"Instead of ranking countries by happiness or wealth,
by military might or the sum of our gross wasted products,
we could perhaps study the conditions for gratitude,
measure the impact of tenderness, map out the many ways to grieve,
and how to yield with humility.
This is a breath of fresh air in today's offensive atmosphere.
What if we could banish departments of war?
No need for trillion dollar defense budgets
while people struggle to make a simple living.
My favorite phrase is: gross wasted products.
"We could abandon comparison for acts of compassion. . .
appraise all the ways to plant trees instead of judging beauty. . .
how often we say thank you, and just how wide
the aperture of awe holds us in reminder
of the astounding possibility of being here at all."
My heart aches to live in a world where leaders
attend to the needs of the people rather than charging
out with their own ego-driven agenda.
That is how I would like "here" to be. . .
in a land of mutual respect, decency,
and consideration for all living creatures.
That's not reality in this moment of time.
Yet, I can live my one miraculous life
bringing the world I want to exist into focus...
planting it deeply into my heart,
breathing it into my body and out again,
practicing, practicing, practicing...
showing up and paying attention
with kindness and curiosity;
forgiving myself and others when intentions go awry.
Inching the world I want to inhabit into reality
by acting as if it's already here.
Namaste