The kind of speed that thwarts you into self awareness and significant change.

The intention of Hart of Green is to share exactly what is going on in my life and around the world that centers on green culture and character. When I committed to sharing personal details about who I am and what I do, to be honest, I was a bit terrified. Seriously, I had no idea how blogging from my heart would generate such a positive impact on how I view myself and the appreciation for all the meaningful moments we will create here on Hart of Green. There are so many blogs that discuss green information, so what is one of the greatest benefits of reading Hart of Green?

The answer has arrived in an indirect sort of way.

Ever since I wrote the post “No Butts About It”, there’s a message that surfaces and occupies my mind and vibrates through my soul. The message is to stop smoking and stop very soon. It’s not the first time I’ve heard this as I’m good at beating myself up for not respecting my body as a temple. This is more than a voice. Its the awareness of my purpose from my soul that is instructing me to take action because my purpose is now super clear. My purpose in life has partnered with my intentions to quit smoking and I’m confident this will change my life. There’s a process unfolding from blogging green every day that’s taking place. Last night watching the news, a simple story on smoking and Obama’s cigarette tax spike of 62 cents, the largest in the U.S., really made me ill. The gist of the story was butts poison the ground and water with toxins from inside the butt. In the past that would have never phased me. That was the bad news. The good news is, 1-800-No-Butts call centers are off the charts. The day the tax went into effect, in Seattle, calls jumped an astonishing 562%.

I do want to point out that I was paying close attention to my feelings to note if I was wanting to quit for you and this blog. The answer came back a resounding, NO! This is for me and Hart of Green just happens to be a witness to my healing.

Nonetheless, I had no idea that the self expression from blogging daily with you would remove the pressure of being real and instead helped me surrender to ‘what is’ and has propelled my passion for Hart of Green and my new green life. I honestly was uneasy about ‘being found out’ by the greenest of the green out here in the blogosphere that would crucify me for not being authentic.

Hart of Green is a pure, true, real, chronicle of a mans journey into green and how little respect he has for the environment. Time passes and stories each day on the blog reveal the ups and downs of living green. The stories come with lessons. The lesson today is the pressure I was feeling when I started blogging was not reality. Feelings are quite often not reality. Lets grow from this lesson together.

Here’s how my feelings and reality have synthesized over the past few days since the post “No Butts About It”

I recognized I had been nervous about sharing who I really am. A smoker that wasn’t ready to quit.
I was uncomfortable with having to be super green, super fast to be the a green leader in my industry
My stomach would flip at times worrying that I’d have to change too much of me too soon
I felt that I would be judged by the green elite, whoever they are. Maybe I would have been challenged by green connoisseur  that might have been repelled by a smoker saying he’s green.
I was so happy that Hart of Green was stirring up my soul and conspiring in my favor to be a healthier man

I was thrilled that I wasn’t resentful that my new blog was forcing me into changing myself just for the sake of having content for Hart of Green

And here’s the big one: The pressure and shame I was feeling of showing up as someone other than myself has now shifted to a self respect of how I individually and personally appreciate my unique contribution to me and the planet, simultaneously. Beautiful isn’t it?

As I was driving out of the gym last night, a formula for feeling good and success popped up. My gut told me that if you can get 3 or 4 things in your life that you do from pure joy, you will reduce any of those moments in your day when you feel out of alignment. You know that feeling, something is just not right.

I started to add up my joyful parts of my day

1) First cup of coffee
2) The visit to gym to workout and relax in steam room
3) Blog on Hart of Green
4) Call my Mother (might be every other day)
5) Introduce my new video product to the world “Social Media for Beginners” – 9 short videos that guide you like paint-by-numbers on how to begin your social media online
6) Work on Reality Internet ..a transformational Webinar series for beginners that has really moved me

I plan to add to this list #7…so lets do it right now. On June 1, 2009, I am a non smoker. I will quit for me, not Hart of Green and add one more pillar of joy to each of my days. My purpose is being realized thru shedding of the bad stuff and adding the good and you being here with me on Hart of Green is really really good.