“Studies have shown that it takes 21 days of consistent behavior to change a habit or create a new one, such as establishing a regular exercise routine, eating a healthier diet, or taking time each day for self-care.” That’s what the Chopra Center reported in a recent email invitation I received. That’s three weeks. Does it really take 21 days to establish a change in our lives?

So often in my life, I’ve begun something and then quit. Sometimes it’s been a new exercise regime or practices I wanted in my life, such as starting each morning with certain rituals. Other times, it’s been releasing a behavior that no longer served me. Yet, when I reflect on the habits I’ve truly either let go of or established in my life, it was because I continued to practice them for a long time until they became “the way–my way.” I’m not sure it took precisely 21 days, but what I do remember is that those first days and that first week were really the make it or break it time–that critical time period when I had to choose each day to continue or to give up. Each 24 hours that passed, beginning from Day 1, was the impetus for the next 24-hour period. That is how it was for me when I quit smoking as a young adult (yes, I’m embarrassed to admit that once upon a time, I did smoke). Each day that I made it through without a cigarette provided the strength and hope for the next 24-hour period. I don’t ever remember thinking about the weeks (or months) ahead–it was truly “one day at a time.”

This theme of 21 days came up in my life this past week in two different realms. First, with regard to my mother, who is currently in a rehab center, working to stand, walk, and perform her daily functions while living with a sudden-onset back condition that may not ever go away. As we’ve discussed the challenges she’s facing, we’ve acknowledged the difficulty she’s experiencing in establishing new habits. Retraining her body to perform movements other than what she’s done for the past 80 years is especially challenging. The physical therapists explained in our meeting last Friday that it can take 21 days to establish a habit such as remembering to lock her wheelchair before standing or performing a log roll to get out of bed.

The second came through the Chopra Center’s 21-Day Meditation Challenge™ which began last week (today is Day 5). Their promise is that “in just 21 days, you can also establish a fulfilling meditation practice that will give you a lifetime of rewards. You may have dipped your toe in the water with limited success, but this time, you will have daily support and guidance that will enable you to move beyond any past obstacles and experience the many gifts and benefits of meditation.” Since my meditation is at times “spotty,” I decided to accept this challenge and their support to see where it leads me.

Along with my belief that the first days are the most critical, I also believe that the level of one’s commitment, intention and attention to change have a lot to do with the success of that change. In other words, how invested are you in achieving the desired result? My mother is not really interested in living her life in a wheelchair, so it’s been a challenge getting her to see the importance of locking it. She’s also needed some convincing to see the benefits for her to learn how to do a log roll as she gets in and out of bed–it’s a big deal to retrain muscles after a lifetime of doing it a different way. As for my meditation practice, I intellectually understand the wonderful benefits of meditating, yet I’ve never had any significant experiences during meditation. I’ve heard from others about the wonderful transformation they’ve experienced through meditation as well as their experiences of living a more heart-centered life. I’m trusting in those experiences to propel me forward with making meditation a daily practice–and a daily habit–in my own life.

Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, discussed in her blog of the same name the results of a recent study (referring to a study conducted by Phillippa Lally and colleagues from University College London who recruited 96 people interested in forming a new habit such as eating a piece of fruit with lunch or doing a 15 minute run each day. Lally et al. (2009).

She stated, “According to a recent study, a daily action like eating fruit at lunch or running for fifteen minutes took an average of sixty-six days to become as much of a habit as it would ever become.

“The study also showed that if you miss a day here or there when you’re trying to develop a habit, it doesn’t derail the process, so don’t get discouraged if you can’t keep a perfect track record. But the first days seem to make the biggest difference, so it’s worth trying to be particularly diligent at the beginning of the attempted-habit-acquisition process.”

That leads me to the conclusion that there is no hard-and-fast rule when it comes to making changes in our lives. Hanging onto the belief that “making the change will really be good for me” seems an important part of sticking with it, whether it takes 21 days, 66 days, or something more or less. Identifying the answer to questions such as “What’s in it for me?” or “Why do I desire this change?” can really help on those days when we’d rather be doing something else or feel like giving up. And, as has been my past experience, each day that passes with the desired change accomplished is a day to celebrate. In our goal-driven society, it’s especially important to allow ourselves time to acknowledge what we’ve done and how far we’ve come rather than only look ahead to the desired outcome. In my desire to always DO and BECOME, this seems like an important piece for me to remember. In the famous lyrics of Three Dog Night, it seems especially poignant to “Celebrate, celebrate, and dance to the music!” as I go along. How about you?

MoonDream by Zingaia

As I celebrate turning 55 today, I am reminded of the words of George Eliot, the nom-de-plume of British author Mary Anne Evans. “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” I feel a beckoning, an invitation to begin a new phase in my life. I feel called to dig deep and allow the excavation into the deepest and darkest parts of my soul to bring forth undiscovered gems of life experience. I hear the call to shed that which no longer serves me. And I hear the invitation to take these newly discovered gems and create beauty in my life to serve me and others.

Invitation is the word I hear over and over in my head today. My birthday is an invitation to not only BE but to BECOME, to not just live but to thrive, to not just participate but to inspire and co-create. The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer begins with a poem–an invitation. I plan to contemplate this poem in the days, weeks and months ahead. It is a beautiful reminder to live my best life today and everyday.

Happy birthday world!

THE INVITATION by Oriah

I want to know
if you can be alone
with yourself
and if you truly like
the company you keep
in the empty moments.

By Oriah © Mountain Dreaming,
from the book The Invitation
published by HarperONE, San Francisco,
1999 All rights reserved

Each morning as I’ve walk the ridgeline trail we recently discovered, I’ve been greeted by the blooming wildflowers and the many plants with buds readying to open. The patches of color amongst the green are like fairies dancing before my eyes.

On my walk yesterday, I was on the lookout for new flowers, but what caught my eye (and my attention) were the many heart rocks embedded in the dirt path under my feet. I wasn’t thinking about heart rocks at all, yet there they were popping out in my line of vision. Like magic, they showed up and once they’d caught my attention, I kept noticing more and more of them! Some were very tiny and others were large enough that it would have taken two hands to hold them. Why were they showing up like this all of a sudden, when over the past few weeks, I’d never even realized they were there?

It seems they showed themselves in order to get my attention. Lately, I’ve been experiencing a lot of self-doubt. It’s been coming through in my journaling and my daily thoughts. Questions such as “Am I on the right track?” “Is this what I’m supposed to be doing?” “Is this my purpose?” and many, many more have been looming larger than life, creating a lot of uncertainty. What I didn’t realize until the heart rocks showed up is that I’ve even been feeling unloved and experiencing a sense of unworthiness–that “less than” mentality.

For me, heart rocks are a reminder of love–the love that is everywhere. When I get caught up in self-doubt, when that critic–who I call my “Wicked Witch”–starts cackling at me and making me feel a sense of diminishment, I become disconnected from the love that is all around me–both inside and outside of myself. That sense of disconnect puts me on a path of aloneness, isolation, and I begin to swirl. Swirling is that dizzying spinning that leads nowhere–a very different experience from spiraling, which always leads one to something more.

I’ve always loved heart rocks–those regular, everyday variety of stones and pebbles that are shaped like hearts. A friend of mine taught me about them many years ago. When my girls were little, we would go out on walks and intentionally see how many heart rocks we could notice. We would try to leave them where they were, but every so often, there would be one that seemed to want to come home with us. If we brought one home, we would always say a little thank you to the earth for providing this beautiful treasure.

Yesterday, as I began noticing the heart rocks in my path, I started feeling that warm sensation of love. I began hearing the message that I am loved, no matter what. No matter if I have answers to my questions, I am loved and lovable. It’s as simple as that! It’s about just being–being Donna–and not about having to do or accomplish anything. So simple, yet I return to this lesson over and over again. It seems though that yesterday I needed the message to come to me from a source other than the friends and family who continue to support and encourage me. I needed to hear it from Gaia herself. Along with being loved no matter what, it’s all about the intention that I carry everyday. If my intention is to live from my heart center, then no matter where I go or what I do, I am on the right path. A heart path!

The heart rocks showed me what I most needed to hear: a heart-centered life is the answer. A heart path is the path for me to follow. I may not know exactly where I’m headed, but seeing heart rocks along the way let me know that I am truly loved and exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Sometimes deciding what or how to recycle an item can be difficult. In this post we’ll look bioplastics, biodegradables, and compostables. Tomorrow, we’ll look at plastics, electronic waste and paper.

Oftentimes, the terms bioplastics, biodegradables, and compostables are used interchangeably. They do not really all mean the same thing however.

Let’s start with biodegradables. What exactly constitutes a biodegradable product? Biodegradable products, such as plates and cutlery, can now be found on most store shelves. Biodegradation is the process of biological conversion of materials into CO2, H2O and minerals. According to tests based on international standards (OECD), to be called readily biodegradable an ingredient must biodegrade 60% or more within a 28-day period.

Conventional plastics such as polyethylene and polystyrene are derived from fossil fuels. Biodegradeable plastics (which are not bioplastics), can break down under certain circumstances, and are derived from either agricultural or petrochemical sources. While a material can be labeled biodegradable (referring to the process whereby microorganisms cause decomposition and assimilation), it may not necessarily be compostable, the process by which material biodegrades to produce carbon dioxide, water and humus within a specified period of time. According to World Centric, “Biodegradable plastic is plastic which will degrade from naturally occurring microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi etc. over a period of time. Note, that there is no requirement for leaving ‘no toxic residue,’ and as well as no requirement for the time it needs to take to biodegrade.”

In addition to ‘biodegradable’ and ‘compostable,’ there are new greener products coming into the marketplace with labels such as oxo-biodegradeable, hydro-biodegradable, photo-biodegradable or water soluble, which speaks to the chemical process by which these materials break down. The bottom line is, not all biodegradable plastics are created equal and there are a lot of misleading claims out there. To figure out which ones will really break down, look for the “Compostable Logo,” designed by the New York City-based Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) and the U.S. Composting Council. It identifies products that meet industry standards to break down quickly and completely in a municipal compost facility.

Compostable plastic is plastic which is “capable of undergoing biological decomposition in a compost site as part of an available program, such that the plastic is not visually distinguishable and breaks down to carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds, and biomass, at a rate consistent with known compostable materials (e.g. cellulose) and leaves no toxic residue.” American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM).

According to World Centric, “In order for a plastic to be called compostable, three (3) criteria must be met:

1. Biodegrade – break down into carbon dioxide, water and biomass at the same rate as cellulose (paper).
2. Disintegrate – the material is indistinguishable in the compost, that it is not visible and needs to be screened out.
3. No Eco-toxicity – the biodegradation does not produce any toxic material and the compost can support plant growth.”

Bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA), are made from renewable resources such as starch from corn or sugar cane. Bioplastic products are usually made from agricultural waste materials. PLA products are made from corn starch, from No. 2 yellow dent field corn, the most abundant and cheapest source of fermentable sugar in the US. Bagasse products are made from residual sugar cane fiber (a waste product of sugar production). According to World Centric, “Bagasse products, which are made from sugar cane fiber leftover from juice extraction, are very sustainable products. It uses a waste product that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated.”

Any item which is intended to decompose must be disposed of properly in order to be of benefit to the environment. This means these items cannot be thrown into your trash. Many people believe that by purchasing “biodegradable” products, they are helping the environment. If those products end up in a landfill, they just add to the mounting garbage. Nothing biodegrades in a landfill because they aren’t supposed to. Landfills are not compost piles! According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Modern landfills are well-engineered facilities that are located, designed, operated, and monitored to ensure compliance with federal regulations. Solid waste landfills must be designed to protect the environment from contaminants which may be present in the solid waste stream. The landfill siting plan—which prevents the siting of landfills in environmentally-sensitive areas—as well as on-site environmental monitoring systems—which monitor for any sign of groundwater contamination and for landfill gas—provide additional safeguards.”

According to the findings of Dr. William Rathje in his 1991 book Rubbish!: The Archeology of Garbage, the dry and oxygen-poor conditions found in modern landfills cause organic matter to mummify rather than decompose. This is preferred since uncontrolled biodegradation in a landfill could cause ground water pollution, methane gas emissions, and unstable sub-soil conditions. As a result, modern landfills are kept dry and air-tight to prevent biodegradation. According to the Biodegradable Products Institute, “the phrase biodegradable, like recyclable, merely describes the composition of a product. Its potential, not its inherent value. If a product is sent to a landfill, and not disposed of properly in a municipal composting or recycling facility, it is still part of the problem no matter what it’s made from.”

Biodegradable products belong in the green bin, not the trash, and certainly not the blue box (biodegradable plastic and recycled plastic don’t mix). Biodegradables are best disposed of in a commercial composting system, as commercial compost piles contain large amounts of moisture, are kept at a high heat and are aerated frequently. In commercial composting systems bioplastics are expected to degrade within 180 days. Within a home composting system, where high levels of heat are not able to be reached and where aeration depends on how often the owner is willing to turn their pile, bioplastics can take more than 180 days to degrade. Another factor is product thickness. The thicker a product is the longer it will take to degrade. Many commercial facilities grind or cut products such as biodegradable cutlery in smaller pieces to decrease degradation time. Contact your local waste management facility to inquire about their policy on green waste and composting.

If you do not have access to a commercial composting system (apparently, there still aren’t that many of them around and many do not want bioplastic products), the question then becomes how your purchase of bioplastics helps the environment. In my opinion, knowing that your items will not be composted, the best solution would be to go back to the first R–reduce–and not purchase these products at all. Instead, do as our grandparents and great-grandparents did–use reusable utensils and plates. If, however, there are times when bioplastics are necessary, then the question becomes whether or not it’s worth the extra cost to purchase the bioplastics. One reason to go ahead and purchase them is that you are buying products which have not been made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource that is in short supply! This though does become a personal decision, knowing that your item will end up in a landfill, mummified along with all the other garbage.

A few years ago, Consumer Reports revealed a startling statistic. An investigation found that New York City’s Department of Sanitation collects over 700,000 tons of reusable “garbage.” If this has happened in one city, isn’t it likely to be happening in many other towns and cities as well?

A lot of what gets defined as garbage in many people’s homes could be reused in another capacity, but instead, it gets thrown away. Why do you suppose this happens? Well, I believe it has something to do with most of us being conditioned to see only one purpose for the products we purchase. Additionally, I believe we’re bombarded in a variety of ways throughout our day to desire the latest and greatest versions of our products.

When I was growing up, everything my parents purchased was based on quality and longevity. We didn’t have a lot of clothes but what we had was “well made.” Items bought for our home, such as furniture, televisions, and even dishes, were bought as a one-time purchase (at least for the next 20-30 years). We were taught to care for what we had because we wouldn’t be able to have it replaced any time soon if we damaged or broke the item. Growing up, items were repaired rather than thrown out and replaced. My parents were both depression-era babies, so taking care of what they had was very important to them. They were proud of what they acquired and they made sure every item was well maintained.

As for me, even in my young adult life, I made purchases based on dependability–considering whether what I purchased would “stand the test of time.” For instance, my first washer and dryer did just that, lasting about 25 years. It was made by the company whose commercial shows a repairman sitting by the phone–waiting for a call, any call. When we replaced that set, we were told to expect about 10 years of life out of our new model! Today, not only are we primed to desire the latest and greatest, but the items we acquire are not made with durability and longevity as key objectives. Additionally, it is generally more cost-effective to replace an item than to have it repaired, if we even own it long enough for the item to break down.

The good news is that what was once done out of a sense of frugality by our depression-era parents and grandparents can be embraced by us today out of our desire to live a deeper shade of green. Although extending the longevity of our consumable goods may be a frugal action, it can be an environmentally friendly one as well! We benefit financially and our planet benefits each time we are able to lengthen the lifetime of a product and/or reuse our purchases.

As we learn to reduce our eco-impact and extend the life of a purchase by using it in new ways or by caring for and maintaining it to maximize its longevity, we learn to treat each item with greater respect. Today, on Magical Monday, why not look at the household and personal items you use to see if they can take on a new life form prior to landing in the garbage or recycling bin? For instance, could that quart-sized glass jar become the holder of homemade bath salts or a receptacle for a child’s savings? Could the paper towel roll take on a new life as the preserver of your child’s rolled-up art projects or to prevent holiday lights from becoming tangled? Before throwing something out, ask yourself if there are other ways to magically transform an item into something new.

Instead of speaking the consumer mantra, “I need another one,” try repeating, “Once is not enough.” With a little creativity and ingenuity, we can infuse new life into many things, including those products which weren’t intended to live very long.

Consumption has risen sixfold since 1960, according to the World Bank. Taking the rising global population into account, this amounts to a tripling of consumption expenditures per person over this time. This has led to similar increases in the amount of resources used–a sixfold increase in metals extracted from the earth, eightfold in oil consumption and 14-fold in natural gas consumption. “State of the World 2010“, subtitled “Transforming Cultures: From Consumerism to Sustainability“, tries to lay out a path away from what Worldwatch president Christopher Flavin calls “the consumer culture that has taken hold probably first in the U.S. and now in country after country over the past century, so that we can now talk about a global consumerist culture that has become a powerful force around the world.” The report goes on to state that people find meaning and contentment in what they consume, but this cultural orientation has had huge implications for society and the planet. The average U.S. citizens, for instance, consume more each day, in terms of mass, than they weigh. If everyone lived like this, the Earth could only sustain 1.4 billion people!

Based on these findings and observations, it seems then that “consumption” is a good place to start as we count down to Earth Day 2010! We can do this by REDUCING our personal consumption (using less) and REUSING what we already have (using better). Embracing simplicity through mantras such as “less is more” helps us see that we really don’t need every new item that comes into the marketplace. Is it really necessary to have the latest model or this season’s color? Asking ourselves if we really need the latest electronic device, for example, is a good practice to begin incorporating into our lives, especially since we are bombarded in a myriad of ways with the message that we do need every new thing. Not only are we primed to think we need the newest model, but we’re enticed with discounted pricing or special package deals, making it even harder to resist. I’ve often heard others–and myself–say, after purchasing yet another thing, “But it was such a great deal!”

We have also been conditioned–yes, conditioned–to think that a product has only one purpose. We have been bombarded with commercials that claim to be selling the new, improved versions of products, many of which are “disposable” for our convenience! Once we finish with them, they’re done, and it’s back to the store for more stuff. We can stop this resource-robbing trend by looking at what we buy, why we’re buying it, and what waste will be created as a result of purchasing this product. If something will only have one way to be used, is there an alternative? For example, instead of buying disposable razors, why not buy a razor that requires cartridges or blades? At least when we dispose of the cartridge or blade, there is a lot less waste than when we throw an entire razor away. When we buy something in a glass jar, can we find a new purpose for that jar? I save quart-sized glass jars, sterilize them, and then use them to store and freeze my spaghetti sauce, soups, and other foods. The more we can look at something before we purchase it, asking ourselves how we might use and then reuse this item, the more of an eco-consumer we become.

Another area of REDUCING our consumption is related to quantity and size. We have bulk item stores, deals such as “Buy 2, Get 1 Free!” and other enticements to create a desire for more than we actually need. I may be at the store to buy one shirt, but when I see that “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” sign, I admit that I’m then off running with thoughts of which three colors I should buy! We get the message “More Is Better” in so many different ways from so many different sources! We’re told we not only need more, but we also need bigger. How often have we heard “Bigger is Better” regarding everything from automobiles to housing to the food on our plates? Our stomach may only be able to hold a serving the size of our fist but many restaurants present us with enough food to fill four stomachs!

I’m not suggesting that we all start living without comforts or pleasures, but through my own experiences, I’m suggesting that we all begin to re-think our consumerism, consider our eco-impact, and begin to look for more earth-friendly alternatives. I admit (again) that I and my family live in a home much larger than anything I ever imagined. Coming to Colorado from our California standards, we were mesmerized by what we could have here. We were enticed by the BIGness of homes in Colorado and how far our dollar could go–it was equivalent to going for the SUPERsize meal–doing it because we could. We love our home and try to utilize all the space within it. My office is in my home and our girls homeschool here. But admittedly, it is still more house than we truly need. It’s a lot to clean and keep up. Since living here, my husband and I have decided that when our girls are grown, we will down-size and allow another family to enjoy this spaciousness.

I have begun to be more conscious about what I buy, asking questions such as I’ve suggested above: Do I really need this? How many do I really need? Will I be able to use the larger size? In other words, even though the price per unit may be less, if I won’t really consume it all, aren’t I wasting money and resources? Will I be able to reuse this item or could I pass it on to someone else? How much waste will be created by this item?

I leave you with these questions today for your own contemplation. Tomorrow, look for more ideas on how to reduce your consumption…

Today, March 8, 2010, is the 100th International Women’s Day–it began in 1911.

All over the world today, events have taken place celebrating International Women’s Day and the role of women in bringing about positive change in the world. International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places, like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women’s Day is a national holiday. The first International Women’s Day was run in 1911. Next year is International Women’s Day’s Global Centenary 1911-2011.

The website www.internationalwomensday.com is filled with information about what has happened in the past as well as what is currently taking place. To learn the history of this special day, click here.

To commemorate the events which have transpired today, Reuters put together a slideshow of women from across the globe participating in events today. International Women’s Day Slideshow.

Be inspired by this slideshow and the IWD website and find ways to make everyday International Women’s Day. As a mother of two daughters, I care deeply that we all work “to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.”

Today’s message comes from my Daily OM message of the day. It seemed to be a perfect addition to my Magical Monday thoughts.

Here is the message in its entirety: “Though the universe as a whole is imbued with an undeniable aura of magic, we can further fill our lives with magic by creating a collection of magical things. More than being simply beautiful, such objects can potentially play an active role in the shaping of our experience as each magical object serves a unique and multifaceted purpose. Some inspire us to reflect while some have the power to positively influence our moods. Others take us back in time, capturing in their essence memories locked in history or helping us reaffirm our connection with the universe. Magical objects can be found almost anywhere and can be practically anything, from gifts of nature to manmade artifacts. You’ll know an object is truly magical when it touches you deeply, awakening some primal part of yourself that is more profoundly connected to the ethereal.

Everyone can benefit from surrounding themselves with magical objects. Our lives are made just a little more light and fun when having magical things in our presence. If you feel you don’t have anything magical in your life, ask the universe for help, and it will not be long before a meaningful artifact, a simple feather, a special stone, or another powerful item reveals itself to you and fills your life with enchantment.”

I have many items in my possession that I carry or display in my home, past and present. Many of these items represent support for different emotional, physical or spiritual needs. Some items are just wonderful representations of significant times in my life or in my family’s history. They are truly magic to me in that as soon as I bring them into my consciousness, they evoke certain memories or feelings. You may have such items in your possession. You may not consider them to be “magical,” but consider what they do for you. Do they take you back to a special time in your life or in the life of someone else you’re connected to? Do they instantly remind you of someone special? Do they bring up warm feelings of love, security or comfort? Do they remind you of your own strength and courage during trying times?

As I read this Daily OM message today, I was reminded of something I taught my youngest daughters that I learned while they were young. It comes from a book written by Thich Nhat Hanh for children in which he presents the basic teaching of the Buddha in a way children can understand. In his book, A Pebble for Your Pocket, he offers many practices that children can do alone or with others to help them transform feelings of anger and unhappiness and reconnect with nature and living in the present moment. Here is an excerpt from the practice which is the title of the book. “Sometimes when we become angry during the day, it is difficult to remember to stop and breathe. I know a good way for you to remember to stop and breathe when you are angry or upset. First go for a walk and find a pebble that you like… Now put your pebble in your pocket and take it with you wherever you go. When something happens during the day that makes you unhappy, put your hand in your pocket, take hold of the pebble, breathe deeply, and say to yourself, ‘Breathing in, I know I am angry. Breathing out, I am taking good care of my anger.’ Do this until you feel a lot better and can smile to your anger.”

As an adult, this practice has helped me let go of many uncomfortable feelings and situations in order to enjoy the wonder of the present moment. What helps you experience the enchantment of now?

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” -Richard Bach.

Many of us work at self-improvement and personal growth throughout our lives in order to become better human beings. The work may be physical, mental and/or spiritual. The art of “becoming” truly is a lifelong process. During the course of our lifetime, it requires an ebb and flow between deep inner and outer work and the pauses which allow us time to acknowledge how far we’ve come. The transformational process is really a beautiful dance that requires moments of simply being and appreciating along with periods of going within–sometimes digging really deep.

Long ago–and maybe not so long ago–people believed that true transformation–especially of the spiritual nature–could only be accomplished by prophets, saints, sages, and shamans. Today, more than ever before, we know that if we are willing to do the work required, we too can experience spiritual transformation. The beauty of the transformational process is that as we are transformed, the transformational process can be ignited all around us. Throughout our lives, not only are we changing but our change ripples out into the world and brings change (or the opportunity for change) to those around us.

What usually begins such a process? According to James Redfield, author of The Celestine Prophecy, it begins with restlessness. We’re no longer satisfied with the ways things are–the way WE are. This discontent we feel cannot be satisfied through our current circumstances or our ways of relating to the world. Like the caterpillar, which at some prescribed moment feels the urge to begin the process that results in its metamorphosis, we find that we can no longer ignore the yearnings for change. So this restlessness converts into a quest and, like the caterpillar, we go within. Through self-inquiry, books, work with spiritual masters or discussion with friends we are often led to a revelation which can then lead us to true transformation. Transformation is the slow, steady infusion of the vision into a reality. Transformation is moving from seeing anew to being anew. As with the butterfly which emerges from the cocoon, we emerge from the process changed. We are no longer who we were when we started the process.

The delicate butterfly emerging from the pupa shroud that claimed its former self is a beautiful symbol of our transformation. The new person we are in no way looks like our former self. The butterfly’s journey–as well as ours–represents and reflects the evolutionary process and a new life–unimaginable to the old. It also portrays the true self–which was there all along–bursting out in full glory at the appointed time.

“The inner self of every human waits patiently until we are ready to discover it; then it extends an invitation to enter the luminous mystery of existence in which all things are created, nurtured, and renewed. In the presence of this mystery, we not only heal ourselves, we heal the world.” Deepak Chopra

On this date, December 7, 2009–the first day of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference–may our transformations lead to the transformation and healing of our world and our earth.

Here in Colorado, the snowfall started Saturday night and continued throughout most of the day yesterday. What I love most about living here is what happens after the snow falls. This morning I awoke to a glorious sunrise, clear blue skies and a glistening blanket of white all around our home.

As a child, I used to love those holiday cards I received with snow made from glitter. I loved moving the card so that the snow sparkled even more. It was magical to me. After moving to Colorado and our first snowfall, I awoke to a day like today, came to our sliding glass door and took a deep in-breath. I was looking at a replication of my childhood holiday cards! I exclaimed to my children, “Now I know why they put glitter on the cards!” What a moment that was for me–I was back in childhood with that childhood awe and wonder at the magic of Mother Nature!

As I look out on the white landscape today, I’m smiling. My yard reminds of a magical time–of magic! It’s beautiful looking out at this blanket of glittering white with big white puffs of cotton in the pine trees. The view makes me joyful. And it reminds me of what my girls taught me when they were small. Each time we’d go out in nature, it was as if they were experiencing it for the first time. Every starlit night and every moon–no matter the size–that we walked under was an “ooh and aah” moment. Every time we went to the beach and chased flocks of birds or watched the waves roll in and out, they giggled and laughed. Each walk in a meadow or along a creek or even time spent with our flowers and vegetable garden in our backyard was an experience of glee. Looking at a newly open flower or picking one, gathering fruit and veggies from our garden were all moments of pure joy and bliss. They showed me the beauty and simplicity and how little was required to be fully entertained and totally delighted.

My girls helped me reconnect to that childhood wonder and delight and to the simple pleasures of life. As we watched a butterfly flutter in our yard or a caterpillar making its way across the footpath, they would squeal with delight–and of course, try to catch the object of their excitement. They would become totally immersed in the moment. And like the object of beauty they were focused on, they became transformed and glowed in that moment.

Life is no less magical than when we were young or when our children were small. Those same magical events still occur–stars and snow still glisten, butterflies emerge from their cocoons in all their brilliant splendor, fruit and vegetables still bud, bloom and ripen to feed us. Somehow though through all our busyness and focus on what we believe is really important, we can lose sight as adults of all these miracles which surround us. We begin to take it all for granted or simply not notice anymore. A yard full of autumn leaves represents the impending raking that must be done, glistening snow represents a driveway to plow or shovel, and a garden ripening represents harvest time. We skip to the thought of the task rather than pausing to appreciate the magic and miracle of the moment.

So, for today, look around with the childlike sense of wonder that was your birthright. Wherever you are in the world today, see Mother Nature’s beauty and splendor. For today, I choose to go outside and appreciate the glistening snow with childlike awe–what’s really there in that snow are millions and millions of tiny diamonds sparkling up at me!