RECYCLE REVOLUTION

In my pursuit of all things green, I discovered the sanitation department in my county has a curbside recycling program. I thought to myself, "This is just what I need!" Hauling everything to the farmers market just wasn't cutting it anymore. Picture me lugging several bags of plastics and glasses then running around the market looking at a sea of bins trying to figure out where the tops to the bottles go since they have separate corridors from the green, brown, and clear glass bottles - which are also grouped separately.

My excitement quickly turned to perplexity when I learned I would have to pay $30 to participate. Yep, it will cost you $30 to "borrow" one of the county-owned blue bins. I suddenly had a flashback and remembered that this fee is what kept me from joining the program a few years prior. I mean, I pay my property taxes every year so why doesn't that include the cost to recycle? After all, there is money being made from recycled goods but the majority of the citizens doing the recycling don't get a piece of the pie.

Although I still didn't think that was a cost I should eat, I paid it anyway. I signed the check and stared at it for a minute before allowing it to leave my hands and never to be seen again; in the end I knew that my decision to recycle was in essence, priceless.

In hopes that one day it will be priceless for everyone, I called Sherry Arnold, the Dekalb County Recycle Coordinator, to find out a little more on why citizens have to incur this fee. She informed me that the county board of commissioners has made it a voluntary, instead of a mandatory program. So because of this they can't apply the cost to my property taxes. Right away I envisioned a possible solution could be to make it mandatory, or simply apart of the norm. It's a great move toward green living to have every home equipped with recycling bins to encourage recycling. It's the wave of the future.

"As of right now we have 32,000 customers and they're signing up every day," according to Arnold. I did the math: 32,000 customers x $30 a pop is $960,000 profit the county has made thus far from this "voluntary" program. I'm willing to bet it will remain voluntary for this very reason. There is definitely money being made in recycling efforts around the country. Going green is the new "thing" and people are finding ways to make green very profitable.

So then I had one question left that needed entertaining: "When is my recycle bin coming?" I have stacks of goods just waiting to be renewed and truth be told, this is the reason that prompted me to call them in the first place. I've been waiting for three weeks for it to arrive - one week longer than the said arrival. Arnold informed me they are getting 100-200 requests a week for the bins. They have been bombarded with request and are behind on fulfilling orders.

So it seems that the recycle revolution is in full swing! Knowing that my bin hasn't arrived because of all the like-minded people signing up, actually made me feel comfortable about enduring the unexpected delay. The mere fact that I'm not alone and that others are starting to wake up and do their part to better the earth made me feel a part of a new movement - a new consciousness. It may cost us 30 bucks, but we recoup that by having a more sustainable place to live for generations to come.

What are you doing to join the recycle revolution? It's not just about recycling cans anymore so hit me up and share your green efforts!

THE BREATH IS PERFECT

During a recent meditation sitting peacefully in my lotus pose, a significant thought came to me:

Breath is the purest fiber of life and is the starting point of the expression of our perfection in this earthly body. The breath is perfect and anything that manifests from that breath is also perfect.

Imagine a person is having an anxiety attack and they can't calm down and normalize their breathing. They are taking short gasp of air and the more they panic, the more they feel faint. This example makes breathing seem imperfect but even the erratic breath is perfect because it still has a beginning and an end. So in essence, there is no such thing as an imperfect breath; the influx of oxygen is still constant thus allowing you to use your mind and the mind of God to make decisions.

Every moment you have in your breath is perfect - which means all of your actions, feelings and thoughts have the ability to express your perfection. Everything comes from breathing; you are in you breath - your breath is not you; you are a breathing-spirit living a human experience. You are unconsciously controlling the need to breathe so you can express your purpose in this life. Your breath and spirit are on a mission! The second you were born the first thing you did was breath and it will be the last thing you will do before you transition back to the formless being you eternally are. So by feeling the power of your breath, you know that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. Feel the magnitude of your breath and you will also feel the magnitude of all that you are destined to accomplish in this life.

Each day take time to sit in silence and just...breath. Observe your thoughts and allow them to take a backseat to the flow of your breathing. Feel alive; feel grateful for the moments you have to honor yourself. What better way to honor yourself than to acknowledge this rhythmic flow?

affirmation: I am a reflection of my perfect breath. All things will be made perfect because I am alive to breathe them into existence.

Time to Test Drive the All-Electric Nissan Leaf

It's official!

I just signed up to test drive the new Nissan Leaf all-electric car. The tour hits Atlanta February 18 - 20.

It's been almost a year since my car took its place in heaven and I've been on a search for something new - yet better ever since. I made a decision that I would get a car that was better for the environment so I started searching for hybrid cars. I even looked at the all-electric Tesla's website but waiting until 2012 just didn't seem feasible. Then I stumbled upon the Nissan Leaf and discovered their fleet was already in production. So the Leaf research began and hysteria followed as I went deep into the intricate details of this electric beauty.

Some highlights that are just to die for are:
- 100 miles per charge - Great for in-town travels
- Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) - meaning no spewing of gases into our precious atmosphere
- The seats are made from recycled plastic - what a creative way to recycle! (I'm a green movement junkie)

There is a transition brewing in so many facets of life and the movement from oil based cars to electric cars is just one example of how things are evolving. I asked myself, "What car solution would be better for the earth?" A resounding inner voice answered, "Go electric!"

So here I am on my quest to obtain an all-electric car; the first step will be test driving the Nissan Leaf. I'll be certain to update you on my experience!

If you would like more information on the Nissan Leaf go to http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car. You can get product information on this site and if you're feeling frisky, sign up to test drive one these babies!

Beautiful Infinitely

Beautiful is his heart I can’t capture because he’s so free and lovely and me.
Beautiful are his eyes, the souls disguise to all there is
But I see the depths of his luster, rooted in sandalwood musk…
It must be more to this beautiful man standing before me
As we talk I watch his beautiful layers unfold…
So naked and beautiful shedding his winter blues
When I saw his beautiful smile I knew I loved him before when time didn’t exist
So this reunion was…well…beautiful

JUDGMENT DAY

“If you judge people you have no time to love them.” – Mother Teresa


Judgment day doesn’t come until after you die and your life’s work is accessed by the Most High but I think even that is more of an evaluation than a judgment.

Chris Brown has been on America’s most hated list since his scuffle with Rihanna last year but at this years BET Awards there seemed to be a shift of his image in the public eye; from woman beater to poor young soul. Chris had a melt down and cried uncontrollably during his tribute performance to the late Michael Jackson. Ironically Chris Brown was attempting to sing "Man in the Mirror." the song says "I'm starting with the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways.” That simple statement is gospel and I can see why it moved Chris. A tormented soul will discover that no one can save you, not even the second coming of Yeshua. Self realization is the end all be all. Once we acknowledge that person in the mirror we will discover that we are all the same and the need to judge will vanish.

Why does it take a public display of sadness for us to embrace a man and forgive him? Did Chris owe us his tears? I think one of the biggest lessons we all have to learn in this school of life is to not judge others based on our own ideals and standard traditions. Do you know the root of your judgments? If you could trace the origins I’m sure it was from one man/woman’s perspective which means it is not suitable for every Being on this planet.

I still find myself judging people and I'm starting to catch myself and try to understand the motivation behind it. Let’s face it, it’s a habit to judge because we think we know what’s right but each journey has a different path to enlightenment. One thing is for sure, it's easier to judge someone rather than fix our own imperfections. We have to start seeing ourselves in others. When you find commonalities - even with the people you appraise, the need to judge them will vanish because you will see a soul that is just like you…on an isolated path to rediscover perfection.

Don't think so hard - just do it!

We spend too much time incessantly thinking. A thought comes with 1,000 different outcomes but if we instinctively react, we reduce the "what about this" and the "what about that's". The urge to react is immediate but delayed reasonings can push you away from what you are truly supposed to be doing so...JUST DO IT! Yes, I just screamed at you in an attempt to get your inner flame burning. Don't second guess yourself or let lazy thoughts control your life. Putting things off for another day delays the gratification you will receive once you have completed the task.

I used to dread getting up early in the mornings for work and I would lay there and waddle in my own pity. I could literally lay there and in five minutes think of 100 reasons why I shouldn't get up. It made the start of my God-given-day miserable. Now I just get up, give thanks for another day and go to work. Less thought...more action. If one day I wake up and decide never to go to work again, even that would be action motivated and fed by instinctive thought.

Whether it's cleaning the house, paying bills, mowing the lawn or meditating, activate your thoughts! This will bring you growth and expansion as you give your mind the ability to reach for higher things once each task is completed. By responding to your immediate thoughts you activate your PURPOSE. Your purpose cannot be ignited if you don't breath life into your thoughts. If too much thought on one thing is slowing you down, make a decision and put it into action!

The Resurrection

Spring is here and it’s time for a resurrection. There are parts of us that lay dormant waiting for us to light the flame and rekindle the relationship with self. I’ve talked to a lot of people and everyone seems to be feeling heavy and what better way to feel lighter than to reinvent yourself…be born again. If you feel something is missing in your life – there probably is. Think about what’s missing in your life and execute discipline and faith to revive that sleeping giant. Whatever is missing is simply waiting to be revived; none of this is new, we’ve been here before. The challenge is to remember the key points (good and bad) from our past without being stuck there and use it as vehicle to move forward.

Easter is in a few days and the bible says Jesus (Yeshua) rose from the dead to save us from our sins. Resurrection can happen at any time in our lives but we have to be ready and willing to make a change. Even a subtle change can be vital. Stepping out of your daily routine can be inventive and a step away from the cross that binds you. Breaking cycles help you see beyond your current realm of thinking. Expansion…isn’t that what we are here to do? Expand our existence and overall understanding of life?

Resurrection takes courage, strength and discipline. All characteristics you are born with – even if untapped, they are there for you to explore. Make this celebration of Easter more than about Jesus. It’s been about you all along anyway. In the spirit of spring, find a way to renew yourself. So...what are you waiting for?