Sunday Story...Insanity

Sunday Story…Insanity

I recently attended a talk by a developer in our area extolling all the wonderful developments coming soon to our area. He said several things that got me thinking and wondering. One of the most disturbing things was his comment about the new freeway exchange being built. A mere 140 million dollars or so BUT (here’s the interesting thing) it isn’t costing us any money. The federal government is footing most of the bill with a little from the state government. Wait a second…whose money is that? Don’t I fund the federal government through my tax dollars? Aren’t the highway fees paid in part by gas taxes, road taxes and taxes on trucks and things? And don’t those taxes get passed back to me the consumer in the form of higher prices? So it seems to me that I am in fact paying for that highway improvement. Just like I am going to pay for the bailout package and the stimulus bill and the rest of the bills we are inventing. I find this kind of attitude more than a little disturbing. This is the kind of attitude that got us here in the first place. You know the one…I am not responsible for the things that are happening to me. They are just happening. We are responsible for everything that happens to us. We are responsible for learning the lessons the universe presents to us. It seems to me everyone is waiting for things to “go back to normal”. A return to rampant building and growth and non-sustainable living practices. And when things get back to normal then we can all go back to doing all the things that got us here in the first place. WHAT??? We are going to do the same things and expect a different result?

I am responsible for my life. I am responsible for the world I live in, the people, and the way it looks. Everything about my life is trying to teach me something. My job is to learn the lessons and move forward. Please, please, please, do not tell me the lesson is to see how many big box retailers I can get in my town or how large my house is, or how much stuff I can accumulate. Because if that is the lesson, I quit. Now. No mas, no mas. Come on folks, the lesson is about living in harmony. Living in ways that sustain you and me and the world around us. Get all the stuff you want as long as it is harmonious to the purpose your are living and the evolution of your soul. Make tons of money if that is harmonious and mindful for you and the rest of us. But stop eating just to eat. Stop buying just to have the next thing. Stop doing things because that is the way you have always done them. Do things, buy things, eat with intention. With responsibility. With knowledge that what you are doing today has an affect 7 generations down the road.

Remember the things about MY STUFF? About all the would’ves, could’ves, should’ves, if only this or that hadn’t happened. All the stuff you are have accumulated; all the stories about your life you keep telling yourself? Well, this responsibility thing grows from there. If I am responsible for my stuff, then I can start learning the lessons. And if we all start learning the lessons then our society and culture might have a chance at changing. Or I can keep living in my own small little shell blaming the rest of the world for what is going on. And continuing to do what I have always done, which will get me more of what I have already gotten.

This is insanity folks. Pure unadulterated insanity of the first order. Stop this merry go round, I want off. But Wait (you knew that was coming, right?)…I created this merry go round, I am the engine that drives this merry go round and I am the person who can stop, start, or change directions for this merry go round. ME. I am responsible. It’s my job to see that this merry go round is working for me. Not anyone else’s job. But wait…I am one voice crying in the wilderness, how can I change any of this?

First, start living in ways that are harmonious and intentional. Eat your food with the intention of nourishing your body and soul.

Second, start feeding your mind enriching literature and information. Eliminate stinking thinking by eliminating the dreck that passes for entertainment and information. Sit in nature. Sit in silence for a part of every day.

Third, live a transparent responsible, purposeful life. Like it or not you are a role model…for yourself at the very least. Your life is your legacy. Not the stuff you are going to leave behind. Let us see you. Let us see the choices you are making. Let us see how a life of purpose and harmony might look. We will all learn something from you.

Fourth, get out from behind your desk, off the couch, wake up from your hibernation and get involved in the world. It is your responsibility to make the world look the way you want it to look. If you don’t like something change it…Change it first in your heart, your home, your community and the world will change. Be the change you want to see in the world.

So…now what are you waiting for?

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”

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