Thanks to Ben Harper for the inspiration in your rocking song Better Way. Check it out, especially if you’re feeling the world getting a bit wacky. These are interesting times we live in! But a better way is worth working for, and that’s the heart of what we were saying in the Huffington Post piece by me and Annie Leonard, “Why we made the Story of Cosmetics.”

Thanks to all of you who posted comments and are engaging in the discussion about creating a healthier beauty industry. Whatever your views, there’s one thing we can all agree on: There are huge shifts taking place right now that haven’t been seen in a very long time.

My new friend Sarah Finney Robinson put it this way: “I’m a scholarly, long-view type of person, and I personally see the shift to a green economy — including safe cosmetics, green lifestyle, green business, products and services, legislative overhauls, design, education — i.e. everything — as a huge civilization shift, the likes of which we haven’t seen since the Industrial revolution.”

What an exciting time to be alive! There are so many opportunities and positive signs that things are moving in a generally good direction. Just a few of my favorites from the past week:

Small businesses that are making the world a better place: A shout out to the 50-plus companies that joined today’s call with Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to discuss the Safe Cosmetics Act. This stakeholder process is an important part of ensuring that legislative reform is both meaningful and workable.

Thanks to Shannon at Grateful Body for lunch, your wisdom and for making awesome chemical-free products with so much love.

Love this website: Practically Green, a five-minute quiz to show how well you’re walking the green talk. I aspired to “wicked green” but came in at “adventurously green” so I’ve got some work to do! (And love the Crazy Make-up blog!)

Lisa Morahan

Passion into Action: I was glad to hear about Elise Parker’s work to elevate women’s voices in See Jane Do (hear her interview with me on KVMR airing in Sacramento and online Weds. Aug. 25, 1-2 p.m. PT), and to connect with Lisa Morahan who founded an organization to help fellow cancer survivors.

Here’s some of Lisa’s story, and stay tuned to the website www.safecosmetics.org for a new page with more of Lisa’s story and others with inspiring tales to tell.

“At my last oncologist follow-up appointment, I asked her thoughts on the various causes of cancer and what we as consumers could possibly do to reduce our risk. She said she wished people would just stop smoking. While she agreed organics were probably a good idea, she really didn’t have the answers and recommendations I was looking for. She suggested that after I did my research, I should let her know what I found. That made me a little mad and scared, yet it was a sobering reality. The doctors don’t know; it is up to us. I decided the best way I could get information would be to host a Healthy Living Expo — to gather experts from various disciplines to share their knowledge to help us all live strong, healthy, happy lives. Join us Nov. 14, 2010 at Saratoga Healthy Living Expo!”

Keep the positive energy flowing everyone. Keep sending me your stories, and keep believing in a better way!