There is this "River of Life." The trip down the River is the metaphor I'll use to represent the context of life as a Human Being. The "Flow" of the River is the Universal Energy that carries us fourth on our journey through life. Metaphorical stories work well for children as they speak to the soul, to the deeper part of us that knows and understands...
So, we come from our Heavenly home to our earthly home and are gently placed, or plopped right down, into this River of Life. We flow down it all our lives. We have obstacles, challenges, triumphs, joys, sorrow and much much more. There are twists and turns, expectations, excitement, disappointments, boredom and confusion. We try to figure out what the heck is going on. We make assessments, requests, promises and declarations along the way. We have concerns, attachments, needs, wants and desires. We get stuck, find solutions or don't find solutions to the boulders, snakes, sun exposure and storms along the way. We blame others or are accountable for the nature of our trip, down this River of Life. We may look for what might be impeding the natural flow for us down this River of Life and meet those impediments in numerous ways, so we can continue our Flow without too much resistance or, we at times, do try to avoid or deny this trip down the River. We think the flow is too fast or too slow or become overwhelmed. There are forks in the River where we need to make choices about which fork to take. Each fork will bring us different challenges and joys, different people and experiences, a different "scenery." We have and make connection to others, we accept or resist, we forgive or hold grudges, we have compassion or indifference, we love and we hate.
Anything that affects our physical, mental or emotional bodies affects our access to our energy, creativity and clarity we need to effectively and successfully "Flow" down this River. Anything that affects the above aspects of our Human-ness affects the expression of who we are. When we are fully being our Human Being-ness we find ourselves in a state of Being that's fully self expressed, free to be the unique selves we are, yet with an experience of connectedness, unity and commonality with all of humanity. We want and do contribute to others and the natural world.
Next lets have a conversation about the specific practical tools that we can model and thus "teach" our children as to how to navigate down this amazingly beautiful, mysterious, simple yet complex River of Life. Lets expand on the above ideas. I invite you to join me with your ways of navigating and Being in this River of Life.
This blog is a about all things possible. How do we navigate in this world of increasing complexity? How can we raise our children in a balanced, healthful way? This blog will explore all aspects of us, as Human Beings, waking up to who we are, to our deepest potential and as parents helping our children grow up experiencing who they are.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Project of Possibilities - The Great Big Camp Sleepover
Well, here is my project but first some background....I live in an apartment complex owned and operated by an organization called "Foundation Communities." Foundation Communities is a nonprofit organization that empowers low-income families and individuals with the tools they need to succeed. Foundation Communities provides affordable apartments and duplexes to more than 2,000 families. They have developed a model of service-enriched housing that enables families with low incomes to permanently improve their educational and financial standing. (foundcom.org for more information)
2 years ago, after leaving my husband, I was financially unstable and discovered these apartments. They were clean, aesthetically pleasing and very affordable. So, here I am in these apartments with others with a pretty low income. My project is to give the "at risk" families and children an opportunity to experience camping, plus other activities while in nature, that allow for the possibility to connect with themselves, nature and others in the community. I have been camping all my adult life and have lived in the rural mountains of Colorado. There is something transformative about nature. There is something that touches one's soul, when you are quiet enough, especially in an environment of pure nature. No cell phones, computers, TV, video games, electricity, traffic noise, crowds and the myriad of other things that keep our bodies and minds distracted, entertained, numb or stimulated.
I once had the privilege of taking 2 of the children who live at my apartment community to a picnic at Zilker Park (in Austin) with myself and 2 girls. We ended up taking a hike around Lady Bird lake on the hike and bike trail. The kids were an 8 and 9 y/o brother and sister. This was their first time they were around the lake. It was such a rich experience for me and them. To watch them experiencing the ducks, the flowers, the poison ivy, the pain in their feet, the great spiders, the water and turtles was a treat to behold. I believe that when children are given the opportunity to slow down and experience nature, they get in touch with the joy and wonder that is inherent to who they are.The more we can get in touch with our essential nature, the more we will touch others with the same. This can only lead to care for an of others, peace, treating each other with the dignity that is inherent in who we are and the care of our planet. That is the essence of this project. Start with a small group of children and their families. To break the cycle of hopelessness, poverty, hate and the violence that those qualities create.
We are rushing and stimulating yet dumbing our children down in our culture. We, as a culture, overstimulate them when they are young, feeding them food laden with toxic pesticides and genetically modified foods, creating an indoor child obsessed with TV and electronic games dumbing down their creativity, unaware of what a toxic environment we are creating for our children....how will this serve them and our planet and fellow human beings?
I've always been into educating people in my 22 years of practice to consider moving toward a more natural lifestyle, eating healthful, creating healthy habits and cultivating their inner life. This little project is one more step toward that desire.
2 years ago, after leaving my husband, I was financially unstable and discovered these apartments. They were clean, aesthetically pleasing and very affordable. So, here I am in these apartments with others with a pretty low income. My project is to give the "at risk" families and children an opportunity to experience camping, plus other activities while in nature, that allow for the possibility to connect with themselves, nature and others in the community. I have been camping all my adult life and have lived in the rural mountains of Colorado. There is something transformative about nature. There is something that touches one's soul, when you are quiet enough, especially in an environment of pure nature. No cell phones, computers, TV, video games, electricity, traffic noise, crowds and the myriad of other things that keep our bodies and minds distracted, entertained, numb or stimulated.
I once had the privilege of taking 2 of the children who live at my apartment community to a picnic at Zilker Park (in Austin) with myself and 2 girls. We ended up taking a hike around Lady Bird lake on the hike and bike trail. The kids were an 8 and 9 y/o brother and sister. This was their first time they were around the lake. It was such a rich experience for me and them. To watch them experiencing the ducks, the flowers, the poison ivy, the pain in their feet, the great spiders, the water and turtles was a treat to behold. I believe that when children are given the opportunity to slow down and experience nature, they get in touch with the joy and wonder that is inherent to who they are.The more we can get in touch with our essential nature, the more we will touch others with the same. This can only lead to care for an of others, peace, treating each other with the dignity that is inherent in who we are and the care of our planet. That is the essence of this project. Start with a small group of children and their families. To break the cycle of hopelessness, poverty, hate and the violence that those qualities create.
We are rushing and stimulating yet dumbing our children down in our culture. We, as a culture, overstimulate them when they are young, feeding them food laden with toxic pesticides and genetically modified foods, creating an indoor child obsessed with TV and electronic games dumbing down their creativity, unaware of what a toxic environment we are creating for our children....how will this serve them and our planet and fellow human beings?
I've always been into educating people in my 22 years of practice to consider moving toward a more natural lifestyle, eating healthful, creating healthy habits and cultivating their inner life. This little project is one more step toward that desire.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Project of Possibilities!
I am so excited I just have to start my first post with something I feel very passionate about and that's up for me at the moment. First some background....I have been training in Landmark Education since October 2009. In the course of taking various forms of training in this education my life has transformed! I had constraints on me in many areas of my life. For example, for about 22 of my 22 years of practice I felt an inspiration and passion for educating families about the dangers of vaccinations. I even had a dream with the complete table of contents for a book 22 years ago, then again a dream 5 years ago to go back to school to get a Masters in Public Health and transform public policy and public conversations about vaccines. There was always some reason why I could not fulfill this. These "reasons" were really constraints on me being a self fulfilled, inspired and contributing Human Being. We all have these constraints in one way or another in one area or another in our lives. So after doing the some Landmark work (believe me, I have done all kinds of psychological, spiritual and transformational work along the way) I experienced a distinct moment when it felt like a veil had lifted. I felt free!! I can't tell you what joy that was. At that time in my life, the passion around vaccinations had become more broad. I created the possibility for me to contribute in a way that would be self fulfilling too. I ran for PTA President of my children's elementary school and won 5 to 28! I would have never even been interested in this prior. Also, I would never have had the courage to do this in the past. I always felt that I didn't know enough, would be exposed as stupid, and basically would be found out! Well, I threw caution to the wind because there was no caution, only this drive to be of service in a way that really made a difference. I should add that it's not that what I was out to do was so important but if I'm going to be here on this planet I mine as well take a stand for something that feels worthwhile. I wanted to raise the wellness of this school community on all levels of Being. What has transpired since then is another story....another post! I will get to the current project of possibilities. Above are the possibilities of life.
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