Oct
Blog Action Day and the 3rd Key to Happiness, Connection
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This post is part of the Keys to Happiness Series. The keys to happiness are courage, generosity, connection, clarity, presence, non-attachment, and gratitude.
Today is Blog Action Day. A few weeks ago, I was invited to participate by Leo of Zen Habits. As I write this post, there are 12,316 bloggers participating, reaching over 11 million readers. Did you ever think that blogging could have such an impact?
It’s all about connection.
Life is rosy when you have a network of family and friends to share it with. It takes on a new dimension when you can share your latest blog stats with a network of local bloggers. You get the support to speak in front of hundreds when you practice every week with a group of fellow public speakers at a Toastmasters meeting. You feel accountable to accomplish your goals when you share them with your Mastermind group.
But connection isn’t just about sharing your dreams, trials, and accomplishments with other people. It is also about connecting to Spirit, which we talk about here most of the time.
Today, though, we’re going to address another dimension of connection that is becoming increasingly important. That’s our connection to the planet. That’s what Blog Action Day is about.
Admittedly, I am the least environmentally conscious person I know. I don’t even recycle at home. (I know, I know, let the stoning proceed.) So I’m going to need to hear from you today.
- Why is it important to recycle?
- Is it as big an inconvenience as I think it is?
- What is all of this stuff about global warming? I know the earth is getting warmer, but what can I do to prevent that?
- Are we still concerned about spray cans and the like, or is the situation more dire?
- Why do we feel so disconnected from the earth that we think we can do whatever we want to it and it will be there for us indefinitely?
Today, I am asking you, my dear readers, to enlighten me.
In Spirit,
Nneka
October 15th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Hi Nneka,
My answers may be simple, but here is where I am:
Why is it important to recycle?
Because the more we recycle, the less we use up what the Earth is providing. There is only so much. The Earth recycles itself, why shouldn’t we assist, especially since we create more trash, particularly trash that doesn’t decompose, than any other living thing on this planet?
Is it as big an inconvenience as I think it is?
What is the big deal? You get used to throwing your glass in one can, tins in another. Bundle your newspaper and cardboard. This takes minutes of your life, every day. We have time to spare on every other bit of nonsense, we can’t take a minute to think about what can to throw our water bottle into? Or worse, we throw it on the ground?
What is all of this stuff about global warming? I know the earth is getting warmer, but what can I do to prevent that?
So many mixed messages in the media here, but I know that I’ve been hearing scientists and Earthies talk about global warming since the 70’s. If it wasn’t real, the talk would have been gone long ago. And I know that I’ve been living in the same area all my life… the weather has definitely gotten warmer. Direct perception. What to do? Reuse, recycle, drive a tiny car, buy a hybrid, heat your home with renewable energy, buy carbon offsets.
Are we still concerned about spray cans and the like, or is the situation more dire?
Everything helps. They took the bad stuff out of the spray cans, now you just have to remember to recycle the can!
Why do we feel so disconnected from the earth that we think we can do whatever we want to it and it will be there for us indefinitely?
Because we are so disconnected with our Selves. We chase pleasure without considering the consequences. Humans are supremely arrogant. The Universe -and this planet- stays in balance no matter what. Humans have not noticed the small “tap with a feather” corrections (not to say that hurricaines and tsunamis are small). It will take a huge “hit with a 2×4″ kind of correction before we wake up to what we’ve been doing to this planet. I hope my Attachments are long gone before that comes, as I’m sure it won’t be pleasant. The human race is not minding it’s Karma points! *LOL*
October 21st, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Hi Gayle, thanks for all of your responses. I’m not with the “sky is falling” mentality that seems to be surrounding the “demise” of the environment.
I do think that we need to reconnect with our Selves. When we do, we will see that we can’t cut off an arm without feeling the pain in our heart. In other words, we can’t continue to destroy the art for short term gain if we hope for it to be here for generations to come.
The earth will do what it needs to do to repair itself. That might mean 1000 years of ice where humans to which humans cannot adapt. On the other hand, we’re pretty resourceful as well.
In Spirit,
Nneka
July 19th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Hi Nneka,
I think you’re right when you say we have to reconnect with our Selves. The “Self” means the home of Natural Law in us. If we enliven that level of existence, then the natural laws will help us out before it’s too late.
Susan