By Jane Bauer

“We must strive to become good ancestors.”
Ralph Nader

What is your life’s purpose? Day of the Dead is a time to contemplate life and the lives of those who came before us. This is the first year that my mother’s photo will join my father’s on the altar and I can feel the tears welling up even as I write this. As I was caring for her in the last months of her life it became clear to me that the trivialities we obsess over are mere distractions.

I am baffled by the news and stories of those in power, the anger and frustration that ripples around the world. This hunger for power that seems to ignore the inner world of individuals. The way these topics dominate conversations, the way we use our political beliefs to define us rather than the other way around. When I was asked recently what my core beliefs are, I realized they can be summed up in four simple principles:

1. Bodily autonomy
2. Equitable distribution of wealth- there is enough for everyone; enough food, enough healthcare, enough water
3. Freedom of movement for all
4. A life without violence

When world leaders discuss strategies and economic reforms that encourage more violence, less freedom of movement, and scarcity for some while others have more than they could ever need, I can’t help but wonder: what is our life’s purpose?

At the end of life, what will we take with us? We can view history as a series of wars and power shifts and try to devise a winning formula. But winning—there’s another concept that makes little sense. Is the winner the one with the most money, or the one who is most content?

For myself, I try and move through the world feeling energy rather than corralling wealth or power. I want to feel the energy of a tree rather than calculate it’s monetary value. I want to approach each person I meet with compassion, I want to live in a paradigm of abundance- I know there is enough for everybody if we distribute it properly.

Thinking on that time with my mother I’m reminded that our real legacy is not wealth or power, but how deeply we’ve loved and how much kindness we’ve shared. Death invites us to ask ‘what is your life’s purpose? What do you want your legacy to be?’.

This month we mourn the loss of our colleague and friend Deborah Van Hoewyk. She is greatly missed and leaves behind a legacy of kindness and curiosity.

See you next month,

Jane