On this day; Thursday the 12^th of May, in the year 2016 there is a lot going on all over the planet.

There are many eyes on the absurdity of the impending American Elections. It is a sad and severe symptom of mind numbing reality television; eagerly spoon feeding fear to the population here in the States. The American media and political system appears to be very ill indeed. It is hard for the rest of the world to watch.

I still think this might be one of the biggest trolls ever to take place in the modern world. Have you stopped to think what is happening around the globe while we’re distracted watching this train wreck play out? The mind boggles.

Meanwhile people and companies are opening their hearts and changing their policies to help people and pets that have been displaced in massive forest fires in the province of Alberta, where I was born.

And across the ocean in England a woman named Nicola Thorp had the guts to ask: “How exactly does the size of heel on my shoe affect my job performance?” and she was unceremoniously sent away. Her plight has gone absolutely viral, which pleases me immensely.

Today is also bike to work day here in the Bay area where I am currently. I think that’s pretty fabulous. Bikes are zero carbon and people who ride them are obviously, very sexy and cool.

There is plenty more going on, from the climate crisis, to medical and scientific breakthroughs. People are doing their thing and living their lives. Ups, downs and even in between things are happening all over the planet every single moment, even while we sleep.

And guess WHAT.

We are all inextricably linked in this life journey.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had life changing and uplifting conversations with new and old friends.

I have met strangers whose kindness, warmth, and hope for the future has fed my soul. They have touched my heart in a way I cannot find the words to accurately impart.

The thing that everyone agrees on is that there is Good here on this planet and in our lives. Good like friends, family, pets, nature, food, laughter, truth, hope, and Love.

And of course it is almost universally accepted that making mistakes and learning is an excellent thing, but making the same mistakes over and over is not so great.

I’ve heard stories of people living their passion, sometimes at the expense of financial security, but the joy and peace you see surrounding someone who has the courage to follow their dreams is pretty inspiring.

I’ve had a lot of strangers who say or do something that you totally needed to hear or see, and that small act can change the whole day, perhaps an entire life.

People live through amazing things, and are resilient. Then they find and teach people like me about priorities, hope, kindness and forgiveness in a way that only someone who has faced tragedy could ever do.

And one of my personal favourite good bits; is having a husband who knows everything about me, and Loves me anyway. Also friends I drive batty, but they take the good with the bad and real talk to you when you need to hear it.

I’ve also felt extremely blessed and happy seeing the kids online, and knowing that they are safe and healthy and all doing great in the care of my family and our dear friend Lou.

I’ve also really enjoyed letting go of things that are too heavy, and cherishing things that ought to be cherished with a bit extra vim and vigor these days.

It is also wonderful to be engaged in an intelligent conversation, and disagree with someone quite actively, and still honestly and openly respect their informed opinion. If we all agreed all the time, nothing would change. Basic ignorance, hate or fear mongering is not something I can tolerate or accept of course. I’ve overheard or witnessed some of that on this journey, and it has made me very sad.

On the other hand, I’ve noticed some incidents of people standing up for another human being when they need (and deserve) defending. That’s a fairly beautiful thing to witness when it happens. I think it is happening more and more as we get braver, smarter and kinder as individuals and collectively.

I am always tickled and uplifted when I get to hang out daily with other people wanting to work together to clean up our beautiful planet. What a true honour to know such wonderful and engaged people.

There’s a lot of good bits if you’re looking for them.

So here’s what I am trying to say:

You have such incredible power. You will do AMAZING things with that power, and the world WILL get better and better because of the decisions YOU make.

YOU ARE the good bits. Even your demons and your darkness make you a deeper, richer and hopefully more tolerant human. So Love enough to make good decisions, and your power will grow and grow.

Okay, you may be rolling your eyes at this point and thinking: “bold claims!” But I can back this up.

I have met thousands and thousands of people in my life. In my honest experience, there is good in almost every single one of them. EVEN those who I do not care for have their role to play in my journey and yours. Even mean people are not impervious to good, and if you kill them with kindness they can become the biggest advocates for tolerance.

You have the power to stand up for what you believe in. It is super scary sometimes, but you have every reason and right to decide what is good and just, and follow that path. And you absolutely have the power to choose Love and respect over fear, ignorance or hatred.

So, get out there and LOVE the stuffing out of your neighbour. Get out there and fight ignorance with truth, fight hatred with Love, fight fear with hope, and fight the urge to give up on yourself or this planet!

We are going to be absolutely fine. We really are.

 

 

I am currently sat around a table at a good friend’s house in Windsor London.

My friend owns a creative firm that specialises in animation videos, among other things.  Her and her team are huddled around her kitchen table while renovations are being completed at their offices across the road from Windsor castle.  I am here writing this blog and kicking off a new online community for women in Green Tech.

Christine is amazing.  I am so glad we are friends.

Our kids are around the same age, and our social, environmental, and general philosophies are very much aligned.  I remember being quite intimidated by her when we first met several years ago.  She’s beautiful inside and out, warm, clever, driven, calm, and optimistic.  Don’t even get me started on her husband and kids.  AMAZING people.  Just being in their home feels like a big warm hug with a hearty helping of giggles and gafaws.

She collected me from the Heathrow yesterday which was the first time someone has been there at the arrivals gate in the past few weeks.  SUCH a great feeling to have someone waiting for you with open arms.  I’ve been watching people come and collect friends and family at arrival halls all over Europe and Scandinavia.  Each time I land and there’s no-one there to meet me I bravely trudge on to find my next train or taxi and settle in to my new surroundings.  Having a local come and get me was an absolute treat.

The thing is, thanks to social media and my real life networks, I have friends and colleagues all over the world and in every city I visit.  Three times now, I have been messaged by people who just happened to be in the same far flung city as me for one reason or another.  Two friends were in Berlin at the same time on business, and another friend and EV/Green Tech enthusiast was in Amsterdam and heading back to Dubai the day before I was due to leave.  SMALL WORLD!

So I have been galavanting around the planet with my little 12kg suitcase, and my wonder woman backpack and leather hobo bag.  I watch parents herding their screaming children through security checkpoints and customs desks, and I heave a huge sigh of relief to be traveling so lightly and without our four kids.

I seriously thought I would miss them more than I do.  We FaceTime regularly and I talk to them on the phone a lot thanks to Vodafone’s roam like you are home product that gives me full access to my family and friends here in Europe and of course back home in New Zealand.

I’ve had a chance to really get to know friends and colleagues and meet new and amazing people in the EV and Green Tech sectors.  People are genuinely interested in what we are doing, and the passion and enthusiasm we share is perpetuating and very obviously contributes to a virtuous cycle of friendship and collaboration.

The thing about this trip, is that I have had plenty of time to myself, and you know what, I like being by myself.  I like watching people, I like not having to negotiate with the entire family what I’ll be doing for lunch.  I like putting my earphones in on the train and ignoring the world around me aside from staring out the window and watching the world zip by.  I like deciding to chat to the person sitting next to me on the plane, or just leaning onto the window and having a nice little hour long nap on a flight.  I like not knowing what I will be doing or where I will be eating or sleeping until the day before I get somewhere.  I like meeting strangers, I like connecting with friends, I like wandering around a city all by myself and documenting my adventures on social media.  Every moment of this trip has been a blessing, and the ups and downs have all served to recharge my very low emotional batteries.

I get to be as alone or connected as I choose on a daily basis.  It turns out that I do like people.  Strangers and friends I crave contact and conversation, but I still adore taking quiet moments and being my own little island, just a passive observer trudging around from place to place.

Added bonus at the moment is that it is Spring in Europe, so gardens and parks a bursting with colour and saturated in birdsong.  Touches your soul just being outdoors on days like these.

So I should probably get back to what I was doing I suppose… I just wrapped up talking to my GM and he’s been an absolute rockstar in my absence.  I am very excited about getting home to cheer him on and help him get our PR firm to the next level.

In the meantime, I am feeling very content and even a bit smug for working with some creative geniuses at the same table.

Have a great day, whatever you are up to, and thank you so much for reading!

XXOO

Dee