A collection of writings, links and information about the joys, power and challenges of "sharing" and the gift-economy. Also contains articles we found funny or inspiring -- not necessarily related to "sharing".
It's interesting that the word "resolution" has, as one of its definitions: "to bring into greater focus" (as in a "microscope's powers of resolution"). So, one way of looking at our new year's resolutions is to decide what we're going to "focus on". Chris and I, both being Aquarians, found this recent Free Will astrological forecast by Rob Brezsny's quite fitting as we refine where we put our attention for this coming year. Perhaps you will too, whatever your sun-sign is!
Aquarian philosopher Simone Weil formulated resolutions so as
to avoid undermining herself. First, she vowed she would only
deal with difficulties that actually confronted her, not
far-off or hypothetical problems. Second, she would allow herself to
feel only those feelings that were needed to inspire her and
make her take effective action. All other feelings were to be
shed, including imaginary feelings—that is, those not rooted
in any real, objective situation. Third, she vowed, she would
"never react to evil in such a way as to augment it."
One of the feelings we're choosing to focus on this year is forgiveness. Here's a video we recently came across that show forgiveness at its best. it features a 3-year old's response to his mother telling him that she ate all his Halloween candy. Precious.(And very forgiving...).
Sometimes, when I'm feeling overwhelmed with the enormity of the challenges the world is facing, I am comforted by this quote attributed to Mother Teresa:
Recently, I came across the following incredible story of how degraded gorse-infested farmland has been regenerated back into beautiful New Zealand native forest over the course of 30 years. It's a real David and Goliath story. When, in 1987, Hugh Wilson - the protagonist of the story, let the local community know of his plans to allow the introduced ‘weed’ gorse to grow as a nurse canopy to regenerate farmland into native forest, people were not only skeptical but outright angry – the plan was the sort to be expected only of “fools and dreamers”.
Now considered a hero locally and across the country, Hugh oversees 1500 hectares resplendent in native forest, where birds and other wildlife are abundant and 47 known waterfalls are in permanent flow. He has proven without doubt that nature knows best – and that he is no fool. Set aside 30 minutes of your time and prepare to be inspired and uplifted!
At the end of the video, Hugh says,
"So, if people watch this and say, 'Gosh, this is succeeding in lovely ways, I'll do something in my little corner of the world' - that would be great!...And if that's repeated over and over again, well - the possibilities are immense!" - Hugh Wilson
And, if you need a little bit more inspiration for doing your own "small thing, with great love", here's a music-video I made called The Forest of a Million Trees Begins By Planting Just One Tree.
