Do we take in the good, or still believe, when presented
with it, that it's simply not there, not real?
I was raised with my fair share of negativity; product, I think, of a heavy-handed religion which diminished any female's needs, never mind wants, and the doom and gloom of the cold war, diving under school desks to practice for when another country would invade us, drop a nuclear bomb, and how on earth were sensitive children to cope? How were any of us to manage, with annihilation looming over us?
So what did our generation do, but embrace the consumerist model,
buying everything we thought would keep us safe and comfortable, embracing money like an old ratty teddy bear, the more the better, while covering ourselves with fine fabrics and sturdy roofs the way we used to cover our small heads with hands up to our elbows to protect against some phantom enemy, oh, and how and what have we changed, in our collective human destiny? Have we not arrived at a similar place to that which we thought we had abandoned?
There was no roadside rubbish when I was growing up,
and I began to see it only with the wholesale appearance
of soda and beer in cans and bottles and then the plastic
revolution swept over us like a plague of locusts, and it was hardly
possible to purchase essentials for the home and body without it,
and despite recycling efforts by those of us from early on,
mountains of it threaten to crush our hopes for a more sustainable
future, and islands of it float yet in the Pacific or along shorelines
of nearly every beach in the world, clogging drains and causing floods
and requiring several generations to break down, while remaining
toxic to sea life, to all life;
One of plastic's great utilities was its ability to keep what it contained
fresh, flavors locked in tight, and as our lives sped up and up until it took most hours of every day to simply survive the mound
of bills and demands from the feds and state; who had time left over
to simmer and stew, to taste and savor delicious sauces and fragrances, while working full time and raising children? Surely we could cheat a bit, buying this or that premade, to lighten our load?
Then in rode the pandemic, forcing the whole world's people to stay
at home, reclaim, perhaps, a love of cooking if through bare necessity,
while we stayed inside with minds spinning, whirling, the ground
under us all uncertain, could something so tiny it was not visible bring humanity to its ultimate demise?
Lessons have been learned, surely, yet the luxury of fantasizing
a thing is real or false has become increasingly untenable, while
the country remains harshly divided, some pretending to the point of believing what they hear on network news, driving them under their own metaphoric school desks, causing them to freeze in place, not knowing how or if they could ever make the difference needed to right this sinking boat, while others of us have been reclaiming our sovereign selves, our inner knowing sharpening to liberate those inner promptings which could be called essence, shaking out the love, the hope, extending hands to help where we can, minimizing consumerist urgings, eliminating toxic products and practices, and now? Now we begin again. To breathe in. And out. Join hands across divides. And breathe.
Kohala cliffs, Hawaii Island ~ bj 2011
What we ingest reflects externally. Great post!
Indeed it does! Thanks, SS! 🙏💜
Telling it like it is! 🙏🏼 ⚡️
Mahalo, Eliza! 💗
Well Bela, Tubularsock would say that once again you hit the nail on the head.
Very well done.
Tubularsock kind of misses the diving under desks to protect oneself from THE ATOMIC BOMB!
Boy, even as a child Tubularsock realized “my” school desk was no match for an ATOMIC BOMB. Even if Tubularsock wasn’t the brightest crayon in the box, usual that was some super girl brain, Tubularsock knew at the cosmic level THEY WERE LYING TO US!
Now Tubularsock is planning to go out with the first blast so as not to be “saved” to clean up the mess!
You know, in today’s market we are all just commodities up for grabs for our last dollar. That’s it!
We even cover ourselves in plastic!
For Tubularsock, turn it over to AI and catch the first rocket out of this planet’s atmosphere. Tubularsock’s home planet is so much nicer.
Cheers AND keep the nuts IN the can!
Haha, you always make me laugh. 😜 you make some really good points, as per usual. Now that I am finished reformatting and reformatting and reformatting that WordPress seems to demand these days, I can relax and respond to comments. 🤓
As I consider myself a galactic citizen, I am going to call this my home planet until it is not anymore. I love this earth, which makes it all the more difficult to observe the impact that humans have had upon her. But I also know she is a sentient being, and will do what she needs to, in order to survive. As much as humans disgust me at times, they also astound me with their caring and brilliance and sense of humor! I do not have any kind of glimpse into what the future will look like, as we are all co-creating it in every moment. I just hope humanity wakes the f up enough to get back on track. Or get on track? Because I’m pretty sure our collective history is not all that sterling. wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Sending you love and blessings from your old stomping grounds! 💕
It has certainly been a ride Bela… I too remember the days before Plastic wrapping, and where what ever waste products that we could mostly burn on the fire back… Now we have four large waste disposal bins for collection, Card paper and plastic and tins— Glass— Normal household waste— and Garden waste… All of which the local authorities charge a fee and then recycle making more money to waste in their local decision making!.
A Crazy upside down world Bela where certainly those deep breaths have been needed.
Life I feel is all about stopping and starting… Living and learning as we move from one experience to the next..
Lovely view you have shared Bela… May we learn to ingest Fresh ideas, Joy, and the Love of All that surrounds us… as we embrace Peace, and Harmony within. In the hopes it transfers to the outer world.
Much love dearest Bela xx <3 I hope all is well in your world xx <3
Aloha, dearest Sue – I always appreciate hearing from you.
Well, as usual these days, the Brits and most of Europe no doubt are wayyy ahead of the states here. Or that’s my perception, from where I sit and what I hear. I know things are far from perfect!
We have to take our recyclables (are they recycled? we don’t know) to Santa Fe, 1-1/2 hrs. distant. Glass, paper, plastic, tins. We don’t have to pay for that. What we Are obligated to pay for (never have done this – but it’s mandatory!) are wheelie bins for the rest- rubbish, non-recyclables. And that’s nearly $300/year now. ‘When’ they pick it up, which is supposed to be every week, but often is not. In Hawaii, there was no such service, we simply took all the above to a nearby transfer station Including green waste, which was all free. We didn’t mind that. And in Maine before, we took our own as well. Not a problem, one gets used to it. We’ve long had a compost bin, which is great. And food scraps that do not compost are placed out in the field where the raptors greedily dispose of it for us. Gives them a great boost in the winter. They love the occasional chicken carcasses! 😉
And yes, you are correct- just like state and federal taxes which are ridiculously high – only the uber rich in this country do not have to pay taxes (does this sound feudal/familiar!?) – we have no say in how that money is spent. I mean, we vote – but that becomes laughable, as it seems every politician is on the take from some special interest group or another, and off our dollars fly to war and the oil industry, as education and the arts are banished to the dark ages, once again. It’s simply criminal, but what to do? So we live our lives as best we are able, trying not to ‘think’ about all that too much, but certainly meditating on alternatives.
Agreed on life being one experience to the next. Hopefully we are all becoming more able to direct those experiences through intention, these days. All we can do is to practice life from within, rather than simply reacting to what comes at us from outside. We can only do what we can do, realizing the huge implications of our personal actions on the global community.
Love back to you, dear friend. All is well, and hoping the same for you and B. ♥️
I’m just creating, painting, writing and BEing, while intentions ✨️ of a more positive future is being imagined for the whole world.
Humanity has yet to do more leaps in the personal community.
All we can keep doing Bela is doing what we are doing 🙏🙏🙏 and loving ❤️ 😍 💖
Much love, dear friend xx 😘
💗💗💗
I know there are more good people than bad. But somehow the bad ones seem louder and stronger.
If only each of us consumed half of what we now consume it would make a huge difference. Small steps. Each one helps, no matter if we can see it or not. (K)
Agreed, Kerfe, consumption needs reduction, and I think nearly everyone could do as you say and not suffer. To think of the small amount of trash we produced as a family of 9 back in those times, compared to today! Mostly due to plastic!
Be well, dear one. 🌺
Yes, and how happy we were with so much less. Happier, I think.
Simpler times, for sure. 💜
“Now we begin again”… I hope with all my heart this is true, Bela, that we begin again. Let us make it so 🙂
Great hearing from you again, my friend! Hope all is well with you in the north country! And yes, let us make it so! We have the power as a collective to shift things, if a critical mass is reached. Let’s hope and pray enough people wake up! Love to you, my dear! 💗
Also, I hope you got my comment on your dad post! What a lovely tribute! Once I wrote it, it vanished. Hope you’re simply reviewing comments, which is wise 😉 xo
Thank you, Bela. I do review the comments 🙂
😉💜
A thoughtful post for the times, Bela. You write so honestly and ask questions that we should all ask ourselves. Consumption is merely a bandaid for so many issues we turn a blind eye to. So often things are presented to us as ‘fixes’ and ‘solutions’ as opposed to taking a step back to think about the causes and effects. Not to say pre-made and conveniences have no place in this world, but I think it is the fact that a lot of us have seen these things as the easy way out and become self-reliant on instant-gratification to feel good about ourselves.
I think the pandemic, while it was challenging on so many levels, it was the reset many of us needed and showed us a different side of society. Now a few years on, it seems that many of us have gone back to old ways but hopefully we have all learned to be a bit more compassionate to each other. Who knows what the next few years will bring as we move into a new age and technologies are changing faster than ever, meaning things will probably will be even more accessible than ever… Hope you are doing well, Bela. May Spring beckon on your doorstep soon. Hugs across the miles 😊💕
Oh, my gosh Mabel, and talk of technology! I love my new Mac laptop, but honestly, it is so sensitive, it just wiped out your comment and mine to you as well! And since mine was a draft, so much for that. Let me try and reconstruct:::
Aloha! So happy to hear from you! You always provide the most thoughtful comments, which to me reflect who you are as a person. I value that so much, as I am sure others do as well!
You are wise and insightful as ever, and I believe you are correct that yes, the pandemic certainly reframed most people’s priorities, at least for awhile. It Was the reset we needed, and we’d be blind if we did not notice how it has changed people – or rather brought out a side of them that might have been lingering dormant. I have enjoyed this, for sure – and when we return to our beloved community in Hawaii in April, we will likely ‘really’ be able to see how things changed during that time. This was a new place for us, so the differences might have been less obvious.
As for consumerism, you are bang-on about products being offered as solutions, pounded down our throats sometimes. I am struck by how the tenor and content of so many ads these days is more or less: if you cared about the planet, you would purchase our sustainable product – which may be on track, but off base in the way of – are you suggesting I simply gather up all my products in the house and throw them away so I can purchase your eco-friendly ones? This is its own sort of madness, surely.
Yes, we have all been well trained as good little consumers, right or wrong. It’s funny too – nearly every time I use our washing machine and dryer, I am grateful for it. I grew up with these appliances in a somewhat affluent house, but purposely went many years without conveniences such as these (dishwasher, gas cookstove, washer/dryer) because I wanted to see how life was without them. Lived deep in the Maine woods on a lake where we had no running water in the winter – had to carry 5 gal buckets uphill from a hand dug well, heat water on the kitchen woodstove, etc. It was only after I had my girls that we bought a small washing machine that hooked up to the kitchen sink, but I still hung clothes out to dry, even in the bitter winters. It was good life experience, knowing what I could live without. So perhaps I have a bit of a different take on these things than most.
But I digress (and digress again, if given the chance!) We are not going to solve the climate crisis if we don’t begin to wake up and make some badly needed changes. And then there’s Nassim Haramein – have you heard him? Just brilliant. He’s come up with (as Tesla did, but it was subverted) a way to power the world without electricity, among other things -among Many other things! Worth a listen if you’re inclined, and ignore the weird ad placed on the video – it’s just trying to grab your attention: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBN69JB689s&t=1901s
Anyhow, Mabel, delightful as always talking with you. Be blessed! 💞
It is wonderful you have a new Mac laptop, Bela. I hope you enjoy. Sometimes new technology is like that – you have to get used to it and make it work for you. And I am so humbled that you took the time to write such a thought-out response.
Sounds like you are looking forward to visiting Hawaii. I hope you get to soak it up for what it is, and see how it has evolved with the times. Places will always evolve whether we are there or not. And on our part, we have to evolve too even if it means moving along with the times – intentionally.
I think it is the intention behind ads that is more worrying. So many individuals and groups are pushing for solutions without much consideration for underlying causes or issues or the impact on this planet. There are so many marketing terms out there these days, from ‘green’ to ‘eco-friendly’. It sounds like you know what it means to live within your means, carrying those buckets of water and hanging clothes out to dry. These are the times where you really appreciate the basics and what you need to live.
I have not heard of Nassim Haramein. Thank you so much for sharing and something for me to check out. Hope you are doing well and looking forward to reading you again, Bela 😊💕
Oh, quite welcome, Mabel! And do hope you check out Nassim – just brilliant in all th ways we need right now. And yes, we do both know how to live down to the bone. I think it’s necessary, if only to keep things in perspective. Always gratitude for what we “do” have. Blessings, dear one. 💞
Always appreciate your writings and shares, Bela. Wishing you well and a wonderful week ahead 🙏💕
And to you as well, Mabel! 🙏💕♥️
Eventually there will be a bit of fish left around the plastic. I can’t seem to understand (but then I am probably rowing old) why the issue of tons and tons floating on the oceans is barely ever covered by the media)
🙏🏻
Agreed. Well, there are the corporations running the government, at least in the US. And all power is centralized in corporate power (think money). Media of course included. They only want us to see what they want us to see, some of which is not even going on – scare tactics to cow the people. We need to empower ourselves, I think, to keep our eyes on the prize and keep advocating in our small communities however we can – even face to face in the bank line or grocery store – until enough of us create enough movement to make a difference. Think when the peasants stormed the Bastille and took down the French monarchy – last time the planet Pluto was in the position it is now. We don’t need to do that, quite – besides, SWAT squads would drive the body count too high. Let’s work it instead with our love-based intentions and our small actions and groups. Direct our minds (like in meditation) alone and together to visualize the changes we wish to see. And not lose heart! Remember their efforts nearly 250 years ago made France into a republic, which remains to this day. Power to the people! Let’s not lose hope. Thanks for your comment! ❤️
Power to the people indeed. ( I seem to remember a song, but as my memory ebbs away, I forgot who by. LOL)
Most welcome.
🙏🏻
Well, the Chi-lites sang one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEwMaeN2x-c
And John Lennon wrote the other one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Epue9X8bpc
Have fun 😉
hadn’t heard the Chi-lites. Funky. Very nice.
But yes, of course, Lennon was the one I had in mind. Funny thing is there was little access to video then. We barely had a TV when I was 14. One channel. heavily censored. So I’d never seen this Lennon video.
Thank you ever so much.
You are welcome! I never saw that video either and I was a huge Beatles fan. And we weren’t allowed TV privileges except for Saturday morning cartoons. How the world has changed! As far as the Chi-Lites go, I believe they were a Philadelphia band but maybe they were a Detroit band. I don’t think they were from Los Angeles. They got played on the radio quite a bit back in the day. 😉
So was I. (I still the original Sgt Pepper LP, and the Double White. Numbered. If ever I buy a safe, they’ll be the first items to go inside…
The Chi-lites could be Detroit. They have a funky sound not so usual at that time. Just checked. Chicago. as early as 1959.
And TV, yes: Saturday cartoons… LOL.
Yup! Now kids are not only raised on television, but an iPhone is put in their hands as early as they can walk. I have concerns about this, but what can I do? 😎😖♥️
Daughter #2 just her sister (the one with the kids a study on the detrimental effects of getting a smartphone too young… 😉)
Then our granddaughter (4 yo) grabs her mother’s phone puts it up to her mom’s face so face recognition kicks it, and there she is using her mother’s phone…
(The good thing is she turns on a chess app… 😳)
Oh dear!! 🤓