April 2, Palm Sunday-
1. Palm Sunday Prayer: Spirit of Love, give me the courage to challenge those systems that oppress your people and this earth, with peace and a compassion that creates openings for transformation and change.
2. Resilience practice: This Lent I'm reading daily from the book, "101 Mindful Ways to Build Resilience," by Donald Altman, which offers simple ideas for being more rooted in my body and mind. I'm into section three, on Optimism.
Practice #55 is Let Go of Grasping, as when you fixate on one particular outcome. Instead, what if you opened to other possibilities, and just preferred one outcome over another?
- Identify one thing you are grasping too tightly. (For me, it's usually how a family event or interaction will go.)
- Clench your hands into tight fists, and pretend you are holding onto that outcome. Hold it for a while, and notice the tension and discomfort.
- Take a deep breath and, as you exhale, release your fists. Shake your hands, and let them grow flexible - imagine yourself releasing the need to grasp a particular outcome, and opening to new possibilities and preferences.
- Spend a moment appreciating all that is now in your life, as it is.
3. Plastic fast: Researchers say that more microplastics are getting into farm soil than oceans; and it's showing up in our fruits, veggies, and bodies. Microplastics arrive on farms through processed sewage sludge used for fertilizer, plastic mulches, plastic covering greenhouses, and are even intentionally added as slow-release fertilizers and protective seed coatings. Solutions to plastic abuse by agribusiness include supporting small organic farmers, and growing our own vegetables in a sustainable way.
First and foremost, reduce your purchase of flimsy plastic seedling pots and six-packs. Plastic pots are the popular commercial plant containers because they are cheap to make; reduce the number of new plastic pots you buy by reusing the pots you already have to plant seeds yourself. Or buy used pots from BRING recycling; or use peat pots, or compostable pots made of cow dung for your starts. (The cow dung pots should be used in an outdoor greenhouse or cold frame only.) Or use containers you have around the house, such as toilet paper tubes, or even small paper bag. (Some plant nurseries also accept old plastic pots for reusing and recycling.)
Another option is to ask friends and neighbors to divide plants to propagate in your own yard. Or try growing plants from cuttings! Many herbs and some veggies can be rooted in a jar of water.
April 3-
1. Resilience practice: I'm reading section three, on Optimism. Practice #56 is Appreciate the Glass: Rather than viewing the glass of your life as half full or empty, simply learn to appreciate your life as it is.
- Identify a situation in your life that you are having trouble accepting.
- Use mental super powers to flip the situation, and transform it into appreciation, perhaps see it as a gift, or a learning experience.
- Accept that we all have a different "glass" to deal with. List the skills and strengths you can use to move forward.
2. Plastic fast: Seek alternatives to plastic bags full of compost and amendments. You can find many organic amendments in cardboard boxes. Or go to a place that sells bulk soil and amendments - you don't have to buy a truck load; most places will sell by the bucket. You can also “make” mulch and soil yourself, with compost, leaves, shredded paper, and cardboard, or make a hugelkultur bed - allow brush and branches to compost in place for a super fertile, moisture-retaining garden bed. You can also make your own potting soil mix to avoid plastic bags of the stuff. (This article has a thorough discussion of how to make your own potting mix, as well as other seed-starting advise.)
April 4-
1. Resilience practice: I'm reading section three, on Optimism. Practice #57 is Build Trust with Mutuality. Trust is gained and earned through each interaction, and one way to build a trusting relationship is a mutual willingness to listen and show interest and respect. Since we can't control the mutual part, the best gift is to offer your own attention. And this will help you feel optimistic about your relationship.
- Give the other person your full and undivided attention. Let go of your own agenda, and listen, free of judgement.
- Use open body language, with arms uncrossed and appropriate eye contact.
- Be curious. Don't interrupt, but ask clarifying questions to learn more.
- Be empathetic. Imagine yourself in the other person's shoes, feeling the other's experience. Show you care.
2. Plastic fast: DIY pest control: Instead of spending a small fortune on plastic bottles of pest repellents, make your own at home. Also think about using companion planting and introducing beneficial insects.
April 5, Full Moon and Passover-
1. Resilience practice: I'm reading section three, on Optimism. Practice #58 is Find Your Optimism Words, how to train yourself to use positive vocabulary for both inner and external talk, in order to add to how resilient you feel.
- Make a list of your own positive words and phrases to use. (My favorite are: "That's awesome; it's absolutely doable; and, What an exciting day!")
- Count each time you use a positive word or phrase, and notice how it makes you feel.
- Whenever you use a negative word or have a negative thought, replace it with a positive word or thought immediately.
3. Plastic fast: Reduce microplastics in your soil: Plastic sheets used to suppress weeds, warm the soil, and retain moisture, are challenging to recycle and costly to dispose of, so they are often left to break down in the soil. Some biodegradable and widely available alternatives to landscape fabric and plastic sheets for mulching are sheets of cardboard, pieces of burlap, or old newspapers.
April 6, Maundy Thursday-
1. Resilience practice: I'm reading section three, on Optimism. Practice #59 is Wisdom of Perhaps, which acknowledges that nothing is good or bad luck. When you are faced with a negative situation or a loss, do you predict the worst, or can you open to the possibility of "perhaps" (i.e, be neutral, balanced, and non-reactive)?
- Think about times when bad things have led to good outcomes that you couldn't have anticipated.
- Next time you have something bad happen (lose something, get rejected, illness, etc.), let go of your bias and assumptions about the future, and embrace the neutral attitude of "perhaps".
2. Show Love: Maundy is an English word that comes from the Latin mandatum, referring to the new commandment that Jesus made on that night:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another.” (John 13:34).
April 7, Good Friday-
1. Resilience practice: I'm reading section three, on Optimism. Practice #60 is Be a Benefactor.
1. Resilience practice: I'm reading section three, on Optimism. Practice #60 is Be a Benefactor.
2. Plastic fast: Remember Peace and Equality: Plastics are not a strictly environmental issue; they also have significant impacts on human rights. The oil and gas used to produce plastics contribute to the climate crisis, and microplastics threaten communities’ food security, drinking water, and health. And also remember: The US military spends$81 billion a year defending global oil supplies.
Queries: Do we live in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all war? In what ways do we take part in war indirectly? What will the impact of our current choices be on the lives of people in marginalized communities, and on future generations?
April 8, Great Saturday
1. Resilience practice: I'm reading section three, on Optimism. Practice #61 is Take a Mental Vacation.2. Plastic fast: Celebrate! Look back at what you have accomplished. Celebrate the changes you’ve made, and resolve to become even more intentional in your purchases. Manufacturers and retailers are increasingly responsive to our demand for new plastic-free options. Consequently, some of our plastics issues may be easier to resolve six months from now.
April 9- Easter
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