Tools for the Journey #23 - Humanifesto

 Humanifesto - A Navigational Tool for the Journey

We don't live in times where people are encouraged to have and/or issue a manifesto. When I think of the word it usually brings back thoughts of US History class in school rather than daily life in the 21st century.

Here is the Wikipedia definition:

A manifesto is a written public declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of the issuer, be it an individual, group, political party or government.A manifesto usually accepts a previously published opinion or public consensus and/or promotes a new idea with prescriptive notions for carrying out changes the author believes should be made. It is often political or artistic in nature, but may also present an individual's life stance.

It's the last part of the definition which really interests me - 'may also present an individual's life stance'. Therein lies the point I'm getting at - what if each of us had to issue our own personal manifesto? Do you have any idea what yours would be? Take a moment and really let the thought sink in.

What is your life stance? What are your well examined 'on this rock I stand' beliefs? How does your moral compass find 'true north'? True north differs from magnetic north because it is unchanging, without the variables of magnetic north. Hence the metaphor. Too often on life's journey we're uncertain where we're going and what the right path is for us personally. Finding our true north enables us to discover our own right, well lit path.

In order to find our 'true north', in order to formulate our personal manifesto, we must turn the magnifying glass upon ourselves, our beliefs, our passions; we must know ourselves well enough to find the manifesto written inside us...and then have the courage to stand unwavering upon that rock.

I don't know exactly what my manifesto is, but I'm working on it. I'm turning 50 this year and plan to have my manifesto written in time for my birthday in July. It seems with fifty years under my travlin' belt it's a good time to make this stand, to issue my manifesto as a declaration for my next fifty years.

While working on my own manifesto I came across The SuperForest Humanifesto - it is a good one worth reading and sharing. I've printed copies for my children to keep in their 'special box'. The 'special box' is the place I put all the important thoughts, musings, ideas, quotes and inspirations I want to share with them but which they are still too young to appreciate. When they are older they will have this box full of wisdom from their mama; this cache of navigational tools and candles and compasses to help them on their journey and to help them as they formulate their own manifesto.

Perhaps the Humanifesto will inspire you to begin the work of finding your own manifesto.

Be courageous this year and remember these wise words from my friend, Erik Weihenmayer:   

"What's within you is stronger than what's in your way."

Happy New Year one and all!
Cheryl 

 The SuperForest Humanifesto

What is going to save the human race?

Please.
Thank you.

Three words that will totally change this planet.
More than solar power. More than recycling. More than wind energy.

Why?

Because if we all started treating the people and things that we interact with every day with respect and compassion, the effects would ripple through every aspect of our lives, transforming society.

Our parents taught us the manners “rule-sets” that we use every day, and as a result, we feel that we have (through years of introspection) begun walking the path towards enlightenment. Our manners dictate the way we treat the external world, the Environment. We feel that it is primarily our manners that dictate our success as humans.

Folks talk about wanting to save the “Environment”, and that conjures up images of bubbling brooks and unspoiled forests. But “the Environment” isn’t just greenery and pretty scenery. It’s our slums, our airports, our houses, our supermarkets.
The Environment is everything that disappears when you close your eyes.

If you want to improve it, you must begin with what you see and encounter every single day of your life.
Before we can set about elevating our present society from a carbon-based one to a solar-electric one, knowing full well that solar-electric decentralized power means a higher quality of life for all, we must first pause and ask ourselves: Why? What is worth saving?

Human Consciousness.

Our gift and curse as humans is our incredible consciousness. We are aware, and that is the greatest and worst thing we’ve got going for us. Because we can clearly see how well we could be living, how politely we could be treating one another, how incredible life could be; we feel it is our duty to delight and inform our fellow humans in the hopes of creating a better world.

There is no reason every human on Earth could not have access to:
Clean Water
Nutritious Un-modified Food
Shelter
Education
Open Source Communication
Freedom from Oppression and Fascism

But, as is painfully obvious, most humans don’t have those things.
Most humans don’t have two of the six!

They could, but they don’t.

Why?

Bad Manners.

Nearly every religion this planet has yet produced has as one of its tenets the idea that to be happy, you must treat others as you yourself would hope to be treated.
A failure in this respect is simply bad form.

When a company decides to dump its waste into a river that others downstream use for drinking water, that is bad manners.

When a society chooses to isolate its citizenry in prisons and not offer any chance at rehabilitation, that is bad manners.

When a person decides to walk into a school and open fire on their classmates, that is extremely bad manners.

That is why we MUST START NOW.

All new generations must be schooled in the art of good manners if we are to survive, let alone flourish, as a species.

Try your hardest to treat others as you hope they would treat you, and actively look for ways to help the people around you. Do this from a pure place within you and watch the effects ripple outward!

Why?

Because so few are doing it.

Good manners make you stand out like a struck match in a dark room.

Three Essentials:

Make eye contact with anyone you interact with. Smiling is optional but highly encouraged.

Use the words “Please” and “Thank You” as often as you can.
Seek out ways to improve the lives of others. This can be as small as carrying someones bag up a flight of stairs, or holding a door open.

Do these three things and your life will change immeasurably. And you will begin to change the lives of those who come into contact with you in a measurable and positive way.

We are filled with optimism and hope.

Thank you for reading this.

Love,

Team SuperForest
http://superforest.org/2008/04/the-superforest-humanifesto-2/ 

Tools for the Journey #22 - UP

What is your UP? (Up as noun not adverb)

In my corner of the Blue-Green the rusty counterpane of autumn has all but finished its blanketing of the world outside my windows; the yard is a mess of auburn foliage yet my eyes are drawn upward. There are still apples clinging to the high branches of trees, and stubborn leaves holding on at the tops of old maples determined to avoid their flight to earth. Yet even with the crunchy messiness below, my eyes are pulled heavenward.

The smoke rising from burning leaf piles in the dooryards of old farmhouses upward into the stunning, crystalline blue sky. Everything around me in this leafy cathedral makes me want to look UP!

Have you noticed how fall and winter make you look up at things falling down, and spring and summer tend to make you look down at things coming up?

Autumn reminds me of ancient cathedrals built tall so religious pilgrims would turn their eyes toward heaven; a reminder of where their blessings rain down from like so many falling leaves.

For the past twelve months I’ve been a pilgrim on a harrowing pilgrimage through hospital rooms, infusion suites, pain meds and feeding tubes. This time last year my husband had stage IV, metastatic cancer and we were uncertain of the future. My 'up' at that time was the fervent prayer Paul could somehow survive the horrid chemotherapy treatments and by some miracle return to being the vibrant husband and father he had been. This year my 'up' is in profound gratitude for the manifestation of this miracle.

There were many dark days in the past twelve months and yet there were also many friends who stood by the road and shown their lights to guide us through those days. Some made quilts and hats to keep Paul warm, some raked leaves so I could be at the hospital, and Meals for Neighbors quietly deposited meals on our doorstep three days a week for months. These are but a few of the kindnesses extended by the fellow pilgrims we’re blessed to call our friends.

My habit in fall-time is to be mindful of my 'harvest' over the past year and this year is no different. Ever since I was a child I've loved the idea of a holiday all about people being grateful. What is different this year is what my 'up' is focused on.

My friend, Erik Weihenmayer, who lost his eyesight at thirteen years old, talks about alchemy and how to turn the lead of our lives into gold - the transmutation of something base into something extraordinary. This past year has been one of the most 'lead-filled' and challenging of my life, yet friends and neighbors selflessly rose up and made the journey far less painful than it might have been otherwise. An ear, a shoulder, a hand extended - all helped us to look up from our troubles with gratitude; giving us eyes to see gold where we thought there was only lead.

This Thanksgiving my 'up' is focused with gratitude on the blessing and miracle of true friends. The grace of God is omnipresent and witnessed by the presence of these earthly angels Divine Grace has put in our way.

As you bow your heads this Thanksgiving think about what your 'UP' is this year; what has your harvest brought you? Savor what is upon your table today...store up the good from your bounty because there will no doubt be an equinox of bright and blustery days ahead on this unpredictable leaf-strewn journey.

Autumn is an alchemist turning these leaves to gold and we are supposed to look up and take notice of this overflowing cornucopia.

 In Joy and Gratitude and for lifting us UP!

Chery, Paul, Alia and YuYu

2012

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."     -Marcel Proust

Tool for the Journey #21 - Already More

This tool for the journey comes from Ben Taylor. Unbeknownst to him he gave me this 'tool' a few years ago and it is because of this tool I ultimately came to know him. Ben gave me this gift through his exhale in the bridge of one of his songs long before I met him. Subsequent to receiving this gift I have had the blessing of coming to know more closely the spirit in which he and his band share their musical offerings.

In my humble opinion we live in a musical era where their type of creative generosity and thoughtfulness is rarer than it should be. Far too many musicians trade grace for gloss, yet Ben (et al) seems gently insistent that we 'listeners' be intelligent and engaged... and I respect their artistic integrity and posture a great deal.

Regarding the 'tool' he gave me...in order to show it to you I need to share with you the lyrics of Ben's powerful song:

Digest

When it gets me depressed I find
That it's best with my chest high
As I stretch my lungs & express my love,
Hold my breath & forget my pride,
To reflect that the rest of our lives are a measure of time.
We may as well try to express some style.
I exhale my prayer.
(And) follow it with my eyes as it fills the air.
In the back of my mind I imagine that you can hear
As if you could still be near me.

But
Lately I've been breaking my mind,
Trying my best but it's taking its time.
Cause
I've been forced to digest this wasteful emptiness.
I'm supposed to laugh as if there's nothing going on.
I know life goes on regardless,
But nothing's been the same
Since you've been gone.

Another run around the sun,
Look at the things we've seen.
What have we both become?
What have we dreamed?
Who have we lost?
And what have we won?

I never could've believed that you wouldn't have finished what we'd begun.
I never dared to imagine you would've been taken away from us.

Lately I've been breaking my mind,
Trying my best but it's taking its time.
Cause
I've been forced to digest this wasteful emptiness.
I'm supposed to laugh as if there's nothing going on.
I know life goes on regardless,
But nothing's been the same
Since you've been gone,
Since you've been gone,
Since you've been gone.

Now times change & the game plays on,
And the truth remains but the rules have all gone wrong.
Life rises, now here we are
Still looking for the place where we belong.
Stronger than habit & fantasy,
Deeper than gravity.
What will be has to be.
God planned it, I understand it.
I hadn't imagined you'd leave me stranded
On this stage in these lights where I'm standing.
No right to complain
Cause it's already more than I'd ever have asked.
But without you
The best has yet to pass & now this song is about you.

And I've been forced to digest this wasteful emptiness.
I'm supposed to laugh as if there's nothing going on.
I know life goes on regardless,
But nothing's been the same
Since you've been gone,
Since you've been gone,
Since you've been gone.

**

No right to complain 
'cause it's already more than I'd ever have asked

Wow - what a gift and a scolding, a reminder and an affirmation these words have been to me. 

It should be said it does not matter what Ben meant when he sang these words because as the listener I am not only allowed but also expected to do my part in this creative circle. It is my job to slow down, listen and interpret his lyrics to find the gift he was giving - viewing it through my own lens. Within each song is a gift specifically for me if I am willing to take the time to hear it. This lovely 'dance' between singer and listener is why music - more than any other creative medium - is the 'Universal Language'.

One never truly knows the impact our words, our exhale, will have on others...as we are not always aware of who is 'listening' or how our words will be heard.  As a singer/songwriter this seems especially challenging because songs ripple out far and wide (for years) and thus have more potential to touch people repeatedly than other forms of art. The glorious part is their gifts are given freely for us to interpret and what we receive is shaped by our ability to 'listen', and by our own life experiences. We get to add ourselves to the art through our interpretation if it.

An artist's painting, or poem, song or story - all are snapshots of moments in time; flashes of joy and pain, love and beauty, frenzy and repose - introspection and insights breathed out onto vinyl and canvas and paper - these things of the heart and mind become something solid through the willingness of the artist to feel and then share those feelings. This type of 'eyes wide open' exploration and examination takes more courage than many people realize.

As patrons of art our interpretations become an essential part of completing the circle of giving which was initiated by the artist. We give back by our ability to listen with open hearts and minds; to hear not only what was said, but also to listen well enough to discern the more invisible, harder to find bits. Their treasure is found when we engage with the art and breathe in their gifts, when we listen and actually hear what is being said in the places high above the words which were sung or spoken...

My interpretation of Ben Taylor is he is generous as an artist in his exhale. He is intelligent and witty and he is certainly willing to step outside the box and take risks with his music, yet his lyrics also leave much low-hanging fruit for the listener. He reminds us of gravity but also lifts us up with lighter gifts and gives us permission to laugh at him as well as ourselves. His heart is palpable because he is willing to share it. He does not appear to have the need to emulate anyone else in his craft, yet his respect for others in his field is certainly evident.

Ben's gifts to me through his music have been many, but the one which will always stand out for me remains the same:

'No right to complain cuz' it's already more than I'd ever have asked'.

Already more...so much more than I'd ever have asked.
These words started as a reminder but have become a part of my foundation - part of the ground I stand on; a valuable tool for my journey.

I don't want to take things for granted, not my life, not the people in it, nor the gifts and blessings I have been given. It isn't as though these words sung by Ben were new to me, but somehow I listened and heard them in a new way that day - and this changed something inside of me for the better. Ben didn't do this - I did, but he contributed through his art, through his exhale...and this has been a gift to me from him.

Already more...rather than 'not enough'...is the glass half full or half empty? Perhaps we should just be so damned glad we are blessed to have a glass at all when so many in the world do not. For me it isn't about how much is in the glass but rather what we do with however much we are given. Do we recognize the glass and the gifts...and then pay it forward?

In this life I have already more than I'd ever have asked, and a singer I didn't even know reminded me to keep my priorities and perspective in their proper place...all because I was listening.

In-Joy the journey! Stay open and keep listening!
Cheryl

You can find more info about Ben and his band as well as their upcoming tour dates at:

www.bentaylormusic.com