Month: January 2022

Happy Soul Food Friday

This week:

The Challenge-

The Doomsday Clock Reveals How Close We Are To…Doom
The clock isn’t designed to definitively measure existential threats, but rather to spark conversations about difficult scientific topics such as climate change, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, which created the clock in 1947.

The Doomsday Clock reveals how close we are to…doom – CNN

And

The Bad Guys Are Winning
If the 20th century was the story of slow, uneven progress toward the victory of liberal democracy over other ideologies—communism, fascism, virulent nationalism—the 21st century is, so far, a story of the reverse.

Autocracy Is Winning – The Atlantic

The Antidote-

The Power of Love, Interconnectedness & Nature

Honoring Thich Nhat Hanh and His Teachings:

Plum Village, France 10:30pm 21st January, 2022   Dear Beloved Community,   With a deep mindful breath, we announce the passing of our beloved teacher, Thay Nhat Hanh, at 00:00hrs on January 22, 2022 at Từ Hiếu Temple in Huế, Vietnam, at the age of 95.   Thay has been the most extraordinary teacher, whose peace, tender compassion, and bright wisdom has touched the lives of millions. Whether we have encountered him on retreats, at public talks, or through his books and online teachings–or simply through the story of his incredible life–we can see that Thay has been a true bodhisattva, an immense force for peace and healing in the world. Thay has been a revolutionary, a renewer of Buddhism, never diluting and always digging deep into the roots of Buddhism to bring out its authentic radiance.   Thay has opened up a beautiful path of Engaged and Applied Buddhism for all of us: the path of the Five Mindfulness Trainings and the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing. As Thay would say, “Because we have seen the path, we have nothing more to fear.” We know our direction in life, we know what to do, and what not to do to relieve suffering in ourselves, in others, and in the world; and we know the art of stopping, looking deeply, and generating true joy and happiness.   Now is a moment to come back to our mindful breathing and walking, to generate the energy of peace, compassion, and gratitude to offer our beloved Teacher. It is a moment to take refuge in our spiritual friends, our local sanghas and community, and each other.   We invite you to join our global community online, as we commemorate Thay’s life and legacy with five days of practice and ceremonies broadcast LIVE from Hue, Vietnam and Plum Village, France, starting on Saturday January 22nd. Please see our website for more details coming shortly: www.plumvillage.org/memorial   Let us each resolve to do our best over the coming days to generate the energy of mindfulness, peace, and compassion, to send to our beloved Teacher.   Over the coming hours on the Plum Village website, we will publish some inspirational chants, texts, and mindfulness practice resources, to support you to come together with your local sangha to generate a collective energy of mindfulness and compassion, and create your own ceremony or session in tribute to our Teacher. As Thay has always taught, nothing is more important than brotherhood and sisterhood, and we all know the power of collective energy. We invite you to share your messages of gratitude or personal transformation and healing on our website: plumvillage.org/gratitude-for-thich-nhat-hanh   With love, trust, and togetherness,   The Monks and Nuns of Plum Village.

The Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation | 2499 Melru Lane, Escondido, CA 92026     “This body is not me; I am not caught in this body, I am life without boundaries, I have never been born and I have never died. Over there the wide ocean and the sky with many galaxies, All manifests from the basis of consciousness. Since beginningless time I have always been free. Birth and death are only a door through which we go in and out. Birth and death are only a game of hide-and-seek. So smile to me and take my hand and wave good-bye. Tomorrow we shall meet again or even before. We shall always be meeting again at the true source, Always meeting again on the myriad paths of life.” – Thich Nhat Hanh Learning Leadership from a Great Master Courtesy of Moshe E and the Amare Wave: Last week, Thich Nhat Hanh died peacefully at 95 years old. Thầy, as he was known, was a Zen Master, global spiritual leader, and peace activist, renowned for his powerful teachings on engaged Buddhism and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace. Thầy was also a model for modern day leadership, one who made love the center of his being and work. Love-centered leadership (the essence of The Amare Wave) believes, as Thầy did, in promoting nonviolent solutions to conflict and raising awareness of the interconnectedness of all beings. His passing invites us to clarify our own guiding beliefs and principles. What are your core leadership principles? Are you willing to commit your company to total non-violence? Will you integrate the fact of our interconnectedness into your business vision?

“True self is non-self, the awareness that the self is made only of non-self elements.

There’s no separation between self and other, and everything is interconnected.

Once you are aware of that you are no longer caught in the idea that you are a separate entity.”

– Thich Nhat Hanh

And-

The Profound Power of Nature:

Arizona Monsoons that will reset your state!

Thanks this week go to beloved Master Thay, Moshe E, Killu S, Nicole K, Catherine G and Bob C.

Consider paying it forward…

Love,

Neville

“We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time,

and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves.

And we’ll also have a lot more joy in living.”

– Thich Nhat Hanh

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Happy Soul Food Friday!

This week:

How Do I Want to Show Up- A Story

A Carrot, An Egg, and a Cup of Coffee:

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me, what do you see?” “Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” the daughter replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, “What does it mean, mother?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity—boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter.

“When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?

Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?”

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Here’s my hope for you:  May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything—they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Have a wonderful week! 

The Power of Poetry in the Spirit of MLK Week

Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes:

Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes – Poems | poets.org

Omicron Is In Retreat. What’s Next?

The Morning: Omicron is in retreat (nytimes.com)

Free Covid Tests for Your Family:

COVIDtests.gov – Free at-home COVID-19 tests

The Quickest Way To Change How You Feel Is To Change How You Think:

The Quickest Way To Change How You Feel Is To Change How You Think – The Best Brain Possible

Ode to Winter:

Wondrous!

Ode To Winter (ecco.com)

45 Puns That Make Me Laugh Uncontrollably No Matter How Many Times I’ve Seen Them
Go on, have some pun!

45 Puns That Make Me Laugh Uncontrollably No Matter How Many Times I’ve Seen Them (buzzfeed.com)

If you are local and an NCPC member…

Introducing Mentoring 2.0:

As a business professional, your time and efforts are dedicated to the service of others. “Giving back” is your practice, and you often devote more time taking care of others than yourself. Given all that you have on your plate, you can feel depleted and overwhelmed, finding it challenging to operate at peak performance.   Isn’t it time to do something to enhance your life and well-being, which in effect will benefit those you serve?   North County Philanthropy Council (NCPC) believes in the importance of balancing self-care with care for others. That’s why we’re offering Mentorship 2.0, Fostering a Community of Practice, a new model of mentoring that brings together business professionals to guide, motivate and support each other.           Please Join Us Monday, Feb 8, 2022 9:00 to 10:30 am on Zoom for an informational session about Mentorship 2.0, Fostering a Community of Practice         Ken Druck, Ph.D Our information session will feature best-selling author and international expert in mentorship, executive coaching and compassionate self-care, Dr. Ken Druck. Ken will share his thoughts about the magic and power of mentorship, and how we become the best version of ourselves by bringing out the best in others.   ATTEND THE INFO SESSION           What is Mentorship 2.0?   With Mentorship 2.0, you’ll be part of a cohort of 4-7 individuals from our community to brainstorm ideas, identify business resources, develop their networks, explore career opportunities and provide emotional support to each other. Unlike the traditional mentorship model that pairs a more experienced “mentor” with a less experienced “mentee,” Mentorship 2.0, Fostering a Community of Practice, connects leaders at all levels who share a common concern, set of problems or interest in a topic and who come together to fulfill both individual and group goals. It recognizes that our unique experiences are valuable and that collaboration often yields innovative solutions.   As a cohort member, you’ll be making a 4-month commitment to the program (March through June 2022). Your group will be expected to meet at least four times during that period (virtual sessions until it is safe to connect in person). The logistics, where to meet and how often to meet – as well as how to measure success, will be decided by the cohort. A member of NCPC’s Mentorship Committee will serve as your group facilitator, providing conversation prompts and guidance, as needed. The relationships that develop and the benefits derived from the experience are entirely up to you and the other group members.     We hope you’ll take part in the launch of Mentorship 2.0, Fostering a Community of Practice.   REGISTER NOW   Attending on Feb 8 is not a commitment or required, but is strongly encouraged. Please register by Feb 1.     If you are interested in Mentorship 2.0 but unable to attend the information session, contact Sandra Alston at 760.729.6711 or sandra@ncphilanthropy.org.     All the best,   Alex Goodman Chair, NCPC Mentorship Committee     P.S. Do you have friends or co-workers who you feel will benefit from Mentorship 2.0, too? Feel free to forward this invitation to them. Participation in the Feb 8 meeting is limited to 100 people, so don’t delay.

North County Philanthropy Council | 760-729-6711 | PO Box 1641, Carlsbad, CA 92018

18^th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium- Jan 27^th, 2022:

Join us if you can…

18th Annual Nonprofit Governance Symposium Tickets, Thu, Jan 27, 2022 at 8:00 AM | Eventbrite

Thanks this week go to Bob C, Angelica G-W, Manuelita B, Marlaine C, Wayne O, Ken D and the NCPC team.

Please pay it forward with purpose!

Love,

Neville

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“Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.

You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love”

Dr. Martin Luther King

Happy First Soul Food Friday for 2022!

Lets:

First:
Getting You In The Mood with the 2021 ANNUAL NEOLOGISM CONTEST

Once again, The Washington Post has published the winning submissions to its yearly contest in which readers are asked to supply alternative meanings for common words.

The winners are:

1. Coffee (N.), the person upon whom one coughs.

2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.

3. Abdicate (V.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.

4. Esplanade (V.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.

5. Willy-nilly (Adj.), impotent.

6. Negligent (Adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.

7. Lymph (V.), to walk with a lisp.

8. Gargoyle (N.), olive-flavored mouthwash.

9. Flatulence (N.) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.

10. Balderdash (N.), a rapidly receding hairline.

11. Testicle (N.), a humorous question on an exam.

12. Rectitude (N.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.

13. Pokemon (N), a Rastafarian proctologist.

14. Oyster (N.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.

15. Frisbeetarianism (N.), (back by popular demand): The belief that, when you die, your Soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.

16. Circumvent (N.), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

This week:

The New Year once started in March—here’s why
For starters, January didn’t exist for the ancient Romans. Here’s how their calendar evolved into our modern system of marking time.

The new year once started in March—here’s why (nationalgeographic.com)

Scrap the Big New Year’s Resolutions-Make 6 Simple Changes Instead:

Scrap the Big New Year’s Resolutions. Make 6 Simple Changes Instead. – HBS Working Knowledge

7 Small Joys You Should Make Sure to Add to Your Daily Routine in 2022
One of your top priorities for next year should be your own happiness. These tiny pleasures can help.

7 Small Joys You Should Make Sure to Add to Your Daily Routine in 2022 | Inc.com

Why You Hate going back to Work after Vacation
Sometimes you feel even more drained after taking a few days off. Here’s what you can do to cope.

How to make going back to work after vacation easier | Popular Science (popsci.com)

Is there a Minimum Exercise Time? New evidence provides a surprising answer
Old requirements for at least 10-minute intervals may be out the door.

Is there a minimum exercise time? New evidence provides a surprising answer (inverse.com)

If We Can’t Come Together on COVID, These Disasters Are Next
From climate change to nukes, the world is showing no signs of the cooperation we need to survive.

If We Can’t Come Together on COVID, These Disasters Are Next (thedailybeast.com)

Land of Confusion- Genesis

My musical selection for this week to lift your spirits!

Genesis – Land Of Confusion (From When in Rome 2007 DVD) – YouTube

So How do we Ring in the New Year with a Smile? L’chaim!

It comes courtesy of the phenomenally talented Lin-Manuel Miranda on the occasion of his own wedding back in 2010. Manuel was already a rising musical star but hadn’t hit the stratosphere of fame that would come years later with his musical Hamilton. For this lover of musical theater, there seemed to be no better song to sing to his bride Vanessa than one inspired by a culture and a time far different from his own. Such is the universality of hope, and music. The joy on the faces of everyone involved is impossible to contain!

To Life: Vanessa’s Wedding Surprise – YouTube

Wishing You:

Thanks this week go to Kurt C for the neologisms and  Ron M for L’chaim!

Let’s make this next journey around the sun count and pay it forward with purpose.

Love All,

Neville

“LOVE is our Soul Purpose”

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