Consider shifting perspectives – just for one day
What would happen if we started to think of ourselves less as “land owners” and more as “land stewards”? This is something that indigenous people understood and which allowed them to respect and protect the environment that sustained them. What would happen if we started to shift our thinking in this direction? Two events came together yesterday that made me consider this fact more closely.
First, I sat down with my legal advisor to move the ownership of the property that I co-owned with my late husband to my name. There was a lot of legal documentation, dotting “I’s” and crossing “T’s” that made this feel important, but deep down it felt strange to me. It made me reflect, once again, on my husband and his passing, and on the fact that we really don’t own anything in life. Instead, everything from our possessions to even our own bodies are just on loan to us for a time.
Yesterday, I also received a link from a friend to an article that was written in the Montreal Gazette (Halt Development) about protecting an environmentally sensitive green space west of the city. There was a comment from an irate land owner professing “his rights”, telling the “tree huggers” to “grow up”. These two events reminded me of how we carry an illusion, possibly supported by our “legal rights”, that we own stuff – property, concepts, animals and sometimes even other people (our children). And, that these are ours to care for as we wish. We don’t have to be accountable to anyone, because “it’s ours”.
Imagine what would happen if we started to wake up to the fact that this is an illusion, and that in reality we are care takers of this planet, of our children and of all that is created by mankind. Yes, we pay a price for things; we pay for land, for the endless stuff we accumulate, for services. But, what if we looked at it as the price we pay not for owning, but for the benefit of being care takers?
I encourage you to imagine this, just for one day. What would you do differently with you property, your home, your assets, your money? How would you look after your children differently, your pets? How would you treat others differently and even your own body?
I imagine that life would change dramatically. We would live more consciously, with more purpose, considering a more holistic perspective. We know that we take better care of things we borrow from others. Would there be wars if nations looked at their land and resources as precious assets that they need to steward for the global community and for future generations? Would neighbours fight neighbours if they woke up to the fact that the imaginary line that divides their property is just that – imaginary, which will be of no importance on their final days on this planet?
We have to start realizing this fact and dissolve the dualistic attitude that pits “mine against yours”. We must take care, protect and share all nature before we loose it for good. I think we all know this deep down, but we are often too caught up in a battle for which side is right to manifest it consciously. With this new perspective (actually it is an ancient one), we could better develop solutions that benefit all stakeholders. Ultimately these are the only kind of solutions that will succeed in the long run.
I encourage you to consider this perspective and to pass it on. Who knows what great shift in consciousness we can co-create!
Consider shifting perspectives – just for one day
What would happen if we started to think of ourselves less as “land owners” and more as “land stewards”? This is something that indigenous people understood and which allowed them to respect and protect the environment that sustained them. What would happen if we started to shift our thinking in this direction? Two events came together yesterday that made me consider this fact more closely.
First, I sat down with my legal advisor to move the ownership of the property that I co-owned with my late husband to my name. There was a lot of legal documentation, dotting “I’s” and crossing “T’s” that made this feel important, but deep down it felt strange to me. It made me reflect, once again, on my husband and his passing, and on the fact that we really don’t own anything in life. Instead, everything from our possessions to even our own bodies are just on loan to us for a time.
Yesterday, I also received a link from a friend to an article that was written in the Montreal Gazette (Halt Development) about protecting an environmentally sensitive green space west of the city. There was a comment from an irate land owner professing “his rights”, telling the “tree huggers” to “grow up”. These two events reminded me of how we carry an illusion, possibly supported by our “legal rights”, that we own stuff – property, concepts, animals and sometimes even other people (our children). And, that these are ours to care for as we wish. We don’t have to be accountable to anyone, because “it’s ours”.
Imagine what would happen if we started to wake up to the fact that this is an illusion, and that in reality we are care takers of this planet, of our children and of all that is created by mankind. Yes, we pay a price for things; we pay for land, for the endless stuff we accumulate, for services. But, what if we looked at it as the price we pay not for owning, but for the benefit of being care takers?
I encourage you to imagine this, just for one day. What would you do differently with you property, your home, your assets, your money? How would you look after your children differently, your pets? How would you treat others differently and even your own body?
I imagine that life would change dramatically. We would live more consciously, with more purpose, considering a more holistic perspective. We know that we take better care of things we borrow from others. Would there be wars if nations looked at their land and resources as precious assets that they need to steward for the global community and for future generations? Would neighbours fight neighbours if they woke up to the fact that the imaginary line that divides their property is just that – imaginary, which will be of no importance on their final days on this planet?
We have to start realizing this fact and dissolve the dualistic attitude that pits “mine against yours”. We must take care, protect and share all nature before we loose it for good. I think we all know this deep down, but we are often too caught up in a battle for which side is right to manifest it consciously. With this new perspective (actually it is an ancient one), we could better develop solutions that benefit all stakeholders. Ultimately these are the only kind of solutions that will succeed in the long run.
I encourage you to consider this perspective and to pass it on. Who knows what great shift in consciousness we can co-create!
Please let us know what you think!