A labor of love

Over the past few days I've found myself moved to the brink of tears by two things, the beauty of life, and the hardships faced by so many people around the world. I've also taken a deeper look at myself, my habits, lifestyle, innate tendencies, and have been searching for my true nature. Expanding my world, and seeking balance, have become what I live for.
Last weekend I bought a Bob Marley DVD of his performance at the Santa Barbara county bowl in 1979. A few major things have occured since last weekend, as far as I can ascertain. As I watched the DVD over and over again, the words of this revolutionary have sunk in, helping me come to realizations of one sort or another. "Every man has the right to decide his own destiny, and in this judgement there is no partiality." This statement from the song "Zimbabwe" affirmed my belief that only I can change my life and my situation.
As of this past wednesday I was accepted, and enrolled, in a massage therapy program of study which I start in February. The journey of 1,000 miles starts with one step, and with one foot planted firmly in front of the other I am embarking on a whole new life which I intend to dedicate to helping people feel good, naturally. I have been studying Ayurveda and Homeopathy on my own and one of my main goals is to integrate my blossoming knowledge of healing arts together to help people. I even have my first patient! Right now I'm living with my mom, whose diabetes clearly effects her quality of life. She has been inspired by my own quest for balance and we have embarked on a journey to get healthy (mind,body,spirit) together. As a part of our quest to live more responsibly we've stopped shopping at the huge grocery stores and wal-marts, so that our money goes directly in to the local economy, and the products we buy, if and when possible, support the individuals who produced them, not huge corporations. Our local natural foods store even donates some of its profits to doctors without borders among other non-profit organizations! My mom was born 4 months premature and has struggled all of her life to fit in socially and has an incredibly difficult time reading, so, together we are reading SACRED JOURNEY OF THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR by Dan Millman, one chapter every night when we are both home. Expanding my relationships with my own family has become a central part of my own healing, as I spent the last few years wandering around the country, always in a rush to leave my home behind. Perhaps I was running from my true nature?
I've also been inspired, by Bob Marley, to lend my creative efforts to something more important than my own financial situation. So, I have started my own little clothing company, Natty Evolution. The concept is that I will buy button up shirts of various sizes from thrift stores such as goodwill and salvation army, and customize them with scrap material from my own old clothing or from other funky clothing purchased at the thrift stores. This first step achieves two things. I will be recycling clothing, making fresh new styles for people without wasting excessive amounts of energy and resources which the fashion industry inevitably does every year. Secondly, by purchasing the clothing at thirft stores, the money I'm investing is being put to good use locally. I intend to customize clothing in this fashion throughout the winter, then in the spring and through the summer I will set up shop at farmers' markets to sell the goods. 100% of the profits will be going the Blue Mountain Project in Jamaica.
http://www.bluemountainproject.org/
It only seems fitting to donate the money to a project in the homeland of the man who inspired me to make these changes in my life. In doing this, I also hope to break the chains of greed and capitalism which only keep me enslaved. I don't like the idea of having more than anyone else, so this is a good way to put my money where my mouth is.
I have come to a few other realizations about my life and my addictive tendencies, and I intend to focus on overcoming all of my addictions, even if it means re-defining my social life.
Although I have not left my home for the longest period since I first left 5 years ago, I feel that I have traveled from one end of the universe and back myriad times. Though this immensely important journey has been inspired by Robert Nesta Marley, I have all of you, my fellow evolvers, to thank for continued inspiration and understanding.