Blog
Hidden Abundance
Did you know that only 40% of your happiness is genetic? That means that 60% is within your control. That 60% is determined by your habits and perspective, both of which are choices. For example, according to Martin Seligman, the author of the theory of learned...
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Thanksgiving And Lovegiving To Earth
“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” ― Mark Twain Twain’s wisdom resonates because it strikes such a chord of...
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Developmental Stages of Humanity and Earth
Harvard professor Bob Kegan’s adult development theory explains how adults develop on a cognitive level, as opposed to the traditional life stages framework. In his theory, Kegan describes how adults move through stages defined by ones’ ability to understand and...
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Family Responsibility and Time-Out
I have the most generous parents in the history of humanity. They provide my home, my food and clothing, and even my entertainment. They provide all my inspiration, and even the most amazing, beautiful retreats for contemplation and rest. I know my parents are...
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The Treasures of Our Yin (Shadow) Side
In religion and spirituality, we often talk about light and love as being good and desirable. The dark is ignored or discussed as undesirable, often equated to evil. Is the distinction really so black and white? My background as daughter of Chinese immigrants...
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Relationship Power Differentials: Reciprocity and Fairness
By Susanna Calvert, MAPP, PhD and Victoria Ronnau, JD Good relationships are central to our wellbeing but can be so hard to create. Few of us are taught how to create healthy and rewarding relationships. A lucky few have had good role models. The rest of us have...
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Night Vision: Exploring Our Shadow Side
“Ogres are like onions…Ogres have layers. Onions have layers.” – Shrek Disagreements, the kind where we’re digging our heels in for the long haul, often to have an element of disbelief where we wonder how the other person can think that. But I know that if we dig...
read moreGaia and Personhood
This week's blog post is in collaboration with Victoria Ronnau, of Virginia Network for Democracy and Environmental Rights, VNDER.org. The idea of Earth as an integrated whole, a living being, is not new to this blog. Versions of this concept are practiced by...
read moreBy Her Sickbed
By Her Sickbed She’s resting quietly now. She’s too tired to speak, and she naps frequently. I don’t want to disturb her. I want her to rest and become stronger, and I also don’t want to leave her side. She doesn’t have to speak for me for me to know what’s going...
read moreAn Apology to Earth
Dear Mother Earth, I’m writing this letter because this is really, really hard to say and I wanted to make sure I’m telling you everything I need to express. I screwed up, beloved Mother, and I’m really, really sorry. I don’t want this letter to become about me and...
read moreDiversity, The Myth of Separateness, & Earth Care
“The myth of the separate self underlies our entire civilization, says philosopher and author Charles Eisenstein. This dualistic view of the world pits people against each other and turns nature into something we want to control. But we can choose another story — one...
read moreSmell Thy Neighbor
Loss of smell is often reported as one of the first symptoms of COVID-19. Many people associate our sense of smell with pleasure, such as a warm pie cooling from the oven or the unique and heart-warming smell of a loved one. Smell also can alert us of something...
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A Letter to You
Dear Earth Family, I’m writing to you now because my heart is breaking and I don’t know a better way to communicate my feelings to you right now. These rifts between all of us feel devastating and I’m writing in hopes that we can find a way to reconcile. We’ve...
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Why We Have Systemic-isms
Did it feel like this discussion about systemic racism came out of left field? I suspect it took many of us off guard, not unlike the discussion about gay marriage several years ago. One day, everyone is saying WTF?, and then the next we’re all acting like the...
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Jason, with The Audible Bark
A month ago, my co-worker, Bridgette and I were driving home from the field late after catching and attaching satellite tags to alligators at the Okefenokee Swamp Park. As you may have read in the blog, The Silent Bark, we were discussing how people and events happen...
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Nature, The Nerd
I was surprised each time I have found myself single, first after my divorce from my husband of 20 years and then after the death of my late husband Chris. I just didn’t expect to have to be out dating again prior to each instance. It is very different dating in my...
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What I Hate About You
Getting along can be challenging, especially during these days of pandemic and polarization around so many topics including masks, race, politics, and climate change. Solutions are needed more than ever, but we can hardly find a way to talk to each other much less...
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