Wisconsin, and watching Avatar tonight with a good friend, made me change directions.

As I was driving home today, I was thinking about my weekend with friends, and how we all, eventually, come full circle in life. I was at peace thinking how awesome it is that we were embarking on a new life of organic, and natural living. That we were again connecting with the earth and all she had to offer. And that we were are getting healthier and leaving things like toxic cleaners, chemicals and fast food behind. I was pondering how life must have been 1500 years ago. When you fed yourself and your family off of the land and respected life for what it was. No one cared what your credit score was or what level you were in Farmville or Mafia Wars. Or if you had the newest flat screen television or the biggest truck on the block. How you never had to worry about paying taxes, or keeping up on your insurance payments. Or even fretting about the fact that you might not have the latest Coach purse or were wearing the hottest designer jeans.

I know that some of you will be thinking, yea, but Ed, 1500 years ago, you didn't have the safety and security we have now. We didn't have air conditioners, cars, cell phones, ipods and all those other things that make life so easy and comfortable. How did we ever survive?? Wasn't it miserable back then? Well, we managed not only to survive, but to get to a place where most of us no longer feel comfortable and wish to take a step back and live simple again. We have seen what fast has to offer, and it isn't all it is cracked up to be. It costs more than it is worth sometimes. Or dare I say, most of the time. Big corporations do not have your best interest in mind, no matter what the commercials say!

When was the last time you took the time to admire the beauty of a trillium? To crush the leaves of a mint plant between you fingers and smell the beauty that it is, or had the pleasure of blowing the seeds from a milk thistle across a meadow on a late summer afternoon and wonder where they would land. Or how about the last time you stepped outside in bare feet and felt the chill of the morning dew as it kissed the last wisps of sleep from you mind. Do any of you who wake up in the morning listening to the birds singing, know what birds they are?? I would venture to guess not, and I would venture to say that it has been way too long since most of us has experienced nature.

What is on my mind tonight is the fact that we are at a pinnacle in society as we know it. We have to make a choice. We have to make a conscious effort to do what is right for our kids and for generations to come. We are at the point were disposable living, no longer makes sense. Where teaching others about sustainable living is in our best interest. Where taking the time to grow a garden or stop and help a neighbor in need, should be in itself, reward enough for the day.

Where does the movie Avatar come into this? Well, without giving anything away to those that have not watched it yet, I will just say that their entire planet is connected and that the survival of one species depends on all of the rest. Doesn't that sound a lot like the planet that we currently reside on? Isn't our future dependent upon the soil and water that give life to the plants that feed us and the other animals living on this globe we claim as ours? Think about it. Without clean soil, water and air, things on this earth would not survive. We are all connected with the environment around us. And yes, I do realize the the sun is the driving force that fuels it all, but we do not, directly have control over that. Which is a good thing, I am sure some mighty (for toxic oh err um I mean ahh for profit) corporation would find a way to screw that up if they could just only find a way to make money from it! But, that isn't where I am going with this.

I guess what I want to say is simply this, that we all need to take the time to think about the actions we take everyday, and what the consequences of those actions may be. For instance, where, does your garbage go? Why can't you use that one more time before you throw it away? Can you fix it, instead of going out and buying a new one? How about this one simple act. Instead of buying small bottles of water, get a water bottle and take it with you and fill it up as you go. Most bottled water is tap water anyway. Can you imagine what you would save every year by not spending that two to three dollars a day buying bottled water?(Lets see, 3 times 365 is $1,095.00 and we all know we spend more than that on crap ever day), Not to mention what your not throwing away every day by buying disposable.

Never mind the fact that soda, regular or diet, is toxic to your liver and kidneys?? But of course the advertisements won't tell you that. You can't really believe that they care about your health?? If they did, they wouldn't use things like High Fructose Corn Syrup and Aspartame.

I am not trying to be a preacher an Imam or Da'ee. I am just simply trying to say, that it isn't a bad thing to respect and honor what we have and what will ultimately come to pass. To realize that we are all connected and that our actions leave a lasting impact. That a little bit of sacrifice and a small amount of good deeds, will not only go unpunished, but will benefit us all. I am glad that I have had the opportunity to experience the frosty mornings when I can see my breathe, or the heat filled afternoons that have made me sweat and long for shade and a cool drink. Or for the warmth of a friendly camp fire that greets myself and friends at the end of the day. And admiring all that mother nature had to offer for us that day. And I hope you don't forget where you came from and what is most important. Most of all, I hope you want the same for your future sons and daughters. After all, self destruction, is not the next chapter in history, it is the sad ending of fools.

Enjoy a good glass of wine, turn off the tv, and get outside once in a while.

Ed and Amy.