Finding Sanity Through Awareness and Action
Posted by Robin Easton
This is the last in a series of posts that explores sanity and insanity. As we saw in previous posts and comments, sanity is perceived differently by different people, and your thoughts inspired me, and at times moved me to tears. I think one of the most important expressions of sanity is found in our actions to treat ourselves, others, and the natural world with respect and reverence. All life coming after us will need clean air, water, and soil, a clean abundant planet. We have many, sometimes inconvenient, choices we must make each day, choices as to how we treat ourselves, the planet, and all beings on it.
I’ve sometimes felt overwhelmed by the changes that need to occur on a global scale to ensure a healthy future for our children, and for all beings. At times, when I first came out of the Australian rainforest I felt hopeless and helpless. I didn’t know where to start. But rather than focus on feeling overwhelmed or what I couldn’t control, I decided to focus on what I can do to bring about positive change in my own life and in the world. There are many things we can do in our lives to feel more positive and sane about both the present and the future.
I’ve posted a few links and videos below that motivated me to make changes in my life. Some of them might initially seem inconvenient or extreme. However, when I saw the effects of my choices (i.e. a reduction by 75% of the trash I generate, or a freezer full of fresh home-grown organic vegetables) I felt incredibly pleased.
Some actions we’re doing to bring about positive change.
1. *LOVE* – I think love is one of the most powerful things we can do to bring change into the world. To love ourselves and others with compassion and forgiveness is powerfully healing. Forgiveness sets us free. When we are “in Love” all our actions become filled with grace. We tend to treat the world around us with reverence. Without love we are lost, no matter what actions we take. So I place this action first. As Jodi Nelmes says, “I love you, for you are another me. I love you, for love is sanity. To love and be loved can always uplift. I love you, for love is the ultimate gift.” ~ Jodi Nelmes Here is a beautifully moving and insightful video of Jodi sharing one of her poems on love. Jodi is a extraordinary soul who can be found on Youtube, HERE. She shares videos of her amazing singing, poetry, and insights. Simply beautiful.
2. Healthy eating is another action at the top of our list. It can give us more energy and make us feel saner and more grounded. We choose to be vegan and eat a very high percentage of raw organic whole food. We avoid all junk food, wheat, gluten, sugar, and so on. We also choose to maintain clarity and awareness by not drinking, smoking or doing drugs. Personally, I love feeling alive. For me life is a gift. It’s pure magic, and I don’t want to miss a moment of it, even during challenging times. Evita Ochel’s website, Evolving Wellness, along with her powerful new book, Healing & Prevention Through Nutrition, are great places to visit if you want to eat healthy and stay healthy.
3. Exercise is third on our list. We exercise six days a week. Without exercise we often become sluggish, depressed, tired, grouchy, and don’t think clearly. Exercise can help us feel calmer, improve our self-esteem, overall health, and allow us to feel and think more positively. It can help us feel saner. So get out and walk, hike, canoe, swim, snowshoe, cross country ski, roller skate, and so on. Move that body! 
4. Spend time with Nature, daily. Those of you who have read my Australian adventure book, Naked in Eden, know how much I love being outdoors amongst the wild things. Nature is the lifeblood of my soul. Without constant contact with Nature I become weak and ill and despondent. I lose site of what’s real and most important in life. When we don’t spend time with Nature we can suffer depression, irritability, fatigue, and more. Regular time spent with Nature instills health, sanity, creativity, free thinking, and expansion of the spirit. Nature uplifts and heals. It restores our often fractured spirits. Nature is my number one medicine.
Their are my other actions we can take daily to help heal ourselves and respect our environment. Remember the four R’s. The first R is probably the most important: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Also this site might help you find a recycling center near you. Earth911.com
5. Do not buy plastic water bottles, fill your own container and take it with you.
6. Refuse to use plastic bags. Take canvas bags to the store to carry your groceries home. Repeatedly wash and reuse any plastic bags you already have. Buy or sew lightweight cloth bags, and use them at the store to carry your fruit, veggies, and bulk nuts, beans, etc. to the checkout. Avoid bringing plastic bags home. (People actually once lived without plastic bags.
Captain Charles Moore on the “Seas of Plastic” (TED.com)
7. Re-use paper bags and paper containers. Better yet, refuse them and take your own reusable “take away” containers and cloth bags to restaurants and stores.
8. Don’t subscribe to newspapers, magazines (hard-copy), or buy gift wrapping paper. If given a gift-wrapped present, save the paper and ribbons and reuse them.
9. Avoid consumerism. Trade, swap, reuse, and shop for clothing and other necessities at secondhand stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army, and so on). These organizations use their profits to help those in need. They also give jobs to people who might not be able to get work elsewhere. Plus, you are recycling. Buy as little “new” as possible.
10. Avoid buying slave made products, such as many toys from China, or many forms of chocolate, etc. Do your online research; find out where these things come from and who makes them. Don’t buy chocolate at the checkout line unless it says ‘fair trade” on it.
11. Buy food in bulk and prepare it from scratch, rather than buying pre-made goods in cans, glass and plastic (reduce the amount of packaging you bring into the house). Here are just two sites dedicated to Zero Waste and My Zero Waste.
12. Grow an organic garden, without pesticides or herbicides. Or plant some trees. If you live in the desert or other dry areas, catch rainwater from your gutters (for the garden), re-use gray water from tub and sink (for flowers, etc.). Use a lead free hose for watering. Most hoses leach lead and other toxins into the soil which plants can “suck up”, and you then eat.
13. Conserve water while showering turn off faucets while you soap up and apply conditioner. Use water only to get wet and to rinse. Use water saver shower heads and environmentally safe soaps/conditioners. Read your labels. Don’t let water run while doing dishes, brushing teeth, or bathing. Check for leaking and dripping faucets.
14. Use “pee rags” rather than toilet paper. Read how to do it here: Pee Rags (Bidets are not environmentally friendly in desert or drought ridden areas.) Urinate several times in a lidded jar or container until it’s full, then flush it all at once to save water. Or use the old rule: “If it’s brown send it down. If it’s yellow, let it mellow.” This is especially important in desert areas. For example, the Southwest (USA) has been in a ten year drought.
15. Downsize to one car or a bicycle for transportation. Walk more. Take public transport when available to reduce carbon emissions. You will get more exercise and have an adventure.
16. Turn all lights off except for those needed in the room being used. They use more energy than you might think. Turn heat down at night. We pile on the covers sand turn our thermostat down to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
17. Protect yourself from your cell phone and other EMFs (from wireless computers, outlets, etc). There are many sites that can educate us on how to more safely use a cell phone. I am not affiliated with any, and I rarely use a cell phone. So listed are only a couple of places to start: Dr.Mercola.com and ElectromagneticHealth.com If you know of better sites please feel free to suggest them. Again, do your research.
18. Help others when you can. One of the organization which we love is KIVA. You can loan someone $25.00 so they can start their own business and improve the quality of their life, their family’s life, and sometimes the life of a whole village. When the loan is paid off you can re-loan it again and again. Twenty-five dollars goes a long way toward positive change. Another wonderful organization is the Girl Effect. You can read about it HERE.
19. Find something to laugh about, each day. Laughter is essential for our sanity and well-being. People have cured themselves of life threatening illness with laughter. Laughter releases tension, uplifts our spirits, and heals. There are laughter groups and laughter yoga. Regardless of how you do it, make sure you laugh. Sometimes we don’t feel comfortable laughing when there is pain preset, or we are grieving, or angry, and so on, but I have learned that these are times we most need laughter. I even cry and laugh at the same time. Laughter and crying are close cousins. Let them happen freely.
20. Again: Love, Love, Love!!! Even those who have hurt you, or you have hurt, including yourself.
There are many ways we can change the world and our lives, and at the same time feel saner. This is only a partial list of changes we’ve made in our lives. And there are many more we want to make. Why? Often people argue whether global warming or other environmental disasters are real or not, important or not. Although I do try to educate myself because it can guide me, I don’t get caught up in this type of debate as it is a waste of energy. In my heart I have a sense of right and wrong (I think we all do). For me, it comes down to how I feel about myself when I choose to stay aware and treat everything around me with respect, care, and love. I am not perfect at it, but I am taking action as I learn. It makes me feel less overwhelmed, more whole, connected, and positive. Saner.
What changes are you making? Would love to hear about them. Also, what ideas do you have that could bring sanity into our lives and the life around us? Thank you for your kind and compassionate insights.
Love,
Robin
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~ “NAKED IN EDEN” ~ Available on Amazon
Did you Enjoy reading Naked in Eden? Would love a review from you, HERE. If you’ve not yet read my Australian adventure book and would like to, you can order it on Amazon HERE. “Naked in Eden” is a spirited true-life Australian adventure story, filled with personal transformation. It is wonderfully life altering for adults, teens and tweens, and makes a memorable gift. Enjoy!
Thank you!
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This Site: © Robin Easton Website: http://www.nakedineden.com Blog: http://nakedineden.com/nakedinedenblog/
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12 Comments so far...
Trish Scott Says:
19 December 2011 at 11:40 am.
Oh Robin, what a wonderful list you have here. I know it inspires me to do better for myself/ourself every day – sometimes I lack due vigilance (and truthfully probably always will). I must say, pea rags were never part of my regimen! You learn something every day! Beautiful and useful post. I’ll pass it along with love
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David Says:
19 December 2011 at 11:56 am.
http://www.virginiaphotos.net/2011/12/19/the-easy-way-to-lose-weight/ My journey is just beginning but I would like to share some of what I have learned in the past five months. Maybe it will help someone else.
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Nea Says:
19 December 2011 at 12:46 pm.
Hi Robin. Thanks for sharing this great list. I think the important thing for people to realize is that, even by doing just 1 or 2 or 3 of these, you can make an amazing impact. I see a lot of people feeling overwhelmed by everything that must be done in order to make a difference. Also, we see that there are billions of other people on the Earth and we underestimate the value of us making an individual change. But it truly matters. I choose to educate myself on ways to make a difference and take action in the ways that feel best to me.
I eat meat and take long showers, but I find other ways to take action. I bring canvas bags or reusable boxes to the store with me. I carry a canteen filled with water rather than buying bottled water. When I must buy bottled water, I try to find it in a glass bottle. I’m good to animals and I urge people to get their pets neutered/spayed to cut back on overpopulation and euthanizing.
I’d been using harsh relaxing chemicals for years in order to have straight hair, but I recently cut it all off and began proudly showing my curly locks to the world. I’ve found that this helped other women to learn to love their curly or kinky hair. I avoid products that contain petroleum. I use mostly natural and/or organic hair/skin care products like purified water, shea butter and aloe vera. I support small, local shops and online stores that are run by individuals or families. I offer love, kindness, acceptance, patience and peace as much as possible to those around me. I also have faith that everything will somehow be right with the world. People like you, dear Robin, reinforce that belief and remind me that all is well.
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Lauren Says:
19 December 2011 at 1:30 pm.
Dear Robin,
It’s great to come home to your beautiful upliftment.
Great offerings and suggestions and I truly believe LOVE is the cornerstone. Without it, we’re lost. And amazingly, I believe it is the core of being alive in the universe. I often marvel that love exists at all. Would it have to? Life would not be worthwhile without love.
RE: EMF’s. I’ve attended many of David Wolfe’s seminars with Dr. Mercola. I have a grounding device attached to my wrist as I write this. And I sleep on grounded sheets – great protection and makes for a better night’s sleep. There are now grounded sandals available.
Thanks for sharing your radiance and warm heart with us.
Love,
Lauren
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Jen Says:
20 December 2011 at 6:45 am.
Robin,
This is such a wonderful list! Some of these things we have moved ahead on in the last several years, but a few of the ideas are new to me. There is ALWAYS room for improvement in terms of the 3Rs!!
My biggest joy has been starting a huge organic garden. Although our family has a lot to learn, and our growing season is short, we are starting to make progress…composting for good soil in the spring and enjoying the visual, as well as the nutritional benefits of a beautiful, lawn free back yard!
May your holidays be filled with joy, nature, and beauty!
In Harmony,
Jen
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Nancy Shields Says:
20 December 2011 at 8:17 am.
Much Love your way – doing these things in love for our universe …..
Thank you my friend,
Nancy
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Sandra / Always Well Within Says:
20 December 2011 at 10:58 pm.
Hi Robin,
What a fabulous list! I love the bookends of love and laughter. I’m laughter-challenged so I really need to work on that one. This is the first time I’ve heard of pee rags! I want to learn more about that.
I just love you so much, you special being. Thanks for all you do to celebrate and protect nature.
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Larry Rice Says:
21 December 2011 at 11:35 am.
Sanity? Making changes to ones routines, actions and ultimately value system certainly requires and feeds a change in our thinking. Habits can be put on extinction and there is quite a bit of research to support this. However, clinically speaking ones personal experience of sanity deserves some examination as a part of this series.
Behavior by the individual, which our culture would describe as insane, is in some cultures acceptable. In fact, many people have found they fit better in a different culture from the one they were born too and move, settle down and live where they feel a comfort zone more appropriate to their wiring.
The issue of wiring, that is to say, the way in which one is put together is I think the core issue. We can learn to detach from wants and unnecessary drama. Our “crazy’ thoughts can come and go and we can learn not to take action based on them, because we have recognized, learned and evolved personally to this point.
The core of our being is difficult, if not impossible to change. The hard wiring will remain. Self-knowledge does not fix us. Intellectual development does not change our basic instincts or needs. Thus, if one is declared insane and institutionalized, the “system” works at solutions, which are an attempt, to change the hard-wiring of the individual. Traditional therapy, using talking and listening work at helping one develop their self-knowledge/self-understanding and work to some degree, if there is a shared insight. The hard-wiring is not changed, but the frontal lobe of the brain is able to mitigate the “crazy thoughts,” feelings, memories and emotional baggage that come along with introspective self-appraisal.
Through this process of insight, one begins to surrender to what is true about one’s self. We accept this expanded ‘definition of self’ and move-on. As good old ‘normal neurotics,’ we do the best with what we have to work with.
In more severe cases, therapy of an increased invasive nature is used. Surgery, electro-shock and chemical restraint again work at changing/controling the hard-wiring. This is where clinical “insanity” lives and in some cases dies.
I doubt anyone who regularly reads Robin’s posts suffer from clinical insanity. Certainly, those reading this will be aware of the fact, that our culture here in America is filled with examples of insane actions taken by many of us, our leaders and our government. This is a discussion of a different color.
Changing ones life style to be increasingly in-tune with the natural rhythms of our planet is desirable beyond question. This also provides some push-back against the tide of our cultural life style, which many view as “insane.” However my point is, an individuals personal experience of their own sanity, has much more to do with one’s ‘hard-wiring’ than simply changing one’s diet, exercise, shopping bags and use of resources.
To find a deep peace and contentment that allows one to experience a comfort zone, within this insane culture, requires a great deal of personal work, insight and surrender. Self-acceptance is the root, which feeds this work. The state of loving it all, in all seasons, good, bad and ugly is beyond the experience of most of us. Detachment from this or that cause, from being right, from proving our concepts are the answer, etc, is difficult. Our brain is put together is such a manner that human beings want to solve the problem. This magnificent tool will find a problem to solve or create a problem, if left idle for very long. Meditation to become, to be at peace, with the mind simply observing itself, helps one find a centered comfort zone and requires practice. Life long practice. That’s the hell of it! Most of us are too busy to take the required time to find real peace. If you have read this far, you are exceptional and no doubt tired of my rambling. Time for a deep breath and a sigh of relief that this is the end. One more deep breath and for this nano-second you are at peace. A last note about love. It is easily proved, that part of our hard-wiring is to love. It turns out that life experience through the centuries has proved that an individual is most at peace, when they are of service to others. This may just be the highest expression of our ability to love. Of course, these are only my opinions. I may be wrong. May your journey be filled with Joy and Hugs. L:)
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jack foley Says:
2 January 2012 at 5:53 am.
What you put out, you will receive back..
Lovely love in the video and also enjoy your holidays..
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15 January 2012 at 8:29 am.
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6 March 2012 at 8:00 am.
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Robin Easton Reply:
December 19th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
*** NOTE ***
DEAR FRIENDS,
I will be away from my desk for several days for the holiday. But I will approve all comments when I return. So not to worry if your comment doesn’t appear. I am doing this rather than automatically allowing comments as I have lately had spam slipping through. I look forward to reading ALL of your insights. I have no doubt that they you will inspire me. I already LOVE the comments that have come in so far.
My love to you all, and I wish you a warm and joyous holiday, no matter which one you are celebrating.
Hugs,
Robin
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