"Helping Others": The Meaning of Christmas

"Philly," a homeless man in Louisiana, set up a tree which was then taken away by the city.  

When people in the area heard what had happened, they brought trees, decorations, and gifts (to put under the new trees).  There were so many trees that Philly gave them away to a women's shelter that didn't have any.  He also said that the gifts people brought were for anyone who needed them.  In addition to the gifts that people donated, Philly said he was most impressed that people were giving each other hugs.  When asked what Christmas means to him, Philly already knew exactly how to respond: Helping Others.  Philly, you are an inspiration and you represent the true meaning of Christmas.  Thank you to Philly and all of the people who reached out to him to share Christmas cheer with their community during this holiday season!

If that isn't a story of hope, community, and love...well then I don't know what is.  Happy Holidays!

365 Days of Grateful: A Year Long Lesson for Life.

Selfie Skydiving!

Animals: The best teachers?

It's hard not to watch animals sometimes and wonder if they may be more civilized than humans.
Elephants have big hearts (literally).

When Beauty has Brains...

...it recognizes that all of us are beautiful, that a brain makes you beautiful, that being a good person is beautiful, that image is powerful, and that image is not beauty; it is fiction.  

It is a sculpture of a desire.  It is a contrived moment.  

"Beauty," says the brains, "are not everything: trust me...I'm a model."

Thank you Cameron Russell, for the reminder of what beauty is.

Seek Beauty. Reflect Beauty. Be beauty.

Let people know when you see their beauty.  

They might not see it, themselves 

...but that moment when they hear it, they become it.

Thanks to Upworthy for sharing this project 

from the inner-mind of a high school art student in Chicago.

Empowering Each Other

A local barber gives free haircuts to children before "picture day."  Why?  "Just to support the community...empowering each other."  Good people doing good things and the name of the greater good of the communities where they live and work.  Good on you, dude!

Love trumps all. Seek happiness.

From Poor Perspective

I read a really good post from the perspective of a man named Eric, who spent nearly ten years trying to work his way out of poverty.  It's his take on some of the main issues that contribute to being poor (in the U.S.) and how the situation might compare for people who are not poor.  There are moments when I can just imagine some people who "have" saying "this is stupid, why didn't you just...*insert easy fix here*" but I really appreciate that he put all if it out there and then some, taking time to respond to those and other questions and comments in the commentary section which is usually riddled with not nice people.  On this occasion, however, it seemed like a lot of people could relate not only to Eric's life but to his compassion.  People commented, openly admitting their non-impoverished lives, and yet still were able to recognize and support Eric's theories and shoot down some people who just don't seem to get it even when they outwardly state some of the major flaws in their "comparable" situations.

Poverty is a compound issue because any issue that may be small for the "average" person is that much more expensive in dollars, in time, and in energy, based on the fact that it is generally not the only issue they have.  I urge you to take a look at this, even if you already think you "get it" and even MORE so if you "get that people are lazy and are good at making excuses. (*note sarcasm)"  A lot of poor people are too busy to make excuses.  So do yourself a favor;  Read the article, gain some new perspective, recognize what it's like to see or face all of these obstacles at once.

I was able to look at this list and relate to so many points, and I'm a college-educated middle class adult.  I can only imagine what my life would be like if I didn't have people who supported me financially when I needed it in the past, or who didn't offer me shelter when I didn't have any money for rent, or who didn't encourage me and even take their own time to help me search for job opportunities when I was having a hard time encouraging myself and finding time to be able to work AND search for a better option.  I can't remember what it was like to take care of my apartment alone, to make every meal on my own, and I can't remember a time when I didn't feel that I had a safety net in case something were to go wrong.  I am so lucky...a lot of us are and I'm not sure that we all take the time or even think to realize it.

So this is a "thank you."  Thank you to everyone who has ever helped me.  Thank you to everyone who has ever taught me or showed me what it is to help others.  Thank you to my husband for not making me do it all alone anymore.  Thank you to Eric for writing about poverty from first-hand experience from "the other side" now that you've "made it out."  Thank you to the people in the comment section for understanding, for recognizing that a split second can change an entire reality for people or that poverty can be your challenge from birth with generations of it built up.

There's a way out.  There are people that can help.  

There are people that understand.  You can do it.

To see Eric's article click here.

Who stops bullying?

"That Jew" Video...

Suicide prevention...being better humans

There IS such a thing as goodness and decency in the world!

As told by Matthew Morris on his personal experience tonight:

"People always say there's no such thing as goodness or decency in the world anymore. 

Earlier tonight when my family was driving home, a car in front of us was t-boned by a man who ran a red-light. The car skidded all the way up to the sidewalk. 

Immediately our whole family jumped out of the car and ran to see if the people in the wrecked car were okay. While we did that, a gentleman from nearby who witnessed the crash sprinted over to help as well. The 3 people in the car were, thankfully, not injured severely, but were in shock and very hysterical. While my mother and the other man talked to the victims to keep them calm, a woman came over and called 911, and her husband helped my brother and I clear the wreckage off the road. The paramedics showed up and helped the people to safety and took them to the hospital. While what happened was frightening and disturbing to see, the way those other people acted was amazing. 

They acted calmly and graciously and went out of their way to help the people in the accident when they could have gone about their business. 

Yeah, there is a lot of bad in the world, but that situation reminded me that there damn well still is good as well. Sorry for the essay status, but I wanted to share that, because those people made my day."

To that, we say: 

There IS goodness and decency in the world...

and if you can't see it...be it!

White people ask questions to other white people

Barbie: Back to the roots

Invented by a mother to inspire her children, Barbie had somehow lost her original purpose, a lot of inches in the midsection, and her ability to stand up straight as a real-life human given the proportions she developed through the years.  Now, Barbie is going back to the roots, starting with the way that we perceive women.  Barbie's new campaign asks us to "imagine the possibilities."  It hopes to inspire young girls and women to reach for their dreams, whatever they may be, and to dream big.  Bravo, Barbie!  You're becoming a woman of the 21st century! ...now if only you could get your proportions back to normal...

Another reason to love Jose Mujica...and get some perspective on Time

People are good. #NooneInTheMud

Do you "give a shit?" (pardon my French)

Do you "give a shit?"  About anything?  About everything?  Guess what?  You aren't alone.  If you want a soliloquy to help explain yourself to the world, I suggest to start memorizing this post.

I give a shit, too.  If you care as much as I think you do, feel free to come back.  

You've got friends here :)  And the world needs people like you...to remind the world to care.

*I also want to stop to brag for a moment because I spelled "soliloquy" right on my first attempt...I even had to check it because I was afraid maybe autocorrect wasn't working...because I give a shit about grammar and spelling.  Mrs. Brady would be proud.

Have Clean Water? Be thankful.

Battery is dying, I'm one bar closer to humanity...

500 smiles down, a lifetime to go!

The gem inside...

You absolutely MUST read this!

...Must I, though?

I've often wondered about this when people tell me I have to do something:

...are we utilizing the correct vocabulary?  Do I really HAVE to or would you just prefer that I do?

While this is a latent question that only really surfaces when I hear someone ask "can I go to the bathroom" and my inner-English-teacher silently shouts "MAY YOU," I was blindsided by an article I clicked on accidentally earlier which discusses the difference between "should" and "must" (hence the title of this post).

I have more and more often questioned the things I am told (verbally or otherwise) that I SHOULD do.  There are conflicting messages, of course: societal pressures of what is "normal," my parents being my cheerleaders and telling me to "go for the gold" and "be whatever I want to be," and at the same time hoping that I choose something that works in society and that doesn't make me a stranger to it.

I think I'm torn.  I want the "should" because supposedly I should...right?  But the Must is the ever-constant tugging at me, making me defiant in the face of hoity-toity-ness and greed and hatred and evil and being unkind.  Even as I write, though, I don't necessarily believe that society or culture say that we should be THOSE things...so why do I feel so rebellious against them?  Maybe society says nothing at all about those things and to say anything at all is to be rebellious and to yield (FINALLY!) to our inner "Must."

I find myself hating "the nine to five"...I don't think I know a single human being who says they LOVE the nine to five.  What does this all MEAN?  That we all KNOW that we must not do it, but that we SHOULD?  Who said so?  Clearly no one I've ever spoken to about it.  Do you?  Do your friends or family?  Does anyone think we SHOULD do the nine to five?  If not, then how did it become the "should" that our inner "must" is rebelling against and why is it so hard to break free of?
One of my favorite parts of this article is where the author pulls a quote from the book she bases it on:

Must is different. Must is who we are, what we believe, and what we do when we are alone with our truest, most authentic self. It’s that which calls to us most deeply. It’s our convictions, our passions, our deepest held urges and desires — unavoidable, undeniable, and inexplicable. Unlike Should, Must doesn’t accept compromises.

Must is when we stop conforming to other people’s ideals and start connecting to our own — and this allows us to cultivate our full potential as individuals. To choose Must is to say yes to hard work and constant effort, to say yes to a journey without a road map or guarantees, and in so doing, to say yes to what Joseph Campbell called “the experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonance within our innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.”

Choosing Must is the greatest thing we can do with our lives.

...Just TRY and tell me that those words don't stir up the "Must" in you, anxious to explode into being, existence, life...just TRY to tell me you don't relate with every fiber as you read the words about your inner self.  I doubt that you can (I know that I can't) and yet it is quite likely that you are someone that is doing something you should...most of the time.  My hope for you, though, is that your should begins to meld with your must in such a way that your "must" DRIVES your "should."

I must travel the world because my inner self believes that is what I should do in order to fulfill my purpose and life on this planet for the brief time I am here!  Fulfilling our purpose is something society tells us we should do...this is a good combination of should and must that you can justify...

I must use my skills and passions to help others because it is the thing that MOST makes me feel alive and I should do it because it is good for society and for others.  "Must" is for me...the reason others give for my must-actions, in this case, is the "should."

In the end, you already know, what others say will not determine how well you live your life.  It will not determine if you are a good or a bad person, if you are accomplished or not.  If you do not do what you MUST, though...if you do not comply with the fibers of your being that beckon you away from the norm toward whatever your true calling is...then you will fail yourself...and THAT is the greatest failure of all.  So do what you must, and feel free to tell people that whatever their desire for your life is (from the outside perspective) - they should start using the correct vocabulary for it.

Inspired by The Crossroads of Should and Must.

Bubble Gum Love

Transformation Thursday? It starts with I can.

I've shared this before but it is absolutely 1000% worth posting over and over again.

People struggle.  We ALL struggle.  Life is hard.  We overdo ourselves.  Something else outdoes us.  We get down on ourselves (and sometimes others do too).  We have moments, though.  We have moments of brilliance and hope and excitement and belief that even though life is tough, WE ARE TOUGHER.

I once heard that 30 seconds of courage is all you need...I think that applies here, too.  30 seconds of courage, of belief, of "I can do this" that get you from the couch to your feet, from the "I can't" to the "I will" from the "I'm not" to the "I can be!"

This video gets me every time.  I think it reminds me that we have a limited time.  We shouldn't take "no" for an answer when it comes to our health and our lives...we should find the answers, we should find the support, we should find encouragement to make ourselves better people and we shouldn't stop until we're doing what we hoped we might someday be capable of.

Life is tough.  Be tougher.  He can.  I can.  You can.  Be the change.

Turning and turning and turning...his ship around...

Change Comes to Those Who Work for It

It may come slower than they'd hope for, but women around the world - victims of rape, domestic violence, communal violence, and oppression by their traditional communities for the sole fact that they were born females - are making big changes.

I read an uplifting post about women who were beaten for selling goods in their towns where this was considered acceptable only for men.  After being beaten, and finding that her husband had done nothing to defend her honor or life during her hospital stay, she decided along with some other women to start a village FOR women and led BY women.  While disturbing to note that men had gone so far as to blockade the entry to the female-only towns and even to beat the women in front of tourists who give them their livelihood through visits and the buying of traditional jewelry and crafts, it is incredibly invigorating to hear that the women persevered, bought land where blockades had occurred, and have continued to fight for their rights to life free of violence and oppression, both as women and as human beings.

While destroying traditional patriarchal norms of their people, they are creating new traditions that accept women of all ages and their children.  They accept male visitors who are invited in but they are not allowed to stay.  Other similar communities are cropping up nearby, with different rules and regulations and hierarchies, but all with the same goal in mind: to change the world for women, to make it a better place where they have voices and power over themselves.

You can check out the full story and some gorgeous images of these world-changing women by clicking here.

Recovering Lost Food...

True Entertainers...musicians with gusto!

Replacing screens with people

A long one but absolutely a valid perspective on the un-social media and technology that we so often partake in, taking us out of the moment with those around us so that we can share with complete strangers, making our important relationships suffer over screens and "likes" and a lack of self-control. Take some time to look others in the eyes.

To some, chocolate really IS life...

A moving story of a young Jewish girl, who survived the Holocaust, and a piece of chocolate.

All bodies are valuable!

Take responsibility...

In support of the philosophy shared in an earlier video post...

Revert to your Inner Child in Order to Grow

We often function as victims. We might not consider it victimization, but each time that we seek happiness or betterment from something other than ourselves, we have made ourselves victims. Imagine...if I go running in a competition and I am doing it for the medal, I've given away my own growth and compared it to the growth of others. If I am not running to make myself better and to get my best time then I am actually making myself privy to the outcome of myself in comparison with others. How can I possibly continue to grow if my growth is dependent on others? This video is an excellent reminder to grow from within. Seek your own goals and happiness based on what YOU are capable of doing or creating or being. The rest is icing on the cake.

Let's value not only education, but also educators...

...for the teachers, for the students, and for the future

Bicycle, Dance, Gymnastics = Bidanastics!

When actors really deserve the hype...Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp took a break from filming to visit his fans with cancer...THAT deserves appreciation and publicity. Other celebrities: take note!

Push the limits of your body...beatbox

Focus on...

"Dear younger self..." / How to age Gracefully...

Stephen Colbert...in a new light

You may think you know (but you have no idea)...

Colbert: synonym for "funny, hilarious, comic" for some and I'm sure a few choice names for those who either think like his character on the Colbert report or who dislike his mocking of them with his satire.  This Colbert is just a character, though.  It doesn't matter if he agrees or not with what his character portrays or doesn't because, like all of us, before his character, he is actually (gasp) a human being, with a history and a struggle that no one knows about (unless they do...but even knowing part of the struggle that another person faces will never truly allow you to know the full truth of his or her suffering, or even, on the slip side, of his or her joy).

So before you see "Colbert" and decide if you're going to love or hate the recent article on him in GQ magazine (and before you judge the magazine that published the article), promise yourself that as a human being you owe it to yourself to ponder the world through a different perspective once in a while. Promise yourself you'll read the whole thing (because it's long). I promise that if you don't get anything out of the article, I won't mind if you stop reading my blog; because it probably means that either you didn't remove your judgement before reading as you promised or...you're a "bot."

Now, take some time, or bookmark for later, the most recent Colbert report....with no lights, camera, action...just life, focus, positivity, and awe at the beauty of the world.

Positive Karma

Karma is often quoted because of the negative cycle of things...but there is good karma too...

Read this story and remember: everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about...be kind.

Hope for a New Week...

Happy Sunday!  

Wishing you positive energy as you restore your energy and prepare for the week ahead!

Have a good day!

Strength, Power, Liberty

Would you dance?

I would dance...would you?

I love viral videos aimed at making people IN them happy, but they a standing/dancing ovation when they make video WATCHERS happy, too! Love!

Waka Waka! Happy Friday!

This song makes me want to dance...every. single. time.

Happy Friday!

Thoughts from experiences...

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You fall, you rise, you make mistakes, 

you live, you learn. You're human, not perfect. 

You've been hurt, but you're alive. 

Think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - 

to breath, to think, to enjoy and chase the things you love. 

Sometimes there is sadness in our journey, 

but there is also an endless amount of beauty. 

We must keep putting one foot in front of the other even when we hurt, 

for we will never know what is waiting for us just around the bend. 

Follow your heart, 

and use your mind for good. 

Love passionately. 

Today will never come again 

so be a blessing, 

be a friend, 

encourage others 

and take time to openly care. 

Let your words heal, not wound. 

Accept what is, let go of what was and have faith in what will be. 

Keep a positive mindset, negativity is the root of all evil. 

Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life. 

If we could look into each others hearts 

and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, 

I believe we would all treat each other much more gently, 

with more love, patience, tolerance and care. 

Let your life be a reflection of all that is beautiful within you. 

Think before you speak, 

once your words are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten. 

We are addicted to our thoughts, 

we cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking, 

don't believe everything you think. 

Believe everything you feel; deeply. 

You have an intuition for a reason. 

Stop thinking about what could go wrong 

and start thinking about what could go right. 

The less you respond to negative people 

the more peaceful and rewarding your life will become. 

Everyday is a second chance 

so be honest, 

work hard 

and love even harder.

Thanks for sharing, A.L.

Happy (Almost) Mother's Day

To moms: old, new, adopted, dads-who-are-moms and those "coming soon"...Happy Mother's Day

Thanks for doing the "mom-thing."

"More problems: more problems"

A word (or a few) for the wise (or the general media).

Promote opportunities instead of instilling fear and catalyzing problems.  When you focus only on the problems, you ARE the problem.  Look for solutions.  Look for the good in people and in situations.  I am not saying that we should ignore problems - ignoring them does not make them disappear - but it is possible and necessary to SEE the problem but to FOCUS on the solution.

What will your opportunity be?  

Look for the solution.  Solve the problem.

When push comes to shove...

When push comes to shove we all want the same thing out of life. To love and be loved. That has become a scary word in a time of text messages, social media, and hipocracy. It is a scary word because it means something different to each and everyone of us. Who are we to not approach every person we meet with love? We can learn so much from each other and we all have so much love to give. Take the time to talk to someone you wouldn't normally. Everyone means the world to someone even if they may not think so of themselves. Share the love! It will make the world a better place. We cannot expect respect and love if we do not give it ourselves!

Thanks for sharing A.T.

The Little Things: Pass it On

Start your own domino effect today...even if you don't think anyone's watching.  You don't need a reason to do something nice, but you'll never know the impact of those "little things" and how you might inspire someone else to "pay it forward."  Who knew that from a 2010 Liberty Mutual Commercial we could find so much depth.  Pretty awesome.

102 year old dancer reacts to herself on screen

Alice Barker danced in countless shows in her younger years.  She's bedridden now at the ripe old age of 102 years and she still has a smile that can light up a room and a memory for every scene that she is shown.  What a beautiful short that catches the silver screen memory, the reaction, and Alice's own recollection of those days!

Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life!

Alice's Magic

To quote John Lennon:  "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

Step 1: Believe in magic!  

Step 2: Go out and make it happen!

Step 3:  Make others believe by being an example of the magic that is possible in the world!

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: People Create Culture

Well worth your time, this video touches on so many things, while its main focus is gender and "happy" feminism.  I think it will be generally easier for women to be engaged by this discussion as it is more relateable from personal experiences but men will find it entertaining and will gain perspective and connection through her anecdotes.  Have a watch and see if you are not moved.  She makes points and calls out cultural differences between how genders are treated that you may never have taken the time to notice because they are so ingrained.

As she says, culture doesn't make people...people make culture.  Let's create the culture we want to live in and to be known for.

Interact!! Dance Partyyyyy!

Open up!  Be you!  What better way than dance?  I love how these people let loose.  

Great idea, Brooklyn team!

Albert Einstein: Crisis

“Let’s not pretend that things will change if we keep doing the same things.

A crisis can be a real blessing to any person, to any nation.
For all crises bring progress.

Creativity is born from anguish, just like the day is born form the dark night.

It’s in crisis that inventiveness is born, as well as discoveries made and big strategies.

He who overcomes crisis, overcomes himself, without getting overcome.

He who blames his failure to a crisis neglects his own talent and is more interested in
problems than in solutions.

Incompetence is the true crisis.

The greatest inconvenience of people and nations is the laziness with which they
attempt to find the solutions to their problems.

There’s no challenge without a crisis. Without challenges, life becomes a routine, a
slow agony.

There’s no merit without crisis. It’s in the crisis where we can show the very best in us.

Without a crisis, any wind becomes a tender touch.

To speak about a crisis is to promote it. Not to speak about it is to exalt conformism.

Let us work hard instead.

Let us stop, once and for all, the menacing crisis that represents the tragedy of not being willing to overcome it.”

-Albert Einstein, 1955

What does a Pre-school Teacher Teach/Do?

Here's an answer from someone who knows best:

"People often ask me- what do you even teach at preschool? 

Where do I begin? 

Teaching them how to be little independent people 
eager to do things on their own, 

how to love each other, 
love themselves, 

how to try, 
how to be ok with failing, 
how to manage emotions, 

how to be resilient 
(physically 
mentally 
emotionally), 

how to practice healthy habits, 
how to stay positive, 

empathy, 

to embrace their interests, 
how to be appreciative, 
and overall 
teaching them to love to learn. 

I could go on forever. 

A neat friend of mine once corrected me when I said that I 'had to work today', he said 'no, you get to work today.' I am just reflecting on how grateful I am to have a job I love and feel passionate about (even if the pay is not what I wish it could be). I get to teach ( and learn from) awesome children everyday! 

It's also pretty cool I get to be a part of them learning to write their own names!"

-Thanks to M.C. for sharing her experience