Debt Makes the World Go 'Round

Almost all of our religious holidays have been hijacked by consumerism. This Christmas season is sure to see the majority of people taking on more personal debt. Canadians owe $1.47 for every dollar of disposable income. Credit card companies charge loan shark interest rates. Our economy relies upon our conspicuous consumption to roll along. With our resources quickly running out, it is obvious that something has to change drastically because our current strategy is not sustainable.

When you consider the how much money the credit card companies are charging for interest, it is easy to see who is paying the ultimate price. Most lower income families have to resort to using their credit card whenever any extraordinary household expense pops up. Since they’re already living from paycheque to paycheque (60% of Canadians do), they have to carry that credit card balance. The high interest rate they are paying guarantees longterm debt for them and record profits for the the credit card companies.

I’m not sure how to fix a system that continues to rely upon the underprivileged to maintain it unless we can convince people to redefine their definition of quality of life to represent their happiness, not what they own.

“The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied... but written off as trash. The twentieth-century consumer economy has produced the first culture for which a beggar is a reminder of nothing.” - John Berger (b. 1926)

Let It Snow

We’ve been digging ourselves out all week from the biggest snowfall we have had so far this year. Last Wednesday marked the first time I have ever had to cancel classes due to the weather. One of the highways was completely closed making it nearly impossible, not to mention incredibly dangerous, for anyone to get to the school.

Winter is an awesome season. I know some don’t share my enthusiasm for the local climate this time of year but I find that the more time I spend outdoors experiencing the weather, the more I enjoy it. I can understand how the short days can become oppressive if you are augmenting them by shutting yourself indoors for five months so my advice is always to dress appropriately and spend some time outside.

If you started your day like I did yesterday you would understand exactly what I mean. There was fresh snow on the ground first thing in the morning and with the massive snowfall we had earlier in the week, everything was completely covered under a thick blanket of the white stuff. The silence that comes with all that snow was absolutely deafening. I stood perfectly still and just experienced the moment. That is definitely something that cannot be experienced any other time of year. Stay inside and you would never know what you had missed.

Winter solstice is in two days. This year will be the first time in over four hundred and fifty years that a lunar eclipse will coincide with the solstice. If the weather is clear, I am getting up at 3:17 am to experience the event. They say the phenomena should display the most fantastic coppery glow on the winter landscape. Regardless, the days start getting longer on Wednesday so enjoy what there is to experience before winter is gone.

“People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy.” - Anton Chekov (1860 -1904)

I Like To Wear Pumpkins On My Feet

As I watch my newest cat watch me watching him, I can’t help but smile at the serendipitous opportunities life continues to throw at me. Milo, the cat I am currently losing a staring contest with, has been gaining strength and weight everyday since I adopted him a month ago. The vet estimates his age to be about 17 or 18 years old and in his emaciated state, he looks every second of it. He wasn’t expected to live more than a few weeks but as things are going now, I am pretty sure I will be sharing Christmas with him and maybe a good part of 2011.

Milo’s Christmas gift to me has been the gift of perspective. He clearly accepts everything life throws his way and he makes the best of every moment he has. As with any cat, he doesn’t really convey gratitude and acts as if he decided to adopt me and let me feed and care for him. I have to respect his unshakeable confidence and his faith in the good of man.

I am inspired.

“Bunny slippers remind me of who I am. You can't get a swelled head if you wear bunny slippers. You can't lose your sense of perspective and start acting like a star or a rich lady if you keep on wearing bunny slippers. Besides, bunny slippers give me confidence because they're so jaunty. They make a statement; they say, 'Nothing the world does to me can ever get me so far down that I can't be silly and frivolous.' If I died and found myself in Hell, I could endure the place if I had bunny slippers.” - Dean Koontz (b. 1945)

No Impact Man

I have learned a lot about the environment and the interconnectedness of everything from David Suzuki. His ability to convey complex ideas in layman terms has gone a long way to educate the masses about environmental issues. David Suzuki is 74 years of age and I am concerned about the void that will need to be filled when he passes on.

I have been following Colin Beavan’s No Impact Man project for a few years now and I believe he, and others like him, can lead the charge in convincing the masses to consider the consequences of our lifestyles. His latest blog on the No Impact Man project offers solid advice and guidance on how the rest of us can positively engage others in discussions about climate change.

As long as someone is always carrying the torch there is always hope.

“What I do matters. It affects how other people act. The choices we make in life affects the choices of everyone else.” - Colin Beavan

Big Finish

As UBBT 7 winds down into its final month, I have given all my Student UBBT Members a final journaling assignment to write about their UBBT experience. There is still a significant portion of UBBT 7 left but I always assign this task at this time of year for a reason. No matter how the test has gone, you will always remember how you finish. This will go a long way to help you recognize the path to mastery.

It is important to reflect upon the entire year in order to truly appreciate the scope of the journey and it is my belief that upon reflection there will be evidence of growth no matter how poorly the year went. The great thing about the UBBT is the fact that it is a process as opposed to a program and if you recognize this, there is no such thing as failure.

It is impossible to judge anyone else’s experience. My respect for anyone who steps up and attempts to improve themselves and the world around them is absolute. I am proud of everyone that has ever taken on this challenge.

“Eighty percent of success is showing up.” - Woody Allen (b. 1935)

Gratitude

As the year is winding down I have been reflecting upon the past 11 months and giving thanks for the blessings that have been bestowed upon me this year. I recognize that my pursuit of mastery has led to a lot of personal growth and has kept me on the path to a life of consequence.

As I get older, and hopefully wiser, the value I place upon personal relationships grows. I have come to recognize that the quality of my life is directly proportional to the quality of the people I am surrounded with. I am definitely blessed to have so many people of quality who I trust in my life.

No matter what is going on in your life, stress is always more manageable if you have people you trust to turn to. Trust. There is a lot to be said about trust. It takes a lot to earn but next to nothing to lose.

I have learned to keep the value of trust in front of me and my goal for the next year is to ensure my actions and words bring value to those around me and never betray the trust I hope to earn.

“We're never so vulnerable than when we trust someone - but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy” - Walter Anderson (1903 - 1965)

Lest We Forget

I believe Remembrance Day is one of the most important days for reflection, and the fact that we are a country at war makes the day even more significant. I hope everyone has taken the time to stop and contemplate what a privilege it is to be Canadian and the price so many have paid in service to us and our country.

Whether or not you support the war in Afghanistan, no one should be doubting the sacrifice that has been made by Canadian soldiers over the past century. We enjoy the privilege of our lifestyle because of lives that have been sacrificed or forever changed on our behalf. Remembrance Day of all days is a perfect time to consider our own responsibilities not just as Canadians but as free, engaged human beings.

If you believe we should be supporting our troops in Afghanistan, it is important that your support is reflected in your actions at home. Hold your political representatives accountable for representing your values not their own party's agenda so that there is meaning to the sacrifices being made at our government’s bidding. If you believe in freedom, exercise your freedom by actively striving to improve the world for yourself and for those who will inherit what you leave behind. If you want change, let your spending, or better yet your lack of spending, reflect your values. If you see injustice don’t stand by, speak out and let your voice be heard.

Support our troops by recognizing that your actions and inactions can have equal consequences. Become the change you want to see by not accepting mediocrity and becoming active in your community as a visible objector of apathy and indifference.

“Words and thoughts concerning compassionate action that are not put into practice are like beautiful flowers that are colorful but have no fragrance.” - Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926)