More John Denver

Another one of my favorite John Denver songs and I love what he says in the interview before :) Enjoy

Looking Back

I woke up with in the middle of the night with a song in my head. The song is of a man I grew up listening to and it got me wondering about why I love nature so much. Was I always a cooky tree hugger? Why did I draw mountains scenes when I was a little girl? Why is my attraction and wonder to this planet so high? I must have had some outside influence to help throw me on this path.

I would say one of my favorite memories is when my father would have me join him in the living room in my New Jersey home. He would begin to put music on to share with me and not only listen to the instruments but also to pay close attention to the words of what the poet songwriters were expressing. Sometimes these created great talks for my father and I about the wonder of this life we all live. I grew up listening to artists such as Peter, Paul and Mary, Jim Croce, and more of that genre. But, my favorite to sit and listen to, my ALL time favorite to this day is John Denver. I loved and still love listening to John Denver. His passion for making a difference through his poetry was a driving force in my life. I can't seem to find anyone today that expresses like John did. His expressive feelings on the earth, love, cultures, spirituality, peace, and animals (such as dolphins and whales which are my favorite) is a rare gem. 

So I would like to share my favorite song this morning. It is common and you have heard it before I am sure. It might be a corny moment for me, but I want to share it anyway. His usage of comparing love for another with the love of nature and how it is all one in the same evokes the most wonderful deep emotions for me and I am sure others as well. So a little musical sharing from me this am. Come and sit in my blog living room and listen to his words. 

A big thanks to my dad for sharing these wonderful singers with me in my life and another big thank you to the late John Denver who still inspires to this day and through his words helps me to remember what I love most in life. I do not forget. This is a part of me always. 

Story of Bottled Water

So as promised here is the interesting video on bottled water...

Awareness #1 - Simplicity is the KEY!

This morning I happened to watch Democracy Now news (probably one of the only news sources I trust) and the stories today had to do a lot with 9/11, the new building being built in NYC, who is funding it, who is making millions off of it, how much of it is outsourced leaving local US workers helpless, and how workers from 9/11 are dying from the materials they had to deal with. Here is the link if you would like to take a peak - Democracy Now

Politics goes round and round. People fight and are divided by hatred, complaining at an all time high, and the fists are out of who wants who in office. The leaders begin the claim to make a difference, but my awareness is that it begins with me and trust has been violated by a whole lot of them up there. The thing is I believe corporations are running the country. They are much larger than the government. You probably know this as well. Contributions lead to decisions to be voted on. And you know what, this goes all ways, even Environmental lobbyist I know make deals. I am no way near understanding political science, but something is just wrong and politics is dying for me. It doesn't seem the way anymore. The voice seems to be in small communities, local and sustainable living, supporting local farmers and making changes in your own home and community. It is about living simplicity. It is being an example for our children to learn.

With these thoughts this morning, I went online to do some of my own research. How can I make a difference when everything is so chaotic and impossible to fight. You stand up and either get called a trader or threatened and how does a passionate environmental girl keep on this journey? As stated above, I am feeling the need to keep it simple. I have a need to write on this blog the changes I am making and hoping someone out there will go on the journey as well. I know I am a product of this society. I have been taught by the advertisers that more is better, that new is better, that fast is better, that working yourself to death at jobs yo hate is better so you can have more stuff which is better. So my efforts in the upcoming months and years ahead is to say goodbye to the advertisers and find a  new, inner connection of living with respect and goodness on this earth. It is getting easier because it is fun and okay to let go of the teachings that are not sustainable. I want to meet the end of my life knowing I did something really good for myself, my wonderful daughter, my community, and my relationship with this incredible, beautiful, magnificent, perfect planet. I want to take the job of Earth Angel today and join the thousand Earth Angels that inspire me and who have been doing it for many years.

At the same time I believe in not punishing myself and going nuts. I think this is where we can fail. Commit to a million things at once and can't fulfill them. Easy, fun little steps is my plan. Hence, this journal/blog continues with much joy.

So today I was led on an educational, environmental journey. I viewed a great video on the history of stuff which is posted below. Also the history of bottled water that I will post. Today, I looked up ways to use glass containers instead of plastic storage containers or even yet maybe bio degradable bpa-free plastics if needed. Garage sales will be a place I look for creative ways to store food and food for my daughters lunch...where will this take me next?? The search continues….

The Journey Begins... Again

I started this blog as a personal journal with my relationship to this planet. I was on this journey before. I do remember. In high school and in college. I became active in the environmental and human rights movement. I really enjoyed this time and my love for the earth, animals and people was immense.

Although I kept up with things throughout the years, I feel some of my adventures took me off the path, broken my spirit and I also feel that where I was living I began to experience a disconnection from nature. Although I loved my friends and family in Florida, being surrounded by strip malls, concrete and asphalt everywhere was truly effecting my spirit. Also breathing in exhaust on my walks and the absence of the change of seasons saddened me on a deep level. I became numb in my environment, lost and dying. As my story is told in my other blog, little crumbs were thrown on the path for me and my family to make a very big move to a place I never thought I would live. The fire grew in my belly but I ignored it many days until I was totally a blaze. I thought it impossible to be happening. But, the earth spirit kept calling me relentlessly and I after years of fighting, I put my fists down and answered back, "OK!"I surrendered and that is when circumstances begin to flow like tubing downstream on a river.

My move to Tennessee is one of the best decisions I ever followed in my life. Through my doubts, concerns and fears of such a blind move I am beginning to understand why I am here as I feel a change happening in my soul, a healing, a calling back to who I truly am. It is a great joy to feel energy in a new way. I believe that the land is incredibly powerful and when we live where we match that energy it does wonders for our soul. This is what is happening to me now. I feel uplifted, inspired, loved, and inner joy I have long missed. I mean, I sit here on this rainy day looking out on beautiful trees, leaves, a lake, smelling the freshest of air and I just smile in awe and total gratefulness. This is all I have dreamed for such a long time.

So this journey with my old friend, the earth, begins again. This blog is a record of the things I encounter through food, shopping, hiking, activism, politics, cooking, cleaning, community, farmer's markets, and other adventures. It is my friend the earth and myself taking hands and beginning new steps together.

It is my journey to awareness and you are welcome to come a long with me. I am not out to force anyone to change. I realize I must change myself and live by example and we all have that choice to be inspired and make changes ourselves. I can only hope that these writings will inspire you too, on your earth journey, to begin the process of remembering your relationship with your old friend and how to take care of her in better ways. So come along as I encounter new ways to cook, clean, help, live, and enjoy this wonderful earth! It is going to be lots of fun!