Leaving No Trace - Better Than I Found It: A Guiding Principle for Life - My Journey Toward Leaving the World a Better Place
Leaving things (places, situations, people, the world) better than you found them and the personal growth and community involvement that comes with it.
Many years ago, in what feels like another lifetime, I was part of the Austin, Texas, AcroYoga, Circus, and Flow Arts community.
My Cirque days in my early 20s were a time of personal growth, during which I learned the value of leaving things better than I found them.
During this time, I lived as a hot pink and purple-haired clown - not a literal clown, but a clown in a broader sense (a comic entertainer, especially one in a circus, wearing a costume and exaggerated makeup).
Back in time (2008 or 2009), David and I often found ourselves playing on the grass under tall trees in a Zilker Park (with a gathering of Burners, Yogis, Drum Circle Members, and Circus Artis) in Austin, Texas.
A Moneyless Society
We (David and I) joined the Cirque and Burner communities after one of my childhood friends introduced us to hoop-dancing (dancing with plastic hoops) or hooping.
This alternative community offered more than just the idea that adults and all humans need to play (because it is how we learn and grow). It was built on the corner stone of “kindness” for kindness sake. Doing for others what you can do, and not expecting anythign in return.
Of course, we all still depended on money outside of community events and gathering, but the community hosted various events where everyone would bring what they had to contribute to the community without expecting anything in return.
Sunday Circus
Circus Sundays happened weekly in the park.
They consisted of several community members, an assortment of flow toys, slack lines, a drum circle, outdoor blankets, reusable water bottles, and snacks. It was very casual but exciting because, while there were regulars, you never knew who would show up.
Electro Circus
A few times a year, the Circus Sunday crowd would build (FREE) day-long rogue events and outdoor family-friendly raves under the trees in Zilker Park or other locations around town willing to share space with us.
People would dance, play with flow toys, and do various circus arts for hours, sometimes stretching late into the evenings (until the parks closed).
The Electro Circus events were free to anyone who wanted to attend and put on as a gift to the community a few times a year.
The contributions people brought varied in size, but it was understood that whatever you bring to give is done so freely, with no expectation that there will be a barter or monetary exchange of the items you bring.
Despite not having much to give in the monetary sense, David and I brought our time, helped with setup, tear down, and general event support (helping ANYONE who needed help), and shared our Yoga and Flow Arts knowledge and skills (along with some fun face paint and makeup) with the community. This was our way of contributing to the group that had given us so much, and it brought us immense joy and a sense of purpose.
Regional Burns
Regional Burns (smaller events similar to Burning Man) were more extended, lasting 4-7 days, and involved industrious Burners coming together to build cities that would be deconstructed at the end of the event, leaving behind no trace of the party (and temporary town and it's thousands of residents) had ever existed.
People would construct, operate, and fully stock bars, nightclubs, camps, movie theaters, restaurants (and more) out in nature.
The restaurants served food, and the bars served alcohol, but no money (or anything) was exchanged for this food and free booze; it was given FREELY as long as people met ONE criteria—they brought their own cups, plates, and eating utensils (because disposable items create unnecessary trash).
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I hope this helps,
- Lyric
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