Sunday, November 20, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Don't be afraid
Fear is something that has been embedded in all of us since we were wee ones. Whether it is be to be afraid of hurting ourselves, afraid of taking risks all the way to being afraid of authority.
I suggest that we take some time to reflect on our fears and the validity of them. Are our fears valid?? Emotions can tell us alot about our situations and it is extremely important to recognize them, but also important that we do not allow them to control us.
I bet that in anayzing our fears, we will realize that most of them are not real fears, they are fears that have been pushed upon us from our parents, friends, media, government etc...
An example would be a fear that I was carrying with me for a long time. I felt so scared to express my authentic self and that I would not be accepted in doing so. This fear was instilled in me from childhood. I was taught that I needed to fit into this societal box or would not be accepted. This was taught to me by my mom who would put me down everytime i tried to express myself, by my teachers who would call me stupid for not learning things the only way they knew how to teach and also from my peers who would make fun of anyone who was "different" from them, and this especially came from the media!
When I came to the realization I was harbouring all of these thoughts of being unaccepted and not being able to express myself, I stopped and asked "is this true, am I really not accepted? Am I really unable to express myself?" Almost instantly the answer came. "absolutely not! I have every strength and every right to express my authentic self. And when I do that I am supported and valued! And even if a few people dont support me, that is ok, because when I express myself, I am supported to the depths of my soul and that trumps anyones opinion!"
How empowering it was to recognize that I could release the fear that was essentially holding me back from my own potential!
Something else came up for me in this recognition. Some resentment to those who helped instill that fear in me. As I pondered this feeling, it quickly dissipated and became more of a feeling of empathy.
Those people were only reacting to their fear, to the same fear that they pushed upon me! So, where did their fear come from? From others as well, I could only assume.
So, from there I was left digging deeper and deeper to try and figure out when did this instillment of fear begin. I think this goes way beyond my time, but starts with someone who was thinking with greed and power, rather than with love and unity.
Where does this leave us now?
As I stated earlier, this leaves us at a point where we have to confront our fears. We must challenge them and really question their validity in our lives. We have to be willing to face the fears in order to get to the place of love and acceptance, of ourselves and of others.
We need to recognize our own strengths and the value our authenticity brings to our community and our world.
This goes to every individual, including individuals in our media and our government. I urge that not only as individuals do we learn to face our fears, and learn to express ourselves authentically, that we insist the the media and government expresses information in an authentic way. From a place of love and acceptance instead of a place of fear and greed. If we start to do this, our world will transform into an amazing place of diversity and expression.
It goes back to the ethic of care of people. When we act from a place of fear we can only harm ourselves and others. When we act from a place of love and empowerment, we can only do amazing things!
Please take the time to look deep within yourself. What are you afraid of? Inside of you there is only beauty and innocence. Yes, there is light and there is dark, but it is all pure and everyone has the strength to see it and accept it! I encourage you to recognize your own strength, your own voice and your own heart! Release the fear of sharing this with others and do what feels right and true in your life. No one can stop you, not your parents, not your friends and certainly not the media or the government!
Much Love,
Kym Chi
I suggest that we take some time to reflect on our fears and the validity of them. Are our fears valid?? Emotions can tell us alot about our situations and it is extremely important to recognize them, but also important that we do not allow them to control us.
I bet that in anayzing our fears, we will realize that most of them are not real fears, they are fears that have been pushed upon us from our parents, friends, media, government etc...
An example would be a fear that I was carrying with me for a long time. I felt so scared to express my authentic self and that I would not be accepted in doing so. This fear was instilled in me from childhood. I was taught that I needed to fit into this societal box or would not be accepted. This was taught to me by my mom who would put me down everytime i tried to express myself, by my teachers who would call me stupid for not learning things the only way they knew how to teach and also from my peers who would make fun of anyone who was "different" from them, and this especially came from the media!
When I came to the realization I was harbouring all of these thoughts of being unaccepted and not being able to express myself, I stopped and asked "is this true, am I really not accepted? Am I really unable to express myself?" Almost instantly the answer came. "absolutely not! I have every strength and every right to express my authentic self. And when I do that I am supported and valued! And even if a few people dont support me, that is ok, because when I express myself, I am supported to the depths of my soul and that trumps anyones opinion!"
How empowering it was to recognize that I could release the fear that was essentially holding me back from my own potential!
Something else came up for me in this recognition. Some resentment to those who helped instill that fear in me. As I pondered this feeling, it quickly dissipated and became more of a feeling of empathy.
Those people were only reacting to their fear, to the same fear that they pushed upon me! So, where did their fear come from? From others as well, I could only assume.
So, from there I was left digging deeper and deeper to try and figure out when did this instillment of fear begin. I think this goes way beyond my time, but starts with someone who was thinking with greed and power, rather than with love and unity.
Where does this leave us now?
As I stated earlier, this leaves us at a point where we have to confront our fears. We must challenge them and really question their validity in our lives. We have to be willing to face the fears in order to get to the place of love and acceptance, of ourselves and of others.
We need to recognize our own strengths and the value our authenticity brings to our community and our world.
This goes to every individual, including individuals in our media and our government. I urge that not only as individuals do we learn to face our fears, and learn to express ourselves authentically, that we insist the the media and government expresses information in an authentic way. From a place of love and acceptance instead of a place of fear and greed. If we start to do this, our world will transform into an amazing place of diversity and expression.
It goes back to the ethic of care of people. When we act from a place of fear we can only harm ourselves and others. When we act from a place of love and empowerment, we can only do amazing things!
Please take the time to look deep within yourself. What are you afraid of? Inside of you there is only beauty and innocence. Yes, there is light and there is dark, but it is all pure and everyone has the strength to see it and accept it! I encourage you to recognize your own strength, your own voice and your own heart! Release the fear of sharing this with others and do what feels right and true in your life. No one can stop you, not your parents, not your friends and certainly not the media or the government!
Much Love,
Kym Chi
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Solution #4 - Lead by example and share that example with others!
Often people in our society and in politics like to talk about how they want the world to look, but don't make an effort to live that life.
I propose that we be the change we want to see (thanks Ghandi, best quote ever!) and become living examples of how we want our lives to be. This is easier said than done. In order for us to do this, it will take personal sacrifice, and a lot of will. A simple example of this would be that I want more gardens in Calgary, so I help to build more. I preach about loving yourself, and so I do the best to love myself. I don't like waste, so I compost, reuse and recycle when ever possible. These may seem like small things, but they do make a difference. Now, what about the big ones? Like changing our economic system? At this time I do not see it possible to live completely without money, but I would eventually love to see a moneyless or almost moneyless economy. Although I don't see how I can completely live with out money at this moment, I am taking steps towards this by introducing barters and trades and taking part in gift circles, also finding ways not to spend money by owning less material items or finding items that would other wise be tossed away and using them. It isn't always easy to make these choices, but I want to see the change. Although I am far from perfect and I am sure sometimes contribute to the current problems, I am trying damn hard not to. I know all of you can try too and I know you will all succeed, even if it isn't perfect right away! I can tell you right now, it will not happen over night, but it also wont happen if we just talk about it, or keep the examples tucked away in our little communities.
Something really interesting that has happened at the occupation in Calgary (and I am sure at the other occupations) is that we have been able to create an amazing example of what we want our community to be like. A community of openness, respect, care, love and acceptance. The next step is just to bring this to the people and show them what our community can really be, what our world can really be!
Please please please, start living the life you want, it may be hard to see how this can be done, but start with the baby steps and work your way up the ladder to your vision. Then share this with the world around you! Let people know that even the smallest steps and examples can help us to become a better world through living the life we want to see. The sacrifices might seem hard sometimes, but once you have made them, it becomes easier and easier as you can see your life become more and more like the one you dream of.
We all want a better world, now go out there and get it!
I propose that we be the change we want to see (thanks Ghandi, best quote ever!) and become living examples of how we want our lives to be. This is easier said than done. In order for us to do this, it will take personal sacrifice, and a lot of will. A simple example of this would be that I want more gardens in Calgary, so I help to build more. I preach about loving yourself, and so I do the best to love myself. I don't like waste, so I compost, reuse and recycle when ever possible. These may seem like small things, but they do make a difference. Now, what about the big ones? Like changing our economic system? At this time I do not see it possible to live completely without money, but I would eventually love to see a moneyless or almost moneyless economy. Although I don't see how I can completely live with out money at this moment, I am taking steps towards this by introducing barters and trades and taking part in gift circles, also finding ways not to spend money by owning less material items or finding items that would other wise be tossed away and using them. It isn't always easy to make these choices, but I want to see the change. Although I am far from perfect and I am sure sometimes contribute to the current problems, I am trying damn hard not to. I know all of you can try too and I know you will all succeed, even if it isn't perfect right away! I can tell you right now, it will not happen over night, but it also wont happen if we just talk about it, or keep the examples tucked away in our little communities.
Something really interesting that has happened at the occupation in Calgary (and I am sure at the other occupations) is that we have been able to create an amazing example of what we want our community to be like. A community of openness, respect, care, love and acceptance. The next step is just to bring this to the people and show them what our community can really be, what our world can really be!
Please please please, start living the life you want, it may be hard to see how this can be done, but start with the baby steps and work your way up the ladder to your vision. Then share this with the world around you! Let people know that even the smallest steps and examples can help us to become a better world through living the life we want to see. The sacrifices might seem hard sometimes, but once you have made them, it becomes easier and easier as you can see your life become more and more like the one you dream of.
We all want a better world, now go out there and get it!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Solution #3 - Think Globally Act Locally
Most of you have probably heard the phrase "Think Globally, Act Locally", but what does this really mean? To me it means to be aware of as much as possible that is happening around you in this world, but to do what you can in the area close to you. This actually starts with yourself! Firstly, lets try to take better care of ourselves by eating healthy (like out of the garden I mentioned earlier! ), being compassionate with ourselves, exercising (bike riding lowers your global footprint!) and generally living a balanced lifestyle. When we are feeling good then we have more energy to contribute more to the community. We don't have the capacity to fix the world by ourselves, but we do have the capacity to make a big difference when we act in our own communities. If we all act in our own communities and cities then together we will have a better world.
In order to make this work not only do we have to learn to better take care of ourselves, we also have to encourage one another and teach each other. I feel that the city can help too.
The city can encourage better care of oneself through helping to fund or pay for doctoring and medicine that helps prevent and heal illness rather then mask it. Calgary council can encourage citizens to act more locally by offering tax breaks to citizens that help make the city more sustainable (cyclists, car poolers, homes with edible gardens, etc..) For example, the city has offered tax breaks for home reno etc... so why not for a sustainable garden?
I think it would also be great if the City promoted more of the positive movements happening in the city. These include sustainable Alberta, Arusha, Permaculture Calgary Guild, Evolver, Zeitgeist, Calgary Food Policy Council and many more. There isn't really any City of Calgary promotion of the many movements toward positive change happening in our city. The only way you find out about them is by stumbling upon a website, looking very hard or happening to meet the right person at the right time. I believe if more citizens were made aware of these movements, Calgarians would be more active.
*Some good things to note: The city does offer rain barrels and composters for free a couple times a year when you take a free water workshop. Nenshi is also promoting the 3 things for Calgary- This is a start - Thanks Nenshi!*
Another thing to keep in mind when we say Act Locally, is also about supporting local business. This can be done individually and by the city. Individually, shopping locally has a lot of value! It lowers carbon foot print, encourages community, often we get better quality goods, and we really get to support one another. The city can encourage local business by promoting the businesses, Shopping locally themselves and also offering things like capped rent for owners selling local goods etc...
I am sure there are many more ways that we can really act locally, but the important thing to note is that any amount of local support or positive action is amazing. The littlest things still do make a contribution. Please remember that it starts with you. Although there are many ways the city can help, we have to take responsibility in taking individual action as well!
I challenge you to take at least one positive action everyday (big or small) that leads to making your life better, your communities life better and in turn the world better!
In love and light,
Kym Chi
In order to make this work not only do we have to learn to better take care of ourselves, we also have to encourage one another and teach each other. I feel that the city can help too.
The city can encourage better care of oneself through helping to fund or pay for doctoring and medicine that helps prevent and heal illness rather then mask it. Calgary council can encourage citizens to act more locally by offering tax breaks to citizens that help make the city more sustainable (cyclists, car poolers, homes with edible gardens, etc..) For example, the city has offered tax breaks for home reno etc... so why not for a sustainable garden?
I think it would also be great if the City promoted more of the positive movements happening in the city. These include sustainable Alberta, Arusha, Permaculture Calgary Guild, Evolver, Zeitgeist, Calgary Food Policy Council and many more. There isn't really any City of Calgary promotion of the many movements toward positive change happening in our city. The only way you find out about them is by stumbling upon a website, looking very hard or happening to meet the right person at the right time. I believe if more citizens were made aware of these movements, Calgarians would be more active.
*Some good things to note: The city does offer rain barrels and composters for free a couple times a year when you take a free water workshop. Nenshi is also promoting the 3 things for Calgary- This is a start - Thanks Nenshi!*
Another thing to keep in mind when we say Act Locally, is also about supporting local business. This can be done individually and by the city. Individually, shopping locally has a lot of value! It lowers carbon foot print, encourages community, often we get better quality goods, and we really get to support one another. The city can encourage local business by promoting the businesses, Shopping locally themselves and also offering things like capped rent for owners selling local goods etc...
I am sure there are many more ways that we can really act locally, but the important thing to note is that any amount of local support or positive action is amazing. The littlest things still do make a contribution. Please remember that it starts with you. Although there are many ways the city can help, we have to take responsibility in taking individual action as well!
I challenge you to take at least one positive action everyday (big or small) that leads to making your life better, your communities life better and in turn the world better!
In love and light,
Kym Chi
Friday, October 28, 2011
Solution #2- Integrate Rather than Segregate!
Integrate rather than segregate is actually one of the most valuable permaculture principles. It speaks to looking at how things can work together as a whole instead of separating everything that is different and grouping everything together that is the same.
We see this alot in our society whether it be in schools with cliques, in agriculture with monoculture, in our communities with cultural differences and in our current class system with upper, middle and lower class. When we have too many of the same things grouped together in a system it eventually causes for that system to become stagnant as it ends up with too much of one thing and not enough of another.
How can we go about fixing this?
I know that when I was younger I was taught that being different was bad, that thinking outside of the box was silly. How many other children are being taught this? Most of us are taught to think within the current system instead of being encouraged to think of ways things could be different. We perpetuate the cycle of segregation and we constantly fight integration. The reality is that integration is the natural way. If you look at a thriving natural system you see that there is a lot of diversity to make that system function. It operates successfully and abundantly only because of the diversity it offers. If we took this model into our current system we could also operate more efficiently. I propose that we spend more time encouraging students in schools to think outside of the box. This can be done by offering various teaching styles to students, surveying students and asking them for ideas on how we can do things differently and rewarding them for having different ideas instead of making them feel outcasted or silly. Encourage children to learn from each others differences and understand the value in diversity instead of being fearful of it. The reason why I focus so much on schooling as our youth are our future and I know much of the thought patterns I have struggled to turn around come from my childhood and youth, we should start there.
Breeding openness to ideas amongst our youth will also open up our next generation to diversity and acceptance. It will allow for others to really see the value in differences and alternative ideas. In turn we will have a diverse system with enough of everything to make it function as a whole.
Love and Light,
Kym Chi
We see this alot in our society whether it be in schools with cliques, in agriculture with monoculture, in our communities with cultural differences and in our current class system with upper, middle and lower class. When we have too many of the same things grouped together in a system it eventually causes for that system to become stagnant as it ends up with too much of one thing and not enough of another.
How can we go about fixing this?
I know that when I was younger I was taught that being different was bad, that thinking outside of the box was silly. How many other children are being taught this? Most of us are taught to think within the current system instead of being encouraged to think of ways things could be different. We perpetuate the cycle of segregation and we constantly fight integration. The reality is that integration is the natural way. If you look at a thriving natural system you see that there is a lot of diversity to make that system function. It operates successfully and abundantly only because of the diversity it offers. If we took this model into our current system we could also operate more efficiently. I propose that we spend more time encouraging students in schools to think outside of the box. This can be done by offering various teaching styles to students, surveying students and asking them for ideas on how we can do things differently and rewarding them for having different ideas instead of making them feel outcasted or silly. Encourage children to learn from each others differences and understand the value in diversity instead of being fearful of it. The reason why I focus so much on schooling as our youth are our future and I know much of the thought patterns I have struggled to turn around come from my childhood and youth, we should start there.
Breeding openness to ideas amongst our youth will also open up our next generation to diversity and acceptance. It will allow for others to really see the value in differences and alternative ideas. In turn we will have a diverse system with enough of everything to make it function as a whole.
Love and Light,
Kym Chi
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Solution #1 - More Gardens, Less Lawns
Imagine waking up in the morning and walking out your door into your garden and picking fresh berries for breakfast. Harvesting fresh lettuce and veggies for a salad for lunch. Coming home after a long day picking fresh herbs on your way in and cooking them with fresh veggies from your own backyard. Sound good? Would you give up your lawn for this? I would!
Lawns use way more energy then they are worth. People spend time, money and resources taking care of their lawns that they barely use. If we could encourage people to grow gardens instead of lawns it would solve many problems. Our resources would be going into food production which would provide healthy produce, connection to the food cycle and if built strategically allow for soil health and regeneration .
As we live in a city where many live in apartments or condos, I propose that the city makes it easier to build community gardens without having to jump through so many hoops. Every person should have the rights to growing their own food, and I know we have the public land to accomadate this. Community gardens provide food for the entire community, for those with the means to feed themselves and for those without. They act as example to the collective whole that growing your own food is possible and build strength in this collective as these gardens promote sharing and a way for people to contribute.
I also propose that we teach sustainable gardening as a mandatory subject in schools and we allow and encourage for schools to have gardens that the students can eat from. Our youth should spend more time learning about food production as food is an integral part of life.
Growing our own food individually and as a community will save the city money as they may use less resources to maintain (if planted sustainably. Ex. no monoculture, water alternatives etc..) and they can help to feed those in need which avoids using tax payers money for food banks etc... Sharing the knowledge of food production with our youth will give them tools to be more sustainable and therefore may result in less reliance on the system for future generations.
The connection to the earth that gardening and cultivating our own food provides is immeasurable. When we feel connected to the earth and to our food we will treat it with more respect. Our intentions will be more pure and we will want to take care of the earth that provides us with so much.
Having the ability to have an abundance of food would relieve the fear of going without. I believe that when we are not in fear of not having enough we are less likely to overconsume and more likely to give back. We would be less likely to steal or cheat. We would be more likely to want to help.
So here you have just one example of how to make this world a better place. Now, lets take action!!!
In light and love,
Kym Chi
Lawns use way more energy then they are worth. People spend time, money and resources taking care of their lawns that they barely use. If we could encourage people to grow gardens instead of lawns it would solve many problems. Our resources would be going into food production which would provide healthy produce, connection to the food cycle and if built strategically allow for soil health and regeneration .
As we live in a city where many live in apartments or condos, I propose that the city makes it easier to build community gardens without having to jump through so many hoops. Every person should have the rights to growing their own food, and I know we have the public land to accomadate this. Community gardens provide food for the entire community, for those with the means to feed themselves and for those without. They act as example to the collective whole that growing your own food is possible and build strength in this collective as these gardens promote sharing and a way for people to contribute.
I also propose that we teach sustainable gardening as a mandatory subject in schools and we allow and encourage for schools to have gardens that the students can eat from. Our youth should spend more time learning about food production as food is an integral part of life.
Growing our own food individually and as a community will save the city money as they may use less resources to maintain (if planted sustainably. Ex. no monoculture, water alternatives etc..) and they can help to feed those in need which avoids using tax payers money for food banks etc... Sharing the knowledge of food production with our youth will give them tools to be more sustainable and therefore may result in less reliance on the system for future generations.
The connection to the earth that gardening and cultivating our own food provides is immeasurable. When we feel connected to the earth and to our food we will treat it with more respect. Our intentions will be more pure and we will want to take care of the earth that provides us with so much.
Having the ability to have an abundance of food would relieve the fear of going without. I believe that when we are not in fear of not having enough we are less likely to overconsume and more likely to give back. We would be less likely to steal or cheat. We would be more likely to want to help.
So here you have just one example of how to make this world a better place. Now, lets take action!!!
In light and love,
Kym Chi
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Why Am I at Occupy Calgary
I am not for this movement because I am the 99%, or because I am the 1%. I am in full support of this movement because I am part of the 100 percent. Not just the 100% of Calgary, but 100% of the entire globe.
We have all contributed to our current state in one way or another and we must take responsibility for this individually and as a collective whole.
There is no sense in singling out the 1%, dwelling on past decisions or thinking of what we could have done differently. We cannot go back and we cannot change the past.
However, WE CAN change the present and in turn our future. I am not saying this is easy, just that it is possible.
It might seem overwhelming, taking on a change of the magnitude we are asking and hoping for, but it can happen and I believe it will. It is not going to happen just by talking about the problems, nor is it going to happen if we ignore them and pretend they don’t exist. The change will happen because we are coming together to acknowledge the issues, share suggestions, support and offer solutions. This is why I am at Occupy Calgary.
Since being at Olympic Plaza on October 15, 2011, we have spent a lot of time speaking out about the concerns we have of our current state and how we want our world to be. This has been eye opening and inspiring, but we haven’t had much opportunity to speak of solutions. Taking action to better this world is something I am very passionate about, and I hope to share some solutions and possible action plans with those eager for change, as well as reach out to those who might not be aware of our current need for it.
The answers that I believe I have are all based on the Permaculture ethics system broken down into 3 categories; Care of Earth, Care of People and Return of Surplus.
I have quite a few suggestions to share, so for interests sake I have decided to write possible solutions positive change one at a time on my blog. I hope that you will take the time to comment on these suggestions and also feel free to elaborate on them or make your own suggestions.
The answers do exist and we all have the power to take action on them. It isn’t necessarily easy to do, especially when the solutions mean we may have to drastically change our lifestyles, and our entire consciousness. I urge you to try. The outcomes will be worthwhile. I know this because the world I live in is a world of change.
My world is a world filled with joy, abundance and love. My world is a better place because I connect with the earth, because I love myself and others and because I give back. My world is not filled with material things, my world is filled with life. I dont want to live in this world alone. I want you to be here! We are all an integral part of the solution. Choose to step out of the problem to be a part of the answers by turning off your tv, waking up and embracing community. Please recognize that change is possible, change is happening and we are change.
Stay tuned for some great solutions and in the meantime go check out whats happening at the Occupy Movement!
In light and love,
Kym Chi
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