Starting Your New Year With Hope

One morning while inhaling deeply as I began my Hatha Yoga routine on the deck of our sailboat Ritmo Di Vita, I listened to the local hummingbirds, Glittering-throated Emeralds, call to one another. I knew then that this New Year was going to be unlike any other.

Here in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, the air is refreshing, the sun is warm on my face, and a gentle breeze cools my brow–all in harmony with the songs of these birds.  I truly felt at peace and one with my surroundings.

With my yoga exhale came the realization that this New Year brought with it a change of mind for me. I understood that the air we share with the Glittering-throated Emeralds, visiting iguanas, cats, dogs and fish, is precious and every creature is dependent upon us to treat it as such.  Air is the catalyst that holds every life form together, and combined with the water that we drink, there is no greater crux of existence on the planet.  The difference for human beings is that we have been given the responsibility of being the caretakers of these two vital life substances.

As I thought about the daily visits from the variety of iguanas in our “back yard”, I realized that ecologically-minded living on a sailboat was not just reflected by how well I deal with my trash. Of equal importance is the choice to live with less, thereby causing less trash, and developing an understanding of how our choices affect nature around us. 

Living on a sailboat can bring you back to the very basics of daily living: is there enough water pressure to wash your laundry and clean the deck? Will the market be open to buy fresh vegetables? Is there something on your boat that you can give away, in order to make room for something else that you are now in need of? For me, this New Year begins with a list of projects addressing the needs of our sailboat as well as the opportunities to reach out to the community and nature around us.  

Our neighboring boaters, a couple, have embraced the caretaking of about 20 cats who live here in the marina, along with their own cat, Tiger.  The community of boaters here also pitched in to help a local worker who was critically injured in a motorcycle accident just before Christmas. We were all inspired to contribute to offset the cost of expensive medications and help him provide gifts for his small children.

As you stand at the threshold of 2011, why not make a commitment to live up to your caretaking responsibilities?  This mindset goes beyond our personal relationships with our families and friends, towards how we interact with nature and other life forms.  Instead of looking at how far we as a species have to go before we learn how to live in peace and be respectful of one another, we should keep our focus on what we can do today. Every day that we ask and answer this question for ourselves, we are sure to make a difference.

Whether here in the tropics or covered with a blanket of snow, there is life all around us. Every nature buff knows the thrill of connecting with wildlife, but this exhilaration can be enjoyed by everyone with a desire to develop their own sensitivity. Try awaking at dawn, watching the sun rise and breathing deeply.  You just may find that there are other creatures checking you out as you listen to nature waking up and welcoming another glorious new day. Happy New Year!