When I first announced our 13th monthly mission, I didn’t imagine it would be met with such enthusiasm – but I should have known better. You guys never cease to amaze me! It was pounced upon by all you awesome readers, and you being the industrious ingenious people that you are, have taken this little idea and RUN with it. From the stories shared in the first wrap-up, to the unanimous call to keep it going another month, to the partnership with illuminationPositive, it’s all of YOU who have really driven this project forward.

And now it continues to grow! All the way from down in the Yucatán (one of my very favorite places on Earth), Bonzai reader Ero San has been spreading all sorts of love. This is so delightfully creative, when he shared it with me I just couldn’t wait to get it out to all of you. I know you’ll be as inspired as I am!








Origami butterflies. But not just any origami butterflies! These guys are made out of Post-It Notes, so they’re stickable! Quick to assemble and simple to spread, Ero San’s been sprinkling them all over Merida. Each one has a little love message written inside, too, for whoever is lucky enough to find and unfold it. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

I just love this idea and I can’t wait to start making butterflies of my own. If you want to join in the fun, Ero San made an instructional video to teach us all the technique :





Thank you SO MUCH to Ero San for sharing your endeavors with us. It’s truly inspiring! And to all of you out there, please share your stories too! We want to hear about all the ways you’ve been spreading the love. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate at all, so no need to be shy.

Can’t wait to hear from you all!

*** all images by Ero San

A lot of you reported that you were unable to fulfill this mission as completely as you’d hoped, so now’s your chance! Others posted their accomplishments and – *WOW* – what an inspiring collection of stories! You guys are AMAZING. Definitely check out the comments in the wrap-up post for a ton of great ideas and a goodly dose of motivation.

“I Have Everything I Need“, “This Is The Sign You’ve Been Waiting For“, & “You are ready. Calm your self. You are gaining in strength“

So that’s the extension, but what about the expansion? Well, I’m so thrilled to announce that Bonzai Aphrodite has teamed up with Shango Los of illuminationPositive! Shango began the project in 1993 and has kept it going, underground and in some form or another, ever since. This INCREDIBLE endeavor is very similar to the little handwritten messages I made last month, except way cooler and on a much grander scale. The project has run over 15 years and has participants around the world, but it’s always been kept underground. Now, illuminationPositive is going BIG, and I for one am more than happy to help!








What an amazing concept, right guys? So simple, so elegant, and yet profoundly impactful. If you’re excited by the project and want to be a part of it, there’s a couple of things you can do. You can friend them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. And, for my readers, the first TEN people to email me (info at bonzaiaphrodite dot com) will be sent their own little bundle of illuminationPositive cards to pass out! Yay!!! (Okay, ten emails and ten winners! All gone!)

I want to give a huge THANK YOU to all of you guys, who inspire me more than you’ll ever know. I can’t wait to hear about how you ‘Spread The Love’ this month!

And of course a huge THANK YOU to Shango and illuminationPositive, for all the love you’ve already spread and all the love you’ve yet to give. You’re awesome dude!

*** all images credited to illuminationPositive

Lucky number 13! But this mission isn’t about luck, good or bad. Quite the opposite in fact – it’s about karma.

Before we jump into all that, just a reminder that last month’s wrap-up is here. I’d really love to hear from all of you, as I’ve been keeping you in my thoughts as you’ve worked this mission and now I’m curious to hear about it! So please please, hop on over and let me know how you did (even if it was less than stellar – that’s okay too!)

So now for this month’s mission! Last month was bad habits (boo), and this month we round it out with good deeds (yay!) Because it’s so easy to get caught up in the flurry of life, to focus only on the future. You just get swept away in your schedule, never really pausing to look around at the *now*, never really snapping into the present. This is a concept we addressed in relation to our bad habits last month, and it’s an idea you’ll see me explore in my work throughout this site. Because it’s really, really important.

I know that for me, if I don’t check in with myself I can easily get so stuck in a ‘forward moving’ mindset. Just put my head down and plow forward with “gotta get this done, then gotta get this done, then gotta . . . “. But that’s no way to live a life! And not only will it keep us from dealing with our demons, but it also keeps us from . . . noticing that the person in front of us couldn’t pay for their coffee . . . or that the old man who we just passed gave the most genuine smile . . . or that the mom wrestling two kids and 3 bags of groceries could probably use a hand . . . or that the homeless guy really does look hungry . . .

And that’s all I’m asking you to do. To wake up, look around, and find something kind to do for a stranger. Maybe, once a week? Or more if you’d like. It could be anything, from buying a kid a cookie to helping a little old lady across the street. Just do something nice, and pay attention to how it feels.

***extra credit for over-achievers: try making a smile your ‘default face’. When you’re standing in line or walking to work or talking to a cashier, slap on a big grin, look people in the eyes and really smile at them, and man . . . just watch what happens!***

So whether you believe in karma or not, whether you believe that God punishes you or that the Universe will provide for you, well . . . when it comes down to it, it doesn’t really matter! The fact is that doing a good deed makes the world a better place. And that, my friends, is all we can hope to accomplish.

So, Pay It Forward once each week in July. You in? Do you accept this mission?

Special thanks to Heather who’s idea inspired this mission.

Well guys, we made it! I know that for a number of brave readers this was maybe the most challenging mission yet. I want you to know that no matter how much you accomplished, I am so proud of you! Because you set a positive intention, and you held it, and you worked towards it. You made a choice to be mindful and that is a huge act of courage!

My goal was to eat less salt. And I’m thrilled to report that I did it! I had a few slips (Sundays were hard for me), but for the most part it was easier than I’d expected. I did it by keeping salt off the table, period. I wasn’t allowed to salt my food unless Damian insisted that it was appropriate (if food was very bland). In those rare cases I trusted his judgement and allowed him to salt my food, but only as much as he salted his own.

And that will be my plan from here on out. I still don’t totally trust my palate, so I’ll take my cues from my dining companions and only salt as much as they do. I think, with careful consideration and more time, I’ll really be able to beat the salt monster, ha!

So what about you my dears? How did your mission go? And have you devised a plan of action to keep your momentum?

I can’t wait to hear from everyone!

Well! We’re just about halfway through our mission this month, 2 weeks into our new and improved selves. And since this particular task is so personal, so close to the core of us, we’re continuing our periodic check-ins again this Monday. I hope this will provide you with a space to admit your difficulties, revel in your accomplishments, and pose any questions that you may have. Most importantly, I hope this space will allow us to come together as a community to share our stories and discuss our struggles. A mission like this requires a support system!

Personally, I had a salty relapse yesterday. I was doing very well and without even really trying . . . come to think of it, perhaps that’s why I fell off the wagon. I may have let my guard down. Regardless, last night I was snacking on some raw cashews and it occurred to me that the flavor would really be enhanced with a little sea salt. So I begin to sprinkle, and, well – I’m quite certain I added more salty goodness than could be considered ‘reasonable’. Whoops!

So that was my one transgression, brought on by simply not checking in with myself. Not being mindful. It’s a very difficult practice, remaining in the moment at all times. But I’m getting better at it, and you’d better believe I’ll keep trying!

I think, fundamentally, mindfulness is the key to most of our issues this mission. Food for thought . . .

So, what about you? Going good or spiraling downwards? Somewhere in between? What do you think you need to do to stay on track? (and can we help??)

Good luck to all of you! BONZAI!

Our mission this month is all about facing down a demon, besting a bad habit to better ourselves. Because there is a great potential for emotional/psychological ‘hard work’ here, I thought it might be best to check in each Monday this month. These missions are always a collective effort, but now more than ever it’s time for community to come through. A lot of you were brave enough to take on quite a challenge, and I want to make sure you have a good support system!

For me, so far the struggle with salt has actually been easier than I’d anticipated. Knowing that sprinkling on the seasoning is just *not an option*, has allowed me to just settle in and appreciate a dish for what it is. However! I have noticed that I’m making up for missing flavor in other ways – like extra hot sauce, dressing, or various other condiments. What can I say? I like loud flavors!

So, how is your mission going? Is it easy breezy or have you been battling? And what can we do to help you along?

Good luck to all of you! BONZAI!

And how better to jumpstart our community, than with a challenging new MMM?

High atop my vintage Schwinn, ‘Althea’. Summer 2008.

#11


Let’s talk transportation. We all know that gas-powered vehicles are an environmental nightmare, but it can be hard to break out of such a convenient (and let’s face it – comfortable) habit. The truth is, if you really want to cut your carbon footprint, transport is key – in terms of impact it’s second only to going veg*n.

So in honor of springtime and the sunshine that it brings (perfect for vehicle-free transportation), I challenge you to rethink how you get around. Could you alter your errands to stay within a bike-friendly zone? Could you jog around your neighborhood instead of driving to the gym? Could you walk to work, or to the coffee shop, or to the drug store? Could you do your grocery shopping with a friend, for the company *and* the car share? Could you catch the bus to school? Could you ride the subway to dinner? Could you set up an office carpool? Could you rollerblade to brunch?

As you can see, the possibilities for change are endless. And they really add up!

Personally, I do own a car. But I do the vast majority of my ‘moving’ by other means. I do my grocery shopping daily, by foot (while walking the dogs). I walk a lot actually, and it’s a great way for Waits to experience the world. I used to ride my bike everywhere, which gave me an even greater range, but that’s out until this baby gets a bit bigger.

These days my car averages 1 tank of gas per month, almost exactly on the nose. I fill it up around the 1st, and it takes about 4 weeks to get down near ‘empty’. So my personal goal for this MMM is to cut that in half. I intend to use only 1/2 a tank of gas this month! If I can make that my standard I’ll be sittin’ pretty, don’t you think?

Damian and I rockin’ the bike helmets. Safety first! haha. Summer 2008.

The bike basket during an afternoon of errand-running. Summer 2008.

So, what could *YOU* do to curb your emissions in the transportation arena? And do you choose to accept this mission??

Well, frankly, I’m about to have a baby! And also, we just celebrated our 10th Mission (woo-hoo!) and ten in a row is quite an accomplishment. So, this month we’re taking a little hiatus. For me, you can call it maternity leave. For you guys, consider it a well earned reward for the many missions completed.

I am planning a ‘Mini Mission’ for later this month, so definitely stay tuned for that. It’s a real important one.

In the meantime, why not revisit one of the previous 10 MMMs? Perhaps there’s one you missed that you’d like to attempt anew? March is the month for freestylin’, so you can choose a prior mission OR come up with a brand new mission of your own! Here’s our master mission list:


1) Composting!

• With a comprehensive beginners guide here and a follow-up here.

2) Completing a Cleanse!

• With some background info here, my first cleanse journal here and the follow-up here.

3) Ditching the Dryer!

• With a how-to and follow-up here.

4) Sustainable Feminine Products!

• With a follow-up here. (and lots of great reader comments)

5) Changing Our Dietary Habits!

• With a check-in on being a local-vore here, and a wrap-up here.

6) Reducing Our Plastic!

• With a follow-up here, and a second follow-up here.

7) Going ‘NO-POO’!!!

• With a starter article here and a final follow-up here.

Switching to Family Cloth!

• With a handy how-to here and a recap here.

9) Shopping Exclusively Secondhand!

• With a follow-up here.

10) Saving Change to MAKE Change!

• With an explanation and information here.

So what do you think, my dear ones? Will you be taking the month off to recharge? Or will you be charging into one of our past adventures? Or, perhaps, will you be inventing your very own unique mission? (do share, if you do!!)

Me? I’ll be diligently working on ‘Operation: Dirty Diapers and Sleepless Nights’. I can’t wait!

Today is the first anniversary of Bonzai Aphrodite (!!!), and it also happens to be the 1st of February. That means it’s time for our tenth Monthly Mission (ten already!). But I wanted to do something more symbolic this time, something very special to honor this little blog’s birthday.

What could we do to represent the values and ideals that we aspire towards here? What single step could epitomize :

Certainly not something as focused as composting or going no-poo. These are awesome acts, to be sure, but they’re too directed to represent an entire ideology.

Bonzai Aphrodite is all about simple changes; about understanding the truth that altering our actions can add up to impactful magnitude. So, here’s your challenge for the month – Start A Piggybank.

That’s all. Easy as pie. We’re all going to start saving our change, in order to make some change! I’ll tell you more at the end of the month but for now you’ll just have to trust me.

So start saving those coins! To move things along, get in the habit of breaking bills instead of fishing for exact change. You’ll hardly notice the difference in your wallet, but you’ll end up with a lot more weight in your piggy! Try to get change from each transaction, and aim to contribute to your bank every single day. Of course, you needn’t break dollars into quarters just for the sake of adding coins! You want this to be natural, to become a habit.





Stash your coinage at the end of each day. If you don’t want to invest in a ‘real’ ceramic piglet, that’s fine! There’s tons of other wonderful ways to stylishly save. You can custom-make a piggybank out of old plastic bottles, as evidenced above, or an old coffee tin, shown below.





As well, you can always just decorate a glass mason jar! Cover it with a favorite fabric, or decoupage it with lovely images clipped form magazines. Hell, you can toss your change in a cereal bowl if that’s what works for you! The point is to begin collecting ‘change’, in a mindful and meaningful way. Because we all know that ‘change’ is more effective, when it’s collective!

So, will you accept this mission and join in??





BONZAI!

*** I had a lot of trouble finding sources for these photos and I hate not acknowledging artists. I apologize, and if anyone can help me give credit where credit is due, it would be much appreciated. Thanks! ***

Although my bed rest kept my thrifting to a minimum, I was able to pick up a few awesome items this month. And of course, all the clothes and baby clothes I bought were gently used. But it’s not about me – I want to hear about you guys!

How did this month go for you? Were you able to remain entirely secondhand? What kind of goods did you get and how did you have to alter your habits? And most importantly, are you going to try to keep it up indefinitely???

I’d really love to share the thrift store love, so please please please:

1) Send me pics of the pillage! If you scored something amazing that you’d like to share, email me a picture (you don’t have to be wearing it if you don’t want to) at info@bonzaiaphrodite.com Please include your first name and the city/country you found it in.

2) Send me the names and addresses of the BEST secondhand stores in your city, and maybe a brief description of why they’re so rad. I want to compile a list of the greatest thrift stores across America (across the world??). So send me all the top secret hot spots you know of in every city you’ve been to. Send your thrift stats to info@bonzaiaphrodite.com