does your government really, REALLY love you?

Urbanisation has created an incredibly cluttered environment. Our minds are processing gigabytes of information per day and having to select the most relevant one's in order to ensure that the perceivably right choices are made and our focus is being directed in the right place. It's hard to stay focused in an over communicating world and I suppose that's where social media has such strength because we can be choosey about who we want to listen to whether its curiousity, consciousness or entertainments sake.

Coming out from the more relaxed environment of Antigua to the mainstream rush of the cities such as Barcelona, Paris, London and now, Munich, I must say that Europe is a little hectic right now. I am not even watching the news and I feel exhausted. And obviously there are some serious shake ups happening besides the abstract climate change which I am super aware of while traveling around like a hyperactive shaman practicing teleportation skills. I struggle to keep up with myself sometimes (having a diary again and writing helps though).

The main vibe is instability and insecurity. But there's a fair amount of anger and frustration. A large amount of dissatisfaction. I read this story in the Rolling Stone and I was a bit like, well yeah, but we all knew the big banks were meanies - didn't we? (Then again I am guilty of not seeing the obvious many a time) And so, me being me, I went wondering deeper for what triggers these emotions of anger and fear and realise there's a distinct annoyance and frustration around not being in control, heard or understood.

I suppose that could be a good argument for religion because prayers / confessions / councillors are a place where people can have a sense of being listened to, loved, guided and accepted. I personally dig my mates and fellow travellers while this little digital real estate helps too (hello Pops!).

There's a really big sense that our needs are not being listened to. Or I'd argue perhaps we haven't been taught how to express them non-violently and actively listen, as they say in Japan, with our hearts.  That was an easy lesson to learn in Tokyo asking for directions and realising that the Japanese don't like to say "no" while are so wonderfully kind in wanting to help a lost traveller.

I know on a superficial level we can attribute a sense of satisfaction with material stuff and labels, especially when it is practical to our comfort, but I also think there's a fear of losing that stuff because its meant to last forever and we fear losing identity with it.

I saw it in Japan and it was really sad. People feeling truly abandoned, losing their homes, friends and families while being left to die by their government in the horror stricken wastelands of post-tsunami nuclear catastrophe. I think that was the biggest reality check to commence my travels with and I just recently learned that there's been another breach at Fukushima power-plant. I wonder what we're doing to ourselves here. Its kinda like a really screwed up version of self-harm on a mass scale. 

We're a community. The world is one organism. We need to support one another not "grrrr" at each other for taking our seat on the tube or for a girl who looks like she has nicer clothes than you and makes you feel conditioned-by-society; inferior. The lady I am couch-surfing with in Munich, Jordon, is working really hard on doing little actions that might make someone else's day by leaving change in the railway ticket machine. Its so inspiring. She works really hard, as a lot of people in Germany are right now, to keep going as the ground shakes below her and her heart just wants to travel with her best friend who's got himself stuck.

A very classic example was when I reunited with a friend of mine and her gorgeous daughter Sunday, who is born the same day as me and, obviously with a name like that is a little gem. While we were enjoying coffee, some catch ups and loving, little 3 year-old Sunday had a moment and started to tantrum in the restaurant. Bless her socks. So Hayley, really calmly like a deliciously cool cucumber said; "No sweetie, come on, remember to use the voice in your head" and I thought to myself, that is such a good way of describing it.

I realised how powerful the idea Imogen, my sailing instructor in Antigua was when she said to me; "Be like a swan gliding on the outside and crapping yourself a little on the inside" which happens to everyone a little when stepping in to the unknown (and trying to skipper a team, save a man overboard with ropes and wenches and wind blowing from all directions!). But we're all in it together whether we like it or not.

I think to myself: if our teachers are 'our parents' at school, then do our governments represent them also? Well in as long as we outsource responsibility to them. Perhaps his will be the case until we take full responsibility for ourselves, our emotions and our sense of who we are which is hard in a world that is relentlessly giving us titles and labels and hierarchies to separate and judge one another through. And I don't think government really does love us, or know even how to listen to us, because many of us aren't haven't found our voice.

I really believe that little efforts can create magical ripple effects that perhaps eventually will become waves of yummy inspirations that will make us realise that we can live with purpose in this world and offer our voice to contribute toward it.

I see a lot of people blaming one another instead of channelling that frustration out to the world through their voice creatively and for the greater good.

I may have just had a revolutionary moment.