Author: Soul Food Friday

Happy Soul Food Friday!

This week:

“Life is like a game of tennis. The player who serves well seldom loses.”

Tennis is a Gentlemen’s (and Gentle-women’s) Sport!

I have been playing tennis since I was 11 or 12 in India, was Captain of my High School team when we moved to California, and am still a huge fan of the sport, playing several times a week.

With the US Open ending and wrapping up the Grand Slam season, here are some great articles on the game.

Recognize anyone below?

Is Tennis Really the ‘World’s Healthiest Sport’?
Fact-checking the U.S. Open claim

U.S. Open Touts Tennis as World’s Healthiest Sport. Is It? | TIME

Oda Becomes the Youngest Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Singles Champion!

With the 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 victory over the world No. 1 Hewett, 18-year-old Oda became the youngest Paralympic champion ever in the men’s singles. Then he took the wheels from his wheelchair and dove onto the court. 

Paris 2024: Tokito Oda writes yet more Paralympic history

Awe-inspiring images of the world’s most remarkable tennis courts:
From cliffside clay courts in the Swiss Alps, to the salsa capital in Cali, Colombia, photographer Nick Pachelli highlights the world’s unique courts.

The world’s most remarkable tennis courts | CNN

Order in the court: An animated look at how tennis surfaces change the game:
Tennis is played on three distinct surfaces. But why do they have such an impact on how the sport is played?

In tennis, what makes grass courts, clay courts and hard courts different? – Washington Post

Fed: My Favorite Player in the Whole Wide World- A True Champion Both On and Off the Court!

“You play the ball. You don’t play the opponent.

Be free in your head. Be free in your shots. Go for it.”

– Rodger Federer

Why tennis players grunt during matches:
If you’ve watched much tennis, you’ve noticed some top players make a loud noise as they hit the ball.

Why all the racket? Experts cite several reasons — and say that while it may annoy spectators, grunting can actually improve performance.

Why tennis players grunt during matches | CNN

If you are local-

North County Philanthropy Council (NCPC) Volunteer Awards Celebration:
November 1, 2024, from 2-6pm
Today Friday the 13th is the deadline so submit your nominations before it is too late!

2024 Volunteer Awards Celebration – North County Philanthropy Council (ncphilanthropy.org)

Please play it forward as a gentle-person!
Love,
Neville
 
Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nevillebillimoria
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“Life is like a game of tennis. The player who serves well seldom loses.”

Happy Soul Food Friday!

This week:

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink…

World Water Week celebrated this week, is centered on water cooperation for peace and security in its broadest sense.

This year’s theme, Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future, asks us to recognize the regional and global interconnectivity of communities and nations, and underscores the collaborative effort needed to achieve a peaceful and sustainable future.

The real threat of water scarcity and people living under water stress:

For 785 million people on Earth, a glass of clean water is a dream!

Water and Sanitation – United Nations Sustainable Development

Living without air- 3 minutes

Living without water- 3 days

Visualizing All of the World’s Water (visualcapitalist.com)

Why this matters…

Earth likely just had its hottest two days in thousands of years:

Earth just set its hottest days on record in thousands of years (axios.com)

Scientists make concerning discovery deep below Antarctic ice shelf the size of France: ‘We found that the whole shelf suddenly moves’
The shelf can move up to 16 inches in 10 minutes. The biggest ice shelf in Antarctica is slipping — a first-of-its-kind discovery related to our warming world. What’s happening? A study published in Geophysical Research Letters in March showed that the Ross Ice Shelf slips daily, reported Washington University in St. Louis, in a story posted by SciTechDaily. According to Britannica, the ice shelf is the largest in Antarctica at about 182,000 square miles, which is nearly the size of France.

Scientists make concerning discovery deep below Antarctic ice shelf the size of France: ‘We found that the whole shelf suddenly moves’ (thecooldown.com)

Officials issue PSA urging residents to evacuate island homes after sea level rise threatens lives: ‘Every coastline in the world is affected by this’
“It is almost certain that all the islands will have to be abandoned by 2100.” An Indigenous community in a Central American country is at risk of relocation, as rising sea levels threaten to flood their small island. What’s happening? The Indigenous Guna people live on the island of Gardi Sugdub, off Panama’s coast in the Caribbean Sea, and are the first of 63 local communities that have received recommendations to evacuate to the mainland.

Officials issue PSA urging residents to evacuate island homes after sea level rise threatens lives: ‘Every coastline in the world is affected by this’ (thecooldown.com)

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
– Proverbs 17:17

Revisiting Divisiveness that Precludes Cooperation:

The overwhelming majority of people who participate in the annual Arbaeen walk are Shia Muslims. But it is not limited to Shias or even Muslims. Some Sunnis participate and even Christians and Hindus have taken part.

Salil Abbas, who is part of a group that came from the UK, said he spoke with a group of Christians who walked last year. He asked them what they thought. “And they said, ‘We’ve never seen people give things away the way that the lovers of this imam and this leader of yours are giving away. We have never seen selflessness of this kind anywhere. And it is an inspiration to see this.’”

That inspiration is what the people on the walk take back home with them afterward to continue serving others…

‘I can get close to God’: Millions from around the globe participate in religious Arbaeen walk in Iraq – The World from PRX

And some natural wonder-

These images capture spectacular moments under the sea:
Underwater photographs were submitted from 90 countries and include a range of dramatic images.

The drama of life underwater is revealed in photo competition – The Washington Post

If you are Local-

I am President Elect of the NCPC and it would be great to celebrate YOUR volunteers and organizations at this annual gathering that has become something of a tradition in San Diego.

Please nominate for this year’s event on November 1^st 2024:

The deadline for submissions is September 13^th and the ticket purchasing deadline is Oct 25^th.

Unlocking the Value of Strategic Partnerships         Shine a Light: Last Call for Nominations: Celebrate Our Heroes!     With just two weeks to go, it’s time to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary individuals who have made a significant impact in our community! Our Volunteer Awards Celebration is fast approaching on November 1st, and we want to make sure every deserving volunteer is recognized.   Nominate your standout volunteers for the Volunteer of the Year and our special awards categories today. This is your chance to honor those who go above and beyond in their dedication to our shared mission.   Submit Your Nominations by September 13th.   In addition to the Volunteer of the Year, we’re thrilled to bring back our special awards: the Corporate Philanthropy Award, the Spirit of Carol Sigelman Award, and the Robert Krejci Standards of Excellence Award. This year’s event will be even more special with assigned seating, video highlights of our honorees, and QR code posters showcasing their impact. Registration opens at 2:00pm on November 1st, with the awards ceremony starting at 3:00pm, followed by an afterglow from 4:30pm to 6:00pm.   We can’t wait to celebrate with you and honor the true heroes of our community. Be sure to check out the nomination checklist and submit your nominations on time!   Presented by:       Criteria for Honoree Awards     Volunteer of the Year Award   Each NCPC Premier Plus/Premier/Sustaining/Small Business/Organizational member is invited and encouraged to select a “Volunteer of the Year”. This award is presented to an individual who through on-going involvement has made a significant impact on the success of the member nonprofit organization. Their volunteer service is innovative or exemplary, helped mobilized other volunteers, and/or generated increased resources for the critical mission of the nonprofit organization.   You can submit your nomination here.   Spirit of Carol Sigelman Award   As a tribute to the life and work of Carol Sigelman, former NCPC board member and friend, this award is presented to a development professional in San Diego County who exemplifies the passion, integrity, wisdom and humor that Carol brought to all of us, as well as demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in their development and communications activities at their nonprofit. Carol’s motto was “Get the job done – and done well”.     Corporate Philanthropy Award   This award is presented to a corporation, business, or employee-managed grant-making fund that has demonstrated outstanding civic and charitable responsibility to North County. To be considered the following must be demonstrated:   Makes a lasting, significant and measurable impact in San Diego County  Holds volunteer leadership positions in North County nonprofit organizations and encourages others to take philanthropic roles on a community levelExhibits unusual service or generosityDemonstrates commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in their company as well as in their partnerships with nonprofitsProvides significant financial and volunteer support to North County nonprofits    Robert Krejci Standards of Excellence Award (Special Recognition) The NCPC board recognizes at times there is an individual who has gone beyond the call of duty in devotion, service, and uniqueness of circumstances to support others in the community. This recipient also demonstrates commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in their personal and professional life. Recipients for the Standards of Excellence Award will be selected at the discretion of the NCPC Board of Directors, and this award may not necessarily be presented annually.   You can submit your special awards nomination here.   Nomination Process    Final selections for the annual Carol Sigelman Award, Corporate Philanthropy Award and Standards of Excellence Award will be made by the NCPC Board of Directors after careful review of nominations submitted. Awards will be given only to nominees who have met the highest standards of achievement. If you submit a nomination for any of these categories, you will be notified of the decision on September 23rd.   Nominations will only be accepted from current NCPC members. If you are interested in membership and/or making nominations, please join here.   If you have any questions about the nomination process or criteria, or unsure if you are a current NCPC member, please contact our Membership Coordinator, Donna Freher-Lyons.   All submissions are due by September 13, 2024.     *This set deadline is to ensure that our program can be printed on time for the celebration.     Volunteer for the Event!   We’re seeking 90 dedicated volunteers to assist with various roles at our Volunteer Awards Celebration. Join us to support event logistics and ensure a seamless and memorable experience for all. Here are the opportunities available:   Set-Up Crew: Prepare the venue for the event.Registration: Assist with guest check-in.Honoree Registration: Manage the check-in process for honored volunteers.Greeters – Registration Entrance: Welcome guests as they arrive.Greeters – Volunteers: Guide and assist volunteers throughout the event.Ushers: Help guests find their seats.1st, 2nd, & 3rd Group of Honorees: Assist with the organization and presentation of honorees.Special Awards Assistance: Support the presentation of special awards.Trophy Set-Up: Prepare and arrange trophies for presentation.Event Breakdown: Help with post-event clean-up and breakdown.   We will host a volunteer prep session on Monday October 28th to go over the day of logistics.   Your support is crucial to making this event a success and celebrating our community’s outstanding volunteers. Sign up today and be a part of something truly special!   Sign Up to Volunteer     Join as a Sponsor   To join as a sponsor, email us!   Sponsorship opportunity deadline is September 6th.   Sponsorship Package     Purchase Tickets   Nominating organizations are responsible for purchasing a ticket for their honorees, whether through a sponsorship, or purchase of tickets. Additional tickets will be available for purchase for honorees family and friends, and members of your organization.   $125/ticket for members, $150/ticket for non-members.   Ticket purchase deadline is Friday October 25th.   Purchase Tickets

Please be good stewards of mother earth, our limited drinking water supplies, and hold space and grace for those that crave a simple glass of fresh, clean water!

Love,

Neville

Follow me on Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nevillebillimoria

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“If the youth are not initiated into the village, they will burn it down just to feel its warmth.”

—African Proverb

Happy Soul Food Friday!

This week:

“It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it”

Speak UP!

In Germany, they came first for the Communists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.
And then they came for the trade unionists, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
And then they came for the Jews, And I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
And then… they came for me. And by that time there was no one left to speak up.
–Rev Martin Niemoller, January 1946

A beloved palm and pine tree mark California’s center. Now they’re being cut down:
Local residents are mourning the planned removal of the trees, symbols of the state’s northern-southern divide

A beloved palm and pine tree mark California’s center. Now they’re being cut down | California | The Guardian

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in…

— John Muir

Deaf Woman Falls 600 Feet Down a Mountain, Then Suddenly Realizes She’s Not Alone
A deaf college student went on a hike alone and fell 700 feet down a mountain. What she found was that there was something else down there, too. Here is the unexpected story of how she was rescued.

Deaf hiker who fell nearly 700-feet down snowy mountain credits husky with life-saving rescue – ABC News (go.com)

Why talking to animals could soon become a reality:
Snuffles will be taking over the world before you know it. You may think you know your pet, but what if they could actually talk to you? Well, veterinarian Jess French thinks we could be communicating with animals sooner than we expected, and that it could be “one of the biggest, most exciting technological advances in the next few decades.”

Why talking to animals could soon become a reality | BBC Science Focus Magazine

Elephants Are Doing Something Deeply Human:
They’re part of a growing list of animals that use name like calls. The best thing language has ever done for us, as far as I’m concerned, is give us the ability to talk with and about one another. Why bother with words if you can’t get your friend’s attention on a crowded street and pull them aside to complain about your nemesis? Language would be largely useless without names. As soon as a group is bigger than a handful of people, names become essential:

Elephants Are Doing Something Deeply Human – The Atlantic

Crows Have Been Keeping an Incredible Secret: They Can Count Out Loud Like Human Toddlers:
Scientists Have Revealed This Incredibly Human-Like Trait In Crows And I Am In Awe | HuffPost UK Life (huffingtonpost.co.uk)

Crows Can Count Out Loud Like Humans, Study Says (popularmechanics.com)

These ants perform life-saving amputations on each other:
Like battlefield medics, Florida carpenter ants are the first known animal to triage wounds and adapt treatments.

Carpenter ants perform life-saving amputations on each other (nationalgeographic.com)

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.”

Conservationists stunned after spotting eagle species for first time in 500 years: ‘We are absolutely thrilled’:
“Their presence here is a testament to the power we all have to create positive change for our planet.” When was the last time a white-tailed eagle nested in Belgium? If you guessed around the time the first European explorer laid eyes on Manhattan, you’d be right. But in a remarkable twist of fate, these majestic birds, once widely distributed across Europe, are finally making a comeback in Belgium after a 500-year absence.

Conservationists stunned after spotting eagle species for first time in 500 years: ‘We are absolutely thrilled’ (thecooldown.com)

Please pay it forward and be a good steward for mother earth, because both Mother Earth (Climate Catastrophe) and Father Profit (Economic Meltdown) at the macro and micro levels are saying, “No Mas”!

Love,

Neville

Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nevillebillimoria

X: https://twitter.com/NevilleB108 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbillimoria

Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought.”— Jonathan Swift: 

Happy Soul Food Friday!

This week:
Gems from the Olympics with the Mind-blowing Athletes and Coaches that make the Impossible Possible!

“I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy.”
— Og Mandino

Mastering Our Mindset-

How Olympians master their minds to perform under pressure:
The ability to recover from setbacks, such as disappointing performances or injury, is crucial.

How Olympians master their minds to perform under pressure – Fast Company

Character Matters-

An Olympic sprinter fell during a race. The first person to help was her opponent:
Laotian athlete Silina Pha Aphay had just placed sixth, ending her journey at the Paris Olympics. But her first reaction was to go to her competitor, Lucia Moris of South Sudan, who had fallen.

Olympic sprinter goes back onto track to help fallen opponent : NPR

Sha’Carri Richardson Just Taught a Masterclass in Mental Toughness:
‘I’m not worried about the world anymore.’

U.S. Olympian Sha’Carri Richardson Says She Doesn’t Worry About the World Anymore. Here’s the Reason Why | Inc.com

Flip the Script-

Tuariki Delamere’s Somersault Could Have Launched a New Era in the Olympic Long Jump:
The New Zealander came up with a better way to jump, using a front flip in midair. But the sport’s stodgy authorities shut him down before the 1975 Games.

Tuariki Delamere’s Somersault Could Have Launched a New Era in the Olympic Long Jump | WIRED

Inspire (Breathe Life into Yourself)-

In, Out: How Breathwork Helps Olympians and Taylor Swift:
Breathing: It’s necessary to literally stay alive—and some of the world’s most successful also credit it with their physical and mental stability.

How Breathwork Helps Olympians and Taylor Swift | Vogue

Build Recovery into Your Performance Routine-

“I’m an Olympic sleep expert – here’s my tried-and-tested 5-step plan for better sleep”:
Get the rest you deserve with the help of these expert tips.

Olympic sleep tips: 5-step expert plan to improve rest (stylist.co.uk)

Please play well and pay it forward!

Love,

Neville

Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nevillebillimoria

X: https://twitter.com/NevilleB108 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbillimoria

“Winners practice until they get it right,

while Champions practice until they can’t get it wrong!”

Happy Soul Food Friday!

This week:

Here’s to You Winning both On and Off the Field!

Think like an Olympian
Olympic athletes: They’re not like us. They eat differently; they sleep differently; and they definitely think differently.

Olympics 2024: How to develop the mindset of an Olympic athlete – Vox

How the Paris Olympics is addressing athletes’ mental health
About half of the country’s athletes at the past two Olympiads were flagged for at least one of the following: anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, eating disorders, substance use or abuse

How the Paris Olympics plans to address athletes’ mental health – Fast Company

What the New Grand Theory of Brain Science Can Teach Athletes
“Predictive processing” offers novel ways to think about sports psychology, the limits of endurance, and the urge to explore.

Brain Science’s New Grand Theory, for Athletes (outsideonline.com)

The 49 Laws of Monumental Leadership by Robin Sharma:

1. They listen even better than they speak.

2. They really care about growing people.

3. They don’t mind giving away the credit.

4. They understand that the bigger the dream the more important the team.

5. They are generous.

6. They are kind.

7. They are unconquerably strong.

8. They get that until their mission becomes their obsession, their business will never grow into a movement.

9. They build excellent family lives, knowing that a fortified home base is essential to peak productivity and elite resilience at work.

10. They are industry disrupters, enthusiastically bringing new products and services to their field that change the game.

11. They have brave visions that cause others to call them weird, strange and crazy.

12. They are monomaniacally focused on their big bet rather than interested in every shiny toy opportunity that comes along.

13. They are honest—understanding that integrity is everything and that a 20 year good reputation could be lost in 20 seconds of poor judgement.

14. They spend a lot of time alone because that’s where the most sensational ideas come from.

15. They are extremely physically fit because weak health is a massive vulnerability.

16. They are never too busy building the business to study their financials.

17. They are brilliant at hiring top producers and this brilliance was born through the failed hiring of terrible producers.

18. They are agile so when things get tough, they swiftly pivot to not only survive but prosper.

19. They understand that success breeds complacency and—because of this—they stay hungry, creative and hypervigilant to the threats that could knock off their golden crown.

20. They build superb systems because systems ensure consistency of quality.

21. They are monumentally productive by becoming masters of the polite [yet fierce] no.

22. They are givers rather than takers.

23. They rest a lot given that the key to domain dominant performances is regularly scheduled recovery periods.

24. They care very little about the negative opinions of others because an opinion is just an opinion so why make it more than an opinion.

25. They know that when everyone around them tells them that they are amazing they are in the dangerous situation where they just might start to think they are amazing.

26. They read a ton of books. [And have huge libraries].

27. They go to a lot of learning conferences. [And take a major number of notes].

28. They have supreme spiritual lives and have donated their lives to a cause that’s larger than themselves.

29. When they get knocked down, they get back up—constantly and relentlessly and quickly. Truly.

30. They rise at dawn, gaining a gargantuan competitive advantage as well as a quiet hour to think, plan, prepare, exercise and pray.

31. They eat less food, so they get more done.

32. They are constantly mentoring their people and championing the vision and values so that their teams constantly live the mission and exemplify the values.

33. They have the courage to hire slowly and fire swiftly.

34. They are on the path of mastery in their craft, so they study the great ones and get a little better at what they do each and every day.

35. They not only work to improve their Mindsets, they do the emotional healing required to purify their Heartsets so that the darker emotions of anger, shame, disappointment, regret, sadness and guilt leave them—allowing for maximum creativity, productivity, prosperity and human decency.

36. They never take themselves too seriously, understanding that people who take themselves too seriously are not taken very seriously.

37. They love winning. And are much more keen to construct a dynasty rather than simply secure a championship.

38. They are humble and understand that masters always think like beginners.

39. They are extraordinarily curious and, as a result, are regularly asking good questions as well as asking “why” a lot.

40. They understand that if they are talking—in frustration—about a difficult employee to their spouse each evening, it’s a clear sign it’s time to (respectfully) let that teammate go.

41. They lead without a title, deriving their power and organizational influence via their character, performance, results and optimism versus from the position they have on the organizational chart.

42. They get that the team that breaks bread together is a team that stays together.

43. They write in a journal often knowing that clarity breeds mastery and writing in a journal is thinking on paper.

44. They are absolutely fanatical with getting the tiniest of details perfect.

45. They build legendary cultures because competition can copy the products and services of your business, but they will never be able to clone your soul.

46. They smile a lot.

47. They lean into the things that make them feel scared because greatness comes from the consistent doing of hard things and the discomfort of growth is always to be preferred over the illusion of safety.

48. They make themselves more positive, strong, noble and good people daily knowing that their business will never rise higher than they do.

49. They serve the world well.

And Heartwarming…

Owners Captured The Most Hilarious Moments Of Their Pets Having Lazy Days Around The House
We all love it when our pet sleeps with us because that means we can put pajamas on them, tuck them in, and just mother them to pieces. We love it, they love it, and everyone’s happy.

Pets All Tucked In And Ready To Have A Lazy Sunday Like The Rest Of Us – Buzznet

Please play more and pay it forward!

Love,

Neville

Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nevillebillimoria

X: https://twitter.com/NevilleB108 
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“The champion wins first, then walks into the arena. Everybody else walks into the arena and then tries to figure out what to do.”— Jim Fannin