Ignition


It has been a long day, but a fruitful one.

I did not want to go to a class today from 9:30-6:00 pm, but I knew it would be worthwhile and life altering. I had to sit for nearly nine hours, and keep a lid on the hormones. I was sitting in a room full of strangers, learning how to live my life "with the most good and least harm". A hormonal outburst might have given strangers a reason to cart me away, so I behaved for the most part in spite of a headache and cramps, a sign of things yet to come.

I attended the MOGO workshop by Zoe Weil, an impassioned advocate, educator, and founder of the school on Humane Education. Rather than post her doctrine here, I will post her website. http://zoeweil.com/

I have been trying to live my life in a mindful and ecological manner. I no longer buy wrapping paper for gifts. I try to cut down on the paper I use in my life, and I just installed a water saving toilet. I don't run water when I brush my teeth, I don't flush unless the water is a deeper color than lemon yellow. I recycle bags, have canvas bags for my groceries, and I try to buy local when possible. I bring broken electronics to a recycle center, recycle my ink cartridges, don't fertilize my lawn or garden with chemicals, yada yada yada.

After today, I have discovered that I have much more to learn about purchasing every day items and some of my food in a socially and environmentally conscious way, and that by doing this in my house is not enough - I must pass on the message.

Zoe was dynamic, captivating, entertaining, and passionate. The other people in the class ranged from teenagers and young people who were WAY ahead of me in their journey, to mothers/grandmothers who wanted to change their ways to make the world a better place for their offspring.

I have chosen some goals, one of which is to educate people, and have made a commitment to take a day a week to post information and ways that we can be mindful of human and animal rights, as well as protect our natural resources and save the environment. I will do this along with input from my readers whose collective knowledge and suggestions are needed.

I will choose Mondays for this, and ask reader's over the weekend to send me any ideas/information they have on a particular subject which I announce. I will provide my email in case you can't leave comments here because you aren't registered or don't want to register.

Oh, and the seminar was at Bard College, whose president is genius Renaissance man Leon Botstein, conductor and founder of the American Symphony Orchestra, the Fisher Center concert hall designed by architect Frank Geary, and in the summer the amazing Spiegeltent. As I left I heard strains of the choral group practicing in the campus chapel, and I stopped for a while to catch the haunting strains of music float over the lawns.

On the way home I stopped by Poet's Walk, intending to hike down to the river, but it was getting late and Larry was making dinner. I had hoped to get some photographs, but had to settle for shooting out the window of the car.

Off to bed, it has been a long day and I need my rest.

Ciao gentle readers,

Patti O Ignition

Comments

Unknown said…
sleep sweet, dear sister :)

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