For as long as I can remember, seeing discrimination practised at any level has always raised the emotion of anger in me. I have always seen discrimination as being the strong against the weak, like men against women, adults against children man destroying nature, one culture over another, good versus evil, the rich getting richer at the expense of the poor, the employer discriminating against his employees, the self-righteous wars between religions, and so with many other of our ways of life.

Believing myself to be overreacting, for most of my life I did not pay much attention to these feelings and thoughts. I always thought that they were emotions arising out of my idealistic beliefs which I believed had no place in the real world I lived in. It seemed to me that my ideology and real life were two separate worlds that could never co-exist. And yet deep within I always felt that it had to be different, that they should be one and the same.

From my early teens, my life’s dream has always been to one day have an organisation or own a company that would be a place that meant more to the people than just somewhere to go and earn a living. It was to be a place that did more for people than pay them an earning. This was to be a place where everyone was accepted as an equal regardless of gender, colour, or role they played or function they performed. This company would operate in such a way that participating members would find themselves there not simply because they wanted to earn a living but because of a greater meaning. A meaning of being allowed to do what was important for their lives, a place where they could realise their life’s dreams. And in so doing they would always give and produce only the best.

In return, this company would ensure that all its people were taken care of in every way. No one would have to concern themselves about their daily needs for survival, having a roof over their heads, education for their children, providing for their retirement, etc. All would be taken care of. Idealistic? On more than one occasion I have been told that this is a pipe-dream, it is idealistic, in our way of life this cannot be, that it is all ridiculous, it will never work, it simply is not possible, not a workable model. Much of what I have been told is in fact true if one looks at my dream in today’s life-style. It is however also a fact that our present life-style only exists because it is founded on the very basis and fundamental principle of discrimination.

But, what may be considered as being idealistic and unworkable, is in fact a model that was in existence for centuries before being destroyed by civilised cultures and populations. For centuries native cultures of many lands lived on the basis of a communal life style where, for example, if there was food everyone ate and when there was no food no one ate.

Furthermore, all that was done was for the overall benefit of the community where each took care of one another. This system no doubt worked very well for centuries until we imposed on them our Western civilisation principles and destroyed anyone who resisted them.

Is my dream idealistic? I think not. Perhaps it is nothing more than reviving a very tried and tested workable system that would bring about unconditional equality in a present world of discrimination and inequality. This way every human being and other life form would be able to co-exist for the common purpose of manifesting who and what each really is. Together we ALL are an expression of the ONE LIFE - there should be no separateness as currently exists.

That dream finally turned into the beginnings of becoming a reality when in 1992 I started my company OPTIO for the express purpose of realising my life-long dream. It all started coming together when in 1992 I decided to start facilitating my own self awareness workshops. The journey of fulfilling that dream has been far from easy and even to this day it remains a challenge. There are many people that identify with my dream and who would be willing to join such an established set up. But few are willing to let go of what they have and commit themselves to establishing such a community. The idea of living in a natural and health-conscious, self-sustaining community environment appeals to many but most are too scared to let go of their materialistic wealth.

My challenge to realise my dream is still very much alive.

My journey, and search, for like-minded people to come together for the establishment of such a community still goes on.

Sergio Salotto