The Beautiful Marshmallow

When I tally up my assets, money is never at the top of my list. My asset list includes my health, relationships, experiences, and of course the magnificently inspirational animals I’ve had the good fortune to share my life with.

Back in March, my husband rescued a bunny from the UCLA campus. She was a precious little white fluffy cotton ball. We can only guess that some idiot abandoned her on campus because she was found frightened, alone, and under a bush surrounded by a big pile of rabbit pellets. When he brought her home, we immediately fell in love. Any plans to adopt her out quickly went by the wayside.

I’ve had lots of dogs and cats over the years but never a bunny. What an adventure she was! We named her Marshmallow. She hopped around and would playfully terrorize the cats. Speed the turtle welcomed her as well. They loved her and she loved them. Everyone got along perfectly.

There was so much to learn about her. What kinds of foods a bunny eats, how delicate they are, and how they like to play were just a few of the wonderful things we learned about the wonderful world of rabbits.

Six weeks into our rabbit adventure, our beloved bunny suddenly passed away. One evening her appetite diminished and we immediately took her to the vet. The vet who we normally saw was unavailable so we ended up seeing a vet who wasn’t really a bunny expert even though he claimed to be. Unfortunately she was horribly diagnosed. A necropsy later showed she died of complications of pneumonia. We were with her as she took her final breaths and her little tiny soul ascended into heaven to take her place with the angels.

Every time an animal companion passes away, a huge hole is left in my heart. Sometimes the pain is so intense that I don’t’ know if I will ever feel whole again. But time is the best medicine. Time has a way of healing us even if we never completely heal; time makes it a little easier to deal with your loss.

The past few weeks have felt empty to me. Our little Marshmallow is now our spirit bunny. I miss seeing her beautiful white fur and luminous pink eyes. I miss petting her soft fur and the way she tickled my toes. I know she is still with us in spirit but I miss her physical presence.

It’s been hard to do much the last couple of weeks including blogging on this site. Sometimes you just have to take a break and heal and not put pressure on yourself to do all those things you think you should be doing. Sometimes you just need to mourn and reflect.

When her ashes were returned to us, the Rainbow Bridge poem was included. I love this poem. I’m sure you have read it before but I think it’s worth sharing again. It’s good to be reminded that we will one day be reunited with all those animals who have made our lives so fabulously wealthy.

The Rainbow Bridge

There is a bridge connecting heaven and earth; it is called the rainbow bridge, because of its many colors. Just this side of the rainbow bridge, there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.

When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water, and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other. There is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on earth.

So each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up. The nose twitches, the ears are up, the eyes are staring. Then this one suddenly runs from the group.

You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and again, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated………….

The Place I Call Home

After a rainy and unseasonably cool winter, springtime is finally in the air in Southern California. This time of year makes me want to clean, toss out the unnecessary, and create as lovely of a home environment as I possibly can for my husband and me and our small petting zoo!

Our homes are sacred places. They serve as a haven from a busy chaotic world and it’s up to us to make them as inviting as possible. Investing in our home pays off big time. We don’t have to spend money to do this. Time, energy, and creativity will do just fine.

I believe that our homes should make us feel peaceful and serene. They should serve as a place that allows us to rejuvenate and enjoy ourselves. Below are some simple and practical things that I’m doing to maximize the healing potential of my home.

Creating space:

I’m on a mission to create as much space as possible. Having empty spaces in our homes is easy on the eyes and it leaves room for possibilities. Not the possibility of buying more useless junk but the possibility of creating something new. I feel more creative when I have space around me and my mind is more open and compassionate.

Is it easy to maneuver around in your home? Allow energy to flow smoothly throughout your living spaces by making sure you can comfortable walk throughout your home without bumping into furniture or other random objects. Keeping the centers of your rooms as empty as possible is a great way to accomplish this type of fluidity.

Getting rid of toxic household cleansers:

The average household has way too many toxic cleansers exposing us to harmful fumes and God knows what else! There’s enough pollution in the city where I live without having to create more of it in my home.

I recently purchased a simple non-toxic liquid cleanser. It works for the kitchen, bathroom, and any other miscellaneous cleaning needs that pop up. A simple window cleaner does the trick for my glass surfaces and mirrors. I’m also finding that baking soda and vinegar can be very effective as well and I plan to experiment more with these types of simple ingredients.

I still have a few cleansers in my house that I’m not thrilled about such as a mildew cleanser but I’m working on getting rid of them. My goal is to have all my cleansers of the non-toxic variety.

Spring Cleaning:

Spring is the perfect time to do some deep cleaning. Cleaning doesn’t cost you anything but time and the payoff is enormous. We feel better when our homes are clean. Our homes look better, smell better and feel better.

How long has it been since you’ve cleaned your oven or the inside of your refrigerator? Wash your cabinets. Take out all your dishes and food so you can make everything spic n span. While you’re at it throw out any expired food or dishes that are chipped.

Consider cleaning the vents in your home and dusting those hard to reach places such as overhead light fixtures. Dust your pictures and bookshelves. The list of things to clean is endless!

Incorporate nature in your surroundings:

Instead of a bunch of knickknacks that take up space and require dusting, why not adorn your home with something from nature? Plants, fresh cut flowers, rocks, and shells bring a little bit of the outdoors inside.

Don’t forget natural lighting. This is the best nature has to offer. Open up your window coverings and let as much natural light in as possible. Natural light lifts our spirits and keeps us from getting depressed.

Create your own home sanctuary:

A space to call our own is important especially if we live with other people. This space can be a room or a small corner of a room. I personally prefer my front porch. I love to go and sit out on my front steps and enjoy my garden. Sometimes I just sit and do nothing in particular. I use this time to think, write, enjoy the silence, and sometimes do absolutely nothing.

If you’ve never claimed a space for you own, don’t waste another moment. Find a place in your home that you can go to when you want to be alone and get away from it all and make this place as special as possible.

(If you’d like to read more about changing the way you think about wealth please consider reading my book REDEFINING THE MEANING OF WEALTH: DISCOVERING PROSPERITY AND FORTUNE IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE.)

Happy New Year! Can you believe 2011 is here already? I know it sounds like a cliché but time really flew this year! Speaking of time flying, I wonder if this upcoming year will go just as fast or faster. I’m so looking forward to 2011 because 2012 is right around the corner.

Why the interest in 2012? For the past decade, I have been fascinated by the Mayan Calendar and 2012 marks the end of the prophetic calendar used in the Maya civilization of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and in some modern Maya communities in highland Guatemala and Oaxaca, Mexico. This sophisticated calendar based on the transformation of global human consciousness is not the end of the world contrary to what some Hollywood movies and certain doomsayers proclaim but instead the beginning of a new era. According to the Mayans, 2012 marks the beginning of a shift in consciousness that moves humanity towards enlightenment.

Now my purpose is not to tout the Mayan Calendar to you as the truth because to be honest I simply don’t know if anything significant will happen in 2012 or not. I am only a fascinated open-minded bystander simply pointing out what I think is a really cool prediction. Who wouldn’t welcome a shift in consciousness amongst our species? Wouldn’t you love a world that started to value the spiritual more than the material and a world where everyone was prosperous?

Whether the Mayan prophecies come to pass in the way expected to or not, I do feel a shift (albeit small) around me. It feels as if something new and positive is being born and something old and past its prime is fading away. Yes, I am all too aware that there are some really ugly happenings going on in the world right now. There are too many wars and social injustices. Those whose souls are sick with greed do not give much cause for hope either. The good news is more and more people are waking up to the fact that something is dreadfully wrong and the time may be ripe after all for a new way of thinking and living.

It’s easy to point fingers at those who we think are responsible for the world’s problems but keep in mind that they are only the spokespeople for what is in the hearts of almost everyone. Until we can begin to clear our own hearts of the sources that cause war, injustice, and greed, these things will only continue. Whether or not the entire world does evolve remains to be seen but in the interim what’s stopping each of us from our own transformation? Maybe the Mayan calendar is about each of us being responsible for our own spiritual evolution and recognizing that we are all part of the same whole.

Initiating change ourselves seems like a tall order and that it would be easier for someone else or some new policy to do it for us. But what or who will that be? Don’t count on the governments of the world who are beholden to central banks and multi-national corporate interests to do it for you. Don’t count on capitalism to save you either. Our species is not mature enough yet for capitalism, communism, socialism or any of the isms that are sold to us as humanity’s Holy Grail. History has proven and continues to prove everyday that me have made a horrific mess out of these systems. Just because they have worked for some is not enough because if even one is left behind it’s not working at all in my book!

We need to learn to share more and become aware that we are all inner-connected. Until we figure this out no plan developed by business, government, or academia can save us. The real cry of our heart is the realization that we are all one with God and the Divine. It’s not about how much more money we can make or how many more possessions we can acquire.

The jury is still out on the Mayan predictions but why not set an intention to be part of the transition of manifesting unity consciousness? What do we have to lose? Worst case scenario we would be more peaceful people with more to offer ourselves and each other. So why not spread the message that we are all in this together and that a world that works for everyone is possible. It’s only our limited thinking that prevents it from being so.

Happy New Year! May 2011 bring you all the prosperity, peace, and happiness that your heart can hold!

If the Mayan Calendar piques your interest, a great website to explore is Dr. Carl Johan Calleman’s site: http://www.calleman.com/ I had the pleasure of attending one of his workshops several years ago and immensely enjoyed it. He is a world renowned scholar on the Mayan Calendar and his work is a mix of the scientific, academic, and spiritual all rolled into one. It’s lots of fun and very enlightening.

A beautiful garden in Mississippi

“God has two dwellings: one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart.” ~ Izaak Walton

Those of us in the U.S. will be celebrating Thanksgiving this upcoming Thursday. This short work week marks the beginning of the holiday season that will eventually lead us into the New Year. It’s the time of year when we come together with family and friends and hopefully make a conscious effort to give thanks for the abundance in our lives.

As we approach Thanksgiving this year, I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude and how important it is to live our lives in a constant state of thankfulness. While exchanging e-mails with a friend earlier this week she stated that “Every day is Thanksgiving (or should be).” I’m glad she reminded me of this. Being thankful every day is a very powerful way to live. It’s easy to fixate on what we don’t have and waste valuable time sulking about what we feel is lacking in our lives.

This is the perfect week to start a gratitude journal. This concept was first introduced to me when I read Sarah Ban Breathnach’s book Simple Abundance in early 2000. This is a lovely book and if you’ve never read it, I highly recommend it. Keeping a gratitude journal keeps us consciously focused on all the good things in our lives.

Keeping a gratitude journal is simple. Each evening before you go to bed, write down at least 5 things for which you are grateful. Once you start this practice, you will find yourself looking for all that is good in your life since you know you will be writing them down in the evening. It’s a wonderfully positive way to live your life because the focus is on what’s right about your life and not what’s wrong.

Those of us who live in wealthier countries sometimes forget that we have wealth that is unimaginable in many parts of the world. We forget that we have brothers and sisters all over the planet who struggle with obtaining the basics in life. It’s important to be content and acknowledge  the blessings we have instead of constantly pursuing more,more,more. The next time you find yourself lusting for items that are wants and not needs, remind yourself of what you already have. In other words, be thankful and humble. It may sound corny, but a gratitude journal can help change your life. What are you thankful for today? Write it down and reap the blessings of being thankful!

Fall Leaves in Nikko, Japan

Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.  ~Edwin Way Teale

No matter how much we simplify our outer lives what good is it if we don’t have inner simplicity? All of the physical steps we take to simplify our lives are important but they don’t automatically guarantee inner solitude.  A de-cluttered home and debt free finances are great but if we feel all chaotic inside then we are missing out on peace and tranquility which is the main reason most of us simplify in the first place.

Achieving inner simplicity takes work but it’s enjoyable work if you do it right. I don’t claim to be an expert on achieving inner peace but I can offer a few suggestions on some things that are working for me. I hope you find them helpful and share any suggestions you may have as well.

Spend some time each day in prayer and/or meditation. Countless studies have shown that people who pray and mediate on a daily basis have better health, lower stress levels and experience more happiness. I do yoga almost every day and I consider it to be mediation in motion. This works great for my very busy mind because I have not yet mastered meditating by sitting still. I also have several prayers that I say throughout the day that give me comfort and peace.

Engage in exercise you enjoy. You won’t ever find me in a gym or lifting weights. It’s simply not my thing. Where you will find me is in a yoga studio or on a hiking trail. I now only participate in exercise that I like and that makes me feel good about myself. The byproduct is I feel great and I’m healthier than ever. Just because I don’t dig gyms or weights doesn’t mean they are not valid. The point is to do what you enjoy. Exercise is important to our inner and outer well being so your chances of sticking with it are better if you like what you’re doing.

Take a walk. I try to take a walk almost every day. Getting out in the fresh air even if only for 15 minutes does me a world of good. Some people argue that they don’t have time to take a walk each day but I challenge you to find a few minutes each day to go outside and enjoy the outdoors. Give up watching the news when you get home or use the last 10 minutes of your lunch hour to stroll around your office park. Don’t set yourself up for failure with an overly ambitious time schedule. Start small and then go from there.

Get plenty of sleep. Each of us has different needs. I feel best with 7-8 hours per night. Any less and I can really start to drag. Find the right amount for you and do your best to get that time each and every night. The quality of your life will drastically improve.

Quit worrying excessively about money. There’s nothing that interferes more with our inner peace of mind than worrying about money. If you are paying your bills and are out of debt or working on a plan to get out of debt then let go a little. If you study the history of banking and fiat currencies, you will discover that unless you are a member of the banking elite much about money is out of our control anyway. Even if every currency in the world fell tomorrow, there would still be natural resources, knowledge, labor, and new ideas. Money is just an idea and an idea that we sometimes give way too much power to. Concentrate on inner abundance and not how many zeros are on your bank ledger.

Limit your media intake. I like to keep up with current events as much as the next person but there are so many media outlets completing for my attention that it makes my head spin. Much of journalism today is not really journalism nor is it investigative in any way. Sadly, too many of the mainstream media outlets first priority is to their shareholders and not their viewers. They meet their monetary obligations to their shareholders by having good ratings.  Fear and sensationalism help them to accomplish this. Keep this in mind the next time you get all worked up about some story that has absolutely no effect on your life at all.

Quit engaging in non-productive political arguments. I used to love to discuss politics until I had the enormous epiphany that I would never change anyone’s mind. I can’t speak for other countries but politics in the US has become like a sporting event and a very bad event at that! Very few people are interested in meaningful dialogue because so many just want to win an argument at any cost. I now carefully choose who I discuss this volatile subject with and make sure the person is interested in a civil exchange of ideas and not a reenactment of a Fox News or MSNBC roundtable showdown whose only goal is to bring in money for their corporate sponsors.

Give yourself a set period of time to do nothing each week. Ideally, I would love to give myself one day a week to do nothing but often I have to settle for a half-day on the weekends. When I say do nothing I don’t mean I sit on my couch staring into space. Nothing for me means not having any set plans. I take it as it comes and do what suits my fancy. Sometimes I’ll read a book or watch a documentary. Other times I will play with my cats.

My friend Judith (L) and me (R). She took me to my first Yoga class in the mid 90s.

Yoga is the perfect exercise for those of us on the simple living path. Many spiritual traditions encourage living simply and Yoga is no exception. Living simply and practicing Yoga go hand in hand because both practices are about experiencing life more fully. And isn’t living live more fully why we strive to live more simply in the first place?

Yoga means to yoke or unite. Yoga is a system of physical (asana) and breathing (pranayama) practices designed to help us experience optimal health and happiness. The fusion of mind body and spirit takes place when one practices Yoga. If Yoga is new to you and you want to find out more, click  here for a fun website that gives a great general overview of Yoga. There are many forms of Yoga. I prefer the Iyengar method and you can click here for an overview of this type of Yoga. This is also the website of one of my favorite Yoga teachers-Marla Apt.

If everyone practiced Yoga, I’m convinced we would have a more peaceful world. Can you imagine if Congress and other comparable governing bodies around the globe took a break everyday to do a few downward facing dogs? What about the UN? Wouldn’t it be nice to see representatives from all over the world sitting quietly and breathing together for a few minutes before they got back to their daily agenda? Yoga reminds us that we all are equal. You can’t stay in a Yoga pose too long before you are forced to face your own humanity. We all are struggling with the same things and we all ultimately want happiness and peace. Yoga is a great tool for helping us achieve this.

My Yoga practice is one of the greatest forms of wealth in my life. I’ve been practicing since the mid-nineties and I can’t imagine life without doing some sort of asana every day. Yoga has enriched my life in so many ways. I’ll be honest though. I started doing Yoga because I thought it would tighten up my abs and help with the fight against gravity. But a funny thing happened once yoga became my main form of exercise. I suddenly cared more about feeling good than looking good. I’ve become more accepting of my body and other people’s as well. I now see beauty in what real bodies look like and not the bodies portrayed in airbrushed Madison Avenue advertising.

Yoga is just you hanging out with yourself. Yes, there’s a mat involved and maybe a few props here and there, but Yoga doesn’t demand a bunch of fancy frills. There are no shoes involved and no special clothes as long as what you wear allows you to move comfortably. I can practice yoga in a class, at home alone, or while I’m on the road traveling. All I need is a small space and I’m set to go. What could be simpler?

Yoga has also saved me money. That’s right! Even though I spend money taking classes, Yoga has made me less materialistic. I now prefer a Saturday afternoon in the Yoga studio as opposed to an afternoon at the mall. Instead of expensive outings to trendy restaurants or overpriced theatrical or sporting events, I prefer an afternoon of hiking or walking on the beach.

Yoga is for everyone. No matter what your age, background, religion, race, nationality, or financial situation is, this ancient form of exercise is open to all. I have met so many interesting people from all walks of life in the Yoga classes I have taken. Despite all of our different beliefs and backgrounds, my mind has opened up and I have learned that we are all basically the same.

Several years ago I had a friend who was interested in Yoga but had reservations about going to a class. She thought you had to already be good at it before you even started it. She eventually went to class with me and loved it. She soon realized that Yoga is not about being “good” at it. No one ever completely masters Yoga. Yoga is a process and that’s the beauty of it. Living simply is a process too and we never completely arrive. The rewards are in the journey.

French Quarter Patio-New Orleans

I once had a yoga teacher who said the present moment was actually just that- a present! It was a gift given to us and we should embrace that present because that moment would never be available to us again. How many of us constantly let the present moment slip away from us because we are sulking over the past or fretting over the future?

The present moment is where we do our most powerful living. When we are focused on what’s going on right now in our lives, we are more alive. The present is what it is. It has integrity and doesn’t pretend to be anything else other than what is real in that particular moment. Accepting life in the moment teaches us to be less judgmental and more open minded. Open minds pave the way for experiencing all that life has to offer. Sometimes it will be joyous and sometimes it will be sad. Other times it will be downright depressing or fraught with boredom. But don’t you want to experience it all? The ups and downs, the good and the bad?

Sometimes the sheer pleasure of being alive comes when you least expect it and you experience what I like to call the “unbearable joy of being.” You know those days when you feel so high that you’re almost certain you will never come down. Then the next day comes along accompanied by despair and loneliness. Only yesterday you were on top of the world and now you feel like you’re falling down a dark hole with no bottom. But don’t all these experiences make for a rich life? Don’t you want to exit the planet knowing that you experienced life to the fullest?

I once went out with a guy who said he wanted to be all used up when he died. There was never any small talk when we got together. We dove right into the core of what it meant to be human. I remember sitting in that dimly lit Santa Monica bar and excitingly nodding my head in agreement. “Yes”, I said. “Yes, I want to be all used up when I die too.” I often think of that conversation when I’m experiencing the not so pleasant. This is just part of “using myself up”, I remind myself. Did I think I would accomplish this with only the Pollyanna episodes of my life? Was I so arrogant to think that I could experience it all without ever being uncomfortable? Did I think the rich life I aspired to would only bring me jubilation and an occasional semi-blue day? I was young and arrogant at the time and I had a romantic notion of life. In theory I thought I was ready to meet all of life head-on but I had no idea and certainly no clue about honoring and savoring each of life’s moments. Living in the now was not even on my radar. I was too busy wishing the past away and waiting for the future to rescue me from all that was the least bit unsettling.

My yoga teacher was right. The present is a gift yet I am not always the most gracious receiver. I can continue to pray and meditate, simplify my life, and do yoga pose after yoga pose every day, but if I’m not learning to live in the now, all this work is for naught. We only make ourselves miserable when we are fixated on the past and yearn too much for the future. There is nothing in my past that will give me peace of mind and dreaming about the future won’t do it either. Peace of mind is already within my grasp. It’s called the now. This gift, this beautiful present is available to all of us. It doesn’t matter who you are or how much money you have. What does matter is whether or not you accept it. Go ahead and take it. Hang out in the now for awhile. See if your life does not become richer!

Summer Flowers

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.  Have you used one to say “thank you?”  ~William A. Ward

Cultivating gratitude in our competitive and overly-materialistic culture can at times be difficult. We are constantly being bombarded with advertisements and messages encouraging us to want more, more, more. Being thankful for what we have can be hard work if our spiritual chops are not up to the task. It’s easy to get caught up in worldly thinking and feel less than because we didn’t get that job promotion or can’t afford the latest luxury techno gadget.

Many schools of thought say that cultivating gratitude is an important step in creating more abundance in your life. Although I agree with this statement, I don’t necessarily believe that the abundance received will always be in the form of money or worldly success. Abundance can mean many things such as peace of mind, good health, or nurturing relationships just to name a few. You can’t put a price tag on these treasures.

The last few weeks have been tough for me. I feel overwhelmed by a big project and I’m working on I’ve been mentally and physically tired as well. It’s easy to start focusing on all that is wrong instead of all that is right. I want to live my life in a state of thankfulness and appreciation for the all the blessings I have. Peace of mind and balance are what I crave most. Why do these things sometimes seem so difficult to achieve? Sometimes I think raising a million dollars might be easier than cultivating a still and quiet mind. But I keep trying as I think it’s a goal worthy to pursue even if I never get there.

As the new week begins, I reflect on the wealth in my life. It’s a pretty long list actually. No, it wouldn’t impress Wall Street but Wall Street’s idea of wealth doesn’t exactly impress me either. My health, my faith and spiritual life, my husband, my family, my friends, my pets, my yoga practice, and of course the absolutely gorgeous southern California weather are all on my wealth spreadsheet. It’s the usual list but what a great list, huh? It makes me wonder why I ever even strive for more. When I sit back and give thanks for all my wealth my mind suddenly becomes quieter and more peaceful. If I could only stay in this place all the time!

The Mighty Mississippi

When you can’t have what you want, it’s time to start wanting what you have. ~~Kathleen A. Sutton

The last couple of weeks have been tough for me.   It’s been hard to focus on what I do have as opposed to what I don’t have.  I know my thought process is a bit exaggerated but it seems like everyone around me has a great career, is traveling to exotic places, and spending money on fun.  So many people I know own homes and although I know I’m probably imagining it, I feel like I’m looked down on by some because I’m a renter.

This society really does a number on you when you don’t possess any of the ingredients that make up the so called “American Dream.”  You’re rarely acknowledged.  I’m usually pretty good at not letting my lack of social status and material wealth bother me but sometimes it does begin to get to me.  I’m human and every once and a while you just want some validation.No one ever says anything to you like gee it’s so great that you are a spiritual person or how wonderful that you and your husband share a car and are doing your part to lessen your carbon footprint. Instead, society celebrates home ownership, the kind of car you drive, how much money you make, where your kids go to school, and whether or not you have managed to pull off the latest look crammed down our throats by Madison Avenue advertising.

No wonder we have so many people in this country who feel less than. People want to believe their lives count for something. They want to feel needed and useful. Our extremely materialistic culture makes it difficult for anyone on a different path other than what the status quo deems acceptable to feel like their life is valuable.

After allowing myself to stay in such a dark place for the last couple of weeks, I have now caught my second wind. I refuse to feel less than. I must reconnect with my value system. My values reflect living simply and following a spiritual path. If any earthly treasures happen to come my way that’s great. And what if they don’t? In the big picture does it really matter if I ever own a home? Does it really matter if I have a prestigious career?  Does it really matter if I can’t  afford to jet-hop around the world three-four times a year and spend weekends in the desert?

I’m making an effort to focus on what I do have and not dwell on what I feel is lacking.   For  now I will concentrate on not being bogged down with the upkeep of multiple material items and the hassles of managing a career and complex finances. I will savor my free time, the fun I have with my husband, my pets, living in a state with beautiful weather, and the time I spend with my good friends.  I think this is called wanting what you have. There was actually a book that came out several years ago called How to Want You Have by Timothy Ray Miller.  I think I need to get a copy of that book and study it closely. Wanting what we have is hard work, especially when we  live in a society that constantly encourages us to want more.  What I have is really not that important. What’s important is the person I am and what’s in my heart.

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26

Louisiana Sunset

The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed.
~Jiddu Krishnamurti

Two types of economies exist in our world today. There is the “outer economy” which is the one we fixate on the most – money, bartering, loans, jobs, stock markets, interest rates…..  The second type of economy is what my friend Darice likes to refer to as the “inner economy.” This economy is the more powerful of the two and the one we often forget to focus on because we are so disproportionately concerned with the outer economy.

What exactly is the inner economy? Your inner economy is that part of you that is abundant no matter what your financial situation. Having a strong inner economy helps you look at life from a different perspective. You know your life has value and meaning whether you are in times of outer economy bust or boom. An inner economy is measured by your health and peace of mind. It’s the time you spend with family, friends, and animal companions. There are no limits when you have a strong inner economy. Inner economies don’t fall prey to competition and material resources. Scarcity and fear based human made rules don’t affect your inner economy unless you let them. A strong inner economy prepares you for whatever life sends your way.

I have little control over the outer economy. It is obviously very broken and a big fat mess!  Yes, there are some (mainly the corporate media) who are trying to desperately convince people things are starting to turn around but personally I have my doubts. I don’t mean to be a “Debbie Downer” but I’m not buying this “things are beginning to get better” nonsense. Yes, I know some people like the Wall Street Bankers and defense contractors are doing very well. On the opposite end of the spectrum there are still 8 million plus people unemployed and wages for the most part are stagnant.   In my book, the economy is not working until everyone is prospering.

“No person left behind” is my new slogan. And I’m not just talking about the U.S. but every being on the planet-humans and animals.  It’s mind-blowing to me how in the 21^st century greed can still run so grotesquely rampant. You would think we would have evolved a bit as a species, huh? The multinational corporations and banks will continue to have their way until the collective consciousness wakes up and we demand a world that works for all and not just a select few. Pretty soon the world’s resources will be depleted and it won’t matter who has the most zeros after the numbers in their bank account.

How do we start waking up? How do we demand change? We do so first by focusing on our own inner economy. We work on our own transformation of consciousness. Of course we all have to exist for the time being in our current system but we need not give it any more power than absolutely necessary.  On a practical level we can boycott the large banks and move our money to credit unions and local banks. We can buy local products from local businesses when we have the opportunity. We can start focusing more on our relationships with people instead of constantly consuming unnecessary goods and services.

On a more spiritual level, we can go inside and work on changing ourselves. We can focus on unconditional love and compassion for all beings. Because you know what?  The world is a reflection of all of us and the time is ripe for a radical mind revolution in each and every person. Remember, we can’t change a thing until we change ourselves.