Occupy Yourself

Image: mtcleroux

Wherever you stand on the matter, the Occupy movement, which began with Occupy Wall Street, makes a point that cannot be ignored. The nutshell Occupy demand is for leadership - political and corporate alike - to be accountable and fair to those they lead. Specifically when it comes to money.

Power and resources (read: money) are, of course, not new bedfellows, and their relationship guides my title: Occupy Yourself. It is absolutely valid and just that we demand accountability, fiscal and otherwise, from our leaders. (In a free market democracy the argument goes that they wouldn't be leaders in the first place if we hadn't put them there based on their positive traits.) People who want to camp out on Wall Street or elsewhere to demand this are welcome to it, provided they do so civilly, but I think there is more at stake here.

The question I ask is, before we occupy Wall Street, Washington or Warsaw, can we honestly say that we have occupied ourselves? Are we fully accountable and fair in our actions, whether it is in the way we treat others (especially those in positions of less power), our environment and, yes, our own finances? Do we make provision for ourselves and others by being resourceful, cultivating what we have (whether it is talent, human relationships or a patch of soil that can be nurtured to sustain us) and exercising control over, yes, our money? Are we in control, or are we in an entertainment-induced daze of ignorance? Are we the ones who choose how to invest our funds, or do we allow ourselves to be duped into buying products we don't need with money we don't have?

Accountability and fairness, and giving "the 99%" their piece of the pie, is a fine cause. But rather than occupying Wall Street, I hear this movement as a call to Occupy Yourself. As the chief leadership in your affairs, I dare you to accept this challenge to be accountable for yourself and your actions, to be fair to those with less money, less supposed power (and to yourself), and most certainly to be resourceful, making the most of what you have. And you have a whole lot more than just money: you have a mind that you can cultivate and make up to act on your own decisions, not on what some brand or bank or pinup or politician or even protesters in tents tell you.

Occupy Wall Street if you like. It is a noble cause. But Occupy Yourself first. In every sense of the word. Tent optional.

The Best Things in Life Are Free (Or: Nature is Not a Product)

Drop a seed, accidentally, in fertile soil and it will grow. Nature is free. It perpetuates itself abundantly, beyond borders and even in the most inhospitable environments. And it costs nothing. 

Image: Food Forest at Tagari by ecofilms.com.au

When divination inspiration Anel Hamersma blogged about the online commoditization of spirituality recently, she was perfectly on my wavelength. It is reassuring that someone else sees the plot. Somehow the pursuit of happiness has been turned into a product - preferably with a renewable subscription or platinum membership scheme. The same has happened to nutrition, exercise and ecologically sound living - all matters which are close to my heart. 

I was made awkwardly aware of this fact at a recent health and wellness exhibition, where a veritable army of desperate salespeople, clueless life coaches and dysfunctional would-be gurus persuaded me to do one thing: get out as fast as my less-than-supermodelesque legs could carry me. (Good exercise. No charge.) 

It is painfully true that health, wellbeing and ecologically sound living are more vital than ever. I am delighted that more people are become aware of, and passionate about, these matters. I am heartened that passionate people share their knowledge and inventions and, yes, make a living out of this work. From time to time, I am even ecstatic to find a rare organic superfood, inspirational exercise class or eco-friendly gadget for sale in my neck of the woods. 

Yet common sense, logic and wisdom state that healthy eating consists mainly of eating less commercially mandated, highly packaged, food mile-laden fare. The best exercise comes from living life to the full out in the open air rather than driving to a swish gym. The most eco-friendly action is not to buy that new gadget that promises to turn your home into a lean, green, Earth-saving machine. 

Health and wellness products have their place. But if nutrition, exercise, serenity and ecological harmony are the goal, perhaps it is better to plant a modest food garden. It's virtually free and potentially self-perpetuating, provides organic nutrition, hale activity, spiritual satisfaction and a legion of ecological benefits. Though there is nothing wrong with spending money or marketing hype on well-being, it's good to remember that nature belongs to everyone. And it costs nothing. 

The image is from ecofilms.com.au's documentary of the food forest at Tagari, the farm cultivated by Permaculture founder Bill Mollison. What is so remarkable about Tagari is that the food forest became even more productive after being abandoned for several years - a true test of sustainability. While one may argue that starting up a garden costs money, it is equally true that it can be done resourcefully on a shoestring, that many plants can be propagated for free and, ultimately, the yield of perennial plants far outweighs expenditure.