A friend recently asked us to share some insights from our life that might inspire others to practice especially the next generation - our children. This friend asked this in context to preparation for a community event where 100s of people gather few times every year in celebration of a common theme such as celebration of a festival. So, ideas here might seem oriented towards one specific event, however, upon deeper look, it becomes clear that it could apply to all of our daily life. So, here they are -
- Encourage carpools, especially for those coming from same neighborhoods. Consider doing it everyday starting today to drive the neighborhood children to schools and other classes (music, dance, sports & such after school activities).
- Science projects - let children experiment with growing some fresh produce in your or a friend's back yard.
- Take stock of what goes into the waste/trash & recycles in a typical day in your household, have children understand their impacts and see how the impacts can be reduced.
- Building neighborhood recreation just by walking groups, volunteering in local park, removal of graffiti using Eco-friendly products, visiting a local community garden.
- Build local projects for kids to understand the food sources, have a close relationship with food source by growing them, meeting local farmers by visiting farmers markets, local farms and bee-keepers to learn about bees and honey, this will help to create curiosity in kids and also a need to grow their own food.
- Have kids understand their own energy usage specially lap tops, ipad, ipod and the list continues, impact of playing video games on their own health and the environment.
- Have children know the amount of toys, clothes they have and may be they can share it with their friends and family, in this way they can experience generosity in a small way!
- A wise person shared a gem with us some time back, that the right age to start meditating is not fifty, we can start this inner journey by the age of eight and it is a prime reason we are experiencing this physical body and let us all not waste a minute of this life from now on!. Are you game for it?