I can always count on my friends on Facebook to share things which inspire me

Today, a friend shared a story which immediately gave me hope that despite all of the stories of doom and gloom, of GMO’s and dying bees, of abuse in all of it’s many sizes, shapes and colors, there truly are enough good things happening which, were we to focus our attention on them, would completely overshadow and ultimately, wipe out all of the ugliness. Today was a perfect example. A friend shared this: http://abc7.com/travel/first-photos-emerge-of-the-worlds-newest-island/557493/

Call me Pollyanna, but the idea of a brand spanking new island being created by the upheaval of a volcano is, to me, positively miraculous. This is the first time in my lifetime that I remember hearing about a new island! It may not be much more than a natural phenomenon to most, but to me, it represents hope and birth and a world which may be seeing destruction in some places, but in others, it is seeing something which will house new life in the future. It will be a place where, at least for a little while, species’ can grow and thrive, unmolested by we dastardly humans. It might even be a place where a new species will arise from a combination of factors unique to the new environment this island represents.

People continually seek new thrills, new entertainment, so very little remains free of human intervention

I’d like to believe that this new land, this new life will remain pristine for a few years, but the reality is, greed speaks very loudly, and an Italian businessman is already eying the new island and envisioning a resort with his name on it marring the shores. But I refuse to let go of my picture of promise and new life to feed someone else’s dream of profit. I refuse to let go of hope for the future; a future where humans appreciate the Earth which provides us a home. I’ll give my attention to new islands and people who put themselves on the line for animals and other people any time, rather than giving one second of attention to the stories of horror and abuse.

Thoughts are energy and energy powers our world. We can choose to power crime and abuse and hate and wars, or we can choose to power life and faith and birth and growth. Our thoughts truly can clean up the air and the water, rejuvenate the earth where she has been abused, and even smother the oppressors. And we can do these things one, single, solitary thought at a time.

I stroke my cat and he purrs and I feel good. Think about stroking humanity with a kind thought, word or deed, and see how humanity purrs, and then we feel good and repeat the process. How long, were we to really focus, would it take before wars and disease and crime were a thing of the past? How long would it take before our waterways were once again clean, welcoming places for those who evolution proclaimed were water dwellers? Before nobody need lock their doors for fear that someone would help themselves to what they worked hard to acquire? How long before it became commonplace to greet strangers on the street with a hug and a smile?

I believe in the immortal words of John Lennon:
Imagine all the people Living life in peace
You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will be as one

John Lennon – Imagine Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Can you think of a single good reason we shouldn’t believe that a peaceful humanity is possible? Despite the horrors which have occurred in my own lifetime, I still find reason to hope, and because I do, I turn my thoughts and my attention to that dream which Mr. Lennon was unable to live to see. But we still can.  I believe in miracles.

My gratitudes tonight are:
1. I am grateful for things which give me hope.
2. I am grateful that, in spite of what humans might say or do, the Earth still has the ability to create newness in and of herself.
3. I am grateful that I have learned to minimize the things which bring us down and maximize those with build us up.
4. I am grateful for the simple things; a new island, the purr of my cats, the smile of a friend. These are the things which matter.
5. I am grateful for abundance: purrs, smiles, islands in the sea, hope, dreams, integrity, happiness, love, joy, peace, harmony, health and prosperity.

Blessed be.