The reality is that “the way things used to be” is gone — and perhaps the most heart-based thing we could do as a culture would be to grieve those losses. But then to awaken, as the Occupy folks are doing, to explore what to do now that things we used to trust and count on are simply gone, probably never to return.

Something new is definitely needed — and it really is up to all of us together to help figure that out.

One good new thing I see emerging is how we are starting to re-focus on what we can do locally. I think the Slow Food/Locavore movement will turn out to be much more important than anyone realizes, because it’s a model for how things could work differently.

We know what we can’t do. It’s time to consider what we can do — individually as well as together. That is where hope lives now — in kind of an unexpected place

Thanks for sharing!

Nancy

Thank you Nancy! Above is the sentence that spoke the most deeply to me in your meditation. This certainly describes so many of us who are suffering in this terrible economy. Whether we are fully unemployed or under employed or working 3 jobs and still not making ends meet, we certainly are burdened in a way that keeps us from “I have a dream.” We are lucky to have hopes if we have not been trodden down too far. But you are right to remind us all that we can have dreams. That dreams are important and they are not just “pie in the sky.” They can be worked toward and perhaps even accomplished one day at a time.

I miss Dr. King and feel so strongly that our nation needs his caliber of leadership again: clear, smart, dedicated, and willing to do what needs to be done to intervene for even “the least of these.” Some of us had hope that Barack Obama would indeed follow in Dr. King’s footsteps but have learned that that was unrealistic. We need that fearless-ness that Dr. King brought to bear: that willingness to lose, even his own life, that I don’t see anymore in those who put themselves forward to lead us.

So I dream that those people who do live the fearless dream of bringing about justice will be lifted up to lead our country back to a place we can be proud of.

My theme for 2012 is Abundance for ALL

My three words could be:
Abundance
Smile
Focus

I’ll blog more about this too later.

Thank you for the inspiration,
Jodi

there is something comforting about sitting down to clean and organized!

Lynn

But I’m sure you do that too!

Make yours wonderful!