Free download, click here - Natural Life Network

Chapter 16THE JOURNEYIt started when my son Ian was born. The birth of my son Ian and then just 22months later, my daughter Claire, triggered an understanding of how were allconnected, and how that connection continues through time. My son Ian broughttears of joy through 43 hours of hard labor, pain, agony, and finally joy, when heappeared calmly with a look of peace on his face. My daughter Claire appeared afterjust eight hours of labor. She literally flew into this world, looking terribly lost. Sheturned purple as she could not breathe from the shock of having to breathe on herown. She was eventually resuscitated by a calm miracle worker of a doctor afterwhat seemed an eternity. I cried with joy as never before or since both times. Thismiracle of birth is our connection to each other and the life force through time. Iam them and they are me.These moments of truth, these connections between child and parent that link us alltogether, the miracle of life, and the recognition of our simple humanity, theseconnections are why we must take responsibility for the problems all around us.What does it take to achieve a lifestyle that is restorative to the earth? First you haveto imagine what the result will be like. At the dreaming stage you really need to beopen to all the options and opportunities around you. Let your mind run free anddream of all the incredible things you can do to create a lifestyle that lets you enjoynature, provides a healthy environment for your kids and allows you to explore anew way of living. I have found that keeping a journal is an excellent way to keeptrack o f all the ideas, thoughts, task lists, pictures, poems, and news clippings ofinterest. Having these notes, and reviewing them periodically, reminds me of dreamsI may have forgotten good ones, that might now be possible.Creating a plan for lifestyle change requires a thorough understanding of yourrequirements, budgets, goals, objectives, values, and principles. This level ofplanning is important so you remain true to your intents and purposes. This is not185