Tag: life

It’s Never Too Late to Walk Barefoot

In my sixth decade, foot pain was getting my attention and I realized wearing (any and all) shoes had taken a toll. Hesitant at first, I decided to go barefoot as often as possible. There was a need to let my feet touch the earth again. Now in my seventh decade, I’m certain that this choice among others saved my gait. 

It’s never too late to heal. It’s never too late to turn the tide on bad choices or imposed circumstances. And while healing may not be curing, it’s empowering and freeing in its own right.

We are massively in need of healing these days. The imposed circumstances of our lives have made us complicit in self-destruction – much like wearing the wrong shoes. But here is the good news, you can stop; you can change. You can heal.

I’m reminded of an aunt who spent her young years in the garden. She was an awesome cook and she advanced her education as much as she was able. I owe my love of reading and inquisitiveness to her coaching. But as the years advanced, she spiraled into bitterness and eventual depression. It was hard to witness this suffering. At her end, when I visited her in a nursing home, a nun who cared for her told me she always prayed for peace. This came as a bit of a surprise because years earlier she had mocked my pursuit of peace, yet, now she was asking for that simplicity for herself. It’s our birth right, this quest for peace. It is a natural outpouring of the deepest part of our nature, whenever it surfaces.

And who is to say when it’s too late to ask? Time is not the ruler of our hearts; it’s merely a mile marker. We can all live lifetimes in moments – both joyous and painful; and the memories are ours to keep.  

At this time of great uncertainty, seek the certainty that exists within the silent moments. There is a cry from the heart for peace. Let it unfold for you as it has for those before you. We honor those who lived with dignity. Let us emulate them. It’s never too late.

Be Like Spring

Spring is very clear in its agenda. New buds, new sprouts, new life must emerge past the old, the tired, and the dead. And in its exuberance, Spring is irresistible. The April rains, while a bit pounding this year, have already washed away much to be discarded. It is always exciting to see what has survived and what is being born again. 
And this is as it should be in our lives and in our communities. There are well worn paths that bring us sweet memories and comfort us and there are paths that do not deserve our footsteps. 

These are age old and simple truths: Give way to the new; fears and clinging to the past make us tired and weary.
Be like Spring. Be like the animals and birds shaking off the winter. Enjoy the nourishment that is meant to be savored and is especially gifted to us. 

And how do we know what must be discarded? Beliefs that tie us to separation are not worthy to be kept. Beliefs that cause harm to ourselves and to others should not be entertained.

It’s really very simple to ask, “How does this make me feel?” Anger and hatred consume our essence. The Nature of Spring has no time for this nonsense. It is buoyant with life for the living; and this is how we can be.

If the seasons teach us anything, we know renewal is welcomed. Too many of us, whatever our ages, are missing out on that possibility. Nature is a wonderful teacher. And recognizing we are not separate from her is a worthy first step. 

We live in an amazing area, the Driftless, with boundless springs and streams, forests and fields that wait for our appreciative footsteps to wonder. Let us feel it. Be like Spring.

Embracing Life

Sometimes it takes great courage to get out of bed in the morning. The weight of circumstance has shifted the balance of life. But this is not a time to cower and hide. This is the time to embrace life. 

Spring is gradually replacing winter. That is its nature. And it is our nature to appreciate the warmth and to be amazed at the green sprouting up. My sheep devoured dry hay all winter, now go in search of the moist green shoots and I am happy for them. They are wise. They understand time.

Memories come. Some harsh, some sweet. But can I let go of the bitter, can I accept its teaching and move on? Can I trust that the lesson taught was valuable and that it deepened my capacity to live more fully, or simply regret?

Because true living is not automatic. We are not robots. We have choice. There is nuance. We have the opportunity to discover something new and miraculous with every moment. 

We can bear witness to the power of life, but even more satisfying, we can co-create with it. We can enjoy the dance and allow it to be unique to us. 

I know the weight of circumstance has brought despair. I know it has brought doubt. We are being led by people who have forgotten the preciousness of life. And there are far too many in influential places who echo the insanity of the ignorant. The voice of humanity is being suffocated, but only if we let it. This is where courage comes in. This is where remembrance comes in. Hold those moments close, when you witnessed life’s kindness and beauty. They live within you still.  

We have choice. That is where freedom lives.  Embrace Life and walk away from fear. 

Meet Thelma and Louise. They were the first sheep at Echo Valley Farm. They lived for eighteen years. When I bought them and they went into the back of my SUV, I said “You must be Thelma and Louise – and this is your last ride.” We all lived up to that. Sweet memories.

Ripple Out Love

On this day, the 80th anniversary of one of the most wicked acts of annihilation, the bombing of Hiroshima, we need to take stock of who we are or at least who we can be. The threats to humanity and the earth have never been greater. And the ignorance that has allowed it is not backing down.

We’re left with no recourse, but to manifest the greatness that still remains within us: the seeds of compassion and hope, the daring acts of kindness. These are not illusion. These are the tools of the people we are meant to be.

Yes, there’s much to overcome. But with practice and with perseverance we can still change the present course. 

If you’re still addicted to the mass media trap. Stop. There are many independent journalists worthy of our attention. Regardless, take time to cultivate the clarity needed to wade through the irrelevant and to maintain our highest vision. It is available.

And what is that highest vision? Throughout time there have been those who have upheld the strengths of humanity. They have urged us towards simplicity and to engage with the preciousness of life. We have been warned of the follies of greed and power, but more importantly we have been given great tips on the ways out of chaos.

There are two things that can help us now: the appreciation of silence within so that we may hear the directives of our hearts and the appreciation of people who share this understanding. We need community. Find those who support your humanity; those who have learned to make a way out of no way. We do not need to agree on everything, but we do need to ripple out love and understanding.

80 years later… survivors still speak about the horrors of allowing nuclear weapons

and there are people still talking about the possibility of peace…and as human beings, we have choice.

When People Care

Regardless of where you sit on the political spectrum, there are signs that life has been drastically altered. The federal financial aid cuts hitting our local counties are shattering lives. Often referred to as “safety nets”, we are beginning to witness the severity of these cuts on our differently abled population, our children and our elderly. Local food pantries have been forced to cut fresh produce and milk and the numbers of people in need keep growing. 

To some extent, this had been happening, but the end of aid is now rippling through and the harm is startling. What comes from despair? What comes from hopelessness? As we watch the forced starvation of Palestinian people in a man-made crisis, and people here being rounded up in inhumane ways, it’s apparent humanity must reclaim empathy.

Pointing fingers of blame is senseless when you witness the destruction of lives, near and far. Instead, we need to assess what we have, collectively, that cannot be lost. We need to think anew, creating systems and pathways that allow each individual to thrive. We’re being challenged to become human once more.

There was a time when land was not owned, when people could “make a way out of no way”. But human hands created economic systems that stripped dignity away from simple living, and now those same systems are choking many lives. 

The choice before us is to recognize what is worthy of saving and what can be discarded. The effort is to rise in our collective humanity and trust again the earth can feed us – with our care. And to realize that we are worthy.

There are many local organizations and people in government ready and willing to make this turn. It’s up to us to help.

Here are some things that informed me this week. I hope you find inspiration here, to care and to act.

You can find a recording of a recent gathering of caring people at VernonReporter.com The event was billed as a non-partisan, educational, community exchange of information. It is worthy of your time to listen.

You can also listen to my podcast Changing the Narrative with author Elspeth Hays on her new book Feed Us With Trees – an important read on how we can reclaim our relationship with the natural world – and why we – or at least some of us – lost it.

And What’s in Our Future? on Life’s Essentials with Prem Rawat can be heard on Spotify as he reminds us of the power of being human.

And the photo is of Forget Me Nots…from my mother.

Be well, Everyone.

Where Sanity Resides

People sometimes question my sanity for living remotely. “Aren’t you bored?”, they ask. Boredom. That was something I gave up long ago. The spin that the fear of boredom can send us on is deplorable. I’m beginning to believe boredom is where insanity begins. It’s that slippery slope of insatiable and unfulfilled desire. It’s a call to normalcy that’s anything but normal. When we declare boredom, we relinquish our power of choice. And the dance of effort that is required to end boredom robs us of deeper awareness.

I prefer to live in wonder. I prefer exuberance. I prefer to live in defiance of a world that tells me more about boredom than about ecstasy.

I prefer to live where sanity resides. And yes, that doesn’t mean I must live in the middle of nowhere, but nowhere called me and this is where I chose to make my stand.

And my stand is for peace, within myself and around me. 

So where does sanity reside? Clearly, it’s not found on the social media shuffle. You won’t find it on any newsstand, television commentary or zine. Although John Stewart is back on the Daily Show and his few minutes offers the closest bit of sanity – for those unafraid of his absolute version of sacrilege. But no, that is feigned sanity. And while the laughs help cover the sadness of a world gone mad, they also lend themselves to cynicism. And cynicism is one step removed from boredom and not a place I choose to linger.

Sanity resides in the heart. It’s the groundswell of knowing that all is and will be well. Its kin to clarity and has no words. And in the land of no words lies our peace.