I know, I haven't blogged in forever and have a MILLION exciting things, inspirations and new exercises to share. But this week in the "news" has been all about a glut of excess that must be addressed.
I was lucky enough to spend 7 days in Cuba at the beginning of August. It was SO beautiful, relaxing and sublime. We were fortunate enough to step off of the resort and head into "real" Cuba.
Cubans get from place to place like this:
If you are lucky, maybe this:
or this:
They live in homes like this:
And eat food like this:
They work hard. Get paid very little. But funnily enough - when Sean and I wandered amongst them, there was simple happiness to be felt. Cubans greet each other with loud,exuberant greetings, kisses, back slaps and smiles. They take pride in the little material goods life has brought their way. They smiled, met our eyes, said hola! to these two tourists wandering through their streets. They are proud to help each other, to be a community, and to contribute to their society. I am NOT in any way glossing over the hardships that Cuban people face and continue to face. What I am pointing out is their amazing ability to be happy despite them, with very little resources, money or support.
You can imagine our culture shock when the #1 news story our first week back featured this:
The Cronut Burger
And our second week back, THIS was the number 1 story:
The Miley Cyrus
I don't need to explain these phenomenon to you do I? Unless you have been, well, in Cuba, you know what is in the above pictures. Both examples of our culture of excess. Our societal quest for the biggest, best, most shocking, most caloric, most sexual, most, most, most. What we have arrived at is the above grotesque displays of excess, truly historical in their vile, gluttonous desire to be the "most". I don't hold the products (aka Miley and the burger) personally responsible for their actions. They are simply pawns in this game. But we, as consumers need to send a message at some point, and that message, should be this:
"We have everything we need to be functional, happy, productive members of the most wonderful country in the world.Enough!"
Vote with your wallet by making your own food, creating your own entertainment, talking to your neighbours, helping those in need, playing games, moving, singing, dancing and being grateful. Take care of yourself and others around you. Stop searching for more, start living with less and simply be in each moment. Live with hope, love with abandon and serve others selflessly. You'll be too busy to watch the next teen star twerking, I promise.
FIND YOUR CORE!
