Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 

1 John 3:17-18

One very chilly afternoon last week a friend and I passed an hour in one of Northern California’s classic bastions of peace, love, and vegan, organic, raw, local, sustainable food served up in haute hippie style (need I mention that we were in Berkeley?). Menu items in this café, it must be understood, are named for declared graces. Thus, after repeating our order for two cups of “I Am Cozy,” our waitress—festively attired in a paisley dress, argyle knee socks, and a purple crocheted crown—said, “I’ll be right back with your tea. Meanwhile, today’s question is: What can we give away today?

She spun on her heel and left, leaving us to think what, indeed? The masses of stuff in my life began to slog in dreary parade past my mind’s eye. My friend wondered aloud if maybe the better question wouldn’t be, “What should we actually keep today?” Inspired, we set to making lists, which naturally began with loved ones (I’m happy to report that after the merest moment of hesitation, our respective teenage children made the cut).

Yesterday four street kids came in who had heard about the grateful bowl. I explained everything to them and they sat down. When I asked how much they'd like to donate they emptied their change cup full of pennies and said "here."
A woman waiting for a to-go order saw this and handed me five dollars. She said, "This is to cover them."
They saw this and thanked her. The four of them looked so hungry, and happy about the food. For the other customers witnessing this interaction one donated $14, and another paid ten for their bowl after seeing all the generosity.
Yesterday made me feel so excited that we offer the grateful bowl, we are helping so many capable people down on their luck make it through so that they can offer their gifts to the world.
I am inspired.

-Marisa

If you picked up a newspaper today, you would have seen headlines about Presidential candidates, the Occupy Wall Street movement, Facebook’s business deals, and an Israeli soldier about to be freed in Palestine. Beyond the front page, you might read about turmoil in the Slovakian government or Obama’s jobs bill. Most of these stories seem important and worth a read. But are they the most important stories of the day?                                             For some time now, scientists have been alerting us that Earth is facing a “sixth extinction,” meaning that in our lifetimes up to half of the species that currently live on our planet could be wiped out. The previous five extinctions, taking place over the 4 billion years the Earth has existed, are thought to have been caused by extreme events like meteors and volcanic activities. But the current mass extinction we’re going through is caused by humans; our pollution, destruction of habitat, and overpopulation are just a few ways we’re wiping out hundreds of plants and animals every single day.
Isn’t the prospect of losing forever creatures like the elephant, polar bear, and chimpanzee important enough to make the front pages of the paper, every single day? Why isn’t our national conversation dominated by how to save the honey bee (whose extinction would mean collapse of most ecosystems worldwide)? I’m not saying we shouldn’t be worried about our economy, that articles about endangered orangutans should replace quality information about the government’s plans to create jobs. But if we don’t work fast to learn about the crisis and to save species across the globe, the unemployment rate will be the least of our worries, since human survival depends on all the species that are now at risk.

If you’d like to learn about the Sixth Extinction, we’re pleased to announce that we’re holding a screening of a new documentary, Call of Life, which explores this topic. Watching this film might give you information and a perspective you will never get by watching or reading the daily news! The film not only looks at the crisis in biodiversity, but also the elements of human nature that have brought us to this point, and how we can change our thinking in order to reverse course.

Watch the Trailer below, and Join us in Berkeley on Thursday, 10/20!

Hi.

What an amazing week this was. We went to Los Angeles to lead Kindred Spirit and were so well received and supported by all the participants doing such deep and meaningful work on their relationships. I left completely inspired. We also got to soak up the LOVE at Cafe Gratitude L.A. where everyone wants to be and is! What a beautiful expression of love in action the Cafe is. I felt so good just looking around the restaurant at all the BEAUTIFUL VIBRANT people there knowing that they were in a fun, exciting and loving place being served food that is healing and good for them! What a miracle that is. What an amazing combination of serving others is created there. Thank you all. If you haven't yet been to the Cafe on Larchmont, make plans to visit it soon, you will LOVE your experience, I promise! We also got to hear Jason Mraz record a song on his upcoming album and I was deeply moved and appreciative of who he is for all of us. Thank you Jason!

Fresh peaches are in the Cafes now, and soon we will be moving to fresh frozen this year, so have and I AM Peachy soon, they are the sweetest peaches ever!

We are home from Costa Rica where we led our Kindred Spirit workshop. It was amazing! So many wonderful people joined us from around the world. We love the generosity of folks that allows for the work we share to be deep and transformative. How fortunate we are. We also drummed to the dolphins (over 400 one day) from a boat in the most beautifully clear blue water ever! Thanks Sierra for sharing your passion for the dolphins with us all. 

We leave for Los Angeles and the opening of the first Cafe Gratitude there early tomorrow morning. Take a look at eaterla.com for a first time view of the new Cafe.  Lisa Bonbright headed up the design team and over saw the construction and she did a fabulous job, wait until you see all the details, thank you so much, Lisa. We are so pleased to be partnering with Chris and Lisa. The LA team is ready to go and we are so proud of them all. 

Sarah is a kitchen line chef at Cafe Gratitude in Berkeley.  

1. What lead you to want to become a chef?

-First my creativity.  Second: my belief in health as primary wealth. Our bodies are our vehicle; we need to have the best possible fuel to live our highest selves. Being of service to others and being able to use my talents is very important, all of which led me to want to become a chef.