April 1st – Holy Fool’s Day
Get Your Spark of Madness On for Holy Fool’s Day!
Real Speaking E-Letter by Gail Larsen, March 30, 2011
“You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.” – Robin Williams
Poem for life on earth
The past few weeks have certainly been quite a ride for humanity with the 9.0 earthquake in Japan, and subsequent tsumanis and fears of nuclear radiation. I invite you to give yourself a deep breath in this moment, feeling your body and connecting to the source of all life.
Listen to the teacher within
Graell Corsini is one of the most amazing people I’ve ever known. Too unique to describe here, she’s someone who lives her leadership in a wild and wonderful way. I’m not even sure if she considers herself a “leader,” though in the community of Mt. Shasta, CA, she has played (yes, she loves to play!) a major role in bringing people together and opening doors of possibility.
The Happy Planet Index
I came across this video the other day, and I was in awe. Suddenly, my desire for economic fairness, environmental sustainability, and my focus on inner happiness and well-being all came together. Nic Marks’s brilliant work is a fine example of hope in the world. He is a practical visionary. I believe the Happy Planet Index is truly where humanity is heading, if we choose to.
Inspire with each inhale
What if, instead of breathing to catch our breath from the last thing we just said, we actually inhaled in preparation to inspire the words or sounds about to be expressed? Susan Lincoln’s idea to INSPIRE as the intention of an INHALE was truly a gift for me.
“The Laughing Guru” makes headlines
Finally, the playfulness of laughter yoga is spreading into our serious world! Check out the recent mainstream coverage in The New Yorker, the New York Times and in Forbes Magazine. This media comes on the heels of the All-American Laughter Yoga Conference in Albuquerque, NM. Society IS making progress after all.
Can community campaigns stay positive?
I just came home from a City Council meeting in Mt. Shasta, CA, where I live. I’ve been working on a community initiative since last year called the “Mt. Shasta Community Water Rights Ordinance.” Tonight the city councilors voted to publicly oppose it by writing an argument against it for the November election packet that all residents receive.
Becoming a “neutral activist” (#1)
Am I becoming a “neutral activist?”
I say “becoming” because I’m not a neutral activist – not quite yet. In fact, I’m not even sure if it’s possible. But it’s certainly been a desire of my heart (and an obsession in my head) for many years.
Choosing to be in awe
Yesterday, my partner and I went for a walk along the McCloud River. It was the first time in my life that I had seen a black bear on a trail. Let me be more clear – the bear was on the same trail that I was on. Yikes!
Inspired by late spring
When I was a kid, I rarely interacted directly with nature.
I did catch grasshoppers in ball jars in the tall grasses of an empty lot across the street from my house, and I helped my grandparents find “nightcrawlers” (worms) in their backyard for fishing. But I hadn’t helped plant a garden until I was in my twenties.