An Open Letter to the President Who Keeps Emailing Me

Dear President Obama,

I do not understand why you keep asking for money to support your work. You are getting paid for a full time job, I am not. I am one you are trying to get behind. But I cannot support this work with money I don't have. What's with that? I write letters and make phone calls and sign petitions and stand behind my prayers and what I value, behind the truth.

Here's what I am working on. I am completing my M.S. in holistic nutrition and strive to help people get and stay healthy and stay out of the hospitals and rip-off health care system that causes so many more problems than it helps. I am uninsured. I rely on wonderful "alternative" and holistic medical professionals for my health care. They work with me on the finances. We do trades. We collaborate and support each other as people. The health care system is a nightmare, and I don't believe that forcing the American population to purchase insurance with dollars they don't have for medical care that doesn't get the big picture is the answer.

I know you are doing your level best to find compromise to overhaul healthcare. I don't know how to do your job. It's a tough one. But I don't know that I would want to buy my way into a crumbling system if I had the cash flow to do so.

I see the future from the present and I am focused on collaborations, community building, buying local and voting with our spending dollars for clean, whole food and well-made products crafted with love and attention, kindness and compassion, practicing consensus and striving for a modest and sustainable lifestyle. Taking care of one another. Supporting the beautiful land we call our home, whether or not we "own" it. Being responsible.

Please do not send me anymore solicitations for money. You are barking up the wrong tree. Throwing your pebble in the wrong pool. Me, I'm just moving forward doing what feels right to take care of myself, my family, and this holy circle of life.

Sending blessings of love and gratitude all around the circle, right to you and yours.

In peace, Maxime Zahra Stadlen