I was in bed, sick and trying to recover, ignoring the weird barbecue smell wafting in from nearby and writing in my journal about how a confluence of events – including meditating like a motherfucker for six months straight – had culminated in this serene and calm harmony, an inner peace where nothing could ruffle my feathers. Then, my roommate Jen walked in.

By Kate Haverston We’ve all seen the heart wrenching footage of the Amazon Rainforest as it burns down. It’s especially stunning considering the sheer size of it — the Amazon spreads into eight different countries in South America and covers 40 percent of the entire continent. Of course, these trees