Go vegan; drive as little as possible (walk instead); reduce consumption; reuse items as much as possible; recycle when possible; purchase LED lights when replacing bulbs; Leave the lights off when possible; some think it’s gross, but if it’s yellow, keep it mellow; learn how to communicate with nature so as to live in harmony with it; study world religions so as to understand other cultures and belief systems; learn to be a better leader; study UFOs and aliens (as I suspect this is part of my dharma); know my “why” whenever I am doing something; study American history so as to know where we came from and how to go from here; practice channeling my own desires to the needs of the world; practice gratitude and expressing that gratitude to others; practice nonresistance to what is and live in harmony with the Tao, rather than fighting it; face my fears, so as to yield and conquer; focus on being a diligent student; be obedient, grateful, helpful and respectful to my parents; be a good citizen of the United States and of the world by speaking out against injustice and acknowledging when justice has occurred and obeying all just laws and challenging all unjust laws; use the I Ching to discover more of my dharma; practice balancing between yin and yang in my actions; keep my wisdom a secret from those not yet ready for it, so as to meet them where they are; be a loyal friend to others; study ethics and think on morals; honor, consider, and study the traditions of antiquity; attend marches against injustice when I have the opportunity; and be a friend to the marginalized. There are so many other ways to love the world, but the computer would not have enough data to store it all.

Oh boy! Much more loving! I guess I would give more to others, say kinder words, and lose a sense of self and focus on the other. These are all good things I can continue to practice. At the same time, I think we have to be careful about taking this question to literally. If it were my last day, my school obligations would be the last thing on my mind. Gotta get business and even my God-given dharma done, too, but practicing unconditional love, kind words, and giving selflessly is always a good start.

Whenever I suffer anything, I always try to remember that it is the hard times in life that make people grow wiser and more compassionate. I also remember that when I suffer and overcome, this is an opportunity to share what I have gone through and encourage others, sharing how resilience can help them overcome challenges as well. I am grateful for suffering and do not resist or resent it, as the people who suffer the most come out the most loving, the strongest, and the wisest. You know who else suffered? Yeshua of Nazareth! You know who also changed the world? I don’t even need to say it!

I think it may be possible that our so-called “imperfections” are part of what make us perfect. As a person with ADHD, it is often hard for me to focus and remember things, but I am also able to absorb myself into a deep stream of thinking and visualization that makes it easier for me to manifest my desires. Furthermore, the fact that I know so little and am ignorant of so many things makes it more exciting to think that I always have room to grow and enjoy the adventure of learning in life. Mistakes are a part of this journey of growth, and it is a continual process of discovery and transformation. In addition, no knowing some things and being imperfect also allows me to be grateful for the mystery that is always present in the universe.

First of all, I have to say it’s important to laugh at yourself in retrospect. My senior year of high school, I really, really wanted to make it to state in cross country and had a strong chance, but I blew it when I took off at the beginning of the race and was way in front of the first guy! I came in my first mile at 5:15 (this was a high-altitude, hilly course in Colorado). By the third mile, I realized I had blew it. It’s a good story now, though. So what did I learn? Don’t go out too fast dummy! Maybe that’s a lesson for life too. Don’t push yourself too much at the beginning of something or you might crash and burn. And better yet, don’t get cocky, and don’t be dumb! LOL.

Cultivating peace in the midst of chaos doesn’t necessarily meaning “feeling peaceful” or not being worried or upset. Instead, I think it is good to feel whatever it is you need to feel in the moment, but in the back of your head, remember that, at the end of the day, the world is good, and everything is okay. Life doesn’t have to be either/or; it can be both/and. Peace and anxiety are the ying and yang of a full life. To cultivate this, just focus on remembering that all is well and that it is the hardest emotions and experiences that lead us to the greatest wisdom.

I love trees by virtue of the mystery and wonder they bring to the world. How is it that trees live and grow cells, using DNA to form their structures and building themselves from the surrounding environment? This is still a mystery to biologists. I am also amazed at trees’ ability to communicate with each other! Cutting down one tree affects the way other trees adapt to their environment. In the past, biologists thought this was because of chemical signals, but recent study has shown that trees send a kind of “W-wave” to alert other trees when they are being cut down. Interestingly, however, if one communicates with the trees and there is a good reason for cutting them down, the level of alarm in the forest seems to go down as well. Furthermore, I am grateful for all the wonderful blessings trees give us: houses, school buildings, medicine, and food. Trees are the greatest friends of all life, and it is our responsibility to protect and sustain them wisely.

I find that the things in life I find extremely unpleasant, even unbearable, often turn out to be the best worst things that ever happen to me. Complaining is a common habit for some because we are unable to see that the situation is serving a greater purpose. My deepest struggles, sorrows, and heartaches have made my life so much more adventurous and joy-filled. It is a matter of seeing behind the illusion of things being “bad” or “unfair” and seeing the higher purpose they are serving.

Future Memory by PMH Atwater has raised my awareness on a very deep level and has made me grateful for the mysterious reality we live in. Find Your Soul’s Purpose has also raised my awareness of patterns in reality we are not normally aware of. The Baghavad Gita has made me aware of the energy patterns in the Universe we are often not aware of. The Bible is my sacred text of history, mythology, philosophy, and ethics, and I own it proudly. Don’t Be a Jerk by Brad Warner has also shown me how mysterious and exciting reality is when we are really aware of it. There are too many to count, but all of these have changed my life and heightened my awareness, giving me a glimpse into the dimensions that are all around us but that we are often not aware of.

Hi, Javier. Well, interestingly, I was fascinated with UFOs and aliens as a young child and loved our road trips to Roswell, NM. I even had an imaginary alien friend from Saturn named Jimmy. Eventually, however, I grew out of this phase and just saw aliens and UFOs as a bunch of weird BS some quacks came up with. That was, until I started studying mystical experiences and psychic phenomena. As I studied more on this, UFOs came up over and over again, and I wrestled with whether these were literally real or a collective psychological phenomena (in my opinion now, it is both-collective psychological mythologies breaking through to physical reality; this is why some UFOs are photographed or tracked on pilot radars). Linking my childhood obsession to my adult study of spiritual experiences (a rather unintended happening) was something I took as a nod from the Universe to study extraterrestrial encounters as part of my God-given mission in the Universe. Whether I am interpreting my dharma right or not, I don’t know, but, for now, I will at least say it’s a good guess.