Today I received an interesting email from a close friend.  He and I talk about some of the issues in this web site.  We have in-depth conversations about the state of affairs in our world today.  Sometimes we differ in our understanding of certain issues, and sometimes our ideas about the solutions differ as well.  But consistently, despite our sometimes opposing views on economics or politics, we wind up agreeing on the important issues.  That gives me a certain amount of relief. 

I have been writing for a few months now, and this web site was intended to start a cascade of events.  I know that I as an individual cannot change the world.  Indeed, even the greatest men and women of the past, didn’t change the world by themselves.  History, and other great individuals, and their respect and holding of their convictions, led to the changes were started by the original person.  I hoped that this site would maybe start, or enhance the wonder and charm that already exists in all of your spirits. 

You see, I believe everyone of us has been given this gift.  The gift of touching other people, the gift of changing another persons life for the better.  The gift of loving not only ourselves, our neighbors, but the very world which gave rise to this all.  But I also believe that in our current state, we have deviated away from what connects us to each other and to our home, the Earth.  So I hoped to start a site that delivers a message and maybe starts a fire in your hearts.  Then maybe during a mid-day coffee, or a an evening conversation with your loved ones, or a conversation with your friend on an afternoon hike, you would bring up one the topics or ideas that resonated with you.  And that would spark another fire.  And soon, the awakening would spread. 

Idealistic at best, I know.  But I truly believe this is possible.  I have witnessed this with my own experience and eyes.  My friend that referred to in the beginning of this essay, he sent me this email today:

“Here is an idea for an article on your website.  "How far have we gone?"  I was watching ABC news last night (national news) and they did a piece on the goats of downtown LA.  You might remember this.  I mentioned it to you once.  There is a big field in the middle of downtown LA owned by the city.  The weeds were growing out of control and the city decided to pay $3,500 for several goats to do the job of what humans would do for $6,000 per year.  No emissions, no noise, just nature taking its course.  But that is not the interesting part of the story.  What caught my attention was the hundreds of people gathered around the field, taking pictures, staring, as if Aliens had landed from a distant planet.  These were not aliens, just nature presenting itself to us.  The irony was incredible.  People standing, pointing, staring at goats and taking pictures.   And in the background, 40 story glass and steel structures that stretch far into the sky.  Its incredible how far removed we have become from nature.”

Now, this is a story that can be posted and stand on its own two feet.  (View the article HERE) But the idea is bigger.  Once you digest his elegant observation of his surroundings, I want everyone to realize that this is the spreading of the fire.  He was always observant, but to convey that observance, and ask for an article about it… this is not typical of my friend, and for that I commend him on his awakening.  The realization that we need to let each other know about our insanity.  The fact that it is not okay, to let our loved ones lull through their lives under the influence of well crafted marketing and habit control. 

I realize that this movement is growing, and it makes me happy.  I regain my trust that there is a light at the end of this tunnel.  I only need to do what I do and wait to see if we caught it in time… like a intricate domino setup where once you start the first chip, the end depends on the speed and complexity of the course.

My charming life has led to so many incredible people.  Almost every one of you that I mail are part of this list.  People that I believe, people that I feel are worthy a life of complete happiness. 

Like the picture that leads this post, I often wonder, when will we stop to consider who we actually are, and why we are here?  We romanticize of our robot creations some time in the future asking this question…  I wonder, will our creations ask this question, before their creators?

Every small action leads to reactions of far greater magnitude.  Kudos to you my friend, for taking pen to paper (or in this case fingers to keyboard) and conveying this observation about us, about yourself, to the rest of your kind.  I briefly mentioned in my first email that I value your thoughts and contributions.  This site is not mine.  This site is a place that we commune, and exchange ideas.  I hope more of you submit thoughts, observations, musings, and opinions about the world around us.

In the coming months, you will see a transformation of this site, to a revolutionary forum.  One that will increase the humbling number of 1300+ visits in 3 months to over 130,000.   This forum with adorn the name of Jain’a, a concept that was dreamt up in one of the experiences of my complex world.  Jain’a will be a place that people can educate, be educated and share in the common goal of making our world a better place. 

I encourage everyone of you to contribute to this site, to our site, to your site.  You cannot live your life hoping that someone else will change this.  You have to be part of it.  And the only way to do this is to participate.  I can promise your experience will enrich your life.  Reading your first essay on the internet, and having random strangers comment on your ideas and relate how you made their world better is using our modern world and it’s technologies in the right way.

Until Jain’a is revealed, please write, share, and let us into your view of all this.  I will post your essays for you, and keep you anonymous if you wish.  You can email your essays directly to me.  If you see something and snap a photo of it, I will post that as well.  My goal is to make this experience of bringing your into the world of community action as easy as possible. 

A perfect example of a successful model is Shelley’s blog spot, Golden Spiral.  Not only has she maintained a strong readership, who are active participants, but national magazines, and other companies have found her site, and sent emails complimenting it on the message and the action.  You should all visit this site, and read the articles.  They are informative, well written, and most of all researched to give you the information you need the next time someone challenges you on High Fructose Corn Syrup.

We can make a difference together.