This week Awesome Stories brings you urban paradise, wholeness, Captain Planet and Navajo justice.
Urban Paradise in Detroit
Shu Harris has a dream to build a safe, caring, urban paradise in the middle of the Highland Park area of Detroit. The neighborhood faces huge challenges with the loss of people, library, schools and investment, but Shu is determined to create a sustainable neighborhood called Avalon Village that helps kids learn, grows it’s own food and supports small business. Her grand vision and passion have attracted several partners, her son, a successful Kickstarter campaign, and plans to turn the abandoned house next door into a place for kids to come after school. The plans also include solar lighting, rainwater harvesting, local food production and turning the abandoned places into something beautiful and useful.
Taming the Inner Tyrant
In this article called Seeking Wholeness, Patty de Llosa talks about learning to embrace the complexities of ourselves as the path to wholeness. For Patty, this required learning to dialogue with her inner critic and the many aspects of self that often drive us to do what we do. Among all these inner voices, we may find our inner child to be the most important. Jung and others have argued that the inner child is the voice of our inner potential or connection to the divine. Patty offers some experiments to help us find more wholeness. A friend of mine talks about having a party and inviting all of his disparate voices to the discussion. The only way to become whole is to embrace and befriend all the aspects of ourselves, both the pretty and not so pretty aspects.
Captain Planet
I don’t know if he’ll ever be as popular as Captain America, but Lawrence Bloom has found his purpose. After gaining material success and finding it lacking, he realized that he wanted to help save the planet from people. Along the way, he’s become the chairman of a company called Be Energy, Secretary General of an IGO called Be Earth Foundation and an in-demand speaker and mentor. You might think after all he has accomplished that he’d be slowing down at 72, but he continues to be a champion for the planet, aka Captain Planet. I agree with his perception that the fundamental problem is man’s sense of being separate from the planet, when in fact we are an integral part of the web of life. He believes we are at a tipping point where we either come together to help save the planet or risk extinction as resources and the planet are overtaxed by our current lifestyles.
Navajo Justice
The Navajo justice system is much different that our justice system. Theirs is focused on the good of the group, reparation and healing. Our system is mostly focused on punishment. Our justice is a top-down hierarchy based on power. Theirs is a collective, collaboration that is very focused on the needs of the victim. It’s an enlightened approach that is most concerned with healing, wholeness and the good of all. We could learn a lot from their justice system. Navajo justice rocks!
May we learn to live in peace with each other, understanding that we are part of a world community. Peace out!
Highland Park, Michigan is where I was born and spent the first 10 years of my life. Thank you for the positive story about the place, that at one time, had the finest public school system in our entire State! ❤
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Wow Annett. I didn’t know that they had such a golden past. Apparently, it’s almost a ghost town now, but maybe they can turn it around with Shu’s passion and drive.
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For about 25 years, it was an incredible place. My parents grew up there and we bought my grandparent’s house in the early 60s. Even then, the tide was starting to turn but we still had beautiful areas where our family could enjoy ourselves.
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Sadly, many northern communities are experiencing an exodus.
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People always forget that they can learn a lot from the First Nations. They had a natural wisdom and have never exploited the earth. Have a nice day, Brad, regards Mitza
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I agree that Native cultures were more aware of living in harmony with the earth, but not always harmless. And lots of wisdom to learn from. 🙂
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that’s true, Brad, getting scalped wasn’t really harmless, hehe
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🙂
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Very inspiring! The idea of inviting all my voices to a party seems entertaining…
Have a sunny fulfilling weekend, dear Brad.
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Fun Camelia. Let me know how the party goes! 🙂 Have an inspired week. hugs,
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I certainly will!
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🙂
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It was an excellent party! No kidding, it’s useful!
https://laplacesanstemps.org/2016/07/01/journal-de-vacances-2-a-tea-party-for-my-other-selves-and-me/
Have a great weekend, dear Brad! Hugs
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Wonderful Camelia! I love how you created your party. Kudos to you and your heart for showing the way….
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Blessings, my friend!
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Thanks!
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Thanks for another batch, Brad! The Navajo justice was inspiring even as it made me think about all sorts of things– how hard it is to say “justice is this, and not that…” It seems presently we are best off with a particular code of agreements, as we don’t live in the same close-knit societies as the Najavo did and perhaps do today…? How to have a justice system rooted in the heart? It seems to me it would require an overhaul of the values represented by our mainstream culture perhaps? Nevertheless, it is a beautiful idea to contemplate…
Peace
Michael
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Thanks for your insightful musings Michael. Yes, justice is a complex idea, that is probably driven by local culture. It seems our culture would benefit from justice that was more rooted in heart, cooperation and the good of the whole community. But how to create the details, I don’t know. Consensus decision making might be one tool, as well as bring the people together on both sides to talk, face to face, heart to heart, practicing deep listening and dialoguing. to peace and justice…
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All these stories are awesome and important, but the Seeking Wholeness article with Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese” was a personal blessing. Thank you, Brad!
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Thanks JoAnna. I’m glad you found blessings…
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The article inspired me to write post on my second blog, “Loving Me, Too,” linking back here.
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Wonderful. Thanks JoAnna!
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Awesome list – I particularly love the one about Navajo Justice. I have a small heritage of Navajo and Cherokee in my family tree and the desert southwest has always called to me. Even though I live in the southeast, I always feel such awe when I’m back home visiting family and seeing the Rockies and their formations and Indian landmarks. Thanks for sharing!
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Wonderful Cynthia. I feel a similar draw to the southwest and Native Americans like the phrase Mitakuye Oyasin (all my relations), even though I don’t have a blood connection. blessings…
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A breath of fresh air, as always, Brad! Thanks so much for sourcing these pieces of much needed positive news 🙂
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Thanks Sam. We all benefit from inspiration. 🙂
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Loved the link to the Navajo Brad,would that all justice be met this way. of seeing that All are victims to one degree or another ..
🙂
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Exactly and making choices based on the whole. Keep the faith… 🙂
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always 🙂
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Nice to see a positive story about the people of Detroit showing their pride by keeping the streets clean.
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Thanks and welcome to my community. together we rise, Brad
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