Observations

The environment I place and find myself in is intertwined with all aspects of my life. My social, physical, and spiritual well-being depend on, and are effected by, my environment at all times.

In the area of social health, I find that the attitudes, authorities, and perspectives of those persons with whom I have daily or even momentary contact with, determine the social environment and disposition of self. These factors continuously dance around each other, forming my day-to-day social health. The choices I make combined with the people I interact with influence future choices, exemplifying the importance of each moment of personal contact, and every choice.

When it comes to the physical environment, the natural world as well as the constructed world influence my perceptions of life, desires, and state of being. The health and diversity of communities, be them ecological or social, reflects the individual health of its members or participants. Also, this health of community often affects the health of the individual, creating an inescapable cycle. I try to be very aware of this and find myself driven towards or away from many communities for this reason, sometimes on a subconscious level, which I can only appreciate in retrospect.

My spiritual environment combines the social and physical aspects, yet is determined more directly by my own reflections and perceptions of self apart from, as well as a part of, and in relation to the surrounding world.

Placed within these three interwoven environments, I participate in and influence my surroundings consciously, while being influenced in return. That is to say, I have and make choices that influence an environment that ultimately determines my own health.

Chant Eicke
February, 2003