Resolution of Happiness: Revolutionize At Home!

     I get a lot of inspiration from the music I enjoy most. This title came from two sources: INXS's "Don't Change" and World Party's "Private Revolution" (song from the album of the same title). In that interesting debut, Karl Wallinger (of The Waterboys) advocates the essence of the "think globally, act locally" philosophy. While I am clearly skeptical about concepts like world government and taxpayer-funded globalization, reworking your own local environment is a must to achieve a healthier and more fulfilling life. And where better to put those changes into effect, than your own home? Even the late great Pope John Paul II once said that, what is true in your own home (family) is true for society at large.

     Since INXS's original lead singer (Michael Hutchence) has passed on, the title also represents the break from the past to the future. In recent years, I have been working on an integrative concept to make families and homes "run" better -- in a more spiritual and nutritional way. The goal is to get rid of all the negative things that thwart us -- whether that is toxic household chemicals, or too much TV. (Howard Dean has already "retired" his!) Then, add plenty of positive inputs -- whole foods, green plants, and more natural sunlight. It's a bit like a Westernized feng shui.

      Just being tuned into yourself and your environment, enables you to sense what really makes you happy and fulfilled. So many people choose to dull that sense with fast / junk food and pills, but they are really missing out. As Switchfoot sings, "We were meant to live for so much more."

     Once we do get rid of the routine negativities (which may even include an unfulfilling job), the clouds lift and our path is freer to follow.

      To pursue this goal of simple happiness, it helps to keep a diary. Just write down anything that inspires you (foods, drinks, people, programs, movies) and also the negative things encountered. In time you will learn to free yourself -- but it may take discipline and patience. With so many negative images bombarding us on the popular media, just turning them off can bring a lot of instant peace!

     It shouldn't take a near-death experience for such a sea change in your life philosophy. Maybe you just need to get back in the groove. That's why Gather is so vital -- it helps to socially and intellectually recharge us, as spiritual beings in a physical life and journey.

      My, we've had some trials! And we are definitely continuing to work through many of those. But there are also tons of triumphs -- every day is a stunning realization of the amazing gifts we have, and we can congratulate and support each other as we use them in our unique pursuits and dreams.

     Who knows what will happen tomorrow? That's the basic essence and excitement of life. Though I may be alone today in some ways, who knows who I will meet tomorrow to transform things. I only know that my "resolution of happiness" happens in the best way, when I realize that my good Gather pals have "got my back"!