From Our Neck of the Woods

Recently I ran across this quote by Albert Einstein which stopped me in my tracks. He said, “It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.”

I thought about what “putting back into the world what I take out of it” entails, and began to make a mental list of all I take out. The obvious were food, clothing, our home and car, the fuel to run our car and heat our house, and all of the supplies I use in my personal and business life. In taking stock, it quickly became clear that it requires an incredible amount of resources and services to keep my modern-day life running, along with the labor of an unknown number of people.

I take so much from the world, how can I put back the equivalent? I can’t plant a forest, start an organic farm, or replenish oil supplies. So, what can I do? I decided to spend some time truly analyzing what it means to me to put back into the world the equivalent of what I take out of it.

Over the following weeks, as Jungle, Phyllis and I took our daily walks around the land where Marty and I live, I asked the Creator the meaning of this, as well as the best way for me to give back to the world. I walked and thought, and began to feel that this obligation goes deeper than simply replenishing some small percentage of the goods I consume. What about the love and friendships that sustain me? What about the beauty of each day that fills my soul? What about the gifts I receive from people known and unknown? What about the gift of life itself?

Each day I depend on scores of people from around the world—people I will never meet—to invent, design, and make the goods, and provide the services that sustain my life. There are untold natural resources used in providing me with shelter, food, personal items, transportation, and supplies to produce this magazine. The list of products I consume is long.

After much deep thought, I have come to the conclusion that the only way I can put back into the world at least the equivalent of what I take out of it is to show my gratitude to Mother Earth and to the people who sustain my life. This brought up the question: how do I show my gratitude to people I will never meet and to the Earth?

For me, the answer is that I need to live in a loving state and to give thanks each day. Sharing with others is an important part of this equation and a means by which I can show my gratitude. I remember well a scene from when I was 22 years old. Someone I had just met provided me with help. When I asked what I could do in return, I was told, “Helen, the only way to repay this kindness is for you to help someone else.”

May the light of love fill your life during this holiday season and be with you throughout the coming year.

Love & namaste, Helen

P.S. I’d like to share a Mayan saying which I find impressive—“I am another one of yourself.”

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