Movin' Right Along

Movin' right along
We're truly birds of a feather,
We're in this together
and we know where we're going.

- The Muppets

It is funny how Jim Hensen and company could sum up what many of us, who are inspired by community, feel in just a few lines that Kermit and Fozy sang on their way to the big streets of Hollywood. Truly we are birds of a feather, whether we are Democrat or Republican, Hispanic or Caucasian, traditional book or Kindle reader, we all belong to this one big commUnity, the human race. Ready or not, we are in this together and movin’ right along.

Recently I had a chance to see how small this world is and how neighborhoods reaching out to each other create effective sustainable change. My partner and I were apart of the 7 Summits Foundation concert series “Save the Himalaya.” Clint was the US musician who went on tour, with our business partner and friend John, and I got a chance to educate and promote the mission of the 7 Summits.  Through our connection with A.C. Sherpa (founder of 7 Summits Foundation) we were given an inside look into the real needs of the people who are living in the Solukhumbu region of Nepal.  

Diligently we worked to raise awareness for this very delicate ecosystem and incredibly diverse population. We were introduced to the fine subtleties of Nepali negotiation and were presented with the opportunity to let go of what we thought was best for the people of Nepal, but to truly listen to what their needs were and help facilitate those. Hydro-electric power, education, rights over their water, and adequate health care are just a few on the list.

After months of preparation, John and Clint left Redmond (with the editor of Seattle Backpackers Magazine, Erika Klimecky) and set out to meet the people of Nepal. Through technical ingenuity and some great luck we were able to stream many of the concerts and keep in close contact with them. Clint, John and Erika kept us updated as they traversed the political (meeting with the Prime Minister) and cultural (traveling with Nepali pop stars is a different adventure in itself). At home we saw how incredibly cush our lives where comparably and the intellectual knowledge of the amount of power we have to change the world came crashing into the heart. 

The adventures and life changing moments that Clint, John and Erika had in Nepal are not really mine to tell. I can however share the lessons the Nepalese shared with those of us who stayed state-side:

Regardless of where we think we are in the world, we have the opportunity to make a change, from cutting the consumption of our bottled water intake to paying attention to the power that we wield on the political fronts. It is so easy to become lulled into apathy as the statistics of the economy, ecological devastation, or the just the everyday keeps on keepin’ on. But the real beauty in life comes from being actively engaged and being awake to what is around you. We have the opportunity to be accountable to those who our actions directly affect. It is not about saving anyone; it is about making choices with the big picture in mind. There was no one in Nepal who needed me to save them; they need me to be present.

We have the opportunity every day to make choices that can tip the scales; choosing to facilitate fresh drinking water, adequate health care, and basic education. It takes us working as a commUnity, birds of a feather, so people can go to sleep at night knowing that one of the most influential nations acknowledges their power in the world and strives to make it a better place for us all.

For more information about AC Sherpa and 7 Summits Foundation visit www.7summitsfoundation.org.

For more information about Clint, John and Erika’s Nepal Tour please join them at SoulFood Books and Café at 8 p.m., Friday, May 6, for a night of music, film and stories. Visit clintmccune.com and seattlebackpackersmagazine.com for more information.

You can find Sara at SoulFood making sure that the coffee is fresh, the art is engaging and the commUnity is heard.