At times it can be tricky for us to be present with ourselves, others and the world as we are constantly being bombarded with thoughts and information. It isn’t always easy to decipher which passions are ours, or those of the collective.
Our unconscious takes us way back to our past, projects us far into the future, and leads us away from the place where we actually are right now.
We do many things without really paying attention. We listen to close-ones with our minds elsewhere. We traverse splendid landscapes without even seeing and rejoicing in the beauty of the world around us.
No real joy, nor quality of being, or relation can exist without a certain quality of presence.
“Happiness is buzz word, happiness is sold, bought.
People attached to the material when our spiritual lives were depleted, to finally fade imperceptibly and give way to this neat image that advertisements, that society refers us to.
The path to happiness is long, we manage to identify it when it radiates around us, and when it encounters another radiance from another being in passing; then by resonance, it comes back to us.
This warm feeling, soft as a caress, this energy which transforms perception, this energy of an unimaginable force which leaves no room for doubt … the force increases tenfold, becomes clearer, beauty is seen, it radiates .. . “
“At times, I am thirsty for knowledge, I would like to be able to know the different civilizations of this planet, physics, or to be able to decipher nature and its mysteries with the eyes of a scientist.
My path has been different, not better or worse, just different …”
Put simply, money exists because humans have agreed to quantify value through the symbolism of it.
In its physical sense, it is made up of notes and coins, inherently nothing more than paper and metal. These physical items have been used by humans as a tool, to allow us to conceptualise and track the value of things we have and require; items, services, resources. This symbolism must be mutually accepted (or imposed) to function.
Via physical or electronic symbols, currency and money accumulates its value through the perception of its users. Therefore it is purely through socially constructed ideas that it receives value in the first place.
Where do you actually think the rubbish we create ends up? In the bin? Right, but then where? How does all of this rubbish end up soiling our beautiful home? How does it end up in our clean water stores and food chain?
We are obviously far too educated to leave stuff lying around in public after our joyous summer picnics and BBQs. Never would we throw anything out of the car window, nor chuck cigarette butts carelessly on the floor. We might even go as far as sorting and recycling our rubbish. Avoiding single-use altogether and maybe even opting only to purchase amongst items that can be recycled otherwise.
Yet do we really know what happens when we separate from our pollution? Once that trash hits the bin, we think very little more about it, least of all whether it actually ends up being recycled as intended, or even treated correctly and effectively. Is it actually just polluting our planet even further, in spite of our best efforts? Probably.
In the spirit of the title and the new Gregorian year, this post has changed. Updated 01/01/22.
The change we want and need. It’s already here for those that choose it. All that remains is to act consciously with inherent perfection.
If you are aware and uneasy about the state of things in the world, just know that it is meant to be this way, and no amount of worrying, denying or avoiding will make any of it go away or change. Nor will the manipulation of others bring about anything truly worthwhile either.
What will bring meaningful change is by first changing yourself. Breaking the loop and healing your heart.
This is the teaser for a highly recommended and stunning French documentary by Jeremi Stadler and I urge you to watch it… (Sadly, I don’t have a link for the film online as it has been three years since I first published this post on Instagram and it looks like the film has now been taken down from Vimeo and ImagoTV!)
Bask in all its glory, for it is the inspirational tale of citizen-led, empowering grassroots groups and individual initiatives sprouting up across France. It follows big and small movements that are creating community around collecting the waste and trash that humanity has carelessly left behind, be it at sea or on land, all with the aim of preserving the environment for us all.
The film features incredibly kind-hearted souls trying to shake things up and make a real difference, notably Edmund Platt aka L’Escargot Anglais aka Eddie Platt, yes, the co-author and star of the book we wrote together: The Englishman Who Wanted to Clean France, and none other than Manu from Sauvage Mediterranee, amongst others.
The beauty of the various initiatives is that anyone can take part. Anybody anywhere can participate and should. We all create waste, and none of us can be sure what really happens to it after we dispose of it, whether we recycle or not. Whether we actually throw or leave our rubbish behind or not. Let’s stop complaining, blaming others and creating even more waste.
“…so when can we expect the beautiful “green revolution”? When will the people wake up? And stop saying it is a question of finance, because that’s false, it’s just a question of organisation. Sure, it’s not going to be perfect right away, but honestly, it would be more effective than complaining, bitching and blaming others…”
words written in French by Julie Descamps, unofficially translated by Natacha Neveu for The Sorting House.
“That’s why each one of us has unique talents, even if, for most people, these talents remain deeply hidden within them, waiting for nothing more than to be released and cultivated. Besides, discovering our talents is actually a way to discover our mission… Most people feel obligated to do the things they have always done, even when it doesn’t allow them to flourish. They even forbid themselves to listen to their deepest desires, persuaded that they will lead nowhere. When it is actually the exact opposite. It is not our superficial desires dictated by our society, but actually our deepest desires that are the clues to follow to advance along the path of our mission.”
“I’m inclined to believe that each one of us has a destiny, indeed, it would be a shame to let that pass by…now I’m not necessarily saying that it involves any grandiose mission. It could be something more humble, but it is often that which appears anodyne that really counts in the world you know. We have a tendency to think it is the great leaders that have forged the course of history. In reality that’s not always completely true. Everyone, by their actions, by their speech, their state of being and emotions, influence their entourage, and that then spreads just like undulating waves across the surface of water. Inevitably. Nothing is neutral…the reality is each one of us has an impact on the world. So when we have found our particular mission, we have a role to play, a role that is useful to humanity, to living things, to the universe.”
extracts from ‘Le jour où j’ai appris à vivre‘ by Laurent Gounelle – ‘The day that I learned to live’ quote unofficially translated by Natacha Neveu @thesortinghouse.
