Brothers and sisters, Tomorrow is the International Day of Peace. The day has been declared so by the United Nation 29 years ago.
On this day, I invite you to take some time to send out your wishes, to go out and shake hands, to take part to some action or to CREATE a spontaneous small scale event! Here's in the hope to inspire you:
I was 6 years old when this video came out. I've not seen it before my late teenage time, but I clearly remember to have got goose bumps when I heard it on the radio at 6, and at every time I've listened to it after that too. But for those of you who do not have any memories of this great original video, HERE'S a new version of 2011, featuring very inspiring young people.
Also, if you feel like to join an event close to your place, please check out the official website of the International Day of Peace: there will be action everywhere!
Ahhhh! Just to write the title of this post gives me butterflies in my belly! My heart and my solar plexus are positively excited, and it gives me a good drive on high vibes! Here’s to enter into action like never before! Yaaaay!! Knowing that I have this place here for opening myself up to some more learnings and for growing a major part of my food -as well as knowing that this place is big enough and good enough to share some of it with others- I feel like I am the most lucky woman in the world!
Some of you may not know what Zero One is. Zero One is an intentional community, a learning space for doing permaculture, for learning from one another, for experiencing and sharing, in the goal to develop our superheroïc abilities as human beings experiencing the Oneness. This is also a very large definition of what Superforest-ing is. This first Zero One community was in Kilauea, on the magical island of Kauai, HI, and was founded by Jesse Royal Carmichael, Jackson Nash, and the most loveful couple, Mea and Augustine, who came straight from a root trip in New Zealand. I arrived there two months after they moved in themselves, and we started the first gardens. We shared much and I discovered and learned much about myself. Then many people joined the community when I left. Melissa has moved in, and Mea gave birth to Naia cat. Here’s the whole story of my trip there last year. And here’s what SuperForest (which one I previously mentioned) exactly is. This is where I got to know my friend Jackson, who also is the founder of SuperForest. Relating now? There you go! ;)
Yes, I am in there! :) Beside so many very inspiring people!
I feel an extraordinary astral link connecting me with these lovely cats living there. And the recent changes in our lives have confirmed and strengthened that feeling… What is so special is that, my friends there, and I here, we all have found our new slice of paradise at about the same time, all at about one or two weeks before having to move out.We even moved into our new homes on the same day! Just like this! Zwiz! (that’s the sound that does the magic. Ever heard it?) :D
Thus, yes, Zero One just moved to another place that is 5 times bigger, a few kilometers further, and is now called Zero One Love Garden. They have no running water, no electricity –so, plenty of time to develop real human connection!- and there again, they produce zero waste. They are planning a SuperForest Summit there for August, and I set intentions so that I can find the money to join them in this new place, hug them once again, give love and care to the gardens and fruit trees, and to meet up all the other SuperForesters, so together, we can set intentions, and find out solutions and ways to take more actions for creating the world that we dream of. We share a wonderful vision, and we know that we can bring it to reality, with just a bit of help. Have I been a good seller? Yes? Join us! Keep tuned here or on superforest.org for more details about the Summit!
Haha! This post took a different turn than what I first wanted to write!
So, after the longest introduction ever, here’s just a bit of an update about my little slice of paradise here. I moved in on May 27th, with the help of very generous new friends, who live close by. While unloading the truck, my lovely friend and new roommate, Maxime, has cooked a feast of delicious small bites for us all. What a great wayto permeate our new home with the best vibes in which we’ll live! Abundance of love and of friendship, and plenty of food! How could I not be happy?
Thank you, Universe, for you gratify me with such special connections and with such pleasures! I am so grateful for you give me the chance to express my gratefulness in different ways at every day!
Since I moved in, I had very long days of hard work, but a lot of fun stuff too:I work on the land and on the creation of the gardens during the day and, installed on the patio at night and when it gets too hot or rainy, I work from distance for my job in Montreal. On weekends, Maxime is here with his lovely daughter, Amyela, and we have much to catch up and to do, as he’s away all week long. Friends come over for BBQ’s and for playing music in our cozy living room or around the fire camp beside the stream, at the entrance of the woodland.Now, my intentions for the weeks to come are to finish unpacking all my stuff, to improve my own little space, and to continue to make connections with all life surrounding me and to explore the woods around.
Talking about the woods…These woods are so full of life! Many types of birds live here. There are collibris, canaries, and many others. A couple of blue jays are always close around, I hear them all day long, and I see the male many times a day on my patio, but I saw the female only once. What moments warm my heart the most is when I have one of those sweet moments of connection with the white-tailed doe who’s living in the woods around. She often crosses the property and eats young green leaves and ferns. Last week, she even has let me come at a few feet of her! Yes! I think I found the totem animal representing me!
This is it! That’s my super Zero One-ing life! If ever one of you wakes up a morning, with the feeling of being up for some adventures in Quebec, contact me! We even have an extra room to rent for travelers who want to stay for a while! You are a SuperForester of this most beautiful changing world? We want you here!
Cheers and love, everyone! BE YOU, BE BRIGHT AND COLORFUL, ENJOY THE JOURNEY!☼
As I've recently been totally overwhelmed by many projects, work and personal matters, I had my moments of questioning and my loads of worries... But it appeared that as soon as I've let go off and clearly told to Universe "I have trust", it provided me with what I needed. Yes, at almost the very last minute, for each matter, but it has been there, and I was happy at the end! Not trying to control anything... that ain't easy! So here's to remind me.
This song effectively make me feel good vibrations through my whole body!
Yes, we all need reminders. As this one for me, to point out that it all went perfectly fine when I've finally let go off, and also for reminding me to keep having this full trust at all times. Much more is to come, and I totally feel that it will all get resolved right on due time, and not before. Everything is perfect. We will find the perfect third roommate, I will find the help that I'll need to make the gardens, and we'll find the best partners and funds we need for the creation of our great business project -for which I'll soon unveil the nature, I promise!
For now, I'm just going to relax my small muscles, aching for having packed and lifted too many boxes during the last days! I'm moving in two days!! MAY YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING!
We are… two days after the end of the world. I just arrived in paradise. What a wonderful morning here! Yes I referred -with a large smile upon my face- to the end of the world that was predicted by a crowd of people for May 21st. Fifteen minutes ago, I had no idea that I would drop some lines about it but, being sat here, breathing that fresh and cold air, I am to realize the special moment that I am living right now and for the next –hopefully numerous- few months.
I opened my eyes at around 4:30 am, hearing the nature waking up by the window that stayed opened all night. I didn’t really go back to the dream world. Nope. Something in the moment and outside of the room was too exciting. I arrived here last night, so I didn’t see the land around what will be my new home in just a couple of days. Three hours later, it was still early, and Maxime, my friend and future roommate, was still asleep. I had thought that I could wait for him to walk and discover the 5 acres land, but I just couldn’t wait any more! Because Maxime lives much closer than I, he came here a few times already, and even has started to bring some boxes in, so he knows much about the place. Until here, I had not even visited the house. I signed the bail on Maxime’s feeling and sayings, and on the 3 or 4 pictures I had seen on internet. And here I am, on this beautiful morning of May 23, 2011.
Thus, not being able to go back to sleep, I jumped into my pair of jeans, put some socks and shoes, rolled myself up in a fleecy blanket and I went outside. Flower after flower, bird song after bird song, I discovered the first acre or so. I’ll wait for Maxime to walk the rest, so he can show me the limits of the land, and not to venture onto our neighbors' property. Walking back to the front yard, I thought “there will be much more work to do than what I thought before having our garden”… but this won’t be today anyway, so I decided to grab my lap top in the house, and to go back outside to have a bit of a writing moment, to see what would come up of this new flow of inspiration. Instinctively, I went straight to the limits of the cleared portion of the land. There, a small wooden bridge over a stream leads to a cooler and smelling good universe. I sat there, at the entrance of the forest to write this post. I introduce myself to this magnificent forest. Very soon, we’ll know better each other. And because we’ll be in a very close interrelation, I want to take some time, so that we can welcome one another, so that we can become acclimatized to each other. For now, lets just come up the inspiration it brings me.
Once again, I am taking a new turn onto the very exciting path of life. Since I decided to quit everything, almost 3 years ago, I am taking on new adventures over new adventures. How amazing things happen when we allow life to surprise us! I went from the suburban life to the return in the big metropolis of Montreal, to living in a very isolated but big city that we discover after driving like 5 hours in the woods, to come back in Montreal with a brand new glance over things and a new perspective on life, for now moving on the countryside, at the most south end of the province that I’ve ever lived. Yes, this little piece of paradise is located at about 15 minutes to the Vermont USA border.
Here, surrounded by this green life, I wouldn’t be surprised to wake up one morning, seeing a deer on the land, or a fox playing around. I’ve been told that we can hear coyotes howling at night. Oh, if only I had a camera with me to picture this place and this moment for you!
I feel that, even so I’ll be very busy, taking care of the land and of the garden, and working on some great business projects, I’ll be back on A Commitment To Shine more often. I feel totally inspired here. I feel that I’ll be utterly happy here. IT'S MY LITTLE ZERO ONE. Yes, since I arrived here last night, I kept having flashbacks of feelings I had in Kauai. I feel the two adventures very closely related. Alriiight!! I totally am ready and opened to take over this new exalting one, to learn and to process personal things through it.
Wonderful Life, you’ll never cease to amaze me. YOURS IN SUCH GRATEFULNESS, Marie
Every single day, so often I thank life, a situation or someone (that I know or don't). I take just a few seconds, each time that something great happens, to send out my gratefulness. Depending on what I am doing at that precise moment, where and with who I am, I will just close my eyes, join my hands up to my front or to my heart, whatever feels good. And I cherish this special thing or someone in silent for a few second. And sometime I say it out loud (more likely when I am alone or with a pretty good friend).
By the way, I am sure that every human does it, in some way, don't you think? No matter whom he/she may be. But maybe they simply aren't always doing it consciously, so maybe not putting some intentions out to accompany the thoughts... I like to think that even the toughest people are, at times, really grateful for something. And then something great can happen... or not.
To me, one of the most important lessons is when we come to the faculty to recognise the moments and the reasons when we are truly grateful (or at the opposite, when we are really mad at something, 'cuz then we can recognise some patterns and put efforts to change them), and when we come to realise the real power of the intentions that we put into this world. THIS is a powerful learning.
I was thinking to all of this yesterday night while I was coming back home, as I was also reviewing in my little head the amazing weekend that I just had, and realising how numerous have been the moments where I've been this much happy and grateful. Then I though... why not sharing some of these moments with everyone? Yes! Let's create a new series of posts! Let's be grateful together, my friends: Free thank you's!
And my first one goes out like this:
THANK YOU LIFE, FOR PLACING SUCH BEAUTIFUL SOULS ON MY WAY, AND FOR GIVING ME THE FACULTY TO RECOGNIZE THEM. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS NEW AWAKENING YOU HAVE GRANTED ME WITH!
Wow! It feels so good to share it! Try it! If you feel like so, I invite you to share your Thank You's! How are we gonna call this series? The Gratitude Moment Of The Week? Share your thoughts, and everything else that feels good! ;)
Happy Monday, everyone! What a beautiful day today! Over here, the sun is shining bright, after so many days snowing, then raining. All the snow banks are melting down, and something smells different in the air. The spring is right around the corner, y'all! Yaaay!!
You may think that I've been hibernating for the last 3 months or so! Well, in fact I felt exactly like the Quebec winter season has been: like a yo-yo. Some bright days, feeling somewhat energetic, and some other days made just to act like and hermit, to wrap myself up in a blanket and watch movies. This is all fine. And it is also fine if there are more of "hermit days" during the winter season. The normal daylight miss to our system, and maybe it is there to force us to slow down, to follow the nature in which we live.
But yes, I can also admit that, as I was aligning parties after parties around Christmas and the New Year I didn't have much time to write. Then it hapened that it simply didn't feel as right to be around. For a couple of months, my writing wasn't the same, but I was only half-admitting it 'cause, deep inside, I knew it would mean that it is time to take a break, what I was already feeling guilty for doing so! I loved so much and for so many months to write and to follow other blogs... how could it be possible that I need to move away from it for a while?? Is it like I am cheating, or abandoning them? Funny, right?
Yes, realising where my thoughts were going, and that blogging had become a sort of an obligation, I forced myself to stay away 'til this feeling of guiltiness (which creates the sens of obligation) goes away. Yes, you saw clear through it: it was mostly because of... The feeling of attachment. Something that I've learned to connect with (and still am!), somewhere last summer. Some people were and are there to teach me to recognise it when it is there, to question it, to understand its patterns, so that I can try to avoid or to transform it. Less deception and sadness can then occur. To learn to be someone without that exterior thing or person around. Who would I be if I would stop doing this or that? Would I be the same awesome person, being by myself? It is such an important chunck to go through!
Thus, yes, you must guess: I realised today that my feeling of guiltiness for not blogging finally went away! And the desire to write a post automatically came to me. I don't feel the obligation to do so. Only the happiness. It is a win/win kind of things. I'll be around whenever it will feel right, and it will be so just damn right! :) I thank you, Life, for bringing right on time the lessons we are good to take on. And I thank everyone, who wrote to me during this period of absence. *I also miss to read your blogs! You are real treasures!
Once again, I realise how I am closely linked to Nature's rythm. With the sun coming out more and more to us through the winter's clouds, as the sap of the trees starts to flow again, I also, am retrieving my complete energy. And crazy projects are on the way. More of permaculture, more of my raw food projects. I can't wait to tell you more... when it will feel just about right! ;)
Next week -March 10th, to be more precise- will be marked by The International Day of Awesomeness. As the tag line of the related webpage says: "No one's perfect, but everyone can be awesome". Let's bring yourself at the front line then, awesome people! Show your awesomeness! Show your superhero costume and spread the love and happiness! Yaaay!
I hope that each of you is having the most wonderful Holidays ever, and is spending a great time with your loved ones, family and friends. Persuing in the same tone than how has been this entire year of 2010, something is changing a lot for me in my perception of Christmas. I never felt this much disconnected to this huge tradition, but never had such a great time and feeling this much well surrounded and loved.
I am going through it in the opposite way that I've ever been. I did not even put a foot in a mall or a shop. I've always been a giver type. I've always had so much pleasure to give gifts, way more than to receive one. But this year, I did not give any, and I haven't receive any either. But I realise that I gave and received way much more than ever before.
Nothing as been done in the traditionnal way. No turkey, no meat pie, no meatball and pigs' feet stew, and no sweet pickled onions and gherkins. Dressed as I am everyday, wearing no makeup, just as everyday, I found myself surrounded with lovely and simple people, all friends, from old times and brand new ones also. No one have had the trouble to cook for days and being stressed out to create the ONE BIG reception. Each party that I took part at, was from the same formula: potluck style. Everyone bring a meal and a drink to share, some bring a game to play, others bring a music instrument. And the night takes different turns, as the time goes by and as we are enjoying each other and the special moment.
Yep, I see that you noticed: it is all about SHARING. Sharing food, sharing drinks, sharing laughts and stories, and hugs. Looking at this celebration time with these new eyes, I see that everyday should be Christmas. Everyday should be a celebration and an occasion to share with friends and family. Material gifts last for a certain time, but great moments with closer friends, will add a plus value to our life, in one way or another, that will last forever, since it becomes a part of you. Thus, I officially rename this time of year: from now on, I won't wish Happy Holidays to anyone, but Happy EVERYDAYS! YES! :D
Yesterday night, I had no plans for today. And this morning I went outside to have a breakfast with a friend, and tonight we are going to another friend's place for another potluck and playing an hawaiian board game. Tomorrow? That is another day, and we'll see when we'll be there. The door is wide open for anything to happen. The way that I am now allowing me to look at this freedom feels so good! Make place for surprises and uncertainty into your life. And breathe. And smile, 'cause life is so truely wonderful!
Sending you much love and happy vibes. May you all have the most astonishing last week of the year EVER!
YOU ARE INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL BEINGS. DON'T STOP TO SHARE YOUR SELF WITH THE WORLD! ♥
“A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done.” Vince Lombardi
I wonder if you have saw this news passing by on internet last month, and if this astonnish you as much as me?
Every year, from July to October, thousands of animals cross the Mara River, to migrate from the Masai Mara to the Lamai plains. For the Zebras, the Wildebeest and the Thomson's gazelles, this Great Migration is indeed a necessary adventure to their survive, even though it costs the life of some of them. But this time, a hippo was there, and something amazing happened.
"The hippo was watching as the wildebeest herd swam past. As soon as the calf jumped in, the hippo swam up to it and pushed it along all the way across until it had reached safety on the other side. It then went back and did the same for a zebra foal just minutes later."
Yes, a hippopotamus -the third largest land animal- rescued a baby zebra and a baby wildebeest from drowning, as they were trying to crossed over the river with their herd.
The beautiful photos of this great moment have been captured by Michael Yule and other guests of Lemala Camp, a seasonal tented camp for those who want to capture the best wildlife action in Tanzania.
Don't you think that it is an amazing story? Nature is so surprising and so wonderfully made!
Go sit in a park somewhere this weekend, and observe it! Let me know which beauties you'll have seen! ENJOY THIS SNOWY WEEKEND! And let yourself be inspired by this female hyppo, and spontaneously help those who are different from you!
I am glad that we have covered a part of the recycling topic in one of my permaculture classes, and that this brought me to have a great conversation with one of my friends recently.
I always have found that there was a huge problem in our way to see and to use the recycling option in our life… I mean… Why taking a new plastic glass at each new drink that you are ordering in a festival, for example? I always get a weird glance and an answer like “Duh! It’s recyclable, ya know?!” WTF!! Not because it is recyclable that we have to use tons of those!! Recycling is the very last hope in a chain of choices available. The first is to REDUCE. The second is to REUSE. And THEN comes the very last one, which is to RECYCLE! So can you tell me why the heck we all focus on recycling?? And so many plastic containers are still produced, used and consumed and which are NOT recyclable, and too many of us are still not aware of which ones those are. I’ll tell you: plastics number three and six are NOT recyclable.
Wanna have some ideas of how to reuse the plastic that you find along the way? Create art! Yes, let's turn trash into beautiful pieces of art that will make smile and that will inspire!
Or build houses! Whatever that your creative mind will tell you to do!
And now that we are all aware of: let’s just leave those products on the shelves: companies will end up having no other choice than to change their packaging! Be assured, there is way enough of plastic already stuck here with us to create your art! No worries!
I can also give you this so very effective tip to reduce your consumption of plastic (also applicable for any other type of consumption, obviously!)... Ask yourself: "Am I gonna die if I don’t get this yummy treat, or this frozen meal that comes in this not recyclable container?" Do I really want to add one more piece of plastic somewhere on the ground of our beautiful planet and which my great-great grandchildren will still be stuck with, and be cursing me, saying “What have you done?!” A resounding NO! Do you feel the same? Good! It is our responsibility, each of us, to educate our loved ones. Some or I should say... many are bothered by my "preachings", as they say. Great! We all remember of what bothers us, right? haha! No one has ever made change things without bothering anyone.
I love my place in this universe. I wouldn't exchange it with no other being! Well, what else can one ask for, than to make things evolve as one is also doing so, and by being surrounded by other enlighten and amazing beings? I say: enjoy and have fun, little fish!
To me, there is no other action that is more important than SHARING. Sharing ideas helps to bring things further on, sharing food makes nobody to be hungry, sharing our happiness brings more than just you to smile about something, and sharing someone’s sadness or pain is what we call compassion, is what helps someone to stand up throughout hard times.
I am the first one that is gaining from my sharings on this blog of mine. To write my posts, I’m taking a moment of zen to think about a topic. It leads me to push my thoughts further on. It inspires me first, be assured! A day where I write is a day to be cranked up in positivity. And -since I am not only blogging (you must guessed!), but I am also acting in the way I am preaching- it happens that, in a day off of writing, I sometimes need a little boost. And in those moments, well it happens that I go back and re-read one of my own posts, in addition to all of others’ blogs, who are great sources of inspiration as well.
There are so many great sources of inspiration in this vast world of blogging. In addition to all those that I have already shared with you, some others put magic in my life lately.
It is a cold Tuesday afternoon, and I am sit back and very relax, enjoying a thoughtful moment about life and changes.
I was thinking this morning "How the hell have I achieved this? How is it that I now have so many and nice friends that I even never met, and which are spreaded all around the world?"
My journey here with you all started in a pretty simple way. I've been utterly inspired by others, and I wished to transfer this inspiration, this positivity, to others. All of this rapidly evolved into more personnal shares, and the contact with some of you has been natural and easy. We are all interconnected. It is like a small community.
With just a simple step -although not the easiest one to do, I admit: I've juggled for a long moment before doing so!- I went from my own boring little life to the exciting life that we all live together. From Me to We.
Each day, this choice that I made makes more and more sense. Things get more and more speeded up, and I meet more and more amazing cats. And, to each new one that I meet, I think "Ohhh! This is why I made that step! Thanks for this gift, Life!"
This journey, this step that I made about 8 months ago, brought me to recently discover the amazing Community of Permaculture in Montreal. I immediately wanted to get involved. With all those classes that I attend to, and the bit of help that I bring, I've never been this much busy, but neither this much full of hope. I am experiencing very high vibes right now. Once more, it is all about "from Me to We".
I am happy. And since you and I are WE, I hope you can feel this happiness as well!
Have an amazing day, my dear friends! NAMASTE
*By the way, do you know what means this beautiful word Namaste? It means so much and is very powerful. It says "I recognise the power that is within yourself". Or, according to Wikipedia: "I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honor the place in you which is of Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom and of Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One."
I am a believer in the Greatest Energy which governs our universe, and in the power of the positive thinking.
I am grateful for life, and just want to share it!
So, this is a place for me to share my deep interests, what is close to my heart. It is a place where I can gather people who share a vision similar to mine, who care into our world, and want to make a difference. ♥
Yep! You probably noticed that English is far from being my first language! I hope that my efforts are good enough so that it doesn't sounds too shaky!
"The hippo was watching as the wildebeest herd swam past. As soon as the calf jumped in, the hippo swam up to it and pushed it along all the way across until it had reached safety on the other side. It then went back and did the same for a zebra foal just minutes later."
Yes, a hippopotamus -the third largest land animal- rescued a baby zebra and a baby wildebeest from drowning, as they were trying to crossed over the river with their herd.
The beautiful photos of this great moment have been captured by Michael Yule and other guests of 
