Seeking the shadow

April 30, 2010 | Filed Under Challenge, Learn something, Read this, Rewritable words | 1 Comment 

“I looked, and looked, and this I came to see: that what I thought was you and you was really me and me.”
- Unknown

In light of Wednesday’s question, the concept of the shadow has reigned heavy on my mind. So far, it’s had a mildly profound effect on me. As I learn more about it and truly begin the process of self-integration, I’m anticipating benefits of even greater profundity.

For the benefit of helping others in this process of self-development, I’m including some links on the shadow so we can learn together, if you’re so inclined.

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Food, Inc.

April 22, 2010 | Filed Under Consider this, Do your research!, Health, Inspiring, Learn something, Moment of Truth, Pay attention, Rewritable words, Watch this, Website | Leave a Comment 

I was all over Twitter with it, but everyone doesn’t use Twitter, so I decided to share some of the information, reminders and thoughts I had while watching Food, Inc., on PBS. Food, Inc. is an incredibly eye-opening film everyone who eats should see. PBS believes this so strongly that it’s airing the film on national television and streaming it in its entirety online from April 22 – April 29. Check your local listings for television viewing.

• Even if you don’t eat at a fast food restaurant, you’re still eating food made for/within that system. [If you haven't already, read Fast Food Nation.]
• “Chickens never see sunlight. They’re pretty much in the dark all the time.”
• “This isn’t farming, this is just mass production.”
• “It doesn’t matter if the chickens get sick, all of the chickens will be sent for processing.”
• Learn about the industrial food system.
• 30% of the land in the US is used to produce corn.
• Farm-raised fish is eating corn.
• Average American eats over 200 lbs. of meat a year. Ugh. Do you know how long it takes for meat to leave your body??
• Reminder: there’s manure in your meat! Bon appetit!

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Did you know?: Fish have a purpose

June 8, 2009 | Filed Under Do your research!, Learn something, Moment of Truth, Pay attention, Watch this | 1 Comment 

A few years ago, I semi-seriously inquired about the evolutionary purpose of fish. I still don’t have the answer, but I suspect that will change soon. Today is World Ocean Day and the new documentary, The End of the Line, debuts, answering that question and addressing the very quiet issues concerning the deteriorating state of our fisheries.

It turns out that 90% of the sea animals caught in the fishing industry are “bycatch: dumped dead or dying into the sea, or turned into fertilizer, pet food and fish food.”

As a semi-vegan/pescetarian, I think I might need to add a little diversity in my fish choices, skip it altogether, or eat Whole Foods quality farm raised. The sacrifices we all have to make so as many people as possible can enjoy this planet for as long as possible…they’re really not that big.

Source: Ode Magazine

A little bit of random: lessons learned

May 15, 2009 | Filed Under Learn something, Moment of Truth, Pay attention, Random | 3 Comments 

• The world is replete with energy vampires. Depending on your aspirations, you may have to slay them from your life.  It might not be easy, but it is critical.
• The potential for a transformative moment always exists, even in your pain. You can find the good and end your suffering if you stop torturing yourself.
• Life really does provide us with signs all the time. Pay attention to them and you might find yours working with a bit more ease.
• Ego and confidence are not the same thing. Decrease one, increase the other.
• Once again, love is a verb, not feeling alone. If your love doesn’t translate into anything, what is it, really?  Just as faith without works is dead, so, too, is love without action.
• There will be times when you have to go at it alone…and for those times, it’s the best possible thing.  Don’t fight it.
• Know when to let go and walk away. From addictions, arguments, situations, people, etc.
• Clean out your life regularly. Not just in spring. But it’s spring now, so if you haven’t started, go!
• People who make you laugh, smile, and think are heaven sent. If one person can do all three, they’re a true gem. Consider keeping them around.
• Telling your story gives you power over it. Don’t let it hold you back.

The Visual: 350 (parts per million)

February 25, 2009 | Filed Under Learn something, Moment of Truth, Pay attention, Watch this | Leave a Comment 

For the first time in several months, I rode a bike today.  Not for fun, but for transportation faster than my legs.  I thought about how wonderful bikes are as a mode of transportation when you’re not traveling far distances.

“I want to live in a community that localizes most of the facets of my life,” I thought.

Then, I saw this video and that desire intensified. Only 90 seconds with no words, it illustrates the importance of a number most of us don’t know the significance of.

Courtesy of 350.org

Good in the world

October 6, 2008 | Filed Under Learn something, Plain cool, Watch this, What My World Sounds Like | 2 Comments 

Good in the world, good in the world, good in the world…

That is supposed to be my focus, yeah?

Yes…so I need to get focused.

I lose faith in people right around this time.  I’d say from January to December every four years especially, this being one of those years.  It’s then that the worst qualities of humans are most evident, that’s not to say that they aren’t any other time.  I think it can be such a deeply personal time for everyone that those qualities just become apparent.

“I want this so…”

“I believe people should…” so you’ll vote for an war-monger despite all the other jacked up policies that come with the four consensual, nonpartisan plans the candidate has.

Geez…it’s not a good time to put your trust in people.  Or in a process that has long ago been decidedly ineffective for achieving its supposed goal.

That said…I need an upper and I’m sure you do too.  Let’s see here…

Radiant Amar – The World

Common – Resurrection

Flickerstick – Chloroform the One You Love
(it’s funny…only if it remains a song, people)

Lauryn Hill – Tell Him

M.I.A. – Paper Planes

Robin Thicke – Flowers In Bloom

Emancipator – Anthem

We’re often criticized for our weaknesses and not praised for our strengths. Find out your strengths and move in that direction. Read Tom Rath’s Strengths Finder 2.0.

Favorite line so far: “You cannot be anything you want to be – but you can be a lot more of what you already are.” I dig it.

And finally…ninjitsu! Or something related to it. I never think about stretching my hands. Hmm…happy finger weaving.

Stretch, distortion or bold lie?

September 7, 2008 | Filed Under Do your research!, Learn something, Moment of Truth, Website | 1 Comment 

The fact that politicians lie shouldn’t be new to anyone. With both presidential candidates geared up and ready to go, you might want to do some research on who’s telling the truth before you cast that vote.

To assist you with deciphering the truth, enter FactCheck.org.

We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit, “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.

Same shit, different place…

September 3, 2008 | Filed Under Consider this, Do your research!, Inspiring, Learn something, Moment of Truth, Pay attention, Thoughts, Watch this | 5 Comments 

Who are we? What are we doing? What are we agreeing to? With our silence? Our obedience? Our complacency? Our willful ignorance?

We can connect the dots if we so choose to, but we choose not to. Why? Ignoring reality does not change reality. Does not make it go away. Does not push it further away from us.

So scared of losing everything, of dying, that we cannot see that we lose everything in our decision to not act with humanity, with love.

We lose everything while we sit and watch others suffer, sitting idly in our security ignoring all the signs that tell us “this isn’t real.”

This isn’t real! So much of our lives, of what we do, eat, think is fake and choosing to be okay with that means we’ve already lost it all. We lost. Because we’re not living anyway.

“We will defeat this war by making it unworkable on the ground
through thousands of collected acts of rebellion and disobedience.”

“We do not walk today to ask concessions from the powers;
they will never legislate peace or freedom.
We come to you. We turn to the living.
Their armies cannot occupy our dreams and their jails cannot hold our number.
This is our world and these streets belong to us.”

What’s good? Critical Education Theory and this man…

September 2, 2008 | Filed Under Consider this, Great ideas, Inspiring, Learn something, Moment of Truth, Read this | Leave a Comment 

Watch: The End of Suburbia

June 24, 2008 | Filed Under Consider this, Do your research!, Learn something, Moment of Truth, Pay attention, Watch this | Leave a Comment 

Rising energy costs are on everyone’s mind.  There’s no way to escape the concern, even if you don’t drive because everyone’s feeling the pinch as the rising transport and production costs are being passed on to consumers.  We have to pay to check bags on flights now.  The price of food has experienced astronomical increases with regard to their prices just a few months ago.  Electricity, gas…everything’s going up while the value of the dollar and the availability of jobs continues to decline. 

Those experiencing it the worst are the same people who, at some point, were actually saving money.  I’m talking about suburbanites.  Suburban existence is completely dependent upon car transport and the availability of cheap fuels.  Well say it ain’t so, but yeah…peak issue is a very real concern no longer relegated exclusively to energy industry.  Peak oil doesn’t mean that there isn’t anymore oil, but that we’ve reached the maximum level of production, so from this point onward, every barrel of oil will be harder to get out of the ground, of lesser quality, and more expensive.  The days of cheap energy are over.

A while ago, there was an explosion of SUVs on the market.  Little men wanted them to feel more manly.  Big men wanted them for more space…and to feel more manly.  And little women wanted them to feel more manly.  (Strange, yes?)  Then hits rising energy costs and SUVs are no longer regarded as cool, but stupid if the space was unused and unnecessary.  If you didn’t sell/trade-in your SUV when they were still “in”, the likelihood of selling/trading-in now is low.  If you live in the suburbs and drive a SUV, effectively your little toe bleeds as the gun falls out of your hand. 

We’re going to see a continuing rise in urban populations and the development of more urban spheres.  Local living is key.  Moving forward, living, buying, working, and eating locally are all going to be of increased importance, something most suburbanites just can’t do without automobile reliance.  According to James Howard Kunstler, “The Wal-Marts of North America have very efficiently and effectively destroyed almost every local and regional network of economic, commercial interdepence.  And those networks are going to have to be rebulit.”

I found a great 52-minute documentary about this called The End of Suburbia.  Watch it below.

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