Vegetarian Cooking Classes in Santa Monica :)
Posted on Aug 6th, 2008
by 
Jessica
Jessica
Tarragon & Zatar Potato
Do you like delicious food? Do you want to learn more about vegetarian cooking and being vegetarian? Do you simply want to improve your health and learn about different foods?
Well, then you should come to a cooking class at my house. That's right! I'm inviting you to my house in sunny Santa Monica. I thought to myself "I'll post this on Gaia! Why not?! I'll invite everybody."
I'm a chef, and so are many of my friends. We've come together to create a series of vegetarian cooking classes featuring a different chef and different styles of food each week.
It's pretty awesome!
This week will feature Young Suen, who was my qi gong teacher and is an incredible chef and used to own his own restaurant. He'll be making authentic Chinese food including his famous dumplings. Wow!
When: Friday, August 8th from 6pm - 9pm
Where: Santa Monica, CA (RSVP and I will send my addy)
Cost: $15-$20 Food included! (Wow! what a deal! Kinda like a sliding scale on the honor system, you can pay more if you like)
Who: You and other cool people.
Please RSVP
I am so excited and you should be too.
Access: PublicMy Signature Strengths...
Posted on Jul 29th, 2008
by Jessica
Jessica
Some of you might know about Martin Seligman and his book Authentic Happiness. He's a scientist and pioneer in positive psychology. Although I know he's done some ethically questionable research, I really did enjoy his book and his observations about what factors influence happiness and fulfillment.
He's also the Director of U Penn's Positive Psychology Center. Those academics do a lot of research and their website features a number of tests you can take to delve deeper and examine your own happiness and your signature strengths, because of course, we're more likely to be fulfilled if we are using those strengths in our daily lives.
Siona encouraged the Team to take the Signature Strength test. I took it for the first time two years ago. And indeed, my results have changed over the past two years. I think Seligman and his crew do a good job choosing questions and asking them in different ways. Even so, these tests are, after all, only as good as their takers. You have to want to understand yourself and witness. You have to try to look at yourself honestly and do your best.
I did find some of the questions to be too simple, using terms like happiness and suffering with the assumption that they are universally bad or unequivocally good, with which I disagree. For example, hope, optimism and future-mindedness is low on my list of strengths, yet I am not a pessimist. I just know and honestly hope I cannot predict the future. I hope it will be beyond my personal and limited imagining because I believe life can be miraculous if you work hard enough. I plan for the future and work hard to make the unknown the best unknown there is. Of course, what is best really isn't for me to decide, it's for Tao or God or the Force to create ;)
In any case, I think all multiple choice tests are too limited to fully reflect the depth of our profound and awesome world. And, I think things get a little fuzzy after the first 5 strengths or so, because the test doesn't show how the strengths really measure up next to each other or to some other common standard. Nevertheless, it's a good exercise, fun to play with and some truth is revealed. I was not surprised to see spirituality at the top of the list. I will be interested to take it a year from now and see how things change. Try the test for yourself!
And, without further ado, my Signature Strengths:
He's also the Director of U Penn's Positive Psychology Center. Those academics do a lot of research and their website features a number of tests you can take to delve deeper and examine your own happiness and your signature strengths, because of course, we're more likely to be fulfilled if we are using those strengths in our daily lives.
Siona encouraged the Team to take the Signature Strength test. I took it for the first time two years ago. And indeed, my results have changed over the past two years. I think Seligman and his crew do a good job choosing questions and asking them in different ways. Even so, these tests are, after all, only as good as their takers. You have to want to understand yourself and witness. You have to try to look at yourself honestly and do your best.
I did find some of the questions to be too simple, using terms like happiness and suffering with the assumption that they are universally bad or unequivocally good, with which I disagree. For example, hope, optimism and future-mindedness is low on my list of strengths, yet I am not a pessimist. I just know and honestly hope I cannot predict the future. I hope it will be beyond my personal and limited imagining because I believe life can be miraculous if you work hard enough. I plan for the future and work hard to make the unknown the best unknown there is. Of course, what is best really isn't for me to decide, it's for Tao or God or the Force to create ;)
In any case, I think all multiple choice tests are too limited to fully reflect the depth of our profound and awesome world. And, I think things get a little fuzzy after the first 5 strengths or so, because the test doesn't show how the strengths really measure up next to each other or to some other common standard. Nevertheless, it's a good exercise, fun to play with and some truth is revealed. I was not surprised to see spirituality at the top of the list. I will be interested to take it a year from now and see how things change. Try the test for yourself!
And, without further ado, my Signature Strengths:
| Your Top Strength |
Spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith |
| Your Second Strength |
Gratitude |
| Your Third Strength |
Curiosity and interest in the world |
| Your Fourth Strength |
Leadership |
| Your Fifth Strength |
Judgment, critical thinking, and open-mindedness |
| Strength#6 |
Appreciation of beauty and excellence |
| Strength#7 |
Citizenship, teamwork, and loyalty |
| Strength#8 |
Kindness and generosity |
| Strength#9 |
Love of learning |
| Strength#10 |
Perspective (wisdom) |
| Strength#11 |
Fairness, equity, and justice |
| Strength#12 |
Social intelligence |
| Strength#13 |
Bravery and valor |
| Strength#14 |
Creativity, ingenuity, and originality |
| Strength#15 |
Capacity to love and be loved |
| Strength#16 |
Forgiveness and mercy |
| Strength#17 |
Industry, diligence, and perseverance |
| Strength#18 |
Honesty, authenticity, and genuineness |
| Strength#19 |
Humor and playfulness |
| Strength#20 |
Self-control and self-regulation |
| Strength#21 |
Zest, enthusiasm, and energy |
| Strength#22 |
Hope, optimism, and future-mindedness |
| Strength#23 |
Caution, prudence, and discretion |
| Strength#24 |
Modesty and humility |
Connecting
Posted on Jul 9th, 2008
by Jessica
Jessica
I have a confession to make... sometimes I visit other social networks. Call it research ;)
Really, I visit them for the same reason many others do, each serves a particular purpose and you can find different people. It's clear to me that Gaia serves a unique purpose as well and the more I visit other networks, the more I see the value of what we have to offer here at Gaia, our incredible community of world-changers and extraordinary positive thinkers. Wow. But, surprisingly, this blog isn't about Gaia in particular.
It's about connecting in our technologically advanced age.
I'm amazed that I can enter a name, with maybe a keyword, into Google and find contact information for people I haven't spoken to in years. If they have an unusual name, I'll probably hit them on the first try. Once in a while I'll type in a name and no relevant results will emerge, which is even more surprising. But, for the most part, I have the opportunity to connect with people all over the world. People from my past with whom I've lost touch and never forgotten. And, that too is mysterious. Sometimes I think the connections we make, however small, never fade. We're linked through time, for better or for worse.
It's like String Theory... or not ;)
Sometimes we pretend that our interactions don't matter. We conveniently disregard both platonic and intimate connections. Yet, the names, the faces, impressions and imprints remain, perhaps to pop into our mind at some unforeseeable time in the future. Perhaps to pop up in a friend request on Gaia or Facebook. And, we may not even really reconnect. We may have been the best of friends and now merely check each others' profiles for updates rather than maintain direct communication.
Perhaps we don't need traditional communication. We'll let the Internet connection do it for us, magically projecting our intention into cyberspace with the telepathic message "I'm thinking of you and I'm glad you're still alive." And, we may prefer this to more archaic methods of preserving relationships. After-all, it does take less time and in some cases it even leads to a bit more face-to-face contact.
I'm not saying any of this is bad. I simply marvel at it. I am amazed by the shift in our culture and how patterns of interaction have changed over the course of the past decade. I am in awe of search engines and social networking sites that span the globe. I am totally impressed by the speed of email, which certainly seems faster than the speed of light ;)
I'm just flabbergasted that I can find a friend from high school and send a short message as though it's been no time at all. In fact, it always seems like it's been no time at all. I'm starting to think it hasn't. I don't know if I'm alone here, but Time seems to collapse through this kind of communication. The bonds forged, however weak or strong, are burned into the fabric of my life. Time seems slightly outdone by these karmic connections. It's like something in my DNA has picked up a bit of this person, forever encoding them and calling out "I know you." It's relieving and quite scary at the same time.
In my spiritual practice we talk about affinity and karma and the intangible forces that connect us. It's clear that we're in this together. These ideas definitely help me understand and make sense of my experience, but I am no less astonished by it.
I'm also reminded that each interaction and relationship matters. The bonds stretch below the surface. I want to leave behind goodness and greater wisdom instead of harm or delusion. I want my relationships to be beneficial. I can't say they have all been because I've been young and confused before and still get confused sometimes ;)
If I had a megaphone to send a message to everyone I've ever known I'd apologize from the depths of my being for any harm I caused or delusion I encouraged or abetted. I'd say "I am sorry for anything harmful and I wish you the very best, truly, truly, truly. I hope you are gaining wisdom and growing all the time. I hope you are happy, blessed with clarity and Good beyond my imagining." And, that is my psychic message to all my connections. I don't have a megaphone, but I think the Internet works better anyway :) It's almost unbelievable. What a wondrous world.
Really, I visit them for the same reason many others do, each serves a particular purpose and you can find different people. It's clear to me that Gaia serves a unique purpose as well and the more I visit other networks, the more I see the value of what we have to offer here at Gaia, our incredible community of world-changers and extraordinary positive thinkers. Wow. But, surprisingly, this blog isn't about Gaia in particular.
It's about connecting in our technologically advanced age.
I'm amazed that I can enter a name, with maybe a keyword, into Google and find contact information for people I haven't spoken to in years. If they have an unusual name, I'll probably hit them on the first try. Once in a while I'll type in a name and no relevant results will emerge, which is even more surprising. But, for the most part, I have the opportunity to connect with people all over the world. People from my past with whom I've lost touch and never forgotten. And, that too is mysterious. Sometimes I think the connections we make, however small, never fade. We're linked through time, for better or for worse.
It's like String Theory... or not ;)
Sometimes we pretend that our interactions don't matter. We conveniently disregard both platonic and intimate connections. Yet, the names, the faces, impressions and imprints remain, perhaps to pop into our mind at some unforeseeable time in the future. Perhaps to pop up in a friend request on Gaia or Facebook. And, we may not even really reconnect. We may have been the best of friends and now merely check each others' profiles for updates rather than maintain direct communication.
Perhaps we don't need traditional communication. We'll let the Internet connection do it for us, magically projecting our intention into cyberspace with the telepathic message "I'm thinking of you and I'm glad you're still alive." And, we may prefer this to more archaic methods of preserving relationships. After-all, it does take less time and in some cases it even leads to a bit more face-to-face contact.
I'm not saying any of this is bad. I simply marvel at it. I am amazed by the shift in our culture and how patterns of interaction have changed over the course of the past decade. I am in awe of search engines and social networking sites that span the globe. I am totally impressed by the speed of email, which certainly seems faster than the speed of light ;)
I'm just flabbergasted that I can find a friend from high school and send a short message as though it's been no time at all. In fact, it always seems like it's been no time at all. I'm starting to think it hasn't. I don't know if I'm alone here, but Time seems to collapse through this kind of communication. The bonds forged, however weak or strong, are burned into the fabric of my life. Time seems slightly outdone by these karmic connections. It's like something in my DNA has picked up a bit of this person, forever encoding them and calling out "I know you." It's relieving and quite scary at the same time.
In my spiritual practice we talk about affinity and karma and the intangible forces that connect us. It's clear that we're in this together. These ideas definitely help me understand and make sense of my experience, but I am no less astonished by it.
I'm also reminded that each interaction and relationship matters. The bonds stretch below the surface. I want to leave behind goodness and greater wisdom instead of harm or delusion. I want my relationships to be beneficial. I can't say they have all been because I've been young and confused before and still get confused sometimes ;)
If I had a megaphone to send a message to everyone I've ever known I'd apologize from the depths of my being for any harm I caused or delusion I encouraged or abetted. I'd say "I am sorry for anything harmful and I wish you the very best, truly, truly, truly. I hope you are gaining wisdom and growing all the time. I hope you are happy, blessed with clarity and Good beyond my imagining." And, that is my psychic message to all my connections. I don't have a megaphone, but I think the Internet works better anyway :) It's almost unbelievable. What a wondrous world.
Relationships and Our TeleGathering
Posted on May 21st, 2008
by Jessica
Jessica
Last night was our first Gaia TeleGathering with Gay and Katie Hendricks. It was lovely. They are such a wonderful and beautiful couple.
I'm always inspired when I see, or in this case hear, people who have true partnership. And honestly, I don't see it that often. Honestly, I don't even think I'm very good at it, even though I try and really want to be. I was most impressed when Gay said they haven't said a critical thing to each other or blamed each other for over 10 years! He couldn't even remember the last time one of them said something critical to the other. They've been married for almost 30 years, so I guess they have been working at it for a while :) But, I think that if one couple can do it and teach others then it'll be quicker for all those who come after and try to learn, one hopes.
And, it isn't that they avoid conflict. They clearly are very honest and open, but they also really listen to one another and care as much about the other person's view as they do about their own. This is truly rare.
I just read this article on blaming in the NY Times. It says that research shows we have little ability to gage the amount of suffering we cause relative to our own. We tend to retaliate with a sense that the pain afflicted upon us is much worse and more valid and real. We justify our actions by blaming someone else and we are ill-equipped to fit the punishment with the crime.
The article refers to a study at the University of London where particpants were hooked up to a mechanical device that exerted a specific amount of pressure on another participant's finger. Person A exerted a set and measured amount of pressure on person B. Then person B was asked to estimate and exert an equal pressure on person A. To quote the article:
The results were striking. Although volunteers tried to respond to each other’s touches with equal force, they typically responded with about 40 percent more force than they had just experienced. Each time a volunteer was touched, he touched back harder, which led the other volunteer to touch back even harder. What began as a game of soft touches quickly became a game of moderate pokes and then hard prods, even though both volunteers were doing their level best to respond in kind.
Wow. Even when we're really trying, when we're not emotionally invested, when there are no big personal issues clouding our view, we still cannot judge 1) the extent to which our actions impact others, 2) the reality of our own suffering, 3) what is fair and 4) how our own misconceptions and delusional reactions naturally escalate conflict towards the point of no return. Is it any wonder that karma takes so long to alleviate?
So I'm asking myself, what can I learn here? I know I must blow my own suffering out of proportion, caught up every now and then by the wrongs that have been "done to me". And I know that when I have a conflict, it always seem that each person feels so justified in their particular suffering. I think Gay and Katie had something to offer on this issue. They have developed ways, good patterns of interaction to combat these natural blaming instincts. I think people have to lay down their swords and resist the desire to punish each other and have the courage to say that they've been hurt before they hit back. We're all just trying to do the best we can, at least I hope we are. There's no shame in being the one to apologize and maybe part of the answer is in learning to make the other person's view as important, repeating their words back to them kindly, making them feel understood and seen.
We all want to be cared for, to be protected and have our hurt feelings acknowledged. It's so difficult when these caged animal instinct come into play and it's every man and woman for himself or herself. But in partnership, you can't just be for yourself. It's a team. I guess it just takes practice, reorienting values, good discipline and massive reeducation and restructuring. It takes being clear enough to choose a higher ground and not simple get lost on the autopilot instincts that will inevitably arise.
I'm hopeful. Hey, Gay and Katie haven't been critical in 12 years or so! And, they did mention that appreciation is the salve to these wounds. As John Gottman noted, successful relationships have at least a 5:1 ratio of appreciation to criticism. So, that's one way I can be proactive. Appreciation is a way we can all be proactive, and it'll help us see the reality of our situation more clearly and bring us back to who we really are and what we really want. Because let's face it, we aren't very good about seeing reality clearly and we aren't particularly wired for it. That's why there are so many seminars, forms of meditation, therapies, and spiritual practices. We have to work hard to gain clarity.
Maybe if someone criticizes or blames us we can try to think about something we appreciate about that person to make them feel loved again. And we can apologize and be accountable for the situation at hand. Take responsibility for creating a solution. After all, the other person is only being critical because they feel hurt and justified. It doesn't make them right, they're probably just as delusional and confused as we are ;)
If your interested in discussing these topics further and learning more, check out the Conscious Relationships pod. Gay said they would stop in there from time to time and try to answer questions as well, so it's a great opportunity.
I'm always inspired when I see, or in this case hear, people who have true partnership. And honestly, I don't see it that often. Honestly, I don't even think I'm very good at it, even though I try and really want to be. I was most impressed when Gay said they haven't said a critical thing to each other or blamed each other for over 10 years! He couldn't even remember the last time one of them said something critical to the other. They've been married for almost 30 years, so I guess they have been working at it for a while :) But, I think that if one couple can do it and teach others then it'll be quicker for all those who come after and try to learn, one hopes.
And, it isn't that they avoid conflict. They clearly are very honest and open, but they also really listen to one another and care as much about the other person's view as they do about their own. This is truly rare.
I just read this article on blaming in the NY Times. It says that research shows we have little ability to gage the amount of suffering we cause relative to our own. We tend to retaliate with a sense that the pain afflicted upon us is much worse and more valid and real. We justify our actions by blaming someone else and we are ill-equipped to fit the punishment with the crime.
The article refers to a study at the University of London where particpants were hooked up to a mechanical device that exerted a specific amount of pressure on another participant's finger. Person A exerted a set and measured amount of pressure on person B. Then person B was asked to estimate and exert an equal pressure on person A. To quote the article:
The results were striking. Although volunteers tried to respond to each other’s touches with equal force, they typically responded with about 40 percent more force than they had just experienced. Each time a volunteer was touched, he touched back harder, which led the other volunteer to touch back even harder. What began as a game of soft touches quickly became a game of moderate pokes and then hard prods, even though both volunteers were doing their level best to respond in kind.
Wow. Even when we're really trying, when we're not emotionally invested, when there are no big personal issues clouding our view, we still cannot judge 1) the extent to which our actions impact others, 2) the reality of our own suffering, 3) what is fair and 4) how our own misconceptions and delusional reactions naturally escalate conflict towards the point of no return. Is it any wonder that karma takes so long to alleviate?
So I'm asking myself, what can I learn here? I know I must blow my own suffering out of proportion, caught up every now and then by the wrongs that have been "done to me". And I know that when I have a conflict, it always seem that each person feels so justified in their particular suffering. I think Gay and Katie had something to offer on this issue. They have developed ways, good patterns of interaction to combat these natural blaming instincts. I think people have to lay down their swords and resist the desire to punish each other and have the courage to say that they've been hurt before they hit back. We're all just trying to do the best we can, at least I hope we are. There's no shame in being the one to apologize and maybe part of the answer is in learning to make the other person's view as important, repeating their words back to them kindly, making them feel understood and seen.
We all want to be cared for, to be protected and have our hurt feelings acknowledged. It's so difficult when these caged animal instinct come into play and it's every man and woman for himself or herself. But in partnership, you can't just be for yourself. It's a team. I guess it just takes practice, reorienting values, good discipline and massive reeducation and restructuring. It takes being clear enough to choose a higher ground and not simple get lost on the autopilot instincts that will inevitably arise.
I'm hopeful. Hey, Gay and Katie haven't been critical in 12 years or so! And, they did mention that appreciation is the salve to these wounds. As John Gottman noted, successful relationships have at least a 5:1 ratio of appreciation to criticism. So, that's one way I can be proactive. Appreciation is a way we can all be proactive, and it'll help us see the reality of our situation more clearly and bring us back to who we really are and what we really want. Because let's face it, we aren't very good about seeing reality clearly and we aren't particularly wired for it. That's why there are so many seminars, forms of meditation, therapies, and spiritual practices. We have to work hard to gain clarity.
Maybe if someone criticizes or blames us we can try to think about something we appreciate about that person to make them feel loved again. And we can apologize and be accountable for the situation at hand. Take responsibility for creating a solution. After all, the other person is only being critical because they feel hurt and justified. It doesn't make them right, they're probably just as delusional and confused as we are ;)
If your interested in discussing these topics further and learning more, check out the Conscious Relationships pod. Gay said they would stop in there from time to time and try to answer questions as well, so it's a great opportunity.
Building Community
Posted on Apr 8th, 2008
by Jessica
Jessica
While I was searching the web for community building tips to share with all of you beautiful people, I stumbled upon an article by Susan Heathfield about the decline of community in America. It says:
Community is breaking down in America with serious implications for volunteerism, charity-giving, religious practices, neighborhoods, friendships, family, democracy, and society.
I couldn't agree more.
I grew up feeling fairly isolated until I went to Quaker school when I was about 13 years old. I didn't have a network of friends in my neighborhood and my family was distant and unstable. Perhaps that's why community building became so important to me. I realized that you had to create it if you wanted it at all. The local infrastructure did not provide it and it could not be taken for granted.
As the article suggests, our society has fewer and fewer institutions for people to come to together and support one another. I remember learning about the decline of the extended family in American culture and the growing prevalence of the nuclear family. However, our society has become so dissociated that even the structure of the nuclear family is unraveling.
Many children grow up in two-income homes where increasing financial and household pressures limit the amount of quality time together. The average American watches more than four hours of television per day, according to Nielsen. (Check out these stats). According to studies, children spend more hours a year watching TV (1500 hrs) than they do in school (900 hrs). As children grow up, families move away from each other and relationships are strained. The divorce rate is high and many children are raised by single parents without the support of a community. The result of all this is that we are becoming even more isolated as the nuclear family disintegrates.
The article also says that people aren't joining community organizations, churches, recreation groups, etc. I imagine many people don't feel like they have time. Our culture is also highly individualistic and we tend to view the expectations of others as an infringement. However, communities and groups, working together for a goal or just for mutual support, are all about rights and responsibilities. But, we often look to avoid the responsibility.
So, that's why I think community continues to decline in America, but I do think there is hope. The fact is, we need each other. We need community. We need friends and we need family (by blood or by choice). We need to feel loved and supported. What's more, if we have any real desire to accomplish our goals and make life better, we need people to help us do it. People are reaching out to each other, especially online. We're connecting to people all over the Globe to fill the deep need for community.
And, that is why I think Gaia is so important. We're building an online community with purpose, designed to make all of us healthier, smarter and more compassionate. It's also an online community with every intention to have offline gatherings, events, and an impact in the marketplace. All of this is the reason that YOU are so important.
You are so important.
What you do here can make a huge difference. It makes a difference if you authentically invite another member to become your friend, if you post constructive comments on their blog, if you connect with the Team here and share your ideas, if you attend that Gathering, or even better, if you decide to organize your own Gathering, if you write a heartfelt blog or if you share a meaningful video.
Generally, I don't connect with anyone online that I wouldn't want to connect to offline. I like to integrate as much as possible and I've spent face-to-face time with friends from Gaia all over the country and I've met friends from Gaia from all over the world! I'm reminded of the phrase, "Think globally, act locally." Well, I think you must act locally if you want to have a fulfilling life. As Mother Teresa says:
Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.
But, as technology progresses, the more local & connected we all become.
As we face this decline of community in our modern culture, I remember that there is also more potential to build community. We can choose to have this value in our lives and we have more and more resources to reach out to people who feel the same way. And, we can seek out the people in our actual local areas as much as possible.
My suggestion is, when you go out there today, remember, it's up to all of us to build community. It's up to all of us to recognize how much we need healthy relationships, support and people we can count on. It's up to us to see that we are connected, even if we pretend we are not. Our actions and choices impact others and we are impacted by theirs as well, even if we stay inside the house all day. It's up to us to realize this and try to choose the impact we have.
So, help a friend, do something generous, be kind, learn the name of the cashier at your local veggie lunch stop, ask someone for help, slow down your busy day and help someone feel seen, be seen, be a guest, be a host, be responsible, be accountable, be creative, be loving, and be you, the best you can be :)
Oh, and check out the article I mentioned if you haven't already. It's right here :)
Community is breaking down in America with serious implications for volunteerism, charity-giving, religious practices, neighborhoods, friendships, family, democracy, and society.
I couldn't agree more.
I grew up feeling fairly isolated until I went to Quaker school when I was about 13 years old. I didn't have a network of friends in my neighborhood and my family was distant and unstable. Perhaps that's why community building became so important to me. I realized that you had to create it if you wanted it at all. The local infrastructure did not provide it and it could not be taken for granted.
As the article suggests, our society has fewer and fewer institutions for people to come to together and support one another. I remember learning about the decline of the extended family in American culture and the growing prevalence of the nuclear family. However, our society has become so dissociated that even the structure of the nuclear family is unraveling.
Many children grow up in two-income homes where increasing financial and household pressures limit the amount of quality time together. The average American watches more than four hours of television per day, according to Nielsen. (Check out these stats). According to studies, children spend more hours a year watching TV (1500 hrs) than they do in school (900 hrs). As children grow up, families move away from each other and relationships are strained. The divorce rate is high and many children are raised by single parents without the support of a community. The result of all this is that we are becoming even more isolated as the nuclear family disintegrates.
The article also says that people aren't joining community organizations, churches, recreation groups, etc. I imagine many people don't feel like they have time. Our culture is also highly individualistic and we tend to view the expectations of others as an infringement. However, communities and groups, working together for a goal or just for mutual support, are all about rights and responsibilities. But, we often look to avoid the responsibility.
So, that's why I think community continues to decline in America, but I do think there is hope. The fact is, we need each other. We need community. We need friends and we need family (by blood or by choice). We need to feel loved and supported. What's more, if we have any real desire to accomplish our goals and make life better, we need people to help us do it. People are reaching out to each other, especially online. We're connecting to people all over the Globe to fill the deep need for community.
And, that is why I think Gaia is so important. We're building an online community with purpose, designed to make all of us healthier, smarter and more compassionate. It's also an online community with every intention to have offline gatherings, events, and an impact in the marketplace. All of this is the reason that YOU are so important.
You are so important.
What you do here can make a huge difference. It makes a difference if you authentically invite another member to become your friend, if you post constructive comments on their blog, if you connect with the Team here and share your ideas, if you attend that Gathering, or even better, if you decide to organize your own Gathering, if you write a heartfelt blog or if you share a meaningful video.
Generally, I don't connect with anyone online that I wouldn't want to connect to offline. I like to integrate as much as possible and I've spent face-to-face time with friends from Gaia all over the country and I've met friends from Gaia from all over the world! I'm reminded of the phrase, "Think globally, act locally." Well, I think you must act locally if you want to have a fulfilling life. As Mother Teresa says:
Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.
But, as technology progresses, the more local & connected we all become.
As we face this decline of community in our modern culture, I remember that there is also more potential to build community. We can choose to have this value in our lives and we have more and more resources to reach out to people who feel the same way. And, we can seek out the people in our actual local areas as much as possible.
My suggestion is, when you go out there today, remember, it's up to all of us to build community. It's up to all of us to recognize how much we need healthy relationships, support and people we can count on. It's up to us to see that we are connected, even if we pretend we are not. Our actions and choices impact others and we are impacted by theirs as well, even if we stay inside the house all day. It's up to us to realize this and try to choose the impact we have.
So, help a friend, do something generous, be kind, learn the name of the cashier at your local veggie lunch stop, ask someone for help, slow down your busy day and help someone feel seen, be seen, be a guest, be a host, be responsible, be accountable, be creative, be loving, and be you, the best you can be :)
Oh, and check out the article I mentioned if you haven't already. It's right here :)
Coming together: Conversation Week in Los Angeles
Posted on Mar 31st, 2008
by Jessica
Jessica
On Friday night I hosted a Gaia Gathering/ Conversation in LA for Conversation Week 2008 and it was wonderful. Something magical happens when good people, striving to create something positive in the world, get together. Connections are forged. New ideas change us. The evident goodwill of humanity emerges. Our desire to contribute and commune is strengthened and enlivened.
We gathered together for dinner at California Vegan. Our focus was How can we balance our personal needs with the most pressing needs of our community and the larger world? This question is particularly interesting to me because I find it extremely important to be authentic about our own needs, build community and contribute to the world. It's a question I work with each day. Sometimes we are too selfish and sometimes we are too selfless. As for me, I really cannot give my best to others if I am not taking care of my own needs. There's no way I can be abundant and exhausted, even though I try a lot of the time ;)
Other Gaia members in attendance were Lucy, Christy & Ryan. There were also two lovely people that found us through Conversation Cafe, which was exciting. They're planning on checking us out at Gaia soon. It was a really nourishing event and we were all able to contribute to each other.
One thing we all agreed upon was the need to create strong local community and relationships in our own lives. Our society is highly individualistic, families have become less important, and there are so many distractions at our fingertips (literally). We have to be proactive to create connections and community in our lives. This is incredibly important and can make the difference between a meaningful/ fulfilling life and an unfulfilling one.
Something else that stuck with me was the issue of attention span and listening in our current culture. We all seemed to agree that the media and entertainment has become so fast paced. A debate used to mean that we really listened to the the other's argument and really had to consider it. Now people are often only given a minute or so to make a point and it has become largely about selling an idea rather than exploring it. So, it strikes me that this means we need to listen more and really think deeply about the information that comes to us. That's something we can do on the individual level.
It's noteworthy that everyone at the table wanted to contribute and in some way "save the world." I think that is such a beautiful part of the human spirit. We want to contribute something. We have love within us. And, even though all of us had faced some kind of disillusionment, together, we came to realize that the world, with all of its faults, has changed. One of the attendees talked about her activism in the 1960s and how she didn't see as much change as she hoped, but then was able to see how the world had changed because of her and everyone who worked to make a difference. Today we have more civil rights, less sexism, less homophobia, more information and awareness. The world has grown in consciousness. I love that.
It's easy to be distracted by all the problems and miss the benchmarks of progress and success.
So, overall it was a beautiful event that nourished something very human and very good in us all. I really do think these connections are so important. It doesn't even matter how many times we see or meet a person. They can always impact us and change our lives forever.
How can we best prepare our children for the future?
Posted on Mar 24th, 2008
by Jessica
Jessica
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for March 24, 2008:
A few ideas...
Education
I would love to see improvements in our education system and in our attitude towards education. People often rise to meet expectations. And yet, we often dumb-down education for younger and older children.I would love to see children in America receive a more classical education, learning multiple languages and reading texts that demand more of them. I would like to see their individual strengths fostered. We should teach our children about the world, its languages, cultures, darkness and light, and how they can make an impact through the way they live their lives.
Community
Our society is deeply individualistic. Many children grow up without a sense of community or a sense of direction. They grow up merely surviving instead of flourishing and using the best parts of themselves to serve a purpose in the world. I think children, and really all people, need more community. We need to build those communities ourselves and look at how we can create meaningful connections and support structures in our lives for adults and children alike.
Nutrition
Nutrition is of the utmost importance. I grew up drinking soda and eating doritos. I don't even feel comfortable calling doritos food. We serve our children fast food lunches at school and soda machines are everywhere. This impacts the child's mood, ability to think clearly and long-term health. Soda machines and unhealthy snacks should be banned from schools. On a individual level, we can educate our children and make sure they are eating a healthy diet. I would, of course advocate a vegetarian diet because it can also help our children develop a healthy relationship to the world around them, with an understanding that their actions have an impact on the environment and other living creatures.
I have to add a little addition here to my philosophical bits above based on some of the comments I've gotten for this blog. The ideas above sound theoretical, but we have the chance to put them into action everyday. Education, community and nutrition are three of the most important parts of my life and who I am in the world. That's why I want to share them with everyone else, including you here, reading my blog ;)
I went to such a fantastic Quaker high school called Sandy Spring Friends where these things were nurtured in me. That's where I became vegetarian, became an activist, led a chapter of Amnesty International, read Tolstoy, performed Shakespeare, traveled to Italy, worked with a Navajo community on the reservation, volunteered, wrote poetry in Spanish and studied modern dance. It was remarkable. I always loved learning, but by the time I went to college I really had a wonderful foundation and larger sense of the world and a better sense of myself. The school even had a Peacemaker award they gave out to a senior student every year, along with the best athlete, top student, etc. I'm so proud to say I received that award in my last year there.
Sandy Spring is k-12 and they do a wonderful job bringing students of all ages together. They have community days, community plays, etc. They have a dorm and many international students. They give out scholarships every year.
This is a private school and I'm so thankful to have had the chance to go there. I went to public school until 8th grade and felt numb through most of it. Now, the school we go to does make a difference, but if we, as adults strive to create such an environment in our own lives, then that is the environment we will give to our children. It is about the world we create everyday, with our actions. It is about taking the time to make sure we are spending our energy on something meaningful and healthy. In some ways, for me, it's about working for a company like Gaiam, that promotes healthier lifestyles and changes the way we think in society. It's about teaching people to cook vegetarian food to feed their souls and their bodies without causing so much harm to the environment and violence to other creatures.
We create this civilization.
Education
I would love to see improvements in our education system and in our attitude towards education. People often rise to meet expectations. And yet, we often dumb-down education for younger and older children.I would love to see children in America receive a more classical education, learning multiple languages and reading texts that demand more of them. I would like to see their individual strengths fostered. We should teach our children about the world, its languages, cultures, darkness and light, and how they can make an impact through the way they live their lives.
Community
Our society is deeply individualistic. Many children grow up without a sense of community or a sense of direction. They grow up merely surviving instead of flourishing and using the best parts of themselves to serve a purpose in the world. I think children, and really all people, need more community. We need to build those communities ourselves and look at how we can create meaningful connections and support structures in our lives for adults and children alike.
Nutrition
Nutrition is of the utmost importance. I grew up drinking soda and eating doritos. I don't even feel comfortable calling doritos food. We serve our children fast food lunches at school and soda machines are everywhere. This impacts the child's mood, ability to think clearly and long-term health. Soda machines and unhealthy snacks should be banned from schools. On a individual level, we can educate our children and make sure they are eating a healthy diet. I would, of course advocate a vegetarian diet because it can also help our children develop a healthy relationship to the world around them, with an understanding that their actions have an impact on the environment and other living creatures.
I have to add a little addition here to my philosophical bits above based on some of the comments I've gotten for this blog. The ideas above sound theoretical, but we have the chance to put them into action everyday. Education, community and nutrition are three of the most important parts of my life and who I am in the world. That's why I want to share them with everyone else, including you here, reading my blog ;)
I went to such a fantastic Quaker high school called Sandy Spring Friends where these things were nurtured in me. That's where I became vegetarian, became an activist, led a chapter of Amnesty International, read Tolstoy, performed Shakespeare, traveled to Italy, worked with a Navajo community on the reservation, volunteered, wrote poetry in Spanish and studied modern dance. It was remarkable. I always loved learning, but by the time I went to college I really had a wonderful foundation and larger sense of the world and a better sense of myself. The school even had a Peacemaker award they gave out to a senior student every year, along with the best athlete, top student, etc. I'm so proud to say I received that award in my last year there.
Sandy Spring is k-12 and they do a wonderful job bringing students of all ages together. They have community days, community plays, etc. They have a dorm and many international students. They give out scholarships every year.
This is a private school and I'm so thankful to have had the chance to go there. I went to public school until 8th grade and felt numb through most of it. Now, the school we go to does make a difference, but if we, as adults strive to create such an environment in our own lives, then that is the environment we will give to our children. It is about the world we create everyday, with our actions. It is about taking the time to make sure we are spending our energy on something meaningful and healthy. In some ways, for me, it's about working for a company like Gaiam, that promotes healthier lifestyles and changes the way we think in society. It's about teaching people to cook vegetarian food to feed their souls and their bodies without causing so much harm to the environment and violence to other creatures.
We create this civilization.
Barack Obama on Race and the Future of America
Posted on Mar 19th, 2008
by Jessica
Jessica
I'm very impressed by his honesty, courage and eloquence in this speech. Take a look and see what you think. It's a bit long, but I think it's worth it to watch the whole thing.
Barack Obama: 'A More Perfect Union' (Full Speech)
Gaia Gatherings and Conversation Week
Posted on Mar 12th, 2008
by Jessica
Jessica
xposted from the Team Blog posted by me :)
Hello Gaia!
How are we going to change the world?
Together.
Aren’t you always amazed by the quality of members here on Gaia? I’m always so impressed. I’m even more impressed when I meet a fellow member face to face and have the opportunity to share a bit of tea and conversation.
And, I find conversations with Gaia members are always meaningful. Those conversations change me. They broaden my perspective, and sometimes they catalyze action that changes my life.
That’s why Gaia is promoting Conversation Week from March 24th - 30th. This is effort was created by Conversation Café and designed to inspire people to come together and discuss 10 of the most important questions facing the world, voted on and chosen by the public. (Don’t you love democracy?)
Here’s their description:
Conversation Week 2008 is a celebration of the power of conversation to change the world. Hosts will convene face-to-face, small-group conversations with friends, neighbors, and strangers. The goal is to empower people worldwide to convene a meaningful, respectful discussion in their community.
And, it’s going to happen all around the world during the last week of March.
Wow. Powerful.
I can’t think of anyone better to share world changing conversations than Gaia members.. That's why we're hoping to inspire a Gaia Gathering Week during these dates, so that we can combine our efforts and ensure that this community, too, can join together around these key questions.
It doesn’t matter what kind of event you host. It can be 2 people or 200 people. It can be as simple as reaching out to another member in your area and chatting over coffee. The goal is to reach out in the community and have as many face to face conversations as possible. It can be simple. It can be whatever you want it to be.
If you’ve never hosted an event before, no worries! We’re here to help and coach you through it. And, Conversation Café is here to help too. They are training hosts and empowering people to create conversation. You can always contact the team for help and I can be reached at Jessica@gaia.com.
On a personal note, I don’t think there’s anything more powerful that creating community and bringing people together for a positive purpose. We can’t change the world alone. We need each other. Miraculous things happen when good people connect.
Once you’ve started planning your conversations, events, & tea times let us know! Send me a note and post about in the comments of this blog. You can also post and connect in our Gaia Gathering pod. Please don't forget to pop over to the Conversation Café site and post your event with them and take advantage of one of their many scheduled facilitator trainings.
Don’t forget to take photos, videos, and blog about what you shared during the conversation. It helps inspire the whole community. You can find more tips for planning here.
We’ll be hosting an online Gathering featuring the Top Ten Questions in our Questions &Reflections for the whole week. So, you can participate on the site too!
Hello Gaia!
How are we going to change the world?
Together.
Aren’t you always amazed by the quality of members here on Gaia? I’m always so impressed. I’m even more impressed when I meet a fellow member face to face and have the opportunity to share a bit of tea and conversation.
And, I find conversations with Gaia members are always meaningful. Those conversations change me. They broaden my perspective, and sometimes they catalyze action that changes my life.
That’s why Gaia is promoting Conversation Week from March 24th - 30th. This is effort was created by Conversation Café and designed to inspire people to come together and discuss 10 of the most important questions facing the world, voted on and chosen by the public. (Don’t you love democracy?)
Here’s their description:
Conversation Week 2008 is a celebration of the power of conversation to change the world. Hosts will convene face-to-face, small-group conversations with friends, neighbors, and strangers. The goal is to empower people worldwide to convene a meaningful, respectful discussion in their community.
And, it’s going to happen all around the world during the last week of March.
Wow. Powerful.
I can’t think of anyone better to share world changing conversations than Gaia members.. That's why we're hoping to inspire a Gaia Gathering Week during these dates, so that we can combine our efforts and ensure that this community, too, can join together around these key questions.
It doesn’t matter what kind of event you host. It can be 2 people or 200 people. It can be as simple as reaching out to another member in your area and chatting over coffee. The goal is to reach out in the community and have as many face to face conversations as possible. It can be simple. It can be whatever you want it to be.
If you’ve never hosted an event before, no worries! We’re here to help and coach you through it. And, Conversation Café is here to help too. They are training hosts and empowering people to create conversation. You can always contact the team for help and I can be reached at Jessica@gaia.com.
On a personal note, I don’t think there’s anything more powerful that creating community and bringing people together for a positive purpose. We can’t change the world alone. We need each other. Miraculous things happen when good people connect.
Once you’ve started planning your conversations, events, & tea times let us know! Send me a note and post about in the comments of this blog. You can also post and connect in our Gaia Gathering pod. Please don't forget to pop over to the Conversation Café site and post your event with them and take advantage of one of their many scheduled facilitator trainings.
Don’t forget to take photos, videos, and blog about what you shared during the conversation. It helps inspire the whole community. You can find more tips for planning here.
We’ll be hosting an online Gathering featuring the Top Ten Questions in our Questions &Reflections for the whole week. So, you can participate on the site too!
Meet the Gaia Team
Posted on Feb 11th, 2008
by Jessica
Jessica
Hello there lovely people! This is for our official "About" page for the Gaia Team. I'm thrilled to be serving you all and glad to tell you a bit more about me :)
Name: Jessica Farley
Title: Evolutionary Connector
What's your role at Gaia Community?
I wear many hats here at Gaia and I love them all. On the Membership Actualization Team (MAT) I serve as a community organizer and have spearheaded our offline grassroots events. I work with our Ambassador program and maintain communications with members who have volunteered their time and energy to spread the word and share the love of Gaia. I also manage our scholarship program (did ya know we give away four scholarships per year? Check out the info here!) I am our event coordinator and planner for trade-shows and festivals and I have helped coordinate our print marketing materials. I am part of our Business Development team and have been working on product development and marketing for Gaia Pro with the rest of our amazing Pro team. Finally, I have spent time nurturing and supporting our partnership and marketing efforts. (That’s why my title is a little unconventional; it covers all of that!)
I’ve been with this community since day one (as a member, but started working (officially) shortly thereafter). And, I’m proud to be here and see how things have blossomed and grown. Some of my projects are more new to me than others, but you can be sure, they will become robust and expand as we all move forward.
What do you most enjoy doing (or what are your greatest passions)?
I love gaining wisdom, growing, working to break through delusion and overcome obstacles. I strive to express my immense love and passion for helping people with clarity and purpose. I am happiest and most fulfilled when I can help someone grow.
I love a lot about life! I seek meaning in all that I do, and often I find it by hugging, teaching, cooking & sharing delicious, artistic vegan food, analyzing literature and film, laughing with my friends and my beau, meeting new people & fuzzy creatures, listening to others talk about their dreams, learning to see more deeply into myself and the human experience, hanging out in the sunshine and going to the theater ;)
What's your favorite thing about our community?
It’s our potential to make a beautiful and positive impact on the world created by the passion of the people here, all of the members and the Team. I appreciate the depth, sincerity, and profound good will of so many at Gaia (& Gaiam). I believe we have the opportunity to create so much together. We have already done a great deal by maintaining this exceptional community and we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. I am very excited about what is in store.
What do you love about working here?
I love the purpose driving this company and this community and working with people such brilliant, incredible human beings. I love the creativity and collaborative spirit of our work. I love that we can all contribute (including the members) and make a big difference. It’s amazing that everyone on the Team (and all those I’ve met in the community) care so much about doing the right thing, serving and being authentic. Aren't they cool?!?! Aren't YOU!?!?
I am very very grateful.
Meet the rest of the Gaia Team!
Name: Jessica Farley
Title: Evolutionary Connector
What's your role at Gaia Community?
I wear many hats here at Gaia and I love them all. On the Membership Actualization Team (MAT) I serve as a community organizer and have spearheaded our offline grassroots events. I work with our Ambassador program and maintain communications with members who have volunteered their time and energy to spread the word and share the love of Gaia. I also manage our scholarship program (did ya know we give away four scholarships per year? Check out the info here!) I am our event coordinator and planner for trade-shows and festivals and I have helped coordinate our print marketing materials. I am part of our Business Development team and have been working on product development and marketing for Gaia Pro with the rest of our amazing Pro team. Finally, I have spent time nurturing and supporting our partnership and marketing efforts. (That’s why my title is a little unconventional; it covers all of that!)
I’ve been with this community since day one (as a member, but started working (officially) shortly thereafter). And, I’m proud to be here and see how things have blossomed and grown. Some of my projects are more new to me than others, but you can be sure, they will become robust and expand as we all move forward.
What do you most enjoy doing (or what are your greatest passions)?
I love gaining wisdom, growing, working to break through delusion and overcome obstacles. I strive to express my immense love and passion for helping people with clarity and purpose. I am happiest and most fulfilled when I can help someone grow.
I love a lot about life! I seek meaning in all that I do, and often I find it by hugging, teaching, cooking & sharing delicious, artistic vegan food, analyzing literature and film, laughing with my friends and my beau, meeting new people & fuzzy creatures, listening to others talk about their dreams, learning to see more deeply into myself and the human experience, hanging out in the sunshine and going to the theater ;)
What's your favorite thing about our community?
It’s our potential to make a beautiful and positive impact on the world created by the passion of the people here, all of the members and the Team. I appreciate the depth, sincerity, and profound good will of so many at Gaia (& Gaiam). I believe we have the opportunity to create so much together. We have already done a great deal by maintaining this exceptional community and we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. I am very excited about what is in store.
What do you love about working here?
I love the purpose driving this company and this community and working with people such brilliant, incredible human beings. I love the creativity and collaborative spirit of our work. I love that we can all contribute (including the members) and make a big difference. It’s amazing that everyone on the Team (and all those I’ve met in the community) care so much about doing the right thing, serving and being authentic. Aren't they cool?!?! Aren't YOU!?!?
I am very very grateful.
Meet the rest of the Gaia Team!
Tagged with: Gaia Community, Team
QAR
August 2008