Roots, Reconciliation and Renewal

“Human health is a sub-system of the Earth health. You cannot have well humans on a sick planet. You cannot have a viable human economy by destroying the Earth economy.” ~ Thomas Berry These last few weeks I have found myself tuned into the world around me more than ever. Part introspection; part retrospection; part back-of-the-envelope ethnography of the culture around me. Observing. Reflecting. Contemplating. Maybe it’s an unconscious... Read More

Mindful Consumption and “The World We Have”

“We touch the Earth to let go of the idea that we are separate and to remind us that we are the Earth and part of life.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh Is there a silver bullet solution for turning around the Throwaway Culture of Convenience? An elixir of unmatched potency to remedy many of the ills that plague our world? If there is, I think I have found it. It is called Mindful Consumption. Two simple words that convey a deeply profound message... Read More

You vs. Stuff: Five Strategies for Winning Every Time

“Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this materialistic age a great many of us are possessed by our possessions.” ~ Peace Pilgrim Over the weekend, we tag-teamed a huge yard sale with my in-laws. Truth be told, it looked and felt more like a bonafide flea market than willy-nilly yard sale: Table after table of stuff laid out under canopies; long lines of people meandering through... Read More

The Frivolous Fifty

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.”  ~ Mohandas K. Gandhi How often have you’ve seen this bumper sticker humming down the highway: “He who dies with the most toys wins.” Nothing sums up the tragic take on mainstream America like it. Look up American Lifestyle in the dictionary and you’re likely to see a lot of this stuff. Whether or not this extends to the rest... Read More

Meditation: Garbage In = Garbage Out

[Author’s Note: Each Monday at The New Pursuit is Meditation Monday. A simple thought to help you approach the week, keep perspective right and support you in finding your balance.] The adage of “You are what you eat” is so true. Cast that net wider: You are what you consume. This could be food or media or ideas or other material objects. All those things we are bombarded with—voluntarily or involuntarily—every day. What you surround... Read More