The New American Dream

Obama flew in like a pragmatic fairy last fall and rocked our world, challenging the ideas we held about our nation and ourselves. Now the honey moon is over, winter is dripping into spring, and many of us are left wondering, "okay, now what?" There's a momentum for change, a vision for change, and plenty of posterboards and bumper stickers calling out the battle cry. But where exactly do we fit in to all of this "change" business? And what is it that we're trying to change?

America is known for its innovation and fiercely independent free spirit, which has the power to challenge preconceived notions and human boundaries. At times we experience the darker side to that ideal, the side that mistakes independence for selfish individualism. As we begin to emerge from this darker period of history, we are facing some unexpected challenges - economically, environmentally, politically - that have will radically redefine the way we think and live our lives.

There are, however, two pieces of very good news. One: we're already bred for facing challenges to tradition. That's why we jumped aboard the Mayflower, hopped the fence, got on the plane, drove out West, moved across the country to the ports of San Francisco.

Two: it is inevitably in the challenges that we find the opportunity for growth. I see the slumping economy as a nod to mother earth and a step towards stronger community. Less time spending money means more time spending time with our friends and family, sharing our resources with each other, and rediscovering our incredible wealth that can't be measured by dollar bills.

Life is blossoming all around us and within us. As traditional models of living begin to break down around us, I believe we all have the inner courage to find the incredible opportunities that lies within our current challenges. When times are hard, we don't really need a new situation; all we need is a new set of eyes to find possibility where there is loss, to find love where there is fear, and to remember the incredible wholeness of life. Its inevitable ups and downs are, in fact, the same teacher that guide us on our path of growth. Today I'm joining my two palms in Namaste to remind myself of the yoga teachings of equanimity for all aspects of life, which as Abe Lincoln would say, "we can lament in the fact that roses have thorns or rejoice in the fact that thorns have roses." As we each find our roses, we become the voice of the new American dream.

"At Dawn I asked the Lotus
What is the meaning of Life?
Slowly she opened her hand
With nothing in it"

Debra Woolard Bender