Intro to Lives Well Occupied: Lessons from near and far

One word I learned recently, is an Ojibwe word for hello, Aaniin. This translates to I see your light. In this part of the blog you will have the chance to do just that, to see the light in others.  

When looking for examples of lives well occupied, a key indicator is seeing their light. People glow differently when their light shines, and when they trust in who they are. There may be people right next to you who are examples of this or they may live across an ocean. People do not have to be perfect or always lit up in the same way but paying attention, and creating the conditions for someone to be willing to show their light can often be sensed-- whether by sight, an inner knowing, the sound of their voice, or other ways. When we treat the light of ourselves and others as a vital sign, it can guide us in making the best choice for the moment.

And you also might notice what it feels like to create a space where someone is willing to share their light with you. We are on a mission to turn the lights on-- to notice the light of others, notice the conditions which make lights shine brightly or dim, to create spaces that make being oneself safe and welcomed so they can flourish. 

We will feature examples of many ways humans are doing this so we may learn what we can do and not do so we can truly honor the light in each of us-- in our words and actions. As you learned in the What to Expect section, the lives of plants and animals also serve as great teachers so you may find us looking to them as role models from time to time.