mantra du jour
30-Nov-05
pay attention
(see the perfection)
radiate Love
(be the perfection)
perspectives from Iraq
27-Nov-05
Gunner Palace is an eye-opening documentary about a group of American soldiers living and working in an old palace of Saddam’s in Iraq. It shows them playing guitar, using their laptops, swimming in the pool, raiding family homes in the middle of the night, and driving around getting shot at. It’s a side of the war they won’t be showing on CNN.
If you know someone thinking about enlisting, suggest they watch this first…
Gunner Palace
http://www.gunnerpalace.com
Meeting American soldiers over the summer, many expressed frustration that folks at home, accustomed to quick televised victories, had simply lost interest in the war and had changed the channel to the more entertaining reality of Survivor and American Idol. The War had become an event, something to be watched from a distance without consequence.
I walked into “Gunner Palace” in September 2003 with a simple desire to tell the soldiers’ story – to capture what we didn’t see on the news. To do so, I left my personal opinions and my preconceptions about the war at the gate and tried to get as close to the subject as possible. I looked at the subject not as news, but as living history; an experience, not an event.
A year later, I wonder how the Iraq Experience will be defined in twenty years: will the voices of those who were there shape the collective narrative, or will we see the experience through the lens of Hollywood?
In the words of a soldier, “For y’all this is just a show, but we live in this movie.”
dual citizenship here I come
26-Nov-05
I took my Canadian citizenship test today and I am happy to report that it was easy!
The propaganda booklet they gave me to study beforehand is funny, it makes Canada sound like some kind of utopia. It’s not as perfect as it sounds, but it’s definitely a blessing to be here.
A Look at Canada
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizen/look/look-00e.html
Canada is a large country with a small population. We have developed a unique federal style of government that is based on compromise and co-existence. We value our democracy, and every citizen is encouraged to do his or her share. Our laws are based on our democratic values. Canadian values include:
Equality—We respect everyone’s rights. Everyone has the right to speak out and express ideas that others might disagree with. Governments must treat everyone with equal dignity and respect—two other fundamental Canadian values.
Respect for cultural differences—We try to understand and appreciate the cultures, customs and traditions of all Canadians, whether they were born in Canada or came here from another country.
Freedom—As Canadians, we enjoy basic freedoms, such as freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of peaceful assembly.
Peace—We are proud of our non-violent society and our international role as peacekeepers.
Law and order—We respect democratic decision making and the “rule of law.” We promote due process so that the courts and the police treat everyone fairly and reasonably. We ensure that our elected governments remain accountable to Canadians.
spending with awareness
21-Nov-05
I just sent off an article for the December issue of the new magazine The Urban Hippie. I’ve linked to an online version below.
Buyer be Aware: Conscious Consumerism
http://www.margonaut.com/consume.htm
Everything available for sale represents people that worked to get it to you. We can make choices that affect how our money circulates in the world. Many consumers choose to buy items that are made locally (or at least inside the country) whenever possible. Others choose to support local merchants, buy used items, or do their holiday shopping directly with artists and craftspeople.
cooperation
20-Nov-05
Here’s a selection from the Daily OM inspirational newsletter. I just started reading these, and some of them are fabulous.
Winged Formation
http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2005/946.html
By learning from the example of our winged guides, all of us can feel empowered to take on daring challenges as we chart adventurous courses. Feel the strength of others moving alongside you, as their presence lends power to your wings during this journey across the sky of life.
When the fear gets intense
you can let it pull you down
or
you can face it and use
its intensifying momentum
to energize the New.
developing Trust
16-Nov-05
I had an intense conversation the other day with a friend’s father. We were talking philosophy, and he referred to the will (seated at the solar plexus) as the “little voice” that guides us in the moment. He said you had to trust and love the little voice, as to do otherwise is to doubt yourself.
Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt. — Shakespeare, Measure for Measure (1.4.87-9)
when women break into business
13-Nov-05
During World War 2, so many men were away that many companies were forced to hire women. During this time, most women hadn’t worked outside the home before.
This 1943 article gives advice to businessmen about special considerations for hiring and managing female employees. Remember, the people reading this were probably not accustomed to working with women, and many were probably uncomfortable about it.
No matter the time in history, sometimes gender stereotypes apply to an individual, sometimes they don’t.
Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees
http://www.snopes.com/language/document/hiringwomen.asp
6. Give the female employee in garage or office a definite day-long schedule of duties so that she’ll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.
can’t complain
12-Nov-05
Here’s a gem from today’s TUT (“totally unique thoughts”) newsletter…
—– Original message —–
From: “The Universe”
Subject: TUT… A Note from the Universe
Once you realize, Margo, that everything you’ve ever been through –
every scuffed knee, lost deal, and broken heart – will eventually play
wildly in your favor, it’s kind of hard to complain. You know?
new paradigm art
10-Nov-05
It is my great pleasure to be exposed to some of the most powerful art happening in the world today.
Visit this site and see how it resonates with you…
Elfintome Online Catalogue
http://www.elfintome.com/onlinecatalogue/art_catalogue.html
The elfintome visionary arts collective is designed to celebrate the spirit of the human creative imagination. As a medium for inspiration and evolution, visionary art is a cultural response to the current planetary healing crisis. As a spiritual toolset for creating sacred space, this art Work brings glimpses of the wondrous and divine elements that beckon from beyond.
pills are not the answer
06-Nov-05
The “mental health” system has become dangerously imbalanced towards the use of pharmaceutical drugs and away from the use of therapy. This is largely due to the influence of drug companies on the medical profession in general.
How Could Drug Companies be so Evil?
http://www.mercola.com/2004/may/15/drug_companies_evil.htm
Just sit down and think about it for a moment. Drug companies do the research and learn that the drugs don’t work, yet are willing to sell and market them to children even when it is clear that they are causing many children to commit suicide.
Unpublished studies of venlafaxine suggested the drug increased suicide-related events such as suicidal thoughts or attempts by 14 times compared with placebo. This is reprehensible and despicable behavior equivalent to any third-world dictator.
Safe Harbor: International Guide to the World of Alternative Mental Health
http://www.alternativementalhealth.com
Welcome to the world’s largest site on non-drug approaches for mental health.
Thousands of people around the world have recovered from mental disorders and now enjoy the simple pleasures of a drug-free life. Most were told this was impossible. Yet we hear from these individuals regularly.
Many others have been able to significantly reduce their dependency on psychiatric medication. Commonly these people find that underlying their “mental” disorders are medical problems, allergies, toxic conditions, nutritional imbalances, poor diets, lack of exercise, or other treatable physical conditions.
Here’s a passage from an illuminating ebook worth reading that talks about a business philosophy worth cultivating!
7 Principles of Freedom
http://www.7freedom.com/the7principlesoffreedom.htm
If we want a healthy and long-term business, the principle of adding value holds true. The idea is not to try and make a lot of money but to try and add a lot of value! Provide a service, make customers very happy, truly satisfy them, and money comes as a consequence of that. And running our business on the principle of adding value, we don’t need to be falsely modest either. There’s nothing wrong in becoming rich if it means that we’ve been able to give something of good value to a lot of people. The primary focus is to add value, not to make money, that’s the principle.
depression is human
04-Nov-05
To “cure” depression (I believe it’s more of a symptom than a disease) the root causes must be addressed.
Here’s a passage from the book The Zen Path Through Depression. I love the simple, elegant writing and the approach.
The end of suffering comes through the cessation of our greediness, our grasping, our clinging — much as an addict stops using a drug. We stop this clinging and extinguish our thirst not by drinking some magic spiritual elixir, but by seeing for ourselves how our thirst arises.
The way to end our suffering is to loosen the tight grasp we have on life, to stop searching so hard for pleasure. We no longer seek newer, greater, more intense experiences. Instead, we just let our life be what it is — and in doing so we can, at last, experience it for what it is. And as we loosen our grip, we can begin to see the end of our suffering.
There may be much fear behind taking this new step, for it is contrary to what we usually do. We want to reassert our control and hold on tight again. But in order to stop our suffering, we have to allow pain into our life. Surprisingly, when we do, we will begin to reduce the suffering we create in response to our pain.
I recently realized that I had an aversion to the word “secretary” because of its old fashioned woman serving a man connotations. I also realized I can get defensive if I feel like a man is talking down to me, even sometimes when he’s really being fair.
I’ve now realized that I would in fact make the ultimate secretary/advisor and will now be a little more positive about my attitude towards one of the most important roles in any organization.
I’m thinking of adding virtual assistant services to my business…