Celebrating the New "You" Year with Dannion Brinkley at www.dannion.org and on youtube

Having come across of one of Dannion Brinkley's books about being struck by lightning and needing to be revived back in the 1970s, I thought I'd see if he fulfilled some of the visions he had about starting healing centers as directed by Spiritual Beings during his 28-minutes before being revived and even since. Lucky for us, he has! I wanted to know if he were still alive and good news, he is! I was watching a youtube video of him being interviewed and toward the end of the hour he was wishing the Agape community in California with Michael Beckwith a Happy New You along with a Happy New Year (2014).

How timely, since I was watching on Dec 31st, 2015. I just looked up his site and plan to read his other books, but I'm very impressed with all he has done to carry out 'crazy, important work' when trendsetters were not exactly appreciated and welcomed into the mainstream. Raymond Moody who wrote Life After Life and many others have shown their support for his experience and mission which now includes sitting with veterans who are facing the end of their lives or recuperating from war with care and companionship. I am amazed at all he has done personally and by the thousands he has inspired.

felt a similar urge to do outreach along the lines of hospice and compassion work when going through the difficulty of first losing track of a man who wandered from his home at age 91 who had dementia. This elderly, frail man was never found and many searches have been done. Unfortunately too many people do not take appropriate precautions with someone who is losing their mental faculties and hopefully more could realize there need to be 'layers of intervention and ongoing oversight' in a care circle if not on a medical and legal level to provide the right level of care for people with physical and mental health disabilities especially among the elderly. I realize that could sound like another bureaucratic nightmare, but too many family members cannot accept and plan accordingly for the basic level of care that some conditions require, even when money or basic intelligence is not a problem.

 When our teenage son Kaelan Palmer Paton was not supervised on a dangerous outing to a whitewater river (a waterfall) with a group of minors (about 15 years of age), no parents of the youth or in the area raised concerns in a meaningful way, except for one who did not allow her teen to go along and who called other parents and myself who had tried to get my son and other parents to only allow appropriate, adult-supervised outings to such places.

The lesson still needs to be learned and implemented with a national call for adults to supervise minors and even others voluntarily with appropriate guidelines such as held by scouting and school groups. No one wants to be liable, but a basic level of understanding that adults do not have permission to let youth go do 'adventurous, dangerous things' without appropriate adult supervision, and really if it's dangerous, most parents should know to say no and most towns should have ordinances and posted warnings about dangers, particularly about water conditions that are unsafe (which may be required by law as well).

he hope I hold out is that a blend of practical, spiritual and legal guidelines could be explored and explained to everyone in a way that makes sense. All countries, states, towns, schools and faith groups and people could promote themes of being a valuable member of the human (and huwoman, huboy and hugirl, and huperson and hubaby) species (let's not worry about the term race at all for a minute to help US-All so slow down on plan-it heart).

That's the impetus for Acorns to Oaks Team Outreach (A-2020) which promotes growing together in wisdom, kindness, health, talent, friendship, safety and skills.I started that concept drawing upon ideas from many inspiring efforts such as Rudolf Steiner Schools, community efforts, faith groups, scouting and much more. Recently I have learned about permaculture which promotes ethics of people care, earth care and resource share. Those ideas dovetail nicely with networking locally and in wider circles such as on www.gaia.org to cover aspects of social and economice policies that promote care of all people.

Clearly in a land of laws, we need effective laws and strategies to guide people clearly about response-abilities and many factors in life for families, custody and care of children by parents (whether ever living together, or under one roof, legally married or blended families, and post-divorce or post-custody agreement management). There need to be standing committees in every state with clear links to every school and daycare to keep the flow of information readily available to those most in need.

Child rearing with key developmentally-appropriate ideas need to be shared and many facilities do not feel they have the right or funds or way to send home letters to parents or simply post on their website. There could be 'difficult' areas to discuss, but some comprehensive websites all could reference would be one way to cover those topics and give practical options to all in the country and beyond efficiently. We need to close not only the economic gaps but the caregiving gaps, which can range from the overindulgent to the neglectful and emotionally or physically abusive. Much information from www.civicresearchinstitute.org stresses the value of preventing harm rather than only doing damage control if people survive harm and challenges.

On a positive note such as Acorns to Oaks Team Outreach, addressing people in age groups and roles such as a Community Thinking KAPP (Kids, Adults, Parents Partnership) can help everybody feel acknowledged and that they have a place at the table, not only to talk and share, but to be nurtured on many levels such as with ideas for accessing good food and team support for care of mothers and children, fathers and youth as well and adults at all ages and stages of life.

Teens could have a special recognition of transitioning from youth to adulthood, with more laws and opportunities to balance. More guidance from groups working with youth in schools and other venues would provide practical networking and oversight to help each one know of options for support in their learning, living, working, socializing and rounding out their life experiences such as learning to use public transportation, sharing rides and learning to drive if that is important for them. The laws around driving could be used as one measure along with other signs of intelligence and responsibility as well as capability in terms of actually obtaining a driver's permit and eventually getting a driver's license. Most likely could pace their driving efforts to get their license closer to age 18 or older even into their 20s to save on the high costs of insurance, car expenses or the risk of being a new, young driver.

ven after obtaining a license, more supervised time for a period of six months to a year, with added care not to drive in bad weather or when temperatures are dropping could make a lot of sense. Agreements with other parents and adults to help supervise new drivers (generally mothers and women--and nice responsible guys as additional escorts when a woman is present-- assisting young women and men along with women assisting young men to encourage more care and awareness of other people from a female perspective) would make sense. Unfortunately, far too many men can find reasons to think a young woman, especially over 18-- but even under-- may be available for becoming involved with while too many young women do not understand how attractive they may be to a man. The overall idea would be to not ride or be alone with men, even those of their own age and particularly not in ways that could prove dangerous in terms of being away from others in a car or without others nearby.

Sadly even 'good guy friends'  whether alone or in groups can feel 'opportunity spells permission to take advantage' of a woman in some way. The college campus news should reach the high school and even junior high school (and yes, younger) grades to warm ALL GIRLS and WOMEN that this is not a level playing field in America or elsewhere in the world. The gender violence and difficulties seem to be overwhelming about man taking advantage of women and even other men and children of both genders. It is NOT all guys, but it is far too many, and sometimes 'the Nice Ones' are not immune to 'trying their luck at seeing what they can get away with'. Sorry if that's a little blunt and slanted but it is supposed to be 'common sense'..and yet, too many people do not hear it enough or get the reality that whether hormones such as testosterone have a way of overriding social and legal limits of involvement (meaning each and every encounter with another person, even one's dating, mating, married or otherwise partner needs to be consensual no matter how long the two--or as the case may be, or more-- have been together). The idea of having to prove violation is a reality too many are learning about as another 'gray area'. Rape convictions are almost impossible to prove in terms of having someone held criminally accountable.

A case at Vassar College, my alma mater is one making headlines, which I plan to read more about. Apparently a college woman had something to drink, was sick and cared for by another student who left her asleep with his roommate in his room. Guess what happened next as far as she could recall? Miserably, she woke up with the roommate having sex with her. When she reported it to college officials, they did not feel they had grounds to do anything, I think because she had something to drink. That's generally considered a reason a person should be able to have more protection from the law (not being able to give consent reasonably).

They are reviewing it and I know one alum who did not feel she could give to the annual fund in large part because of that. I made my token donation since I lack funds but plan to visit the college and see who might want to network further along these lines. Now that we know the leaders in many fields have Dropped the Ball for Decades by Design it makes sense to revamp the educational efforts available to all and yes to pressure all towns and states and the array of institutions who have kept matters in the dark for too long to start to 'light candles of hope, healing and help as well as clear consequences' which will not be a cure-all but may prove a useful deterrent to those who have a distorted idea of freedom and the pursuit of happiness.

 UCONN made headlines and new CT legislation is in place to hold more schools accountable. Sadly the Indian Mountain School, a private boarding and day school, has had to face serious patterns of abuse from decades ago which will likely spark a movement among the more 'private' institutions to clean up their act as well. Like a virus that spread when unchecked, the needed interventions must be thorough and consistent to deter future outbreaks.  Safety, respect and care are shared responsibilities.

Youth, particularly girls and women, need to accept that being raised in ways to be 'complicit and pleasing' can backfire in serious ways. There are not enough resources to help all those in need, so part of the self-care many women discover is having to let some people in need rely on limited resources. Ideally more men working collaboratively could help men in need, and even women in need who may be difficult for other women to address. Teams of support can hold people accountable and provide help whereas one or two people or groups working at cross-purposes can thwart efforts.

Programs such as offered through www.211.org and with local resources can likely address many basics such as helping people get food (with SNAP or food stamp benefits), Medical and Dental Coverage and Rides to appointments (here pregnant women should have all the support possible for adequate nutrition, no smoking or drinking alcohol or drugging with help to stop as soon as possible if needed), social support and assistance to work without a lot of noise, standing for hours or straining their bodies. I dream of the day when there would be places women could live with great food, care and yes, overall support when they are hatching out the new kids on the block, and have a few years of lovely mother-child (and yes father-child when safe)  bonding. Women need to be open to some coaching and supervision to help them rear their children in reasonable caring ways, rather than wing it or feel stressed and neglect their child or not allow others to assist in their care.

There are many new laws 'triggering' oversight, yet ideally more women could be offered help for as much care as they would like with their children, much like public school provides education. If dollars for the last year of high school were shifted to the prenatal and infant and toddler, prr-K care, likely the ROI (return on investment) would be manifold. For now, I'll wrap this up to post before the first day of the new year draws to a close.

Thanks for considering these ideas and your wisdom..they are hardwon and inspired as well by considering how much easier and nicer life would be if we'd 'slow down and smell the roses' and be inspired by efforts such as the Rose Bown Parade which welcomes in the New Year in CA each year.  We're off to a good start so let's keep going and keep growing (another Acorns to Oaks motto). Thanks for joining in that effort to get  A-2020 up and running with 50 folks from each state (25 men and 25 women with another 50 youth, roughly 25 male and 25 female or whatever gender anyone identifies oneself as). More info to follow but feel free to dream about how that could enhance our sense of teamwork and connection in meaningful ways. With love from above..thinking of the blessings of those who have journeyed before us and who have gone before us as the case may be and spiritual and inspirational guides from long ago and today, here and beyond...peace to one and all and everybuddy on plan-it heart, especially in the US-All of A-Miracle!