One of the most fun things to do here on the coast in December is to take the Candlelight Tour. The inns in Albion, Mendocino, and Fort Bragg open their doors to the public, show the rooms that are decorated for the holidays and serve goodies. The public buys tickets to the event and the proceeds go to Mendocino Unified School Enrichment Fund (MUSE) and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mendocino County (BBBS) We at Living Light always enjoy opening our doors so others can see our fine craftsman style inn. We take great pride in restoring the Inn and making it green; not only is our kitchen vegan-raw, but the linen and mattresses are made from organic materials.

OK, it is soapbox time. So many of us, Archie and me included, rant and rave about how many people are not concerned about the planet and one another. It is true that so much of the news is negative, and that remains in our thoughts for a long time. I remember one time someone told me that it takes three positive statements to get rid of a negative one. I believe this is true, which is why we strive to be as positive as possible.

Last Tuesday I saw a headline in the newspaper:  San Franciscan Philanthropist Dies. “Who was that?” I asked. Richard Goldman, co-founder of Goldman Environmental. So I went online to see just what it was that he did. He and his wife founded Goldman Environmental in 1990. Every year the foundation gives money to six areas: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, South and Central America. They award money to “grassroots heroes”.

“The Goldman Prize views ‘grassroots’ leaders as those involved in local efforts, where positive change is created through community or citizen participation in the issues that affect them. Through recognizing these individual leaders, the Prize seeks to inspire other ordinary people to take extraordinary actions to protect the natural world.”

They have been doing this for thirty years, yet this is the first time I have heard of them. This got me to thinking that there must be a lot of other people on our planet that I have never heard of that are doing things to help as well. It doesn’t have to be big: Archie and I grow only organic fruits, vegetables, and flowers and give away what we do not eat. What are you doing?