April 2008
Greetings fellow earthlings,
Sounds kinda weird doesn’t it? Like a bad line from an even worse B grade sci-fi.
I figured I’d greet you in that fashion though as it’s a good lead in to something you may have come across before. If so, it seems appropriate to revisit it, and if not; well, I think you might enjoy it:
I f the earth were only a
few feet in diameter, floating a
few feet above a field somewhere,
people would come from everywhere to
marvel at it. People would walk around it
marvelling at its big pools of water, its little
pools and the water flowing between the pools.
People would marvel at the bumps on it, and the
holes in it, and they would marvel at the very thin
layer of gas surrounding it and the water suspended in
the gas. The people would marvel at all the creatures
walking around the surface of the ball, and in the water.
The people would declare it precious because it was the
only one and they would protect it so that it would not
be hurt. The ball would be the greatest wonder
known, and people would come to behold it, to be
healed, to gain knowledge, to know beauty and
wonder how it could be. People would love it,
and defend it with their lives, because they
would some how know that their lives,
their own roundness, could be nothing
without it. If the earth were
only a few feet in
d i a m e t e r.
few feet in diameter, floating a
few feet above a field somewhere,
people would come from everywhere to
marvel at it. People would walk around it
marvelling at its big pools of water, its little
pools and the water flowing between the pools.
People would marvel at the bumps on it, and the
holes in it, and they would marvel at the very thin
layer of gas surrounding it and the water suspended in
the gas. The people would marvel at all the creatures
walking around the surface of the ball, and in the water.
The people would declare it precious because it was the
only one and they would protect it so that it would not
be hurt. The ball would be the greatest wonder
known, and people would come to behold it, to be
healed, to gain knowledge, to know beauty and
wonder how it could be. People would love it,
and defend it with their lives, because they
would some how know that their lives,
their own roundness, could be nothing
without it. If the earth were
only a few feet in
d i a m e t e r.
No matter how many times I read it, the impact of its simplicity, of its perspective sends a chill down my spine. What would our lives be like if we stopped; and took a moment each day to reflect on what is. Not what we’re told what is; just what is… what could we create? What would you create?
While you’re pondering that, I’ve got something else I need to share with you. If, like me, you’re interested in growth; in working through those blocks that hold us back and you find yourself “why does that always happen to me?”; I’ve got some good news for you.
You could spend a small fortune on self help books and tapes, or you could tap into what I think is one of the most revolutionary events of our time. I don’t say that lightly…
A NEW EARTH
Oprah Winfrey, after reading Eckhart Tolle’s second book A New Earth, has put together what’s she’s calling a ten week course, or class that takes place every Monday night at 6pm Pacific Time in which she and Eckhart spend 90 minutes working through his book chapter by chapter. We’re actually into week five already, but don’t let that put you off. If you haven’t heard the name Eckhart Tolle, do yourself a favor and read his first book The Power of Now. Oprah herself called it “life changing”. I’m going to out myself and admit that the first time I read it I didn’t get it. I now know I wasn’t ready, and when I read it the second time it blew me away. I’m about due to read it again; it’s that kind of book. Eckhart speaks succinctly to my whole philosophy of “When we change the way we see the world, we change the world” with an emphasis on the changes beginning within ourselves. In A New Earth he focuses on the key to many of our problems, actually, let’s make that all of our problems; being within each and every one of us. How we all need to start being the change we want to see in the world. Some of you may have heard this before. Believe me; you haven’t heard it the way you’re going to hear it from Eckhart.
That’s enough fanfare. Do yourself; actually; do all of us a favour and go to www.oprah.com to sign up.
Omnivores Dilemma
On the subject of awesome books, I have to let you know about a book I raved about in my blog a while back; The Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan. If you’re interested in health, and food, and where it comes from and everything in between; I think you’re going to like this book. Bon Appetite!
Costa Rica
Last month Margo and I made what I think was the first of many trips to Costa Rica. As guests of Intersecurites Inc, a financial planning firm out of Florida, we had to the opportunity to not only have me deliver the keynote presentation at their leadership conference, but to take a group of their top producers on a mini adventure in the form of a zip line canopy tour. This is something we’ve been working on for some time under the umbrella of UNLIMITED ADVENTURE and I have to say it was a huge success. There’s nothing like taking people a little outside of their comfort zone for a message to hit home, and for me, the highlight of the day was seeing Bruce, a guy who you could see was visibly terrified each time he left the platform; clipping in time and time again to zip through the canopy towards the next platform. To coin a phrase from Susan Jeffers book; Bruce showed us all how to Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway. Not surprising really; I found out later that evening that Bruce was the firm’s top producer last year. It’s another cliché, but success usually comes from doing what others are not prepared to do. To do that, you need to get good at facing fear. Bruce is good. Really good.
We’ll be running some UNLIMITED ADVENTURE events closer to home this year. More on those later; in the meantime, I’ve posted some pics from our Costa Rican adventure HERE.
Ps
Whist in Costa Rica we had the good fortune to spend a few days with David Smith. David (and his wife Jordan) run CAVU; a non profit organization dedicated to empowering stakeholders; i.e. the local community, in managing their natural resources. Keep up the great work guys; and thanks again for having us!
ClimbFest
I’ll be in Ogden Utah April 18- 20 for ClimbFest. Click HERE for more info, and be sure to pop in and say “Hi” if you’re in the area.
Antarctica pics now online…
And lastly, but not lastly, the pics from our November/ December Antarctica Unlimited trip are finally online HERE. Enjoy!
Until next time…
Warren Macdonald
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