Sometimes when I look back at life I wonder how I accomplished some of the feats I was able to meet. These are not newsworthy feats, but instead mighty personal accomplishments that required lots of energy and drive. In every event, the energy to complete these tasks came from love. My love for specific people energized me to do what seemed impossible, too difficult, or unreachable. Love is an energizing force.
To recognize that love is an energizing force, is to then think about who and what you love deeply and how you can use that amazing energy to live a good life for yourself and others. True love finds you wanting to contribute to the good living of those you love in substantial, meaningful ways. It's amazing what you can do under love's spell, and if you right that energy in a good direction, you will never regret your accomplishments.
In dire circumstances such as accidents and illness, love surges giving you the energy to work around the clock for your loved one's well being. This was never so clear as a time when one of my children's lives was at risk--my husband and I stayed up around the clock for several days reading all we could about the illness, finding allies who understood the sickness, and advocating for his good care. Fortunately, my child survived. The same was true when my mom met with a serious illness several years ago. The whole family rallied and stayed present to advocate for her good care and survival--she too survived. Love not only energizes care during accidents or illness, but the energy from love also prompts you to take risks and work hard to provide your loved ones with a good home, wonderful education, and other positive experiences. I'm sure it was love energy that supported my husband's and my choice to buy a house with only a $5,000 down payment--we took a risk in order to give our children a good home. We've never regretted that choice. Love also energized my choice to work hard for many years in order to support my children's good education, put food on the table, and afford positive, life-enriching experiences for my family. Love is an incredible, positive energy.
With the knowledge that love energizes, I'm thinking deeply about who and what I love, and how that will energize me in the years ahead. What will that love energy inspire and feed?
Family
Clearly I love my family, and will do what I can to support their good, positive living in the years ahead. I'll think about how I can support them beginning with the questions: What do you need? What do you want? What do you desire? How can I help?
Freedom
I love freedom. I love the fact that our country's founding documents and the laws of the land focus on freedom. I love the idea of every American being able to live good, free lives. I hate the prejudice, hate, manipulation, lies, and self-serving actions that obstruct freedom and good living. My love of freedom energizes my research and advocacy for a more free and positive country. I hate what the Trump team does to obstruct freedom for so many good Americans. My love of freedom is energizing.
Natural and Human Made Beauty
I love beauty, both natural and human-made beauty. Natural and human-made beauty inspires me, and my love of this will energize my advocacy to work for a more naturally and human-made beautiful world. I support efforts to create beautiful, inspiring homes, buildings, parks, art, music, and all kinds of shared spaces. I support efforts to preserve our beautiful, natural resources including local farms, gardens, national parks, and more. I know that natural and human-made beauty inspires the best of us and leads to a more peaceful, loving world. I detest the greed that tears at our beautiful spaces.
Children
I love children. I love the role chldren play in society--they are testiment to truth and illustrations of good living. If we pay attention to children and serve children well, we will build a better world. Too often children are ignored and mistreated in society. They are overlooked. We need to take good care of children by creating conditions for good living today and into the future. My love of children will nurture my efforts to advocate for children and work for children's rights and good living.
Time
I love time. Too many Americans have to work too hard with too little compensation. This tears at their time, and without time, it's difficult for people to live intentional lives--good lives inspired by informed reflection. We need to make work schedules more reasonable and pay more equitable to support the kind of lives that include needed time.
Nutrition
I love good, nutritious food. I hate the wasteful, empty food promoted by too-many greedy companies. We can work for healthy, nutricious, and delicious food for all--food that is grown in ways that protect the environment and ways that are accesible to all people.
Diversity
I love the variation that makes up the United States and world. I hate the prejudice that obstructs the strength that diversity brings to all of us. We are all stronger when we respect and embrace the diversity of our communities. My love of diversity will support my quest to learn more and advocate better for fair laws and justice that respect and promote good living for all.
Simplicity
I love simplicity. Less things, more time. The simpler my environment, the more energy and time I have to live well.
Love is an incredible energy, an energy we can use to maximize our good living and advocacy. What do you love? How does that love energy impact the good you can do for yourself and for others? Let me know.