While some people are talking about building up walls...

...others have been using them as a tradition since 1979 of unity between two nations.  

Along the southwest border of the United States, where a wall separates it from its neighbor to the south, Mexico, there are people who don't see the wall as a way to divide humanity, but a way to promote humanity.  They see the wall and they say, "how can we use this to connect with people that we're told not to connect with?"  The answer since '79 has been Wallyball...and it's exactly what it sounds like: volleyball over the international border wall between the U.S. and Mexico!

Every April, teams unite on both sides of the border to compete across the wall as a sign of friendship and joint condemnation of the division of people.  These people recognize the importance of keeping strong ties between their friends and neighbors, even when the powers-that-be don't share or promote the same logic and/or emotional connections.

When we see each other as humans, when we connect over our love of fun and sports, we are olympians.  We are champions of the world and of humanity.  We say "walls are objects, but we see you as humans, like us, and we appreciate and acknowledge you and your struggles and your triumphs." 

What a beautiful demonstration of continuous friendship and playful rivalry over an object meant to divide, that only makes the people who REALLY understand it, grow closer.

Be the change, wherever you may be!

See more at the following links: Quartz and Sliptalk.

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!

People are good. #NooneInTheMud

#VídeoUn hombre construye una casa en miniatura para que una mujer sin hogar no duerma en el lodo La construcción de una pequeña casa con ruedas a una mujer sin hogar se convierte en el inicio de una ambiciosa iniciativa: harto de ver a su vecina sin hogar durmiendo en un barrizal, un residente de Los Ángeles le fabricó una vivienda desplazable. Ahora quiere repetir la experiencia alzando muchas más.

Posted by Viva Nicaragua - Canal Trece on Martes, 5 de mayo de 2015

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.

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

Sharing is Caring...

My last post was about the changes that life affects in us.

I wonder how many of us can relate with THIS part of our lives.

This is a lesson in sharing from the people who know best:

Do you share?  Even when no one asks you to?

Do you help when you see someone else in need (even when you don't know the reason)?

That Hero is You

In case you:

were wondering,
were upset,
are sad,
feel hopeless,
want change,
have something,
need something,
want something,
see something that isn't right,
know something is right and needs attention,
are reading this right now...

This is for you. 

-from Kid President (and me)

 You're a hero. Act like it.

Women. Menstruation. Read it.

Read this article then come back.

Her words are awesome because, even though I admittedly am not generally thinking about what she is mentioning, she's TOTALLY right!! And when I actually DO think about it, it IS offensive and wrong that women are treated as dirty and unclean when they have their periods. Even the word makes people angry sometimes and sparks remarks like "gross" and "I don't need to hear about this... LALALA" (and by "people, I generally mean men, because the other half of the planet is USED to it). But the media hypes over-sexualized versions of women (and men) half naked (FULLY naked)...and while that's natural, too, so is a period.  

period. period. period. menstruation.  

GOSH. Now go check out the site for that girl's project and share this post.

This is real life. And it's natural. And it is why human LIFE can exist (unless you don't believe in the science of procreation in which case you have some other major issue which you should probably come back to my blog for some help on).  

Science exists. Women exist. Periods exist...

all of these things so that humanity can exist.  

Deal with it.

*drops mic*

Welcome to D's House

Do the right thing.  Treat others with kindness.  Love this.

Here's the 24-Hour follow up:

Yay Humans!

People are Awesome: No Barriers

Each of us face barriers when we go out into the world every day.  Some of them are physical, some mental and emotional.  Samsung created a way to reduce barriers for hearing impaired people and in the process, they show all of us what type of difference reducing barriers between ourselves and those around us can make for everyone involved.

This is just one barrier that can be broken down using some heartfelt intention to make the world better along with some good technology and skilled workers.  I love when big companies do things that make the world better.

Love Has No Labels

#Lovehasnolabels.  

Love thy neighbor.  

We were given three great gifts: faith hope and love...

and the greatest is LOVE.

Love above all.

Love is blind.

Love is love.