As we honor our veterans, I was reminded of the true cost of the freedom we enjoy.

I recently listened to an interview with two veterans of the Iraq war – one was a member of a explosives disposal unit (bomb unit) whose wife served with him and was killed in an incident he deployed her on. He talked about how husbands of fallen soldiers are often forgotten.  He was encouraged to talk to another soldier, who was also a bomb technician who had been injured in Iraq.

The solider was dispatched to pick up an IUD (improvised explosive device) and when she put in her truck,  it started rolling around.  When she tried to grab it, it exploded.  She said “I heard a woman screaming and screaming, and then I realized it was me.”  In spite of losing both arms, most of her hearing, and the severe scarring on her face, she said it’s led her to amazing opportunities and she’s been able to helped a lot of people.

It painted a picture of sacrifice that I won’t forget. What struck me – and what I keep playing over and over in my mind is when she said she heard someone screaming and screaming . . . and realized it was her.

I don’t think we truly comprehend what the men and women in our armed forces have done and the sacrifices their families have made, for every American to have all the freedoms we enjoy in every aspect of our lives on a daily basis.

Listen to the interview:

http://www.npr.org/2014/11/07/362010372/bomb-techs-work-through-dark-spots-to-brighter-lives’

©Bloom in Every Garden 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Many times we tune out the topic of politics – for a lot of reasons – simple issues are way too complex, it is emotionally charged without objectivity, and the environment lacks trust and integrity (to name a few).

Oprah’s conversation with Author, Spiritual Thought Leader, and Recent Congressional Candidate Marianne Williamson reminded me of what we’ve accomplished as a country and gave me hope that we can fundamentally change the nature of politics by . . .

Recognizing that spiritual movements are the basis for the most significant social and political change (Gandhi & ML King, Jr.).

Acknowledging the breach between who we say we are as a nation (our founding principles) and what we have practiced – and how we’ve “self-corrected”  (abolishing slavery, women’s rights, civil rights) to align with our founding principles. Focusing on the conscious of our country, beyond the economics.

Identifying the parallels between personal transformation and transforming our country – the role of love, atonement, and responsibility.

Shifting the power – “Hate with conviction is terrorism.”  Hatred has been turned into a political force.  Hate is the minority,  love is so much greater.  We need more people to “Love with conviction and turn love into a political force.”

Knowing we don’t need a majority to spark change – small groups that stand on an ideal ignited the changes that have transformed our country.

Click Here to Watch the Interview!

©Bloom in Every Garden 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

I discovered Delos, the pioneer of Wellness Real Estate™ and founder of the WELL Building Standard®, a proprietary protocol that incorporates human wellness into building architecture and design.  It’s a concept of “human sustainability” that targets the intersection between individual health & well-being and environmentally sustainable design.

Learn more . .http://delosliving.com/

On a related topic, LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a “green” building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.

Learn more . . http://www.usgbc.org/leed

©Bloom in Every Garden 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.