Yes, and really mean it, to the question "Do you love me?" from who or whatever so I can really walk the talk of loving all of humanity and the universe.

When we experience ourselves, our lives,
and our Earth as sacred, something changes.

When we allow the spirit of the Earth to touch us, when we live in contact with the trees, the clouds, the moon and the soil, when we know that the animals and plants and rocks are our neighbors, then something precious begins to awaken. The forests become cathedrals and the birds signing in the trees become our choirs.

We see that all forms of life are part of a great fellowship, and we begin to realize what a tremendous privilege it is to be able to live harmoniously with the whole fabric of creation.

Listen to video

Practical Yoga TV newsletter

You need much more than 20 minutes of exercise per week to improve your physical health, but lowering stress may take less effort. A Scottish study involving more than 19,000 men and women showed that as little as 20 minutes a week of physical activity could do the trick. The type of activity didn’t matter, as long as it was vigorous enough to induce breathlessness. Housework, gardening, sports or walking all qualified as long as participants put some serious physical effort into them. When the study began in 1995, 3,200 of the participants described their stress levels as high on a survey and also reported how much exercise - and what type - they were getting. The surveys continued periodically until 2003 when the researchers began to analyze the data and found that while as little as 20 minutes makes a difference, the more exercise participants reported, the less likely they were to suffer from mental and physical illness. These findings held true even after the researchers controlled for such factors as age, gender, social class, body mass index, chronic illness and smoking. The study was published in the April 2008 online edition of the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

from DrWeil.com

Celebrating Mother's Day with everyone.  Here's a beautiful song for all our moms, and Mother Earth too!


Boyz II Men - A Song For Mama
You taught me everything
And everything you've given me
I'll always keep it inside
You're the driving force in my life, yeah
There isn't anything
Or anyone that I can be
And it just wouldn't feel right
If I didn't have you by my side
You were there for me to love and care for me
When skies were grey
Whenever I was down
You were always there
To comfort me
And no one else can be
What you have been to me
You'll always be
You will always be the girl
In my life for all times

Chorus
Mama
Mama you know I love you
(Oh you know I love you)
Mama
Mama you're the queen of my heart
Your love is like
Tears from the stars
Mama I just want you to know
Lovin' you is like food to my soul

(yes it is, yes it is,ohhhhh,yes it is,yes it is,yes it is... oohhhh)
You're always there for me
Have always been around for me even when I was bad
You showed me right from my wrong
(Yes you did)
And you took up for me
When everyone was downin' me
You always did understand
You gave me strength to go on
There was so many times
Looking back when I was so afraid
And then you come to me
And saaaayyyyy,
I can face anything
And no one else can do
What you have done for me
You'll always be
You will always be
The girl in my life
(oooo, oohh)

Chorus

Never gonna go a day without you
Fill's me up just thinking about you
I'll never go a day
Without my mama

Chorus

I really don't know.  Every moment a sensation is arising, passing away, arising, passing away... I prefer to experience the surprise over knowing what ends and what begins.

I'll share about so many good and positive things happening in my neighbourhood and community - the celebrations (Nepal is a land of festivals and many more - btw, today happens to be Mother's Day here that's why I got confused); the entrepreneurship of passionate people all around me; how citizens are coping with the shortages of fuel, electricity, water, basic commodities; model initiatives on sustainable living; activities that promote spiritual development; and how the country is moving forward after the elections.... I'll go against the media tide of sensationalism and focusing on the negatives and the mediocre.

Trying something new is not unusual for me.  Isn't every moment something new? After taking a shower, don't we put on a fresh set of clothes everytime? Well, besides the obvious, today at lunch I experimented on a pasta with tuna and anchovies by substituting the anchovies with dried fish and also tried a new recipe of chick peas with sunflower seeds. Both turned out quite okay, for my husband and myself.  This afternoon, I took some shots of new products, tried different ways of arrangements and props and experimented on different angles. I love wearing new combinations of my old clothes and accessories to give them a refreshing look. And something I would like to do that I haven't done before - paragliding, skiing, surfing.  Looking forward to these!

It's how I feel when I am who I am, when I love and am loved, nothng more and nothing less. And on the lighter side, it's my appeal to my son to pause and take a break from an energy sapping play (hard to cope with him).

The person that I really am deep within, call it my authentic self; the one who is loving and caring and who lives in the hearts of others, so in a sense never dies.

An appeal from avaaz.org

Dear friends,

In the wake of a massive cyclone, at least 22,000 Burmese are dead. More than 40,000 are missing. A million are homeless.

But what's happening in Burma is not just a natural disaster - it's also a catastrophe of bad leadership.

Burma's brutal and corrupt military junta failed to warn the people, failed to evacuate any areas, and suppressed freedom of communication so that Burmese people didn't know the storm was coming when the rest of the world did. Now the government is failing to respond to the disaster and obstructing international aid organizations.

Humanitarian relief is urgently needed, but Burma's government could easily delay, divert or misuse any aid. Today the International Burmese Monks Organization, including many leaders of the democracy protests last fall, launched a new effort to provide relief through Burma's powerful grassroots network of monasteries--the most trusted institutions in the country and currently the only source of housing and support in many devastated communities. Click below to help the Burmese people with a donation to the monks' effort:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/burma_cyclone/2.php?cl=86109772

Giving to the monks is the smartest way to get aid directly to Burma's people. Governments and international aid organizations may not be allowed into Burma, or they may be forced to provide aid according to the junta's rules. And they will spend huge amounts of money just setting up operations in the country. The monks are already on the front lines of the aid effort – housing, feeding, and supporting the victims of the cyclone since the day it struck.

Last year, more than 800,000 of us around the world stood with the Burmese people as they rose up against the military dictatorship. The government lost no time then in dispatching its armies to ruthlessly crush the nonviolent democracy movement--but now, as tens of thousands die, the junta's response is slow and threatens to divert precious aid into the corrupt regime's pockets.

The monks are unlikely to receive aid from governments or large humanitarian organizations, but they have a stronger presence and trust among the Burmese people than both. If we all chip in a little bit, we can help them to make a big difference.

We cannot accept cheques--for donation by Switch, Maestro or other questions click here for donation FAQ.

The International Burmese Monks Organization will send money directly to each monastery through their own networks, bypassing regime controls.



€ 8,439 ( $ 13,022 ) donated so far (06 May).
€ 437,670 ( $ 675,326 ) donated so far (08 May).
€ 577,425 ( $ 886,175 ) donated so far. (09 May a.m.)

THE  AVAAZ TEAM

----
About AVAAZ

Avaaz.org is a new global web movement with a simple democratic mission: to close the gap between the world we have, and the world most people everywhere want.

“Avaaz” means “Voice” in many Asian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European languages.

Across the world, most people want stronger protections for the environment, greater respect for human rights, and concerted efforts to end poverty, corruption and war. Yet globalization faces a huge democratic deficit as international decisions are shaped by political elites and unaccountable corporations -- not the views and values of the world’s people.

Technology and the internet have allowed citizens to connect and mobilize like never before. The rise of a new model of internet-driven, people-powered politics is changing countries from Australia to the Philippines to the United States. Avaaz takes this model global, connecting people across borders to bring people powered politics to international decision-making.

 
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/28133/

I would prefer to live in a world where people power is stronger than the power of governments and minority corporate elites.  It will be a world of conscious capitalism, where wealth is equally distributed, where there will be no marginalised groups.  It will be a world filled with love and compassion for one another and for nature.  I am not alone in this dream, so I believe it will come true someday.

Have stopped searching for peace within myself and life's meaning.  Once in a while there are distractions, but I know where to look to get back to it.  But I do still keep searching for my glasses, my this and that as age slows down my memory gears. And not to forget, I am searching for buyers.

The first thing that came to mind is why not make a film about our gaia community that will introduce gaia to the world and feature its many beautiful beings who are growing and glowing in spirit, co-creating higher consciousness and be the change they want to see in the world.

That would be nice to have in the front page for a change, and even at You Tube.  What do you think?

Kathmandu-based diplomats go electric

From Issue #399 (09 May 08 - 15 May 08) Nepali Times

Norwegian ambassador Tore Toreng has now got used to the smiles and stares of motorists on his daily commute from Bhaisepati to Kopundole.

Toreng is the first Kathmandu-based ambassador to go electric, and has fitted the Norwegian flag on his tiny battery-driven REVA.

“This is a perfect car for Kathmandu, I take it to most diplomatic receptions, driving around in a gas-guzzling SUV is a waste of money and waste of fuel,” says Toreng.

This week, Toreng had the opportunity to show off his REVA to visiting Norwegian Deputy Minister for International Development, Hakon Gulbrandsen. After a test drive, both were happy Kathmandu is the first Norwegian embassy to use a fully-battery operated vehicle.

Norway is one of the world’s top five oil exporters, but has laid out a plan to be a carbon neutral country by 2050. Gulbrandsen told Nepali Times: “Electric transport is the best way to address the challenges of climate change, and this car sets a good example.”

Toreng, who is returning to Norway later this year, said he is now so hooked on electric cars that he will buy the Norwegian battery vehicle, called ‘Think’, when he goes back.

REVA’s distributors in Nepal, Eco-Vision, has been flooded with orders, but mostly from diplomatic missions and international agencies, which don’t have to pay a 140 percent tax. The duty puts the REVA far beyond the reach of most Nepalis.

“We want to promote the REVA as a people’s car and hope the new government will have a more enlightened policy on electric vehicles,” says Eco-Vision’s Jeevan Goff, “in the long run the hefty tax is actually hurting the economy”.

In the past four months, Eco-Vision has received 20 orders of the new model REVA-i, and customers include the World Food Programme, the Norwegian Embassy, UNDP, DfID and GTZ. ICIMOD has even installed a solar charger in its parking lot for the two REVAs it owns.

Richard Ragan, the representative in Nepal for the World Food Programme, is also flying the flag on his electric car. WFP has a worldwide policy to reduce its carbon footprint and Ragan is working on running his entire office on solar electricity and to make it paperless. He tried to buy a hybrid Prius when he came to Kathmandu, but Toyota wasn’t selling it in Nepal because of the lack of backup. So he bought two REVAs instead.

“We must set an example,” Ragan says, “the next step is to convince the government to set up incentives for people to switch to electric and use Nepal’s vast renewable energy resource and not be dependent on petroleum imports.”

WFP driver Rabi Gautam says he actually finds the REVA easier to manoeuvre on Kathmandu’s narrow streets as he takes Ragan for his official meetings and on office errands. “It’s like charging your mobile at night, with three hours of charging it takes you 80km which is more than enough,” says Gautam.

Kunda Dixit (Editor-in-Chief)

Photo Caption
ELECTRIFIED PLENIPOTENTIARIES: Norwegian ambassador Tore Toreng and visiting Deputy Minister for International Coopertion, Hakon Gulbrandsen, take the REVA out for a spin on Wednesday .

More info: http://www.revaindia.com/revaworldwide.htm

Okay, here are some wisdom quotes by women from me:

Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got.~ Janis Joplin

You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back.~  Barbara De Angelis

Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.~ Emily Dickinson

 The education and empowerment of women throughout the world cannot
fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, just and peaceful life for
all. ~ Aung San Suu Kyi
 
In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at
heart. I simply can't build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of
confusion, misery and death.~ Anne Frank

Learned a lot from my Mom, but at this moment what stands out in my reflections is how to remain hopeful even in the worst of times.  My Mom lived through a number of adversities, maintaining a positive attitude towards life, and in the end overcoming them.  We had misunderstandings and intense conflicts when I was growing up and looking back at those episodes I feel better equipped to be a better mother to my child.

If it's mine, it's a great opportunity to reflect, celebrate, give myself a treat, and welcome well wishers and surprises from family and friends. If it's my family's or friends', I take the opportunity to bring cheer with a hug, a personal call, a thoughtful gift or inspirational card, or craft a surprise.

...being, giving and receiving joy and love at every opportunity.


Giving unconditionally, with no strings attached, opens the heart exponentially and is not bound by time. ~ Hale Dwoskin

Change. It happens all the time, consciously or not.  Easy come, easy go.  What's easy is itself changing from moment to moment.

When I am being my real self,  I become a voice for ONE, because whatever I say or do will emanate from the heart and inevitably touch all hearts.  Yet, there are times when I am my unaware self, when I become a voice for no one but me and it's a feeling of being a lost sheep, separated from the umbilical chord of true love and happiness.  Grateful that I can always return though.

"Exuberance" Giclee Print/George Robertson

Given the choice, I want being around positive energy, but I don't think we get drawn to others merely by our conscious choice.  I believe a powerful force is there (or here, everywhere) creating the magnet that gathers beings together, in ways sometimes not comprehensible at a given moment, but each time with the purpose of creating the appropriate balance of yin and yang, light and darkness, the feminine and the masculine.....