For hundreds of generations, the focus of the “global” western world has been on progress for the sake of progress and the world – the Earth, the atmosphere, the people, the flora, the fauna – has suffered severely because of it. I say “global” western world because it isn’t just the Western world – Europe, the Americas – that is guilty of this. It may have taken longer for the Eastern world to catch up to our level of destruction, but they too have become part of the problem. And it must be said that the impact of what is going on the east – China, India – is going to have a far greater impact due to the massive population. This is a global phenomenon in which every country is to blame.

Stop pointing fingers and start doing something about it!

It has only been in the last few generations that we have started to realize the impact that we are having and how close we are to total destruction. Incredible advancements are taking place every day that have the potential to stop the destruction – if we are in time.

We are at a critical point in our history. I think it is extremely important to give our children the knowledge of what is happening and what can be done to fix it before we are gone. If they continue the negative trend, they are doomed. Some may say that this is a lot to put on the mind of a child. I say the minds of children are more powerful they those of adults and only by giving them the gift of knowledge of the reality of their world, will their imagination save them.

This isn’t about taking away their childhood and putting them to work solving the world’s problems. It is about exposing them to things that will have a lasting impact and spark them to do something good for the world.

Last week we watched the movie Home on YouTube.com. A non-profit film, it shows the devastation that we have caused in the world and gives a positive message of hope.

“The stakes are high for us and our children. Everyone should take part in the effort, and HOME has been conceived to take a message of mobilization out to every human being.”

Also, I am currently reading the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy to my boys and we just heard the story of the Golgafrichans (the useless third of the population of another planet) and how they crash landed on the Earth some 2 millions years ago. They set to work developing the things they knew on their native planet. The most striking example is that of currency. They immediately adopted the “leaf” as their currency because it made everyone exceedingly rich. Of course, the U.S. dollar – I mean the “leaf” – is so plentiful and is created so rapidly, that they quickly came to realize that it would take forests worth of leaves just to buy a peanut. Their solution? Set the forests on fire so that the value of the remaining leaves would increase. Problem solved! The trillion dollar infusion – I mean the fire – would have effects that last generations.

Our kids also understand that getting gifts on birthdays, while fun, is really not necessary, and it is more important to spend the time with family and friends. They do have toys – too many – but these days, they pay for the them out of their allowance. They have to plan and save. They have to make the right choices.

There are many things we can do to help our child leave less of a mark on the world and be inspired to make a positive difference. It is a necessity!

Consider this…

Researchers believe that within the next generation, if the trend continues, everything could come to an end.

In Danial Quinn’s book, the ‘Story of B’, he describes the growth of the human population like this (taken from Wikipedia):

“…World population began to double, first taking 2000 years; then taking 1600 years; and eventually only taking 200 years between 1700-1900 AD; then again between 1900-1960 AD [60 years]; and yet again between 1960-1996 AD [36 years].”

Only 15 years later, in 2011, we will hit 7 Billion people. 7 BILLION!! In the time it took me to write this post, the population of the world climbed by over 7,000 (see the World Clock) and the rate just continues to climb. The devastation of this population will be unstoppable if something isn’t done.

Imagine now…

Researchers believe that within the next generation, the trend could be reversed, putting the world onto a path of lasting respect and enjoyment of our world.

I think it is possible. Even if it does take a Mind of Steel and a Heart of Gold* to make it happen.

* For those who have not read the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (I highly recommend it and it is so much better the second time around) the Heart of Gold is the ship that the main characters travel in and it is responsible for some incredibly “improbable” events. “Nothing is impossible, just very improbable.”

There was a  high powered executive who finally decided to take a well deserved vacation after many years of focused, diligent work. He set off to the tropics to enjoy the sun, the sea and the sand.  One morning, while walking down the beach, he happened upon a fisherman who was pulling in his boat. He started talking to the man and asked what he was doing.

“I’m putting away my boat and gear for the day,” said the fisherman.

“Weren’t the fish biting this morning?” asked the executive.

“Oh no. The fish were very active today and I caught 3 within the first hour I was out?” replied the fisherman.

Amazed, the executive asked, “Then why are you not still fishing?”

“I only fish for what I need for my family and I for the day. That way I can spend some time doing what I love, like fishing, everyday and then relax and enjoy time with my family for the rest of the day.” explained the fisherman.

“That’s crazy,” spouted the executive. “You should stay out and catch as many fish as you can so that you can?”

“What would I do with all the extra fish?” asked the fisherman.

“Well, you could sell it at market.”

“Why should I bother doing that?”

“Well, if you sell the extra fish, you can accumulate enough money to start paying other fisherman to work for you. With more men in the boat you could then catch more fish to sell at market.” explained the executive.

“That sounds like a bunch of unnecessary work,” confessed the fisherman, “I really don’t need the headache of dealing with a bunch of workers.”

“That’s because you don’t see the big picture!” said the executive. “Once you are making more money and have employed more people, you can then use some of the extra money to buy a bigger boat. A bigger boat will allow you to employ an even bigger crew. A bigger crew with catch more fish to be sold a market. More fish sold at market means more income. Of course, your expenses will increase because the bigger boat will be more costly to run, but the extra income will more than cover those cost. In fact, with the extra revenue from the bigger boat, you will soon be able to buy another boat and crew to increase your catch even more.”

“It sounds like I wouldn’t be doing much fishing myself,” said the fisherman. “I’d be managing all of the boats and crews.”

“That’s right, you will have the benefit of being the Boss and get all the perks that come with that,” exclaimed the executive excitedly. “But that’s not all. Once you have built up your fishing fleet, you would likely be approached by a big multi-national corporation who will pay you a handsome sum for the entire fleet.”

“Wow,” said the fisherman. “Sounds like it would be lots of hard work making all of this happen.”

“Absolutely,” replied the executive. “This would all take many years of hard work to get the operation built up and many long hours at the office managing the crews and dealing with the fish marketers to get into the bigger markets. And when the Big Boys come to buy the operation from you, don’t be surprised if they make you jump through many hoops to arrange things just they way they want them.”

“Okay,” replied the fisherman. “Let’s assume I do as you say. I go out fishing all day long, catch much more fish than my family needs. I take the extra fish to the market and sell it to make enough money to hire a crew for my boat. The bigger crew will catch more fish and generate more money at the market so that I can then buy a bigger boat with a bigger crew and bigger revenues.”

“That’s right!” said the executive, realizing he was finally getting through to the fisherman.

“Then once I have bigger revenues, I can buy more boats and more crews. I would then work very hard keeping the operation running smoothly, generating more and more revenue so that I would become big enough for a big multi-national corporation to take notice and come and buy me out.” The fisherman could see the whole picture now.

“You got it!” said the executive, now very proud of his accomplishment.

“What would I do then?” asked the fisherman.

“Well, that’s the best part!” boasted the executive. “Now that you have all that money from the buyout, you could buy yourself a nice place in the tropics. You could also buy yourself a little boat and you could go out fishing every morning, relaxed and happy, enjoying the fruits of your years of hard work.”

Every time I read this story, this is where it ends. Everyone understands that the executive doesn’t see that the fisherman already has what the executive says he will get by going through this long, complication process.

My point isn’t that we shouldn’t work hard. Dan Price worked very hard all those years. Building new shelters, learning how to work the land to suit his visions, producing his magazines, etc. He did this to get closer to nature and to feel free in a way that worked for him.

I also don’t want you to think I have something against people who strive to build something bigger. I know plenty of people who take immense pleasure working to build something in the way that the executive describes. Using their creative mind to generate new products, employ people, etc. That is what makes them happy.

My point is that you need to know what you are doing it all for. Is what you are doing making you happy? Are you enjoying the process as you go? Do you feel whole, or just a cog in the wheel?

Let’s look for a moment at the alternative ending or deleted scenes of our story

“Do you have a family, sir?” asked the fisherman.

“Well, I was married once, but my wife left me years ago. She said I was never home and had no time for her and the kids. They just didn’t seem to realize all that I was doing for them,” explained the executive.

“Add where are your children now?”

“Well, they are all older now. Graduated from university and moved away. I really don’t get to see them very often. We seem to have drifted apart,” said the executive, a little sadder now.

“Do you take time to be with yourself and go on vacations?”

“This is the first vacation I have had in many years. I don’t even remember where I went the last time. I usually don’t do much by myself. I am usually too tired from working to go out or visit with friends.”

“It sounds like you have made many sacrifices to achieve success in business,” surmised the fisherman.

“Yes, I have kept my eye on the ball so that one day I will be free to do as I want.”

“What will your life look like when you get there?” asked the fisherman.

“Well, I haven’t really thought about that. I guess I’ll just figure it out when I get to that point.”

“How will you know when you get to that point?”

“I see,” said the fisherman. “Are you happy?”

“I’m focused,” replied the executive.

“Will you be happy when you get to that point?”

“I’m sure it will all be worth it.”

Like they say, no one on their death bed wishes they spent more time at the office. Yet, many people go through life with blinders on and do not see that they are simply not happy with their lives. They do not see what they have right in front of them. They do not take advantage of every day of their lives. They just exist, hoping to one day find themselves in their happy place. Wherever that is.

Are you happy with your life?

In piecing together these ethereal concepts I have been called to read a few other books recommended by the writer on his website, Ishmael.org. The first book I found is Radical Simplicity by Dan Price. It is the story of how the author lives his life in as simple a way as he can while still interacting with the modern world. He is not a full hermit, completely sheltered away from the outside world in a Grizzly Adams  style cabin. In fact, he produces a monthly magazine that he puts out to thousands of people, has a copier, propane heaters and even a telephone and electrical service. The simplicity shows up more in what he doesn’t have.

• He doesn’t have tons of space in which to collect a bunch of unused and under-appreciated stuff.
• He doesn’t have tons of clothes competing for show time.
• He doesn’t have a typical, oversized house which consumes a ton of energy and resources.
• He doesn’t have a mortgage.
• He doesn’t have a commute.
• He doesn’t have a full dining room with twelve intricately detailed place settings.

I could go on, of course, but you see the picture. He has simplified his life so that the outside pressures of the world do not have an impact on him, unless he chooses to allow them in. For instance, he spent many years traveling the world with a contract for a writing gig. While he did that though, he took his tent wherever he went. He avoided hotels at all costs. He maintained his simplicity wherever he went.

Why did Dan Price do this? He did this so that he could experience freedom. Freedom is a very powerful thing, yet so many people think that it only comes after working hard and long for many years to get to a financial position where your money opens the doors of freedom. Dan Price has shown that that is not necessary. He shows how he gained freedom by simplifying his life, by taking away all the pressures that society has artificially placed on our lives.

While I don’t believe that everyone would agree with Dan Price’s version of freedom or the path he took, I do believe that everyone can gain something by going through a process of simplification. A few years ago, we simplified our lives greatly by selling off about 80% of our belongings. It was very liberating for me during that time. I felt a huge relief. I had never been one who likes trinkets and “stuff” so it felt good to eliminate much of the “stuff” we had accumulated over the years. It was tough for Amelia at first, but she is a veteran nowadays.

Dan Price’s book has gotten me thinking of new ways to simplify again. For nearly three years, we have had a bunch of our remaining “stuff” packed away in boxes. Outta sight. Outta mind. Outta there?

Granted, somethings we are keeping because they will be useful later and too costly to replace. Like Tupperware for food storage when we live in our own place again. Especially in Costa Rica where we will have to keep the bugs at bay. But there are other things that we could get rid of here and replace when we get to our destination. Under this category would be things like cups, plates and cutlery. This type of thing is very cheap in almost every location in the world. There is another category that is hardest to figure out. We have a bunch of artwork that we have collected over the years. I have heard horror stories about art taken to the tropics and it gets destroyed by the humidity. I couldn’t forgive myself for letting that happen. And if I took them to Costa Rica, would they really look good in that setting.

So, while I love to be surrounded by artwork, it may be more realistic to replace what we currently have with something more suited to the locale. Besides, the kids are constantly creating artwork for us with their extremely creative minds.

We do have a prize piece that we got specifically because we had the perfect spot for it in our house in Ottawa. I can’t be certain that we would be able to find a place for it in Costa Rica. That piece is a pewter and lucite sculpture my world renowned marine artisit Wyland called Dolphin Tribe. If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing this piece, let me know.

The book covers a vast array of women and their stories around their sexual difficulties, desires, quirks, failures and triumphs. Regardless of the fact that they may enjoy sex, almost every one talks about the difficulties they have had.

When I started reading the book, I thought it would be a good distraction from the other topics I have been focusing on. However, I was surprised at how much thinking it made me do. After having read the book, I must say I was both impressed and disappointed. Impressed because many of the women, while suffering through some seriously difficult situations, persevered until they found a relationship or came to an understanding that truly worked for them. Impressed also, that these women were willing to share their stories so that other women for who may be going through the same issues, might get some inspiration.  In fact, several times, I envisioned men being in the same situations. These were not necessarily all about women’s issues.

That said, I was also very disappointed by the book. Not by the writing – that was great throughout as most of these women are accomplished writers. No, what I was disappointed by was the fact that Ms Derrow could not find, or at least did not include, a single women who found herself in a relationship that wasn’t doomed from the beginning. I have to question whether she really wanted to get view of the total spectrum of women and sex. I am sure their are many women in the world, even in the US, that have always had fully satisfying sexual relationships. Why not include them?

Besides the situations where the women had obvious psychological trauma at a young age (read sexual abuse), while reading the book I could not help but think that many of the problems were caused by one or both person’s selfish attitudes. The stories are filled with infidelity by women and men alike. Also, why does sex so frequently  have to be associated with drugs and alcohol? You cannot expect your relationship to last if drugs or alcohol are required or used to make things work. I sometimes think that Hollywood sensationalizes these issues, but reading this book I was reminded that the movies come from someone’s mind, someone with the experience to dream up the story. This stuff really happens, and many people suffer through life in bad relationships because they do not have enough self esteem, they have been abused or they are just too selfish to get over themselves.

When I look at my relationship with my wife, I see something that continues to grow each day. Not something that I expect with wane over time and become something that I will have to put up with. I see it as a future together with so many adventures yet to be had. I’m no saint and I have my selfish moments like everyone else, but I don’t forget why I got into this relationship in the first place. I love my wife. It’s that simple. We have a great life together. We have three great children. We dream together. We plan together. We share responsibilities. We contribute equally and we receive equally. It is not about servitude, and I am happy to serve my wife. It is not about compromise, and I have no problem if sometimes I have to yield a little. It is not all about the kids, and I love working around their schedules.

People really need to start taking responsibility for their actions. There is simply no excuse for the crap that happens every day in this country and countries around the world. If you are old enough to have sex, you are old enough to understand the consequences of your actions. Stop blaming it on the alcohol. Stop blaming it on your parents. Stop blaming it on religion. Stop blaming…and take responsibility! So many problems would be solved or prevented if people just stood up and took responsibility, thought about the consequences of their actions and stopped expecting someone else to fix their problems. More time and effort is spent fixing problems caused by irresponsible people than on the issues that really matter.

Like I said, I’m no saint and I am extremely happy that I had a happy childhood. But come on people! We can do better than this!