At a dinner party this past week, there were a group of us talking politics—an often fiery and frustrating discussion, at best.  One of the guests, a person I’ve known and loved for years, admitted with a heavy heart that she has basically given up hope. She views the insanity on a global level as a sign that we have simply gone too far and there is no way out. 

I carried her words into my dreams that night. And awoke that next morning still contemplating them. And I continued to ponder them for another day or so. It was uplifting to realize that my own reflection is really quite the antithesis of hers.

 While I find that there is little I can do to impact the world on a large scale, I know that my daily actions are vitally important. The way we conduct ourselves—in our interpersonal relationships, in our business, in our buying power, in our political actions and more—is what carries out into the world. That ‘ripple effect’, in essence.

Activism by lifestyle, I call it. The eightfold Buddhist path asks its followers to cultivate: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. The right livelihood aspect resonates especially with me. Being able to grow good food in a conscious way and know that people are eating and enjoying it is one way I can impact the world, at least the northshore of Kauai! Having intrepid travelers come and stay in our cottages and experience a lifestyle consistent with sustainable living and take that concept back to their world is another way I can reach out to try and influence thinking outside of the box. Choosing to buy and consume primarily organic products and environmentally friendly cleaning products can make a huge difference. And, always the most challenging—parenting in a way that encourages mutual cooperation and respect, relinquishing control in favor of influence and making each moment an exercise in love and clear thought—that really could change things in years to come.

My dear friend from Alaska tells me there is a concept in Judaism that is called tikkun olem.  As I understand it, it means healing the world.  Now, in my own small, humble way, that is what I’m aspiring to do. . . one day at a time, one conscious moment at a time. I truly haven’t given up hope. I have worlds of hope, a great deal of faith and even some patience.

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