As I mentioned in the Introduction, Barbequia is not just a place, but also a lifestyle. Barbequia is the created in the combination of place, physical surroundings, environment, and activities that promote happiness, love, respect, growth, fun, recreation, pleasure, and self-fulfillment.
At first, it may seem that the concept of Barbequia is based in selfishness as it revolves around the individual, couple or family and is all about us – what makes us happy – not about pleasing or impressing anyone else. The first step towards the fall of Barbequia is doing something to please the ego, or worse yet, to please or impress someone else. Barbequia is a very personal, intimate place that inevitably becomes sacred, adding to its power, as we will explore in future chapters.
For the Independent Nation of Barbequia, “Independent” is not meant to imply any form of physical segregation, separatism or succession from any society or political entity; in fact, it has nothing to do with any of these. In Barbequia, our independence is that of thought, expression, and belief systems, as well as independence from negativity, capitulation or compliance for the sake of acceptance. Barbequian independence embraces personal individuality, open-mindedness, non-judgment, financial integrity, emotional health and an out-of-the-box approach to anything and everything. Independent means that we accept responsibility for our decisions and for their effect on our life and on those around us. We embrace the power of choice and know that we are exactly where we choose to be at any given time or station in life. We make no excuses for our self, but realize that we can modify any condition by choosing differently. Independent means we are non-dependent on outside sources for approval, a sense of worth or self-esteem, as we know these are all controlled by our choices.
The word Nation denotes a group of people of one or many origins of like mind and communality in purpose and existence. It is much more than a mere geographical area. The Nation of Barbequia, while almost redundant by adding the word Independent, is exactly that – an independent group of people striving to implement the virtues and concepts of Barbequia in their lives. For the purposes of this book, therefore, we are all citizens of the Independent Nation of Barbequia, or can be.
The creation of your own Independent Nation of Barbequia entails the assimilation, implementation and practical application of these principles, qualities and virtues in our life to the highest degree possible. Barbequia is an on-going process so there is never a point when you can sit on your laurels and feel like you have “made it”. This attitude is a destroyer of Barbequia. We aren’t about thinking we are “enlightened” because once you think you are you just shut the power off to any light. However, we are about the pursuit of enlightenment. We are less about any kind of result and we are all about enjoying the process, the moment. Barbequia is about truly living in the present and not for “when I retire” or when “I have created my wealth” or “when I have this or that”.
Barbequia is about enjoying the abundance that already exists and we sometimes fail to see. It’s about the beauty of our reality and the ease with which it is changed or altered. It’s about understanding that “Energy flows where attention goes”[1] and focusing our attention carefully. Barbequia is about fostering an attitude of gratitude in all aspects of life. It’s about recognizing the abundance of what really matters in life, and focusing on that, rather than on what we think is missing. This book is meant to be a practical introduction to these aspects of our existence, so welcome to the inner halls of the Independent Nation of Barbequia.
[1] Serge Kahili King – Urban Shaman