Sustainable Tarpon Springs - Views, Voices, and Visions

If each of us actually realized how tremendous the gift of our unique time and place on this planet truly was - we’d always take time to purposefully consider the effect of our thoughts and actions.  Each moment is an opportunity to be ‘planting seeds’ for the future.  Audrey Hepburn is credited to have said, “To plant a garden is believing in tomorrow” because she understood the symbolic and literal significance of that simple intention and action.  

Any of us who hopes for a solid and sustainable future for children or grandchildren, heck, for ourselves, has to pay attention to the depth of our connection to the Earth, and the connections of all living things to one another.  We are all part of a vibrant biological and energetic web, and we should want to be living in harmony with it rather than in opposition - because first of all, Mother Nature is a whole lot bigger than we are, and second, we’d rather be on her side than to be so silly to presume we could have the final say.  Life is infinitely easier when we are IN the ‘flow’ - than outside of it.

And as we collectively and consciously agree to join in the flow of good, it is contagious and effective!  Each of us has a view, but it is incomplete without the input of others.  We need one another to see the bigger picture.  How can we do that without meeting, sharing, and enriching one another’s views?

Beyond having a view, it is essential to be able to express it.  Our voices matter!  If something doesn’t fit into your ‘view’ of a sustainable future, what are you willing to do about it?  Do you connect with the people who can affect changes in policy?  Sometimes the only thing that keeps outdated policies in place is that no one has challenged the status quo or contributed a better idea.  We each have an opportunity, or perhaps, an obligation to ‘play ball’. 

Bigger than both our individual ‘view’ or our individual ‘voice’ is our ‘Vision’ of what is possible.  Vision is especially important when the world, as we know it, is not quite where it could or should be in order to last over long-term.  Alone, the inspiration to ‘change the world’ is daunting, but with others who are like-minded, it is a joyous community challenge!

Tonight, I hope you’ll consider coming out to the Eco-Bean to support the arts and meet the young community of Tarpon Springs - who are the Vision-keepers!  I will be there.  I’ll also be supporting the Tarpon Sunday Market starting up again on October 14th, thanks to the ‘view, voice, and vision’ of Laura Johnson who boldly put her inspiration into reviving the ‘localvore movement’ within Tarpon Springs.  

Great opportunities abound if we can turn off the TV and get out to connect with one another!  I hope to meet you!