Page 280 - Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

254 Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

act of passing on benefits received to others without asking anything in return.
From an energetic perspective this prevents the qi or life force from stagnating
and it will generate powerful eddies of generosity that compound the total
vitality of the system. This is called realizing “BHI or Laughing Heart
Advantage” (Alliancesfordiscovery-D).
So conceived the entire life cycle of an architectural enterprisedclient
engagement, preliminary design, mock-up, modeling, prototyping, blueprinting,
construction, financing, community outreach, marketingdbecomes a coherent,
seamlessly integrated process, with BHI as its DNA. In such environments
people flourish because qi and love are balanced and flow easily.

EXAMPLE 2: RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES LINKED TO
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGE TOWNS

Retirement can be viewed either as the beginning of a downward spiral or an
inflection point leading to the next stage life’s exciting adventure. For the great
majority of people this is an existential choice.
BHI was originally designed based on the personal experience of the author
to assist other voyagers who have passed the landmark age of 55 years. Here is
an excerpt from the Laughing Heart Guide specifically addressing the
challenges of our later years (Alliancesfordiscovery-E).
Declining powersdeven as our physical powers weaken, we can harvest
new reservoirs of health, energy, strength, and vitality.
Vulnerabilitydwhen our heart opens, untapped inner resources become
available. With the wisdom of our later years, we realize life has many
colors and forms. By flowing with life, we are less vulnerable.
RelevancedLaughing Heart enables us to find new and useful applications
for our special gifts and experience.
MeaningdBy paying forward and bringing joy into the world, we discover
new meaning in ordinary things.
Closing pathwaysdSome paths close with aging but others open. The wide
world beckons for exploration and discovery.
Listlessness and passivitydLaughing Heart can hold and sustain us when
we feel listless and blocked by life.
DisengagementdWhen we are renewed, we have the energy to reengage.
Loss of loved ones, of being cared for and caringdA Laughing Heart
enables us to better bear the grief and sorrows of life and can nourish us in
our darkest moments.
The end of the storydAlthough there may be no definitive answers to our
common dilemma, we do have a fierce and courageous option: to leave this
world with a great roaring Laughing Heart.

It is not surprising that these same sentiments are shared by millions of
retirees around the world, who constitute one of the fastest growing sectors,