View from the mountain

I've been in the woods too long. I can no longer tell if I see things differently or if other people, in more urban areas, also look around and wonder if business, the media, the politicians have had a serious disconnect from - um - reality.

I mean, how can I save money if I buy something I don't need in the first place - at a discounted price? How can a news reporter presume to predict the news rather than report it? Why does a politician think we want to vote against the other guy... again... rather than vote for them for their own abilities and virtues?

Sigh.

That said, you have an idea of my mind set.

So as the weather changes to match the season, from winter chill to the budding warmth of spring, I find myself once again looking out at a world I see full of the hope and promise of warmth and sunshine and growth. And I yearn to make this primal awakening also an awakening of people and governments to the possibility of positive change. Coming, as we do, from the darkness of winter and fear for the future and our safety and survival it is no wonder we are timid.

Time to stretch and shake off the weight of winter and shackles of fear and embrace the changes that bring us to the future. I try every day to learn or do or work toward something new. A new experience, a new level of health, a new action that will help create the bright future I want for my grandchildren. And it is made ever easier by the multitudes of people around the world that are working toward the same bright time to come.

"This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

To Experience: Eat a new food, read a new book, meet a new person, learn anything new.
To Health: Take a walk, learn to dance (do Yoga, Tai Chi, a sport), eat better, eat less.
To Action: Volunteer, donate, plant a tree, read to a child, change to energy saving appliances.
And working to lessen our personal impact on the planet and enhance our impact on the people around us.

What we do as individuals grows to affect the larger community. And our small steps encourage us to make larger ones. I see it as time to break free from the dictates of big business that presumes to tell us what we want to own and wear and do. Time to educate ourselves independently of the media that restricts us to their small perspective of the world around us. And time to remind those in government that we are the ones paying their salary and that the money they spend came from us and we should have a real say in what it is used for.

But, back on the personal level:
My favorites: Any experience. Tai Chi, Bicycling, Gardening. Volunteering, creative re-using, learning life skills for sustainability.
Resources for information and inspiration: Heifer International, WE, Home Power magazine, and many, many, more. I'll add more over time and hope you will too.

What are your favorites? And sources/websites with tools to help?