Flowers, for me, have always been a beautiful metaphor for fully actualized human beings. They are each unique and beautiful in their own way, and would never contemplate the inferior or superior nature of other varieties. In the flower world dandelions are as precious as roses.

When I stumbled upon a friends blog on why flowers bloom, http://elleynekasepick.blogspot.com/ I became convinced again that flowers are some of our greatest teachers.

The article she quotes reads, "Flowers bloom... by bringing into play the ability they have to fully concentrate the whole of their potential as a living entity." That sounds an awful lot like essentialization. By fully concentrating the whole of their potential they attract bees that help them bloom.

Just imagine what the world would be like if we stopped comparing ourselves to each other and simply embodied the whole of our potential. The energy in our bodies would attract everything we needed. Each of us would be entirely unique and lovely in our own way - and the flavor of the moment: tall, skinny, white, black, vuluptuous... would be nothing more than that - the flavor of the moment.

Today is Earth Day. I've been inspired by the media it has received encouraging us all to do what we can to protect her.

Yesterday I achieved official granola status when I purchased my reusable grocery bags at Trader Joes...

Today I requested that I be taken off junk mail lists and credit card prescreening lists (where companies obtain your credit rating and use it to send you "pre-approved" offers.) You can do both on www.dmaconsumers.org.

I've also learned of an organization that recycles computers - www.intechra.com.

Aside from increasing my dork factor about 500% with the reusable grocery bags, I feel very good about myself.

Any simple ideas to save the planet would be greatly appreciated!

What happened at Virginia Tech is tragic and heart breaking. What's going on in Iraq is devastating. We need to act on every level and the first level is within.

Inner peace leads to world peace. What is inner peace? Simply put, it is a lack of inner conflict accompanied by feelings of well being. It is not the total absence of anger, frustration and sadness. As long as we live in bodies we will experience the rainbow spectrum of emotion, just as we see the rainbow spectrum of color in the material world.

Here are some tips for achieving true inner peace:

• Build your identity on an unchanging spiritual foundation - meditate daily.
• Commit to transcending peace robbing patterns within yourself and in your relationships.
• Open your heart and suspend judgement - it doesn't help.

Once enough of us transform our inner conflicts, a quantum leap will occur and we will begin to see the our peace reflected in the world.

Finally, support the Department of Peace. The proposed cabinet level department would research and teach ways to cultivate peace in our schools, in society and in the world. www.thepeacealliance.org.

Clearing out the old to make room for the new is critical to change and grow. Imagining what you want is easy and fun. The next step is to get rid of the clutter.

I recommend starting with old thought patterns that don't support the change you wish to see in your life. Replacing old thoughts with a general affirmation of abundance is a great idea, "My life is overflowing with abundance."

The next step is to clear out your physical environment. Everything we own carries energy - and as we all know, energy attracts like energy. That is why it is so crucial to get rid of old objects, clothes and files reminiscent of the life that no longer serves you.

Once we clear out the old, we need to sit in the emptiness for a time. This may be the hardest part. We are used to a certain amount of energetic clutter - but it's crucial to keep the space open long enough for our dreams to enter.

Last night I watched an Oprah show about finding your calling. One woman had an insight to give pajamas to homeless children. Another Microsoft executive left his job to collect books for children in third world countries.

When it was over I started praying feverishly to find my specific calling. Right away "inner peace" came into my mind. Every time I thought about my calling, inner peace and world peace bubbled up and into my awareness.

The foundation of my calling is based on me demonstrating inner peace - only then can I teach it and transfer it energetically. This morning I remembered the song that we sang every Sunday at the church I attended 16 years ago during my spiritual awakening. You've probably heard it, it went like this:

"Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.."

Not everyone's calling is as specific as pajamas. I believe that some are called to perfectly demonstrate kindness, others lighten us with their humor (for them I am oh so grateful:).

What is your calling?