Posts from — May 2009

Paul Hawken is a renowned entrepreneur, visionary environmental activist, and author of many books, most recently Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming. He was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters by University president Father Bill Beauchamp, C.S.C., in May, when he delivered this superb speech.

My dear friend, Ann, sent this to me, and I thought it was worth posting!!!

The Unforgettable Commencement Address to the Class of 2009, University of Portland, May 3rd, 2009??By Paul Hawken

When I was invited to give this speech, I was asked if I could give a simple short talk that was “direct, naked, taut, honest, passionate, lean, shivering, startling, and graceful.” Boy, no pressure there.

But let’s begin with the startling part. Hey, Class of 2009: you are going to have to figure out what it means to be a human being on earth at a time when every living system is declining, and the rate of decline is accelerating. Kind of a mind-boggling situation – but not one peer-reviewed paper published in the last thirty years can refute that statement. Basically, the earth needs a new operating system, you are the programmers, and we need it within a few decades.

This planet came with a set of operating instructions, but we seem to have misplaced them. Important rules like don’t poison the water, soil, or air, and don’t let the earth get overcrowded, and don’t touch the thermostat have been broken. Buckminster Fuller said that spaceship earth was so ingeniously designed that no one has a clue that we are on one, flying through the universe at a million miles per hour, with no need for seat belts, lots of room in coach, and really good food – but all that is changing.

There is invisible writing on the back of the diploma you will receive, and in case you didn’t bring lemon juice to decode it, I can tell you what it says: YOU ARE BRILLIANT, AND THE EARTH IS HIRING. The earth couldn’t afford to send any recruiters or limos to your school. It sent you rain, sunsets, ripe cherries, night blooming jasmine, and that unbelievably cute person you are dating. Take the hint. And here’s the deal: Forget that this task of planet-saving is not possible in the time required. Don’t be put off by people who know what is not possible. Do what needs to be done, and check to see if it was impossible only after you are done.? [Read more →]

Dear Fellow Travelers,

I selectively endorse books, however this one is worth you taking a look.

We all know that minds create and most of us put a lot of energy into positive thinking. Why then are we living in such troubling times? Today I bring you information that is vital for living truly free lives, where we are in control and can once again create our ideal life.

I am writing about my friend and colleague, Eldon Taylor and his brand new book, Mind Programming: From Persuasion and Brainwashing to Self-Help and Practical Metaphysics. This is simply a must-read book! This message is so important that many of the world’s visionaries, myself included, have joined together to support this book launch.

View the trailer for Mind Programming:

CLICK HERE

As you read this book, you’ll feel the blinders being removed and you will truly see the world in an entirely new light.
Jeff Warrick, – documentary filmmaker, Programming the Nation?
[Read more →]

Each of us at one time or another have said “yes” to something, following our intuition, and then wondered how we would pull it off, how we would rise to the occasion.

I’ve done it again. I’ve decided again to look for happiness in unlikely places.

As many of you know about three years ago I said “yes” when my grandnephew when at age 2 he was diagnosed with A. L. L. leukemia. I became a part of his hands-on circle of support as he maneuvered his way through a bone marrow transplant and months of horrific treatments. My work from the moment I got the news was for the most part put on hold in order to participate in his healing process. I am delighted to say that, except for a few challenges, he is doing well and just celebrated his 5th birthday!

After he returned to his home in Alaska, I began the journey of regaining the momentum I had gained with Drive Yourself Happy and my other work with Circle Connections when it became apparent that my own grandson was facing challenges with autism. How could I turn my back here? Despite the downward turning economy and my ever-dwindling savings, I decided to temporarily relocate from my beloved Post Townsend to Long Beach, CA to assist with Brody’s care.

A visit that we intended to be long enough to welcome Brody’s baby sister and arrange for him to get appropriate services has turned into months and an incredible biomedical approach to his healing as well as a off-putting obstacle course with the school district , insurance, and medical systems. Sound familiar to some of you?

For whatever reason I was called to say “yes” once again and become an active advocate for Brody, just as I did for my grandnephew, Connor. In my heart and against all logic, I feel called to be here for these children who act as “canaries in the gold mind” to alert us what is needed to heal our earth, our environment, our health-care system, our bodies, and out way of being with one another.

Last month was Autism Awareness Month. Since we fully leaped beyond denial to understand and accept that Brody had this disorder that is now affecting 1 of every 60 children, I have learned so much, and yet have only scratched the surface. Exhausted but invested, I know it is my calling to be of help in any way I can, trusting that the way and the means would be revealed.

Still committed to the belief that happiness is possible regardless of even these circumstances, I have decided to share the knowns and unknows of the step I take, clear that there are many faced with such challenges who might benefit from my revelations and feel less alone because I am willing to share my fear along the way.

And so this will be the first of many updates I will share with you as I prepare to head off in June to the Autism Treatment Center of America’s Son-Rise Program for a 5 day intensive training to set up a home based child centered program specific to Brody’s needs.

Ready. Fire. Aim. Deep breath. Lean with faith.

To open a door, to let someone else cut in line, to pick up something dropped out of the reach of another… these can be huge gifts even though they appear like small kindnesses.

Life is a group participation experience. There are over six billion of us walking around this planet and it seems unreasonable to think we are meant to manage life alone. No one need feel isolated if only we dare to reach out to one another. And yet, connection does little if it remains superficial and meaningless or only practiced if self-serving.

We must dare, not only to connect, but also, in order to have the peace we all long for we must learn to be kind.

But has kindness become obsolete? Have we become too busy and numb that we have forgotten how to be compassionate with one another? Life is messy and now moves at such a hurried pace.

Too many men have forgotten the power that comes from tenderness and slowing to truly listen, and too many women have abandoned their authentic nature to survive in the fast paced and competitive game that has long been played by men. Standing elbow to elbow we have somehow created separation by forgetting that control is an illusion, perfection is fleeting, excellence is possible, and love is the answer to every question. [Read more →]

“The greatest gift we give ourselves or anyone else
is the quality of our attention.”

– Richard Moss

“We have not been called to change this crazy world.
We are called simply to love it.”

– Maithri Goonetilleke
Australian Doctor, Author and Poet
More ‘Change’ Quotes  Today’s Story: ‘One For
My Sister’

“When we serve, we see the unborn wholeness in
others; others may then be able to see their
wholeness for themselves for the first time.”

– Rachel Naomi Remen MD

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”

– Albert Einstein

Be on the lookout for a reason to smile!

Life moves along at a hectic pace these days. In just one day we are bombarded with and expected to process the same amount of information that a century ago was experienced over a two-year period of time.

As many of you know, I have a three-year-old grandson who experiences autism. He is an amazing child who ‘marches to the beat of a different drummer.’ Passionate about the power of connection, I have felt drawn to him who has difficulty connecting, and have shifted my life to be close by to honor him in his world and hopefully expand his world to more fully include ours.

In June I will start a five day intensive training called Son Rise to learn more fully how to be of service to Brody’s needs and set up a home program for him. Who knows where this ‘YES’ will take me. It already has stretched my capacity to love authentically.

This program was started by Barry Kaufman, author of Happiness Is a Choice. Barry has long inspired me, even before I was aware that he had a severely autistic child who has since graduated from Brown University and is the CEO/Director of the Son Rise program at the Autism Treatment Center of America. Miracles do happen, and as Raun, his son, says, “I would rather be accused of having unrealistic optimism than unrealistic pessimism.”

These amazing kids are ever increasing in number, and I believe they are our canaries in the gold mine, here to alert us to the need to transform and heal our world and our way of being in relationship. They are here to remind us what is truly important.

Remember the story or the frogs and boiling water? If a frog is placed in a pot of already boiling water, the frog will make every effort to jump out, but if a frog is placed in a pot of cold water on the stove with gradually increasing heat, instead of jumping out when the water gets too hot, the frog will stay in the water and fall asleep until he meets his doom.

(Image by purpleslog via Flickr)

Reflected in this tendency, humans are similar. As the pace of life has gradually increased, we falsely believe that if we just run fast enough we can keep up with and manage all the pressures! Rather than recognize and declare our limits, we accommodate to the point of not knowing what we want. We are only half present when we are spread too thin. Attempting to juggle one more thing on top of another leads us to a state of “overwhelm” where all we do is react to all we face rather than choose to best design the life we want. We feel a victim of our circumstances rather than a co-creator of our reality. It’s hard to feel happy when we feel we have no life to call our own and stress is our only predictable emotion.

Under this kind of persistent pressure, everything seems urgent and we lose our ability to prioritize. When we are reacting rather than responding, we choose to fulfill the expectations of others rather than make decisions based on our values and what is important to us.

So, what is important to you? [Read more →]

Do you want to see what happens when happiness, passion, and tenacity meet?

I am fortunate to have as a colleague a powerhouse of a creative woman, Aymee Coget. She dreams big and has put her magic touch on a new organization to round up all those committed to happiness. I am delighted to introduce you to  The American Happiness Association.

How AHA came about:

A seed was planted when Dr. Aymee Coget and Sandi Smith first met at a happiness conference in November 2008. In their first phone call, they both shared their vision of conceiving an organization to help people be happier, even down to the acronym of AHA. Dr. Coget brought her long-time mentor, Bob Nozik, MD, in on the conversation, and a few meetings later, the American Happiness Association was officially born on February 18, 2009 as a California nonprofit corporation.

All three of us saw the challenge: so much amazing happiness research that never got out to the public with the exception of the periodic news story that may or may not be all that accurate. Some of the happiness researchers collaborate with others, but there has been no centralized place for all this wonderful life-changing science-based happiness information. Until now! AHA brings together hundreds of researchers results and translates it into tools you can use every day to make your life better.

Each original founder provides unique and complementary skills to the American Happiness Association. Dr. Coget brings her education in positive psychology, her connections with other happiness experts in the field, and her experience in transforming individuals through her Happiness Makeovers.

Ms. Smith, a CPA and MBA, offers her business development skills, an education in neuroscience and positive psychology, and her own happiness coaching and training programs. Dr. Nozik imparts his medical experience as a physician who has treated patients, and a researcher, where he has authored numerous medical textbooks and teaches university courses.

The most important thing about all three founders is that not only are they happiness experts academically, they are all truly, deeply happy people. To learn more… [Read more →]