Thank you for this. I think what keeps returning to me is the question beneath the rebellion.
There are certainly things worth resisting, especially when systems become disconnected from human well-being, community, and the living world. But I keep finding myself drawn to the creative side of the equation. If old structures are breaking down, what are we being called to build in their place?
The passages from Kara touched something similar for me. The quality of our institutions, economies, and political systems cannot really be separated from the quality of consciousness from which they arise. Fear tends to generate more fear, division, and control. A deeper awareness of our interconnectedness opens the possibility for something different.
As someone who has spent the last few years immersed in questions of recovery, resilience, and systems change through my work in Lāhainā, I have become increasingly convinced that meaningful transformation is not only political or economic. It is also cultural, relational, and spiritual. Communities are sustained not only by policies and infrastructure, but by trust, purpose, belonging, and a shared vision of the future.
I think that is why I continue to return to conversations about hope. Not because hope ignores reality, but because it expands our capacity to imagine possibilities beyond the conditions immediately in front of us.
Perhaps this moment is asking us not only to challenge what no longer serves life, but also to remember what it means to be fully human and to create from that place.
Thank you for continuing to ask these larger questions.
You are so sharp. “Perhaps this moment is asking us not only to challenge what no longer serves life, but also to remember what it means to be fully human and to create from that place.” That’s the big shift, from railing against the horrors of the day, where it’s moving deck chairs to take them on at a surface level, and yet that’s where most of the action is.
Hope has become a controversial word — which is fine because we do need to wise up, and things that have us conflicted become creative zones. The critique is because hope as some wish washy sentiment averts us dealing with the danger we are in. But seeing it as an opening to what could be keeps us on positive tracks to progress on, instead of us drowning in despair.
I figured out once that if the only thing I did was to give every human a 30 second interview, no sleeping eating or bathroom, it would take 260 years.
I am acquainted with Gunter Pauli, who I went to go buy his 'Blue Economy' book at San Francisco signing. He was talking about creating millions of jobs; I said 'Can you create one? For me.' No. this is why thinking at scale produces no result over a certain threshold. What is needed is a cascade effect; by helping me, I lead by example (as the Tao says), and the effect from you ripples from you to me to the next.
Of course if I die, the effect dies with me. If I die with what I know untransmitted, the knowledge dies with me. Even with a direct ROI, we are back at ego/fear based 'what's in it for me?'. So you can pay it forward, or be in the satisfaction the only things produced were a waste of potential and time. I don't lend money, because I know better than to think I will get it back, only creates a negative attachment. I either give it, or not.
Has this segued from my questioning helping you to my deciding whether to give you a loan or a gift? Onward, from scheming about raising your credit score, are you scheming now about raising me?
Be sure your own gas mask is properly fitted before helping others; words to live by, literally.
Westerners in particular among humans have a talent for inspiring my feeling that all the good I have done voluntarily and often at my expense was a total waste. Everyone seems to get a turn but me. In fact, it seems the reason to gain my trust is to betray and exploit me. Well, the only thing I have control over is myself, and I don't have to be that way.
My albatross is the drawer full of the people who haven't’ paid me back loans or have cheated me out money for unreal things, or have not reciprocated after my doing things for them. I think that if I can handle them, so they don’t cost me my well-being, that it would be a huge step in my evolution.
It’s a glass half full sort of choice. Whatever actually happens, whether something works out or not, whatever is still is and it’s where to start from. And the direction always is forward. We’re learning. So acceptance is a key word. That doesn’t mean you like whatever it is, but fighting with reality is a losing game. The way to live is always to start from what’s so and look ahead. And in this reality, for me, that’s to use the gift I have of intelligence and enough means, at the most challenging time all of humanity ever has faced.
I am organizing. I’m putting together a panel of teachers with stories to tell for when I get on tv. Most are old and the working ones have to be disguised. I’m also locating younger great teachers to lead this new vision since I’m too old. The plan is it in my book but the plan is that someone else implements it.
I just wrote a children’s book that teaches democracy, which i talk about in my book. I wrote it to show a concrete example then decided it was so good I will sell it since teachers need it. It’s another path to get heard. If i have your email address I’ll send a pdf of it to you. I think you’ll appreciate it a lot. It’s an easier, concrete way of getting my vision across. People don’t have time to read my book but this takes a few minutes.
Send to suzanne@mightycompanions.org. All sounds good. In that vein of each person doing what they can. Some are small things, like creative comments people leave, and some, for people like us, it’s big things. I just keep holding all the breakdown as what we need so we get the chance to create the world anew.
Sharing your spirit as you do helps remind people we can’t take this life for granite. Too many people do. We all have to do what we can even if small. You feel like an orchestra of spirit conductor. Your love of life feels so genuine and contagious.
Love that you never give up! Your connection to life and willingness to share it is admirable.
Frankly I think the state of our nation is the new version of Noah’s Arc only this time rather than disappear all the bad people, they’re taking over as punishment for being a shallow—not you but most everyone—society. We’ve messed everything up.
And you know my thing is how we messed up our schools. They were supposed to be sanctuaries for learning wisdom and instead they’re places to learn about dodging active shooters.
We were given so much but we’ve not appreciated it and lost it. High on that list are our teachers. After decades of abuse by the fascists running our schools they’ve been fired like me or they’ve lost the light they once had to keep us grateful for all you describe.
They are the missing link to the gift of life. We need to worship them not the Kardashians. That’s why I won’t give up trying to teach people that our schools did this to us. Soon I’ll have a website that explains this phenomenon much better. It must be taught!
I think you were on this before most, but there’s a lot of agreement everywhere now. Our whole society, in every aspect, is in breakdown and needs redoing. Maybe gratitude to the evil we are in the grips of, for getting us to change.
A lot of agitation is about education. It’s time for organizing. Maybe you should spearhead that, even if it failed before. That’s what I do.
Hello Suzanne, You have here affirmed what I believe to be so true yet so misrepresented in our society. Thank you! There's more to come. Seeking clarity and consensus, John
Suzanne,
Thank you for this. I think what keeps returning to me is the question beneath the rebellion.
There are certainly things worth resisting, especially when systems become disconnected from human well-being, community, and the living world. But I keep finding myself drawn to the creative side of the equation. If old structures are breaking down, what are we being called to build in their place?
The passages from Kara touched something similar for me. The quality of our institutions, economies, and political systems cannot really be separated from the quality of consciousness from which they arise. Fear tends to generate more fear, division, and control. A deeper awareness of our interconnectedness opens the possibility for something different.
As someone who has spent the last few years immersed in questions of recovery, resilience, and systems change through my work in Lāhainā, I have become increasingly convinced that meaningful transformation is not only political or economic. It is also cultural, relational, and spiritual. Communities are sustained not only by policies and infrastructure, but by trust, purpose, belonging, and a shared vision of the future.
I think that is why I continue to return to conversations about hope. Not because hope ignores reality, but because it expands our capacity to imagine possibilities beyond the conditions immediately in front of us.
Perhaps this moment is asking us not only to challenge what no longer serves life, but also to remember what it means to be fully human and to create from that place.
Thank you for continuing to ask these larger questions.
You are so sharp. “Perhaps this moment is asking us not only to challenge what no longer serves life, but also to remember what it means to be fully human and to create from that place.” That’s the big shift, from railing against the horrors of the day, where it’s moving deck chairs to take them on at a surface level, and yet that’s where most of the action is.
Hope has become a controversial word — which is fine because we do need to wise up, and things that have us conflicted become creative zones. The critique is because hope as some wish washy sentiment averts us dealing with the danger we are in. But seeing it as an opening to what could be keeps us on positive tracks to progress on, instead of us drowning in despair.
Want to save a human, a positivist?
Here is your big opportunity.
https://substack.com/@benjaminspockdevries151264/p-201864742
I was looking to save all of humanity. One human at a time would take too long.
I figured out once that if the only thing I did was to give every human a 30 second interview, no sleeping eating or bathroom, it would take 260 years.
I am acquainted with Gunter Pauli, who I went to go buy his 'Blue Economy' book at San Francisco signing. He was talking about creating millions of jobs; I said 'Can you create one? For me.' No. this is why thinking at scale produces no result over a certain threshold. What is needed is a cascade effect; by helping me, I lead by example (as the Tao says), and the effect from you ripples from you to me to the next.
Of course if I die, the effect dies with me. If I die with what I know untransmitted, the knowledge dies with me. Even with a direct ROI, we are back at ego/fear based 'what's in it for me?'. So you can pay it forward, or be in the satisfaction the only things produced were a waste of potential and time. I don't lend money, because I know better than to think I will get it back, only creates a negative attachment. I either give it, or not.
Has this segued from my questioning helping you to my deciding whether to give you a loan or a gift? Onward, from scheming about raising your credit score, are you scheming now about raising me?
Be sure your own gas mask is properly fitted before helping others; words to live by, literally.
Westerners in particular among humans have a talent for inspiring my feeling that all the good I have done voluntarily and often at my expense was a total waste. Everyone seems to get a turn but me. In fact, it seems the reason to gain my trust is to betray and exploit me. Well, the only thing I have control over is myself, and I don't have to be that way.
My albatross is the drawer full of the people who haven't’ paid me back loans or have cheated me out money for unreal things, or have not reciprocated after my doing things for them. I think that if I can handle them, so they don’t cost me my well-being, that it would be a huge step in my evolution.
So many people give up pursuing their passion. And yours is more important than most. Saving the world. How do you stay motivated?
It’s a glass half full sort of choice. Whatever actually happens, whether something works out or not, whatever is still is and it’s where to start from. And the direction always is forward. We’re learning. So acceptance is a key word. That doesn’t mean you like whatever it is, but fighting with reality is a losing game. The way to live is always to start from what’s so and look ahead. And in this reality, for me, that’s to use the gift I have of intelligence and enough means, at the most challenging time all of humanity ever has faced.
I am organizing. I’m putting together a panel of teachers with stories to tell for when I get on tv. Most are old and the working ones have to be disguised. I’m also locating younger great teachers to lead this new vision since I’m too old. The plan is it in my book but the plan is that someone else implements it.
I just wrote a children’s book that teaches democracy, which i talk about in my book. I wrote it to show a concrete example then decided it was so good I will sell it since teachers need it. It’s another path to get heard. If i have your email address I’ll send a pdf of it to you. I think you’ll appreciate it a lot. It’s an easier, concrete way of getting my vision across. People don’t have time to read my book but this takes a few minutes.
Send to suzanne@mightycompanions.org. All sounds good. In that vein of each person doing what they can. Some are small things, like creative comments people leave, and some, for people like us, it’s big things. I just keep holding all the breakdown as what we need so we get the chance to create the world anew.
Sharing your spirit as you do helps remind people we can’t take this life for granite. Too many people do. We all have to do what we can even if small. You feel like an orchestra of spirit conductor. Your love of life feels so genuine and contagious.
Love that you never give up! Your connection to life and willingness to share it is admirable.
Frankly I think the state of our nation is the new version of Noah’s Arc only this time rather than disappear all the bad people, they’re taking over as punishment for being a shallow—not you but most everyone—society. We’ve messed everything up.
And you know my thing is how we messed up our schools. They were supposed to be sanctuaries for learning wisdom and instead they’re places to learn about dodging active shooters.
We were given so much but we’ve not appreciated it and lost it. High on that list are our teachers. After decades of abuse by the fascists running our schools they’ve been fired like me or they’ve lost the light they once had to keep us grateful for all you describe.
They are the missing link to the gift of life. We need to worship them not the Kardashians. That’s why I won’t give up trying to teach people that our schools did this to us. Soon I’ll have a website that explains this phenomenon much better. It must be taught!
I think you were on this before most, but there’s a lot of agreement everywhere now. Our whole society, in every aspect, is in breakdown and needs redoing. Maybe gratitude to the evil we are in the grips of, for getting us to change.
A lot of agitation is about education. It’s time for organizing. Maybe you should spearhead that, even if it failed before. That’s what I do.
Hello Suzanne, You have here affirmed what I believe to be so true yet so misrepresented in our society. Thank you! There's more to come. Seeking clarity and consensus, John
Me, too. Let’s help each other!