I’m not saying that that’s the way I live…but I believe that’s the way we should live.  It’s perfectly OK to want things.  We work hard and it’s just that we buy what we want, but it shouldn’t be obsessive.  Each article we buy should be something that’s really meaningful to us.

Recently, I’ve been working out the idea in my head to start putting together my art studio (probably in a corner of the living room  or in my bedroom…).  I started making a list of what I think I’ll  need for the projects I want to create Man!  Maybe I could have already bought what I needed if I hadn’t spent money on other things out of shopping obsession.  So, now I made a pledge to spend only on things that really matter and that are worthwhile and hide my credit card!

In the past days I came across Ghandi’s quote on simple living.  It made me ask myself: “and what about the people that make more than enough money??”  It might be hard for them to live simply…they can just grab what they want without even thinking… Well, in my opinion, if one has more than enough, one should also buy things that are worthwhile and that have a special meaning.  If you still have more money left, save it for bad times and if there’s still more money left…I’m sure somebody else needs it to eat, to dress, to study… to simply live…

Who doesn’t want peace, abundant food, clean air, clean water, rich forests, equal rights, etc?  Well, it’s time to do something in that direction.  You might be saying: ” I’m not like Julia Butterfly Hill to live for two years perched on tree…”.  Ok, neither am I.  What she did was great, but if, like me, you’re not into that type of activism you can start in simple ways because every contribution matters.  You can start by growing some plants organically in you back yard or in containers if you don’t have room.  You can start recycling at home.  You can take cold showers in summer (or all year long if you have pretty much the same warm climate throughout the year as myself).  You can turn vegetarian or at least cut down on animal products.  You can turn off the lights you’re not really using.  You can help feed and dress the poor through your local church or charity organization.   You can treat others with respect.  You can write a blog on the subject…  The powerful statement here is : YOU CAN!

Every time you try to help the needed and give back to the Earth we are all a step closer to the world we all would like to have. 

I’m so excited, but I truly have no gardening experience whatsoever.  So, I’m doing my research on what to do with my pretty baby plants when they’re ready to be transplanted.  I hope everything goes well.

Since we live in a world where food is all full of pesticides, I want to become part of the highly increasing community of organic gardeners.  I want to be able to eat fresh, nutritious food and be confident that it’s clean! 

Space and bad soil were my main “problems” when I thought of starting  an organic vegetable garden.  Later I found out about container gardening and composting.  Honestly, I still don’t make my own compost, but I hope to start doing it in the near future. 

Urban container gardens are the solution for people who want to start gardening projects so give it a shot!

In my personal experience, I have found in books great friends to become less ignorant on certain topics.  Currently, I’m getting informed on alternative health subjects such as: vegetarianism, naturism, alternative healing, and so on.  I also read about religions (I’m Catholic by the way), art, and cooking.  I still have a lot to learn, but I really feel that all this reading has made me grow internally. 

Keep in mind that all that knowledge that you gain through investigation is useless if you keep it to yourself.  That’s one of the reasons why I decided to start this blog…I want to share what I have learned through my reading.  So, if you learn something new (remember you don’t have to agree with everything you learn) please pass your knowledge to others so we can all create a more educated world…one post/conversation at a time.

Happiness comes from leading a meaningful life.  Recently, I was listening to some of the webcasts of the California Women’s Conference 2008 and Sister Joan (I don’t remember her last name) read a quote from a “famous” Reverend.  She quoted: “One of the disciples of Holy Master once asked Him: ‘Holy Master, could you answer the most important spiritual question ever asked?  Is there life after death?’.  The Holy Master said: ‘ That is not the most important spiritual question ever asked.  The most important spiritual question ever asked is: is there life before death?’”  This really struck me.  Of course!  If you make your journey through this earth count, it will eventually give you happiness and a sense of fullfilment.  If your life passes by unnoticed, how do you expect leading a happy life?  A life of service gives happiness to the soul.  So as you see, it’s not if you have best car ever or if you live in a mansion, because when your journey through life is over you won’t take that with you.  You’ll only take those experiences that made a difference to somebody because they’re “stored” in the depths of your heart and your soul.