Happy INTERdependence Day!
What an inspiring weekend!
I just returned from 3 days at the Omega Institute in NY, where I attended a workshop called, “Grow Food Everywhere.” The workshop leaders, Deb Habib and Ricky Baruc, shared their love and passion for growing food, and touched the hearts of each of the 29 participants with their light. They are truly an model for living your truth and enlightening others. This coming weekend, July 9-11, 2010, they are offering a similar workshop, Earth and Spirit Retreat for Adults. For details of this and other events on their calendar, visit the Seeds of Solidarity website.
So what is INTERdependence Day? Well, for me, this weekend reinforced the fact that we are all connected and thus interdependent. Building community around creating a garden brought 29 individuals together in a way that was so powerful, and it will likely have a ripple effect in our communities.
We experience interdependence in many ways daily. Consider the effect of a well timed smile or kind remark when someone is having an angry outburst. Or consider the effects of introducing a non-native plant that produces a beautiful flower and has medicinal uses, but ends up being invasive and destructive to native plants. Or consider the global effect of encouraging consumption and debt to the point of economic collapse. Or consider the effect of our oil addiction, leading to risky offshore drilling practices that are affecting countless creatures and habitats.
These are just several examples of connectedness and interdependence. We all need be mindful of everything we do and how our actions may affect others, our environment, our lives.
“The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.” ~Thomas Merton
Marilyn Chiarello, founder of A Taste of Light, is a certified raw vegan chef, educator and health coach. She offers a variety of services including health coaching, classes, dinner parties,consultations and presentations. For more information, visit aTasteofLight.com or contact her directly- Marilyn@aTasteofLight.com or 516-671-7037.
If you would like to receive future articles about health and the environment, along with recipes, event updates and more, please visit http://atasteoflight.com/.The sign-up box is in the right sidebar.
