Keyboard Karma ~ by Helen Crozier

Wake up Sydney

How tremendous to discover this site last Saturday and my only hope is that this wonderful concept spreads way beyond Sydney.

To summarise:-

Here are 6 campaigns for you to be part of the solution.  
 
1. MINDFUL CONSUMPTION
Whether it is mental detoxing or adopting voluntary simplicity what we consume via our minds and wallets has a huge impact. Learn more... 

2. LEARN FROM VISIONARY TEACHERS 
There are authors who we highly recommend. Either read their books or download their teachings to your i-pod. This is not about accumulating new dogmas, ideologies or beliefs but encouraging us to BE that which we are trying to bring into the world. Learn more...

3. AWAKEN A KINDNESS REVOLUTION 
Now is the time to wake up kindness as a fierce and revolutionary force way beyond mere do-gooding! Kindness is our planet's greatest need - towards ourselves, the natural world and each other. It is about the realization that we are all connected as one human family. So flip the idea of "the more I get the happier I am" on its arse and feel the true joy and juiciness of creative generosity & kindness. Learn more...

4. DEVELOP A CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE
If, as Einstein said, we cannot solve problems with the state of mind that created them, then contemplative practices are an indispensable part of the solution to today's real-world problems. In essence, they are the tools of the revolution to awaken wisdom, resilience and assist all social and environmental movements becoming effective and sustainable. Learn more...
 
5. ADOPT NEW THINKING
If you believe the ideas of the old paradigm, you are part of the problem.  But how can you become part of the solution? Learn more...

6. SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Wake Up Sydney seeks to promote new models for socially and environmentally sustainable business in the 21st century. Learn more...

I've signed up and already received my 'kindness cards' which I can't wait to start distributing in as creative a way as possible. I'm also going to the opening night which looks as if it will be really special indeed. Anyone else going?

Buy someone a bicycle for Christmas

This is so nice and why I LOVE the internet so much. I'm trying to get gifts sorted for my family in NZ before I take off to Fiji on Monday. I get back on the 23rd so will only in in 'cooking mode'.

My sister is a very kind soul and I know she would love the fact that I'm going to do this for her. I found that for $44.90 NZ I am able to purchase a bicycle through UNICEF.

"Stuck for a gift idea? Buy a bike. But not just any bike, a bike which can ensure female health workers can reach vulnerable children in remote communities. A bike like this one can help improve health standards of children in remote villages. Or it can help keep vulnerable girls in school, who would otherwise find the combination of their daily chores and a long walk to school too difficult. It costs just $44 and will be perfect present for anyone who likes surprises.

Technical information: Bicycle, heavy duty, roadster, for ladies."

I won't order it until I get back on 24th but then she will get a gift certificate telling her what I've done. I'm so happy... :-)

Women in Small Enterprise

Had a delicious and fun lunch today at Alchemy in Mosman with the Women in Small Enterprise (WISE) group in Mosman - run by Michelle McCallum from Colour Design Studio. I knew a few of the girls there but met some new ones as well and we had great fun telling eachother what we did, what we were celebrating and also recommending a good book to read. I was really happy because I grabbed 11 of my favourite books and gave them all away. Everyone seemed to get a book that they were very pleased with - good karma!!

I'm looking forward to catching up with and even writing about these very entrepreneurial women in the very near future!!

Pay it forward and get sorted!

I've been reading the Zen Habits blog for close to a year now and a lot of Leo Babauta's content resonates strongly with my 'calm tech' philosophy. His blog is very very popular and I just love this post entitled 'Faith in Humanity:How to Bring People Closer and Restore Kindness'. I'm a lover of the Pay it Forward Philosophy - I saw the film and was amazed by it and wished it had been more mainstream and been able to have the same size results as perhaps Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth.

Anyhow I applaud Leo's gesture and to honour it I am offering a signed copy of Lissanne Oliver's new book 'Sorted' to the first two people to comment on my blog and describe how they promise to 'Pay It Forward".  "Lissanne's new book contains 42 organising 'recipes' covering everything from work and paper to on the go and living. With over 250 organising tips this practical and inspiring book will solve your organising woes." Today I also donated  three hours of my time as a lucky door prize to  a Women in Business Christmas Dinner . What will you all do to pay it forward?