BEING YOU - BE DIFFERENT

Thank you Justine & Michael 💚

Many of us spend our lives twisting ourselves into shapes that are unnatural and uncomfortable in the hopes of gaining acceptance from others. We do this in an effort to live up to their expectations, or avoid conflict. And in doing this, we fail to recognise what we deeply desire for ourselves and what is true within our own heart.

If you're trying so hard to fit in, you're missing out on all the benefits of stepping out and really being you - that person that comes out when no one's looking, when your guard is down - that's you. And the good news is, we're all waiting for you to do it. Even though we won't say it out loud, we really want to know what the real you looks like, sounds like, acts like. We want you to do it so we can see just how easy it is for us to do it too. Let it shine!

Filmed in Barrydale, South Africa.
Featuring Graham Abbott

All of our films are made possible through the generous support of our patrons.

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Who is Green Renaissance? We are Michael and Justine - passionate filmmakers, living off-grid and dedicating our time to making films that we hope will inspire and share positivity out into the world.

Editing - by Hanné Koster
Sound mix - by Tamryn Breakey

The Barrenness of a Busy Life - by BENJA
We Are Endless - by Evert Z
Season Finale - Instrumental - No Drums - by Beo
A Little Peace of Mind - by Evert Z
Waiting - by Brianna Tam
Exhale - by Matooma

A huge thank you to these guys, who so generously gave of their to time to help with language translations:
Arabic - by Mohammad Alkhudhair
Croatian - by Davor Bobanac
Dutch - by Karla Greven
English - by Justine du Toit
Filipino - by Fanita Spears-Mogro
French - by Amélie Macoin
German - by Tanja Pütz
Greek - by Angeliki Papadimitriou
Hindi - by Parul Sharma
Indonesian - by Ary Nuansa
Italian - by Grazia Gironella
Korean - by Chloe Park
Macedonian - by Lidija Pusevska Markovska
Polish - by Anna Konieczna
Russian - by Assiya Marzhanova
Slovak - by Zuzana Beratsova
Slovenian - by Jasmina Kovačič
Spanish - by Emanuel Mori
Thai - by Pimmi Uamart
Vietnamese - by Minh Le

[soniakarimdinnal]

It makes me so happy to read the random comments and feeling that I'm not the only one but there is a whole community out there believing in things I value. Love you all 💓

[oshxamo]

“What's important in life isn't about what you achieve out there. It's what you achieve inside. Look after this old soul of yours and invest in it. Because it's the one that's going to keep you going when everything else around you falls flat.”
Thank you for the reminder. 🌸

[elleh]

we live in a beautiful natural world infiltrated by shit corporations and shit governments run by psychopaths. of course people feel terribly lonesome and disconnected. we know deep down this fast-paced world is not natural or even healthy and yet we are caught in it. save yourselves and look to what nature shows you; that is beauty in the simplest things, patience, and renewal. the acorns keep falling, no matter how sad i feel, and when i see them i smile because i know its a kernel of hope, that the tree and this world will keep on keeping on. The tree does not despair and keep all her acorns tightly held. She holds no grudge against the long brutal summers of today.

[fearthehoneybadger]

People need to understand that they find their peace within: not outside themselves.

[namratasiddappa]

Go “inside”, take care of your soul, invest in it, it shall forever guide you to its destination 😊
Beautiful video.

[lizlorraine]

I‘m now 76, single with kids and grandchildren. Im a retired therapist and I just still cannot reconcile why people have children, then send them off to boarding school. I mean yes they have reasons, but none address the abandonment a child suffers. Raising kids is frustrating, time consuming, financially difficult most times. Many have kids to be seen as „normal“ and „functioning“, but not invested. This beautiful soul made it through all that and I‘m so pleased he did. Most don‘t, at least without getting help. Gabor Mate‘s book, The Myth of Normal, helps us with us understanding our trauma and making sense of it, to not just survive but to thrive like this gentleman. Thank you for sharing your journey, so helpful! Namaste, and have a grateful day.❤

[magma]

HAPPINESS IS DEFINITELY AN INSIDE JOB.

Blessings All 🙏

[flamingo]

Thank you, Graham, for your heart-felt words of wisdom and for your inspiration. So many of us never fit into traditional schooling. The “one size fits all” curriculum robs children of their very essence and what makes them unique. Thank you, GR, for bringing another beautiful soul into my life. Your films are precious 🙏🏼❤️🕊

[HB-MrCatLover]

The Green Renaissance films are always so therapeutic! We always feel so much better and so much richer after watching them. Each episode resonates with me and helps me feel better in a world I feel more and more estranged from.
Best wishes to you all from me in France. 💚🙏🍀

[sierrakjack]

I'm also a photographer. I also "hid" behind the camera. Photography has also been a constant in my life-through all the awful hardships and pure blissful happiness. I photographed everything from the doctor holding up the baby I just delivered -to me holding my 10 year old, ( deceased) daughters hand. in the hospital. always analog. I also feel like outcast. introverted. deep. like I don't belong or fit in-anywhere. graham is my spirit animal. always busy being perfect and holding in-when I desperately just want to be myself (thanks to childhood full of trauma). thank you. knowing I'm not alone. <3

[helenpk]

Oh! How wonderful this man is, that he spoke so much truth & wisdom. No matter who you are, you are an individual & you are as normal as anyone else, who are kind & understanding others & don’t judge people from the outside, but try to listen to them not, just hear them! This video has opened up my mind going back in my childhood, which was not a happy one, but over the years I’ve met people who used to tell me, my dear Helen, don’t ever change, just keep on being yourself, cos I’m just as good as anyone else & perhaps a bit wiser than many of those who were cruel to me or other kids who were slow or, shy xx God bless this man & keep him safe xx thank you once again for this remarkable insight of other people & their kindness & their struggle, just to be themselves & accept who they are, GODS CHILDREN !! Helen Kirrage xx

[mnbdysl]

"It's your reality you're creating.... create a good one." 🗝️

[Mookiethedog]

I love this one. I didn’t like school either and this guys words hit the nail on the head for me 40 or 50 years after as to why!

[susank]

I am on the cusp of finally doing what I want in life: to teach art and ecology together. I am creating a good life for my soul but there has been so much resistance along the way from outside forces and internal angst. These words were the healing balm I needed in this moment. Beautiful affirmation! Thank you.

[kailashbedi]

So many very beautiful souls out there.
They truly endear themselves to us.
And your productions introduce their stories to us to comfort us by letting us know that there are others out there experiencing the same in life as we are and thinking as we do. We are not alone. Bless you.

[ea]

Simply wonderful - lifts my heart ! Thank you to everyone involved for following and sharing your vision !

[Woofkitty]

Yes, yes, yes! Sending gratitude, love and light your way.

[mariannavacratsa]

What a soothing voice he has ..it made me feel calm while listening to his philosophy ..I so delight in feeling one with you all ...😍

[TeddyBearFarmer]

What a joy to watch this message first thing this morning ❤

[malgozata]

Thank you for this video. Graham's words reminded me of my personal goal: to explore my own interests, not comparing myself to others.
I had forgotten that.
Hence, i am very appreciative for this reminder.
Great video for all of us, who are not normal.