I'm thinking that perhaps I'm not cool enough or smart enough for Zaadz. Thus far, I am supremely impressed with the membership and discussions growing here. But I'm not sure if this the kind of community that will foster and encourage these enlightened ideas in a general public that is searching for a better world, but doesn't have the time, money, knowledge to pursue them in their every day lives.

I spent a lifetime trying to be different and then woke up one morning wondering why I didn't fit in anywhere. A decade in the rat race and suburbia left me emotionally empty, spiritually bankrupt, physically a wreck, and financially depleted. Rehab and recovery helped me throw away the template I thought I was supposed to adhere to and taught me to continue forging my own path, but in a healthier way. Now, I strive for simplicity and for balance.

I very much want to be a part of this community because I absolutey adore and support the idea of conscious capitalism, but I'm not sure I have the intellectual capacity or online social skills or time to articulate in the manner in which the bar here has been set.

Is it possible to change the world, keep it simple, raise healthy children, live with integrity, enjoy Metallica, stay sober, dye your hair pink at 37, still be in love with your husband after 15 years, read and understand Ken Wilber, integrate passion with work, be a feminist and a girlie girl, digest every issue of Ode, and develop real relationships with like-minded people online?

I guess we'll have to see.

When I was pregnant with my first child, my mom bought me a really cool book, "The Family Virtues Guide," by Linda Kavelin Popov. Basically, the book is a simple tutorial on building your family's moral foundation through discussing and practicing the virtues found throughout the world's cultures and religions.

Fast forward several years later, throw in a geographic, some rehab, and a total restructuring of my psyche, and viola! Out comes the book of virtues at the perfect place in time. Yesterday, we had our first Family Virtues Meeting. We kept it brief and chose "Loving" as this week's virtue. Throughout the week we will look for ways to illustrate the concept. Hopefully, it will begin to build a framework for understanding the different values we try to throw at our kids. I'll let you know how it goes.

For more information on the Virtues Project see their website.