Utopia - Creating Heaven On Earth

01/01/2025

Happy New Year!

While you’re thinking about the year ahead, let’s talk about mindset.

If your mindset doesn’t change, you won’t have a New Year.
You’ll just have another year.
Nothing changes until WE change.

Make 2025 your year to shine!

30/12/2024

The real spirit of Christmas (author unknown):

I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit Grandma on the day my brother dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," he jeered. "Even dummies know that!"

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted, "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kirby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kirby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.

For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.

I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."

The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it.

Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. “All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.

Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were -- ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team.

I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.

May you always have LOVE to share,

HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care...

And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Claus!

I did not write this and wish I knew who did. Whoever you are, thank you!

Author: unknown

Artist: unknown

29/12/2024

Every cell in your body is a microcosm of the universe.

25/06/2024

“You are comprised of 84 minerals, 23 Elements, and 8 gallons of water spread across 38 trillion cells.

You have been built up from nothing but the spare parts of the Earth you have consumed according to a set of instructions hidden in a double helix, and small enough to be carried by a s***m. You are recycled butterflies, plants, rocks, streams, firewood, wolf fur, and shark teeth, broken down to their smallest parts and rebuilt into our planet’s most complex living thing.

You are not living on Earth. You are Earth."

Words by Aubrey Marcus

31/05/2024

ADVICE FROM ELDERLY PEOPLE

1 The most important person in your life is the person who agreed to share their life with you. Treat them as such.

2 You might live a long life, or you might live a short one — who knows. But either way, trust me when I say that you’re going to wish you took better care of yourself in your youth.

3 Stuff is just stuff. Don’t hold onto material objects, hold onto time and experiences instead.

4 Jealousy destroys relationships. Trust your significant other, because who else are you supposed to trust?

5 People always say, “Make sure you get a job doing what you love!” But that isn’t the best advice. The right job is the job you love some days, can tolerate most days, and still pays the bills. Almost nobody has a job they love every day.

6 If you’re getting overwhelmed by life, just return to the immediate present moment and savour all that is beautiful and comforting. Take a deep breath, relax.

7 Years go by in the blink of an eye. Don’t marry young. Live your life. Go places. Do things. If you have the means or not. Pack a bag and go wherever you can afford to go. While you have no dependents, don’t buy stuff. Any stuff. See the world. Look through travel magazines and pick a spot. GO!

8 Don’t take life so seriously. Even if things seem dark and hopeless, try to laugh at how ridiculous life is.

9 A true friend will come running if you call them at 2am. Everyone else is just an acquaintance.

10 Children grow up way too fast. Make the most of the time you have with them.

11 Nobody ever dies wishing they had worked more. Work hard, but don’t prioritize work over family, friends, or even yourself.

12 Eat and exercise like you’re a diabetic heart patient with a stroke — so you never actually become one.

13. Maybe this one isn’t as profound as the others, but I think it’s important… Floss regularly, dental problems are awful.

14. Don’t take anyone else’s advice as gospel. You can ask for advice from someone you respect, then take your situation into consideration and make your own decision. Essentially, take your own advice is my advice…

15. The joints you damage today will get their revenge later. Even if you think they’ve recovered completely. TRUST ME!

16. We have one time on this earth. Don’t wake up and realize that you are 60 years old and haven’t done the things you dreamed about.

17. Appreciate the small things and to be present in the moment. What do I mean? Well, it seems today like younger people are all about immediate gratification. Instead, why not appreciate every small moment? We don’t get to stay on this crazy/wonderful planet forever and the greatest pleasure can be found in the most mundane of activities. Instead of sending a text, pick up the phone and call someone. Call your mother, have a conversation about nothing in particular. Those are the moments to hold onto.

18. Pay your bills and stay the hell out of debt. If I could have paid myself all the money I’ve paid out in interest over the years, I’d be retired already.

19. If you have a dream of being or doing something that seems impossible, try for it anyway. It will only become more impossible as you age and become responsible for other people.

20. When you meet someone for the first time, stop and realize that you really know nothing about them. You see race, gender, age, clothes. Forget it all. You know nothing. Those biased assumptions that pop into your head because of the way your brain likes categories, are limiting your life, and other people’s lives.

31/05/2024

The essence of humanity lies in our ability to love, listen and care for each other…

02/03/2024

An ode to pigeons and ibis

“A lot of you despise me,
And I don't understand why.
I am not ugly or deserving of your hate.
I survive every day on the streets,
That used to be meadows.
There are no tasty seeds,
Because you turned trees into buildings.
I eat what you throw on the ground,
Because I have no choice.
Water is harder and harder to find.
Do you know what it takes to survive in a world that is not mine anymore?
Please don't scare me or hurt me,
Just let me live -
Live in your world that was once mine.."

11/01/2024

15/04/2023

Easter was the last holiday I had with my Mom before she passed... she died about 10 days later.

My brain struggles to recall the date itself, but I feel it coming. It's been 10 years, but the pain of that loss is still there. And that's okay. That's grief. It works in its own way, in its own time.

Love you, mom. You're still my favourite mom. 😉❤ ( That's something I joked about with her often, and to which she would always reply, "I'm your only mom, you silly nut.")

***

I remember the day you died
You closed your eyes
after looking at me one last time
& went to sleep

Your breaths
long, soft, and slow

I held your hand
and looked at you
My person.
My perfect person.
Taking your final breaths
& me...
trying, helplessly, haplessly
to say goodbye
and thank you

And then it happened

There we stood
Hand in hand
at the edge of a great abyss
You were afraid to take that step
& I was afraid to let you go
to be alone in the world without you

But it had to be

I said, "I'll be okay"
Because I would
It was you, after all, who prepared me

Then, as always, you were brave

You took that step

And I knew
because of you
one day
I could be that brave, too

©Tara Shannon

I don't really discuss this much, except with one person, but the day my mom passed, I recall being in two places at once... the hospital room, and an airy space or ocean like place with my mom, holding hands. It was surreal, and I've not really been able to write about it much.

***

Image Text:

I have felt no greater pain
than the moment when your
heart ❤

stopped beating.

And mine
carried on...

©Tara Shannon

25/05/2021

20 Quotes and Notes We Need to Read 20 Times a Day Until They Sink In

by MARC CHERNOFF

Happiness doesn’t start with a relationship, a vacation, a job… or an election. It starts with your thinking and what you tell yourself today. Remind yourself of this truth. And remind yourself that the absolute best lessons we learn in life are the lessons we learn over and over again. The human mind needs lots of proactive reminders—lots of practice—to operate effectively through thick and thin. For example, deep down we know it’s OK to…

Say “no”
Speak up
Tell the truth
Believe differently
Change our mind
Prioritize our needs
Learn from our mistakes
Embrace our imperfections
Forgive and seek forgiveness
Begin again, stronger than before
Yet, we often seek the exact opposite when life gets stressful and we’re under pressure.

We do the wrong things even when we know better.

Because the human mind has weaknesses. It becomes forgetful and insensible when it’s stressed. And the only way to conquer these weaknesses is to practice conquering them.

Now is the time to practice!

Are you ready?

The bottom line is that life will get better when you get better on the inside. Take this to heart. Start investing in yourself mentally and emotionally. Make it a priority to learn and grow a little bit every day by building positive rituals and sticking to them. The stronger you grow and become, the better your life will feel in the long run.

The best ritual for beginning this process?

Daily Quotes and Notes

It’s all about keeping the right thoughts at the top of your mind every day, so they’re readily available on those inevitable days (like today) when you need them most. For Angel and me, that means pausing frequently and reflecting on precisely what we need to remember. We write ourselves little quotes and notes like the ones below (all of which are now excerpts from our books) and then we place them where we can easily see and reference them throughout the day (mine are taped on the wall directly in front of my desk). These bite-sized bits of wisdom keep us on track by keeping our minds centered and empowered with positive, proactive trains of thought.

So, my challenge to YOU is to start practicing alongside us today.

To get started, steal our quotes and notes below—perhaps just the ones that resonate most—and place them somewhere you can see them. Then, whenever you catch yourself feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, or confused about the next best step, pause for a minute and quietly read them to yourself. See how doing so gradually changes the way you think through life’s present twists and turns and potholes…

1. You can’t control how other people behave. You can’t control everything that happens. What you can control is how you respond to it all. In your response is your power.

2. The biggest and most complex obstacle you will ever have to overcome is your own mind. Let that sink in. You aren’t responsible for everything that happens to you in life, but you are responsible for undoing the self-defeating thinking patterns these undesirable outcomes create.

3. The goal is to change your response to what you can’t control. To grow so strong on the inside that nothing on the outside can affect your inner wellness without your conscious permission.

4. The older you grow, the more quiet and focused you become. Life humbles and enlightens you gradually as you age. You realize just how much nonsense you’ve wasted time on. And you realize just how precious today truly is.

5. Train your mind to see what’s right. Positivity is a choice. The peace and happiness of your life heavily depends on the quality of your thoughts today.

6. Your struggles are helping you grow in ways you can’t imagine. It might be hard to see right now, but one day you’ll look back and realize things had to happen the way they did to get you to where you are. Trust that today’s challenges will be responsible for your future growth.

7. Peace does not mean to be in a space where there is no chaos, trouble, or hard realities to deal with. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still remain mentally, emotionally and physically centered.

8. If you wait until you feel 100% ready, you will be waiting the rest of your life. Realize this! Some people wait all day for 5pm, all week for Friday, all year for the holidays… all their lives for happiness. Don’t be one of them.

9. Be patient today, but don’t just sit there. Patience in life is not about waiting—it’s the ability to keep a good attitude while working hard for what you believe in.

10. Start replacing the phrase “I have to” with “I get to” whenever you catch yourself complaining. So many activities we complain about are things others wish they had the chance to do. Not everyone has the same resources and options right now.

11. As you struggle forward in the days and weeks ahead, remind yourself, it is far better to be exhausted from lots of effort, learning and growth, than it is to be tired of doing absolutely nothing.

12. Our character is most evident at our highs and lows. Be humble at the mountaintops, strong in the valleys, and faithful in between. And on particularly hard days when you feel you can’t endure, remind yourself that your track record for getting through hard days has been 100% so far.

13. Ten years from now it won’t really matter what shoes you wore today, how your hair looked, or what brand of clothes you wore. What will matter is how you lived, how hard you loved, and what you learned along the way.

14. If you have the power to make someone happy today, do it. The world desperately needs more of that right now.

15. Build friendships with people who aren’t your age. Spend time around those whose first language isn’t English. Get to know someone who doesn’t come from the same social class. Listen. Be humble and teachable. This is how you learn and grow. This is how you see the world.

16. You’ll always be too much for someone—too sensitive, too big, too loud… too edgy. And if you round out your edges to make them happy, you’ll lose your edge. Take this to heart! Apologize for your mistakes—for being human. But don’t apologize for being who you are.

17. You will never find your whole worth in another human being—you find it in yourself, and then you will attract those from all backgrounds who are worthy of your energy. Realize this. Accept and acknowledge your own worth. Stop waiting for others to tell you how important you are. Tell yourself. And believe it.

18. Dozens of times throughout your life, you’ll outgrow what you thought you couldn’t live without, and fall in love with what you didn’t even know you wanted. Life will lead you on hard yet necessary paths you’d never travel by choice.

19. Don’t be afraid. Have faith. Trust the journey.
It’s not too late. You aren’t behind. You’re exactly where you need to be. Every step is necessary. Don’t judge or berate yourself for how long your journey is taking. We all need our own time to travel our own distance.

20. Appreciate your progress today. You’ve been through a lot, but you’ve grown a lot too. Give yourself credit for your resilience, and how far you’ve come.

Use Visual Reminders, Too

Written quotes and notes like the ones above are powerful, but they merely scratch the surface of possibilities for daily self-reflection. For instance, I have my laptop’s desktop background set to a photo of my family, both because I love looking at them and because, when life and work get really tough, these photos remind me of the people I am ultimately working and living for. It’s so simple, but it helps.

I also know dozens of other people who successfully use similar visual reminders on a daily basis. A course student of ourswho has paid off nearly $100K of debt in the past five years has a copy of his credit card balance taped to his computer monitor at home; it serves as a constant reminder of the debt he still wants to pay off. Another student keeps a photo of herself when she was 90 pounds heavier on her refrigerator as a reminder of the person she will never be again.

Think of moments when you are most likely to give in to impulses that keep you stuck and take you further away from your best intentions. Then use written quotes, notes, and visual reminders to interrupt those negative impulses and keep yourself on track.