Today is Earth Day!
That’s why today’s heart-centered practice is BE: Good.
Now let’s face it. Good is not a sexy word. Good is often thought of as vanilla in a world of far more exciting flavors. Billy Joel told my generation that only the good die young — implying that being bad is not only more fun but guarantees longevity. And we believed him.
Yet, at the end of a life, one of the highest compliments we can say of another person is this: He was a good man. She lived a good life. At the end of the day good becomes the highest praise.
Today is Earth Day: A day that we are asked to put our planet before ourselves.
And so today I ask you: What will this beautiful planet say of YOU at the end of your life? Will our Mother Earth think you’ve been good to her? Will your children or grandchildren or nieces or nephews thank you for your good stewardship of our planet?
Yesterday my best friend asked me how I am going to take everything I am learning during this time of social distancing about living Love out into the world.
Today on Earth Day I have one answer: I’m going to put the Earth first for a change. I am going to do right, be good and live Love toward the birds and mountains and oceans and dolphins and flowers and lakes and skies I love so much.
As often as I can, I am going to buy local, lower my carbon footprint, support sustainable resourcing, reduce single-use plastic, pick up trash, use biodegradable, compostable, organic products.
I am going to be good to this beautiful planet that has been so good to me.
Good is not some grandiose religious achievement. Good is actually being what the world is to us every single day. It is loving our most important neighbor actually more than we love ourselves.
Good is not perfect. Good is not sainthood. Good is being kind, considerate, loving, compassion, empathetic, thoughtful, uplifting, hopeful. Good is doing something for someone else instead of only thinking of ourselves. Good is recognizing that our actions always affect others. Good is basic not lofty.
And our planet needs us to keep being as good to it in a few months as we are being to it now.
So today’s heart-centered practice is simple. Be good out there.
Let’s love our world whole.
If you want to listen to today’s heart-centered practice, here you go: