1 month ago

Links:

https://www.greatexpectations.org/
https://www.asana.com
https://www.runamukacres.com/
https://www.kitsappt.com
https://chrischickeringmusic.com/home/
Chris Chickering Soundcloud
https://kalyaniandcircleup.bandcamp.com/
Kalyani Soundcloud
https://www.audiocoffee.net

BY: ELIZABETH ROSE
(Overarching THEME OR THEMES: What’s Coming up in 2024)

RE-Introduce Restoration Project. Restore kindness, integrity, respect and strength back into the several systems called forth. Describe overarching themes that will be represented throughout the year and mention episode 15 for more info about the new interviews.

THEME FOR SEGMENT 1: INTRODUCING THE RESTORATION PROJECT.

THEME FOR SEGMENT 2: GETTING INVOLVED

SEGMENT 1
Intro

ELIZABETH

Good Monday Morning Folks! Today’s episode is all about what’s new in 2024 and more about the Restoration Project, including how you can get involved! What is the Restoration Projext? In short, the restoration project is a movement to restore kindness, integrity, respect and strength back into the many systems in our world, for example: the Food System, Social Systems, Political Systems, Natural Systems and more! We will be introducing individuals through interviews, reading quotes from books, playing songs and challenging you to much more! In this episode I would like to introduce my editors Molly and Marcus from M Designs. For more information about the interviews, please refer back to Episode 15 where we explore this in detail. I would like to begin with 3 Poems about Integrity from the website https://www.greatexpectations.org/ I’ll now give the floor to my editors…

THORIN (CHILD)

A Great Somebody
BY ADRIENNE SEALY HARDESTY
I AM A SERIOUS CHILD.

I AM A SERIOUS CHILD WITH SERIOUS GOALS.

MY LIFE IS DESTINED TO BE FILLED WITH POSITIVITY.

I AM A WORKER.

IF IT TAKES HARD WORK I WILL DO IT.

I AM A CLEAN SOMEBODY.

I KNOW THAT IF I LIE DOWN WITH HOGS I CAN COME

UP WITH MUD

SO, I WILL KEEP MY MIND, MY BODY, AND MY

CHARACTER CLEAN.

I AM INTELLIGENT.

MY BRAIN IS A STORAGE PLACE.

I WILL FILL IT TO THE BRIM WITH KNOWLEDGE, AND

LOOK FORWARD WITH HOPE OF WHAT TOMORROW WILL

BRING.

I AM A CHILD HERO.

I DON’T SPEND TIME WASTING TIME BECAUSE I

KNOW THERE IS ROOM AT THE TOP FOR ME.

I AM THE GREATEST SOMEBODY THERE IS.

START LEADING ME NOW, TEACHER.

START GUIDING ME NOW, TEACHER.

START PRAISING ME NOW, TEACHER.

AND YOU WILL SEE ME RISE TO THE HIGHEST

HEIGHTS.

MOLLY

Three Gates
FROM THE ARABIAN
IF YOU ARE TEMPTED TO REVEAL

A TALE TO YOU SOMEONE HAS TOLD

ABOUT ANOTHER, MAKE IT PASS,

BEFORE YOU SPEAK, THREE GATES OF GOLD.

THESE NARROW GATES: FIRST, “IS IT TRUE?”

THEN, “IS IT NEEDFUL?” IN YOUR MIND

GIVE TRUTHFUL ANSWER. AND THE NEXT

IS LAST AND NARROWEST, “IS IT KIND?”

AND IF TO REACH YOUR LIPS AT LAST

IT PASSES THROUGH THESE GATEWAYS THREE,

THEN YOU MAY TELL THE TALE, NOR FEAR

WHAT THE RESULT OF SPEECH MAY BE.

MARCUS

My Creed
BY EDGAR A. GUEST
TO LIVE AS GENTLY AS I CAN;

TO BE, NO MATTER WHERE, A MAN;

TO TAKE WHAT COMES OF GOOD OR ILL

AND CLING TO FAITH AND HONOR STILL;

TO DO MY BEST, AND LET THAT STAND

THE RECORD OF MY BRAIN AND HAND;

AND THEN, SHOULD FAILURE COME TO ME

STILL WORK AND HOPE FOR VICTORY.

TO HAVE NO SECRET PLACE WHEREIN

I STOOP UNSEEN TO SHAME OR SIN;

TO BE THE SAME WHEN I’M ALONE

AS WHEN MY EVERY DEED IS KNOWN;

TO LIVE UNDAUNTED, UNAFRAID

OF ANY STEP THAT I HAVE MADE;

TO BE WITHOUT PRETENSE OR SHAM,

EXACTLY WHAT MEN THINK I AM.

TO LEAVE SOME SIMPLE MARK BEHIND,

TO KEEP MY HAVING LIVED IN MIND;

IF ENMITY TO AUGHT I SHOW,

TO BE AN HONEST, GENEROUS FOE,

TO PLAY MY LITTLE PART, NOR WHINE

THAT GREATER HONORS ARE NOT MINE.

THIS, I BELIEVE, IS ALL I NEED

FOR MY PHILOSOPHY AND CREED.

MOLLY

In the past year, we’ve explored topics episodically, but we are taking it up a notch in 2024, to include a new overarching goal for this year. We’re kicking off the Restoration Project, led by your host, Elizabeth Rose. our plan is to look at the key areas concerning the restoration project through the lenses of each season of the year, and our lives, and then break it down monthly into even finer areas of interest, study, introspection and exploration! We will use the mediums of interview, artwork in the videos, sharing music, readings and quotes, and others to look at the issues with our whole Brain. The key areas the Restoration Project aims to make improvements in, as a community, are: kindness – recognizing the needs of ourselves and others, including healthy boundaries, integrity in word and action, respect for others that are different from ourselves, and strength of community.

TRANSITION SONG THE HERO’S JOURNEY
FOR EVERY HERO THERE IS A ROAD

THAT CAN TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE

FARTHER ON THAN YOU’VE EVER KNOWN

IT’S A JOURNEY THAT MIGHT

BREAK YOU TO YOUR SOUL

BUT IF YOU DARE TO MAKE A GO

YOU MIGHT FIND A GIFT INSIDE OF YOU

THAT FEW WILL EVER HOLD

FOR EVERY HERO THERE IS A ROAD

AND A WAY BACK HOME

I WAS SITTIN’ COMFORTABLE

LIVING IN MY LIFE

THE WORLD WAS SPINNIN’

CLOUDS WERE ROLLIN’ BY

WHEN SUDDENLY THE WALLS CAVED-IN

AND LEFT ME TO THE NIGHT

RIGHT THERE AND THEN

I HAD TO DECIDE

WHETHER I WAS BOLD ENOUGH

TO CROSS THE GREAT ABYSS

OR TURN AROUND AND SAY

“TO HELL WITH THIS”

THEN SOMEONE WHISPERED

THERE’S A WAY TO MAKE IT FROM THE CLIFF

SO I TOOK A LEAP AND FOUND WHAT FREEDOM IS

FOR EVERY HERO THERE IS A ROAD

THAT CAN TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE

FARTHER ON THAN YOU’VE EVER KNOWN

IT’S A JOURNEY THAT MIGHT

BREAK YOU TO YOUR SOUL

BUT IF YOU DARE TO MAKE A GO

YOU MIGHT FIND A GIFT INSIDE OF YOU

THAT FEW WILL EVER HOLD

FOR EVERY HERO THERE IS A ROAD

AND A WAY BACK HOME

THERE WERE THOSE WHO TESTED ME

AND SWORE THAT I WOULD FAIL

FAIR-WEATHER FRIENDS

THAT LEFT ME ON THE TRAIL

THROUGH THE TERROR OF THE TEMPEST

AND THE WALLS I HAD TO SCALE

I FOUND THE STRENGTH TO TRIUMPH AND PREVAIL

FOR EVERY HERO THERE IS A ROAD

THAT CAN TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE

FARTHER ON THAN YOU’VE EVER KNOWN

IT’S A JOURNEY THAT MIGHT

BREAK YOU TO YOUR SOUL

BUT IF YOU DARE TO MAKE A GO

YOU MIGHT FIND A GIFT INSIDE OF YOU

THAT FEW WILL EVER HOLD

FOR EVERY HERO THERE IS A ROAD

AND A WAY BACK HOME

FOR EVERY HERO THERE IS A ROAD

THAT CAN TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE

FARTHER ON THAN YOU’VE EVER KNOWN

IT’S A JOURNEY THAT MIGHT

BREAK YOU TO YOUR SOUL

BUT IF YOU DARE TO MAKE A GO

YOU MIGHT FIND A GIFT INSIDE OF YOU

THAT FEW WILL EVER HOLD

FOR EVERY HERO THERE IS A ROAD

AND A WAY BACK HOME

AND YOU FIND A WAY

YOU FIND A WAY

YOU FIND A WAY BACK HOME

(REPRISE)

SEGMENT 2 WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE
ELIZABETH

Ok Folks it’s time to wake up and smell the coffee. Let’s take it up a notch… Here is your Call to Action: it is not enough to know the right thing, or to say the right things. It is important to step out of our comfort zone and stand up for our values and for others. Just a reminder… what we think becomes what we say. What we say becomes our actions. We need to be mindful of our thoughts, perceptions and attitudes. I will now turn the mic back over to Molly and Marcus who will challenge you with some ways to get involved with the Restoration Project!

MARCUS

In our newsletters, you may have noticed the inclusion of “Stretches” (out of your comfort zone!) which are exercises designed to challenge and stimulate the whole brain. To learn more about what “Whole Brain” means, please listen to Episodes 1 and 2. Basically, using the “Whole Brain” means engaging all of your senses when trying something new for maximum benefit. In this episode we have designed 3 stretches to get you OUT of your comfort zone, and into the Restoration Project! Making a difference in the world can start right at home with healthy habits, and setting a good example. We will also encourage you with sensory explorations of new cultures and ideas, invitations to try new routines, challenges to experience exciting events, and other ways to get the conversations that matter in your community, started.

MARCUS

Stretch! (Out of your comfort zone!): #1 Avoid the snooze button A Reading from An Article on Asana.com, See the link in the description for more information. Hitting the snooze button can be detrimental to your morning routine. While you may intend to only get five more minutes of sleep, hitting snooze can quickly become a half hour. Avoid snoozing your alarm by creating a routine of waking up the first time your alarm goes off. Ways to encourage this habit include: Counting to five: When getting out of bed seems impossible, an easy trick is to count to five. After five, force yourself to get out of bed and begin your day. Keeping slippers near your bed: Slippers can make getting out of bed slightly easier on cold mornings. Keep them bedside so you always have them close. Presetting your coffee machine: If you’re a coffee drinker, just the aroma can be enough to motivate you to get up. Preset your machine so the coffee is waiting for you when you wake up. Snoozing your alarm clock is a habit many of us have, but creating a healthier routine is the best way to break it. The more time you have in the morning, the more time you have to create a productive routine.

MOLLY

Stretch! (Out of your comfort zone!): #2 Vote With Your Fork, Cook More Meals At Home First a quote: “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want to live in, including the food you buy.” – Anna Lappe

Now a Reading from the home page on https://runamukacres.com/, See the link in the description for more information. Vote with your fork! everyday, 3 times a day, we can vote for the kind of food system we want through our food choices. by making the choice to eat real food (IE-food that hasn’t been processed beyond recognition) we’re taking a stand against the industrial system. We can opt to purchase ingredients and make the time to actually cook a meal. We can learn to cook more things for ourselves or to cook more often. And then we can share that independence with friends and family to spur the movement on. Once we get used to cooking for ourselves we can take it a step further and through our food choices we can vote for the kinds of farms we want to support. We can give our money in support of an industrial farm thousands of miles away with farming practices we don’t want to think about. Or we can choose to shop with farms closer to home. We can get to know our local farmer and how he or she produces the carrots or the herbed-chevre we love so much. We have the power to make a difference and it starts right at home. Making the choice to buy real food doesn’t mean it will always be a perfect meal. It just means it will be real food. Give it a try. Go vote with your fork today!!!

MARCUS

The Third and final Stretch! (Out of your comfort zone!) this morning is #3 feel gratitude in the face of challenges. A Reading from An Article on https://kitsappt.com, See the link in the description for more information. How Can I feel Gratitude in the face of challenges? Consider the following advice: Embrace Your Challenges: This is oftentimes easier said than done, especially during the fallout of a long-term global pandemic. Keep in mind, though, that when approached constructively, challenges often bring out our best selves. They make us stronger and more focused, confident and capable.

Celebrate Minor Victories: You’ve heard the phrase, “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.” This simply means that victories regularly come in increments, and that small improvements are often worth celebrating. Keep this in mind as you work to achieve your goals (regardless of size) and as you strive for post- COVID normalcy.

Acknowledge and Express Gratitude: Knowing you have a lot to be thankful for isn’t the same as regularly considering, jotting down and expressing your positive thoughts. Being grateful should be an active process. By forcing yourself to consider specific things you’re grateful for every day, you’ll train your mind to more naturally think in these terms. Expressing gratitude in overt (i.e., writing a thank-you letter) and creative ways can give this positivity an even bigger boost.

Surround Yourself with Positivity: The levels of positivity in the company you keep can directly affect your ability to be feel gratitude. Being around positive people and those you love and respect can feel energizing and lead to greater levels of optimism in your life.

Volunteer: As a way of giving back to others in your community, volunteering – especially during this era of the coronavirus and economic downturn – can make you feel more grateful about your own life. Studies have shown that helping others through volunteering can also increase your personal level of well-being.

ELIZABETH

Alright guys, Thank you Molly and Marcus for that, and now to close out Episode 19 is Kalyani Marsh, in her song “Love Is The Real World” to remind us to always be true, speak the truth and act with integrity!

{CLOSING SONG}

MUSIC CHOICES:

Song name: The Hero’s Journey

Album name: The Hero’s Journey

Artist name: Chris Chickering

Artist website: https://chrischickeringmusic.com/home/

Track link: https://soundcloud.com/chrischickering/sets/the-heros-journey

Song name: Love Is The Real World

Album name: Songs for the Awakening Heart

Artist name: Kalyani Marsh

Artist website: https://kalyaniandcircleup.bandcamp.com/

Track link: https://soundcloud.com/kalyani-marsh/04-love-is-the-real-world