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 VISION STATEMENT Is America in need of a new awakening? If so, don’t expect it to come from society’s leaders. They are more focused on divisive special interests than more fundamental problems: the loss of human connection and caring among neighbors, family, friends and community. Americans are more concerned about our moral and spiritual meltdown than they are about contentious political issues. They are concerned about how the materialistic side of the American dream has spun out of control and how this has led to so many of the major problems we see today. Only spiritual awakening to something greater than ourselves can address society’s most pressing problems and answer our most heartfelt needs and aspirations. Can we believe in something greater than ourselves, bigger than even our religious or political beliefs? Instead of always arguing about our differences, can we spend more time on building the world that we want right now? Let’s start by making a conscious commitment to bring people together, especially those who don’t share beliefs. The most practical way to do this is to get to know the person right across the street--our neighbor. You might think of your neighbor as only a barking dog. It’s sad, but while we may travel around the world, we may never take a few steps across the street to get to know our neighbor. ____________________________________________________________________________ A SERIOUS CLAIM . . . Bill Thomas, M.D. and prominent author on issues affecting seniors, describes our currently predominant scenario of caring for seniors as the "$3 trillion dollar dilemma." The cost of care for the 78 million new senior/baby boomers "coming of age" in the next 20 years will be $3 trillion dollars more per year than it is now (and that is in a nation with a $13 trillion dollar GDP -quite a chunk of change!). ____________________________________________________________________________ AN OPPORTUNITY The Whispering Dawn Community is a dynamic, multi-generational residential and commercial community concept that fosters a conscious and holistic quality of personal wellness, for not only the core group of elders, but also for the younger generations; and, it offers a supportive environment that encourages each member to continue self-actualization and fulfillment. Furthermore, this intentional community setting is financially affordable and sustainable for the lower two thirds of the population living in the local area. WHAT IS A WHISPERING DAWN COMMUNITY? Whispering Dawn is a new concept in housing and community building that draws on the lessons of history and the creativity of our times. It involves the creation of an elder-rich living experience that allows residents to continue to grow, learn, contribute, and age with grace and spirit. A Whispering Dawn Community revolves around the beneficial contributions elders bring to our society. Rather than repeating the gated or continuing-care retirement community model, a Whispering Dawn Community embraces the idea of intentional community. It takes advantage of the wisdom and experience of its residents and functions as an integral part of the surrounding neighborhood, not a separate, segregated enclave of the out-dated retirement model. HOW DOES A WHISPERING DAWN COMMUNITY WORK? The Community design involves grouping private homes in a manner that promotes interaction among the residents. Residents share indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as facilities such as gardens, gathering areas, trails, and play spaces. A common house is used for shared meals, meetings, workshops, offices, mail, and activities. A vehicle-free central campus and other shared spaces foster the connection among residents, neighbors, and guests. Residents enjoy living spaces that allow a full range of social contact, from complete privacy to full engagement with friends and neighbors. Involvement with local educational and other institutions also is another essential element of the community. In order to create a barrier-free living environment, universal design is built in to each home and other facilities. A Whispering Dawn Community prizes an active, healthy, and engaged lifestyle that contributes to and supports the overall well-being of each resident. Being well known and knowing others in the neighborhood is a keystone to this living concept. Residents commit to sharing their time and talents with each other, including helping in times of need. ARE MANY WHISPERING DAWN COMMUNITIES PLANNED? Yes. A developing network of diverse Whispering Daw Communities throughout the world will encourage sharing, learning, teaching, and visiting among the communities. As each individual Whispering Dawn Community is self-managed, decisions that affect its residents are based on the desires, needs, experience, and judgment of the members of the particular community. This process enables each community to evolve with its own distinct characteristics and strengths, while still reflecting the core Whispering Dawn Community concepts. INTENTIONAL PURPOSE/DESIGN OF A WHISPERING DAWN COMMUNITY Our vision for each member is to provide a continuing opportunity to fulfill their life journey of S(s)elf discovery and authentic expression. To that end, the purpose of "community" is
to provide a trusting environment in which everyone may consciously support each other in daily living. Human relationships in community are based on communications that are respectfully non-judgemental and supportive. The core principles underlying the personal growth of each community member are 1. honoring the spiritual Oneness of all humans and natural environment while fully embracing our common reality . . . eventual physical death of all things 2. mutual caring of others and our environment in everyday living, insuring that conscientious caring, in no way, diminishes the "existence" . . . physical, emotional, spiritual, social, mental, and financial . . . of another human being 3. striving to balance the dual needs for both authentic personal expression and harmonious community relationships, within a framework of peaceful cooperation. Some characteristics of likely members of Whispering Dawn Communities are those persons I. WHO ARE CONSCIOUSLY THOUGHTFUL IN DAILY LIVING AND INTENTIONALLY COMMITTED TO LIVING A COOPERATIVE, SPIRITUALLY BASED LIFESTYLE They are also: Self Reliant, Not Prone To Co-Dependent Relationships Financially Independent And Self Sustaining Actively Engaged With All Aspects of Life Choosing To Live Simply II. WHO ARE PSYCHO-SPIRITUALLY GROUNDED AND COMPASSIONATELY MATURE They are also: Evolved Through Existential Pain Continuing To Personally Transcend False Personality Willing To Share Mutual Emotional Support III. WHO ARE RESPECTFUL AND TOLERANT OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS FOR PRIVACY VERSUS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT They are also: Genuinely Caring In Thought and Action Compromising In Negotiations And Respectful Of Personal Boundaries Accepting Of Others Without Judgment ______________________________________________________________________________ Whispering Dawn agrees with and advocates the EARTH CHARTER philosophy,the CHARTER OF NEW URBANISM, and the HUMANIST MANIFESTO-2000. In addition, Whispering Dawn respectfully suggests that the FINDHORN STATEMENT OF COMMON GROUND be incorporated in any disucssion about holistic well being. Of special note, is the unique model of SARVODAYA in the development of new sustainable communities. ____________________________________________________________________ INTERESTED IN DIALOGUE ABOUT MULTI-GENERATIONAL RETIREMENT LIVING? |
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holistic, caring, affordable, ecological, sustainable
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