plant the seed + spread the health.
*Photo above by Anna Sirota Photography.
According to Buddhist teachings, innate basic goodness is something every human is born with. It lives inside each of us like a little ball of glowing light, but throughout our life and unique experiences, that light starts to acquire some dirt.
Over time we might gradually feel more out of touch with the basic goodness we all came into the world with, hence many of us may feel incapable of connecting with ourselves or others.
Because everyone arrives and leaves the world as these glowing beams of light made up of pure good – unharmed and untouched – essentially what this can mean is that we are all one in the same. The only things that set us apart are our physical appearance and the layering of experiences that makeup our personalities – any reason that we believe or perceive separates us.
Unfortunately things like misunderstandings or arguments over issues such as religion, familial circumstances, money, land or politics have driven people further and further away from our sameness or connection with one another. The boundaries and the dust thickens, and we have an increasingly difficult time relating to our neighbor.
One of the amazing things about children is that, because they are still new to life’s experiences, that beautiful glowing goodness is still fairly clear within them. If you’ve ever had a conversation with a kid or have one of your own, you’ll notice their authentic, honest commentary or observations. There is no shame, no filter, and no regret… unless and until someone gives them a reason to feel that way.
On Halloween I wore a pretty excellent Spiderman onesie, and ran into a sweet young boy wearing an even better one – mask included. I knelt down to high-five him and share how we spin our web, and the look on his eyes behind the mask was so priceless I could have imploded with joy. At that moment we were so connected in such a loving, genuine way – no boundaries or differences. Just two Spidies on the streets of Brooklyn.
An incredible part of the program I am supporting this Friday for our Healthy Happy Hour event, Edible Schoolyard NYC, is the way in which they foster children’s innate goodness through gardening. ESYNYC is literally planting the seed in these children to cultivate compassion through nurturing a schoolyard garden from seed to table.
I am so impressed and moved by the mission of this organization because it is incredibly important to reconnect to ourselves, each other, and the planet in order to revisit that sense of innate purity. It’s time for all of us, no matter our age, to clear the dirt that covers up all of our basic goodness and dig our hands in the actual dirt of the earth. It’s time to cultivate the compassion we’re all born with by starting with ourselves first, then extending it outward, even if it’s simply to an immediate family member or friend [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][or seed].
It’s time to re-plant the seed of basic goodness, give it plenty of sun and water, and watch it flourish.
What do you say – are you in?
Click here to read the full newsletter including an amazingly delicious and healthy fall recipe, details for our healthy happy hour event on Friday, good music and more.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
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