Ten Point Countdown!
by Annebeth Riles
Ten Point Countdown for Sustainable Steps into a Brighter Future
10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1...Blast Off!
- 10: Don't Delay Start Today
Do what you can each day, with what you have, Waiting for that perfect time in the future when you own an organic farm, electric car, or head up a not-for-profit organization? It may never happen. But you can change the world for the better today, by starting to appreciate and share the resources you have available to you, especially your time. To make your dreams come into reality, you must first wake up, and take a look at the lives of others who have achieved what you desire, and attempt to set up a knowledge transfer. Do not covet, or be jealous of others. Instead, volunteer to help out on an organic farm, humanitarian project, or other activity worthy of your time. People at the top have been through a lot to position themselves, and are often extremely busy. So, offer to help and learn good habits that will affect your destiny. You need to do the work to get into the position that you desire: wishing, and hoping, and thinking and praying is not enough. Success requires effort. We begin our countdown with a call to action. - 9: Be Honest with Yourself and Others
Everyone who is longing to build a better world needs to get into positive lasting friendships with others. Just as in building a house, it all starts with digging holes to put in foundation posts, then a cornerstone. The strength of the house is determined by the strength of a foundation. Your friendships form a foundation and supply building blocks for creating a sustainable future together. To achieve much, many are needed, collectively working with all of their strength, toward completing a measurable goal. What abilities, gifts or talents can you share? Be honest, because nothing erodes friendships quicker than a lying tongue: saying that you will do something, and then not doing it is a No-No. Pretending you are more or less than you tell people you are just casts a veil of dishonesty about your character, and then you will soon find yourself standing alone, and trying again to build a positive sustainable future. Tell the truth. Let your "Yes" mean "Yes" and your "No" mean "No".
If you take anything that does not belong to you, that is stealing. It does not matter how much money the rightful owner has, and don't believe the myth that insurance will pay the person back. There are two ways that you acquire things in life. One way is to work for them; the other is to be gifted with something: anything else is stealing. This includes stealing material things, ranging from clothing to cars, ideas and intellectual property, tools to fuel, to jewels. It's all stealing, differing only by degree. Is it need, or greed? If it is need, ask and you will probably receive. If it is greed, just because you want it, you are wrong in taking it.
A dependable person shines like the sun, because security comes from such a one. Be a faithful friend, spouse, mother, father, step-parent, son, daughter, or grandparent, and you will immediately improve the physical, mental, and emotional health of those depending on you. Strong healthy relationships are necessary to build a sustainable world. With stable relationships, people need far less materially to have happiness in their lives. Blended families have become the norm over the past two decades, but the same rules apply to them. Don't hold grudges or start feuds that will rob you of the joy of being productive in life.
Sustainable living means building a nest that serves as a place to nurture the growth and development of the next generation. We need to be future generation minded, always. Plant an orchard, or stand of trees, for the next generation. Celebrate life. Not eating every last shellfish we find on the beach leaves some to reproduce for our children. Pass the torch of sustainable survival, in all actions. Thinking of and serving others first, are steps in the right direction. Looking at life as something to be cherished, not endured, or abused is a step closer to satisfaction.
Find out how people who passed through earth before us managed to conserve resources and enjoy life, with far less materially. Study history, and read about how people groups survived. Up until a century ago, everyone ate what was locally grown, used some form of composting toilet, and sat in the sun to warm their bones, instead of by a heater. People used less soap and detergents for keeping themselves, their clothing and houses clean, because they needed to make the soap... so they did not waste it. In fact, the people groups who survived were the ones committed to zero waste. We need to learn from our elders how to survive, and thrive, by respecting the value of each thing, and not wasting time, energy, or resources.
What happens to your cell phone or laptop after a few hours of use? It needs to be recharged. If not recharged, it stops working. We are programmed in a similar way, and need rest and recharge between our eight hours of work, and eight hours of play, or leisure, each 24 hour day. At Tira Ora, we are forming an Eco-state, which requires a lot of hard work, and play to keep it fun, and a complete day of rest in every seven days. On this day of rest everyone sleeps until they are no longer tired, eats meals that have been prepared the previous day, and do not engage in work of any kind or long-distance travel. That one day each week is for finding that sacred space within oneself, to hear yourself think, about the special purpose of your life, to contribute to making the world into a better place. If you have not discovered the positive purpose in your life, it is probably because you have not rested one day in seven, to hear that still small voice from heaven that guides you on. Two people groups, composed of millions of people, have enjoyed a day of rest for centuries. Muslims rest on Friday, calling the day Jumu'ah; Jews rest on Saturday, calling the day Shabbat. An even larger people group, Christians, are supposed to rest on Sunday, but often end up with social commitments: driving to Church services, then a little stop at the bakery, or other Church-based activities, that may give them a partial rest, instead of a complete rest. People who do not belong to the groups mentioned above, may never get a rest. The health of bodies breaks down without rest, until sickness forces us to rest. A broken body from neglect of rest is unnecessary. Try to have a complete day of rest, and I guarantee that you will get more done on the other six, and have more fun!
Let's enjoy a simple language that everyone understands, in order to promote sustainable living. Never get pompous or "holier than thou", with language that our hearers do not understand. Five words understood between people are of greater value than 10,000 words of theory that can add to confusion among cultures and age groups, whose collective desire is to be good stewards of our planet. There is power in our words - to encourage or discourage, build or destroy, bless or curse. Let's be encouraging builders of a blessed reality, in caring for our environment and for each other.
Some people have made eco-living into a new image or idol, while others are making a lot of money from the concept (which is really an old concept) of how people survived by looking after each other and our planet successfully in the past. Families were linked into extended families, tribes and formed nations. There is nothing so natural as eco-living, so beware when there is a high price tag on any product or service within the eco-living movement. We were once stung by a scoundrel who convinced us to pay in advance, $35,000 for a wind turbine and digester for biogas. We paid the man in good faith, and were still waiting for the products five years later. Questioning the credibility of characters within the eco-sustainable movement is prudent. We must be wise enough to keep a balanced approach, to keep moving with the changes in culture, towards a brighter future, and not make eco-sustainability an idol.
The end of my point of view could really be the beginning. That is, to develop a complete and healthy respect for our earth, oceans, air, people, plants, and animals: everything above and below the vast seas, and all of our natural resources. For our sake, and the sake of future generations, learning from mistakes made in the recent past, we must set our goal as preserving our planet, and repairing the generations that have been broken by mis-understanding and greed.
We have everything that we need on earth - our privileged planet in the universe - designed especially for us to survive and thrive. For the great gift of life, I humbly bow and pray. Thank you for reading my countdown. I hope it has been encouraging. Now, blast off to a sustainable future!
© 2011, Annebeth Riles
