Taking Our Power Back
When I was a child, the Middle East was a far off place that one read about in stories like 1001 Arabian Nights. Thinking about that part of the world conjured up visions of sultry tents, harems, camels, and sand storms. One heard about wealthy sultans, but they never impacted anyone's lives here. Now, fifty years later, every day holds a reminder of how important the volatile Middle East is to our economy and overall sense of security.
There is no doubt that many Americans feel powerless to change this situation. I have felt that way myself, but I truly believe that nobody takes your power away without your consent. We, in the US, have traded in our power over our lives for comfort on the road and a barrage of convenience products that make our lives easier. Let's face it. If nobody bought the oil from the Middle East, they would have no basis for their wealth, and they would be stripped of the power that we have so foolishly given them. I mean, seriously, what else do they have to sell...sand? Of course, with the present state of affairs, doing without oil would leave us paralyzed. Very few of us could carry on our lives without oil. We heat our homes with it, we depend on transportation that guzzles it, and we consume piles and piles of products that are made from it. So how do we get our power back? By choosing to live our lives as free of petroleum products as possible, and by electing leaders who vow to seriously work to get our country off this insidious dependence on oil.
A commitment to sacrifice comfort and perceived necessities is tough to make, but like dumping all that tea into Boston Harbor, and like food rationing during WWII, it has been shown not only to be possible, but also effective. So, I have decided to make that commitment, not only for the sake of the next generation, but also for my own self-esteem. Living a long time is supposed to make one wise and one pearl of wisdom that I have learned is that when I give my power away, I lose that self-esteem. I'll keep you posted on this challenging journey. Maybe I will be able to share some insights into how to make the commitment easier.
For more on Enlightened Grandparenting visit Nona Nita's Nook
and click My Path Productions for ideas that support conscious living.
There is no doubt that many Americans feel powerless to change this situation. I have felt that way myself, but I truly believe that nobody takes your power away without your consent. We, in the US, have traded in our power over our lives for comfort on the road and a barrage of convenience products that make our lives easier. Let's face it. If nobody bought the oil from the Middle East, they would have no basis for their wealth, and they would be stripped of the power that we have so foolishly given them. I mean, seriously, what else do they have to sell...sand? Of course, with the present state of affairs, doing without oil would leave us paralyzed. Very few of us could carry on our lives without oil. We heat our homes with it, we depend on transportation that guzzles it, and we consume piles and piles of products that are made from it. So how do we get our power back? By choosing to live our lives as free of petroleum products as possible, and by electing leaders who vow to seriously work to get our country off this insidious dependence on oil.
A commitment to sacrifice comfort and perceived necessities is tough to make, but like dumping all that tea into Boston Harbor, and like food rationing during WWII, it has been shown not only to be possible, but also effective. So, I have decided to make that commitment, not only for the sake of the next generation, but also for my own self-esteem. Living a long time is supposed to make one wise and one pearl of wisdom that I have learned is that when I give my power away, I lose that self-esteem. I'll keep you posted on this challenging journey. Maybe I will be able to share some insights into how to make the commitment easier.
For more on Enlightened Grandparenting visit Nona Nita's Nook
and click My Path Productions for ideas that support conscious living.
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