We are all in the same boat despite what we may want to think.

I am very interested in current thought about our environment and all that that involves. Recently I read the new book by William McDonough and Michael Braungart and found it to be one of the most interesting and thought provoking books that I have read about these issues. It will change the way that you think about the need for change and the possibility of doing it in an exciting and progressive way that doesn't exclude enjoyment of life. If you have any interest in seeing what is being done now to change the terrible trends that have dominated our view of design, resources, waste, and energy then you need to read this book.

Michael Pollan is one of my favorite authors. It's no secret that I like to read and I go back and forth between fiction and non-fiction. There are things that I always look for in books that I read and one of those is an author that makes his reader feel that he is taking them on a voyage of discovery about things that sometimes are overlooked in their everyday lives. Michael Pollan is one of those writers. I can't think of any other author that I have read that has taught me as much and helped develop my interest in doing things myself and becoming more self-sufficient than him. I strongly recommend his books and think that if you have even the slightest interest in cooking, or eating for that matter, that you start with Cooked. Here, he discovers the enduring power of the four classical elements—fire, water, air, and earth— to transform the stuff of nature into delicious things to eat and drink. Apprenticing himself to a succession of culinary masters, Pollan learns how to grill with fire, cook with liquid, bake bread, and ferment everything from cheese to beer. It is his most recent book but serves as a great introduction to his work. Please check it out.

Regardless of how you feel about all the debates that seem to be constantly swirling around us about everything imaginable there is one thing that we all need to make a conscious effort to educate ourselves about and that is what goes into what we put in our bodies. If you get a chance to see this new documentary please do. In conjunction with my post about The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano they will be offering dinner and a free showing of GMO OMG on Thursday, June 26th at 7:00. If you are in the area and want to attend please contact them using the link below.


http://theecologycenter.org/events/farm-film-series-gmo-omg

I have recently discovered the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano, California and wanted to share it with all of you. In a world where we hear constantly about how hopeless things are it is really refreshing to see an organization that is doing something positive to show us that there is a different way and that there are many things that you and I can do to help create a more healthy and sustainable world for ourselves and future generations. I could go on and on about the terrible things that we, as humans, have done to our natural world but maybe we should start to spend some of that time creating solutions like The Ecology Center does. Please watch the video below and make an effort to educate yourself about what you can do to make the world a better place.

When someone like this dies I tend to spend a certain amount of time thinking about the impact that they may have had on others. In the case of Maya Angelou I can't think of someone who has had more impact on more people over a longer time. If you haven't had a chance to read her work or experience what she gave to all of us I urge you to do so. As I embark on this new chapter in my life I often think of the things that she had to endure and overcome and it gives me strength that I can do as she did and rise above and succeed not despite of my experiences but because of them. If you have time I hope you will listen to the interview linked below (you may need to copy and paste it) and then go out into the world letting your caged bird sing.


http://www.npr.org/2014/05/28/316707321/fresh-air-remembers-poet-and-memoirist-maya-angelou

While we are thinking about how we should treat the people that we work with it would be great if we could also spend some time thinking on how we can improve the lives of other creatures. All animals should have a taste of freedom. In the video below 9 beagles who were rescued from a lab that tests on animals get their first chance to run and play outside of the crates that they spent their entire lives in. Please let your elected representatives know that you find this practice unacceptable and research the products that you buy to make sure that you aren't inadvertently contributing to the continuation of this terrible practice.

A good resource to see if what you are buying is cruelty-free is http://www.leapingbunny.org/shopping.php


I urge you to explore the information that they offer so you can make better decisions regarding what you buy and whether it comes at an unacceptable cost to animals.

 Bob Chapman, CEO of Barry-Wehmiller is someone we should all listen to as he has revolutionized his company through truly valuing the people who work there. In this short talk he describes the reason that we all have a stake in making sure that our fellow men and women come to work each day happy to be there, feeling appreciated for what they do, and that they matter as human beings. If you are able to heed these lessons it will help transform your work environment into one where everyone feels they are important.

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