Times, they have changed!

The time comes again when politicians run amuck across the country asking for your vote to secure their presidency. Blah! Lame! I can honestly say that I do not like election years BUT now that I am getting older I am starting to understand the importance of casting MY vote.

In previous years, I have always voted for who my brother voted for. Ah, yes it is a form of throwing away my vote but I felt that my brother was a little more educated in this arena…or circus, I should say! It was not until my daughter was born that I started realizing the damage and corruption that is wrapped around politics, our country and the world. What happened?

Seven years later we are seeing groups like Occupy and the Tea Party surface. Both sound like a good idea as I do agree with part of their mission to reform and take back our country ;) however, somewhere both groups went wrong; I cannot pin point whether it was the judgment or the hatred that arose amongst them; but either way I have a hard time residing with an organization that gets things done using either tactic. Now, things seem so fragile. Are we headed in the same direction as Libya and all the other revolting countries or countries in war? Are we headed to socialism? Where exactly are we headed?

Only the Universe has the answers to those sorts of questions. For now all we can do is use passion, liberty and our natural freedoms to guide our way...hopefully in a peaceful direction. Hopefully, in the direction of love and light. We can find resolve in peace and understanding. You have to just look at the big picture with an objective eye. In the perspective of the Universe, Earth is a small component. A small component with big problems. Human created problems. Now, think about this, what is important in the eyes of the Universe? Politics, I think not.

Peace and Love!

~Sarah

Cyber Detox: An eye opening experience

This last weekend I took a Cyber Detox. I heard about the concept on the news and thought that is would be worth trying since I had spent a lot of time on the internet lately. I was also a little concerned after hearing on the news that people are starting to get addicted to it. Could I be one of them? We live in a society that revolves around technology. The number of people in North America who use the internet has increased by 152.6 % since the year 2000. What are the outcomes? Well, like all things, time will reveal all the positive and negative outcomes but one thing is for sure, people are addicted to the internet and have their lives completely wrapped up in it. Banking, weight loss, hobbies, parenting, social media, you name it, there is an App for it! Just like any addiction, it will have an effect on your life.

 

I did not expect any results other than having more time to spend with family and to do a few things around the house. I knew that I would not miss Facebook or email – it was only going to be for two days. I also knew that I would be able to get back on line Monday just as usual. Time spent was watching Scooby Doo with my daughter, finishing a few projects, shopping with daughter, took the dog for a walk with daughter and just hung around the house with family. It was a wonderful weekend and the energy in the house seemed mellow. Just as I thought it would be.

The component of the cyber detox which surprised me was how often I found myself saying, “Oh, I will look it up on line.” What was it I felt I needed online? Our bank account balance, a recipe, the weather, parenting advice, health advice, and I had the urge to search Norse Mythology. I should also mention the numerous times I wanted to check in to Facebook. The realization on how connected my life is to the internet was, and still is, overwhelming. While I am probably the least connected person, as I only own a PC for internet use, I am just as connected as the person who sleeps with their iPhone. Perhaps more so because I also use the internet for work.

A friend of mine will sit and argue with me until no end about how Facebook is allowing Mom’s to “check out” which is creating a generation of kids (and families) who are completely disconnected. Pun intended! I never saw what she was saying because I am so connected to it myself. I see the good in it; and am aware of the bad. Now, I have experienced the bad in it. I can see what my friend is saying about how technology is shaping our lives, our kids and our future. 

This makes me want to preserve what life was like before internet. What was life like before the internet? I was forced to pick up books to find the information that I was looking for. I was prompted to turn to my family for communication. I made myself wait for the weather until the 5 o’clock news came on and I survived without Facebook. I got a few small projects done and the house was clean ALL WEEKEND! My life was no way affected negatively by not being online; in fact, more positive came from it than anything. 

Fact is most of us are way to connected to the internet and not connected enough with the things that really matter in life like family, our health, Mother Earth, our spirituality, our neighbors, our friends. Sad. It really is.

It is as strange to me to deliver these findings to you online as it may be for you to receive them. Truth is the only way to capture anyone’s attention is through the various sources of media that we have available to us. What do you do? It is the age that we live in now, we have to adapt. Overall, being on line is just like every other thing in this world besides air, it is best in moderation. Anyway, this is definitely food for thought.

Onward & Upward!

~Sarah

Taken by me, Sarah Herbert 

Spring of 2002

Blog Sources:

http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm

http://addiction.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Causes_of_Internet_Addiction

Creative Corner: Jaicee Almond Photography

I am a sucker for photography. I am. No joke. I just love it. I love taking pictures. I love looking at others pictures. I just love pictures. They capture life in any given moment. An image is an individualistic perception of time, captured in a single second.

I was browsing around Facebook one night and I came across JKA Photography and immediately became drawn to this person’s ability. I looked in this page more and found that the photographer behind these amazing images was a senior in high school! NO WAY! WAY!

I was taken back by this girl’s professionalism, creativity and talent. In awe, actually. When I contacted the young woman behind JKA Photography, Jaicee Almond, I was not sure what to expect. You know how high school kids can be. I was pleasantly surprised again with her response, she is smart and respectful. I was really excited to feature her on my website under the Creative Corner section but I had a serious problem; I could not pick just one image of Jaicee’s to feature. The chick is talented! 

Since then, Jaicee has begun college and her journey as a photographer. Her images have remained as amazing as ever and you can see her grow through them. I like that and that is why I have chosen her again to be featured under the Creative Corner section on my site. I hope that you enjoy her images as much as I do. Jaicee, may you never get bored of your talent and may you always bless this world with your images. 

http://jaiceealmondphotography.tumblr.com/

Something to think about...

When I am 50, it will be my generation who will be running the government. When I am 70 it will be my daughter’s generation who will be making the decisions. Does that scare me? No, and for only one reason; the kids that I have come into contact with who are aged 1-25 are passionate, loving and smart individuals. They possess a certain quality that I think we have not seen until recently. It is a quality that is derived from an unseen knowledge that combined with passion will change the world. Mix technology in there and what we have, ladies and gentlemen, is a power that will take the relationship between individualism and community to a whole new level.

What I am seeing from this age group is the overwhelming sense that it is OK to be yourself and it is OK to pursue your passions even if they are risky. We are living is a world where success is driven by passion and these kids are rolling with it! Children these days have to deal with a lot. Higher school standards, bullying, home issues, health issues…you name it, our young ones are dealing with it. Aren’t they dealing with it well?

Jonah Mowry, is a good example of this. When I saw his video I was saddened at the bullying this child had endured and the pain that he had inflicted on himself; but I was absolutely inspired by his ability to take the situation and use it to heal himself and to heal others. He was passionate about the issue of bullying, he used an unseen knowledge paired with technology, took the risk and he played a part in changing this world. Now just imagine what he will be doing when we are 70? I can’t wait to find out!

For those of you who have not seen Jonah Mowry’s video, here it is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdkNn3Ei-Lg&feature=youtu.be

Business Worth the Buzz: Nevada County Makes--What is it that attracts so many creative people to the Sierra Nevada?

There is a book titled, Sierra Songs and Descants, Poetry and Pose of the Sierra, which was edited by Gail Rudd Entrekin and Kathryn Napier Stull. It is a collection of poetry and short stories that were inspired by the Sierra Mountains. When I read the Foreward by Sands Hall, it hit me; I live in one of the most creative, abundant and exceptional places in the world. Sands Hall shares a tea time story which was experienced with a new friend she had acquired upon moving to Nevada County. Her company asked if she knew why so many artists and healers were “attracted to this area”. It was explained to her (and did not take her much time to see) that, “Gold attracts those searching for wealth. It’s an element with magical properties. It’s monetary pull is merely one aspect of its mystical qualities.” It does make sense. Gold is known to also be associated with perfection and balance. Doesn’t every creative person seek both of those things to some extent? 

Those of us who reside in the Sierra Nevada Foothills are quiet an imaginative bunch. Some of us pursue our talent as a career and some of us leave it as a hobby. Either way, the spectrum of talent is broad and ranges from music to art to dance to theatre to design to healing to all the above and more. Generally, people in this area are passionate and are not afraid to express self. We are all different in our own little way and that is how we prefer it. You can see the imagination of which our community radiates at any of our local street fairs.  There is no shortage of performers or vendors distributing their handmade bags, soaps, clothes, accessories, jewelry, spoons, walking sticks, yard art, home décor, fine arts, foods, wines and other creative expressions. You can see it hung and taste it in each winery tasting room, coffee house and most restaurants throughout Nevada County. You can hear it pouring out of local bars and restaurants any given Friday or Saturday night. It is everywhere and at times overwhelming. 

That is what inspires me to share my local finds with you. This Business Worth the Buzz is  Nevada County Makes (NCM). NCM is an online store that has embraced our creative community and provided us with a platform to sell our goods. Jerri Glover, founder of NCM states that, “We are surrounded by creativity in Nevada County. It is one of many things we love about living here. We wanted to provide people access to these amazingly talented people 24/7, year-round. That is why Bill and I created Nevada County Makes.” Thank goodness they did because now we have one place to find hundreds of local handmade goods; clothes, lamps, walking sticks, jewelry, metalwork, pottery, woodwork, paper craft, bags, toys, wellness items, etc. If you are looking for it, you are probably going to find it here. If it is handmade and you need to sell it, you can probably sell it here. Did anyone see their booth at Cornish Christmas this year? I think we are going to start seeing a lot more of Nevada County Makes around, let’s hope anyway! For more information on NCM, please visit www.nevadacountymakes.com.

Resources:

Rudd Entrekin, Gail and Napier Stull, Kathryn. Sierra Songs and Descants, Poetry and Prose of the Sierra. Nevada City: Hip Pocket Press, 2002.

For more information on this book please visit http://hippocketpress.com/sierrasongs.php.