I’ve studied positive psychology for 10 years: This is the secret to happiness: Stephanie Harrison has studied the science of happiness for 10 years. Here’s what she says is the secret to happiness.
Exercise can reverse ageing in the brain, study claims: It looks like brawn could be the key to long lasting brains. May 15, 2024 We all know exercise is good for us. It’s been clear for hundreds (if not thousands) of years that keeping fit and mobile is important to keep your body in good nick, prevent diseases and improve your mental health. Despite its myriad benefits for us, however, there always seems to be one insurmountable fact of life that exercise can’t conquer: our minds and bodies decline as we age
Why writing by hand beats typing for thinking and learning: Researchers are learning that handwriting engages the brain in ways typing can’t match, raising questions about the costs of ditching this age-old practice, especially for kids.
Majestic mountain ibex among winners in GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024 members’ competition: 20 breathtaking images from this year’s GDT Nature Photographer of the Year members’ competition, including a stoic Alpine ibex, a wave-riding penguin, and a bewitching winter woodland.
Jeneba Kanneh-Mason stuns with blistering take on Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 A masterpiece of 19th-century piano repertoire, forever linked with the joy of Tom and Jerry…
Here is my first foray, conducting this very same piece as an elementary school kid in Bombay, India at around age 11:
Cathedral School, Bombay, India
Elbow turn Manchester crowd into 23,500-strong choir in spine-tingling harmony: The most life-affirming sound you’ll ever hear: a crowd of thousands of music lovers, lifting their voices in glorious harmony.
Steven Tyler’s Unusual Response To A Disabled Fan Went Viral – Here’s What He Said: Anthony Yorfido, a young man from Niagara Falls, ran into Steven Tyler, the frontman of Aerosmith. What began as a chance encounter at a medical supplies store soon became a moment that would change Anthony’s life forever. Read on to see what amazing things Tyler did for this kind fan.
Why Do We Sing? New Analysis of Folk Songs Finds Similarities around the World: Across the globe, singing traditions are vast and varied. Their commonalities may help explain how music evolved
Dance and percussion group puts on a show for travelers at San Diego International Airport: If you’re headed out of San Diego International Airport over the next week, you may encounter some unexpected sights and sounds that could bring your travel experience to life in a whole new way.
This week: Confront the Brutal Facts about Climate Change but Never Give Up Hope!
Here are both the challenges as well as some innovative solutions on the horizon.
Confront the brutal facts-
A Big Part of the Problem-
Survey finds that 60 firms are responsible for half of world’s plastic pollution: Study confirms Philip Morris International, Danone, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola are worst offenders
The Foods the World Will Lose to Climate Change Droughts, heat, and extreme weather are pushing crops to their limits. The race is on to innovate faster than the Earth warms.
Scientists sound the alarm over dramatic loss of 3 billion birds in North America: ‘We’re watching … extinction happen’ The staggering drop in bird populations serves as a sobering signal of an urgent need to take action. Since the 1970s, bird enthusiasts have watched the skies empty and heard the birdsongs go silent as nearly 3 billion birds vanished in North America. Disturbed by the findings of an expansive body of research, scientists across the globe are sounding the alarm as half of the world’s bird populations are in decline. What’s happening?
Can a picture make you happy? We asked photographers and here’s what they sent us Photographers sent us pictures of a Syrian boy who finds joy caring for farm animals, Ukrainian girls on a trampoline, music lovers grooving to the blues and more.
Can this technology help refreeze Arctic ice? Global warming is rapidly melting some of the world’s largest ice shelves but a UK startup believes it may be possible to refreeze new layers of ice.
The ‘world’s largest’ vacuum to suck climate pollution out of the air just opened. Here’s how it works Mammoth will suck in air using giant fans, separate the carbon and transport it underground where it will transform into stone
Try these powerful life principles to tap into your unlimited potential: The author of ‘Passion Struck’ champions proactive living—cultivating a focused, intentional engagement in every aspect of our lives.
This 106-Year-Old Psychological Rule Is Still the Secret to Peak Performance. A Harvard Behavior Scientist Just Explained How to Use It Today: If you want to perform at your peak, you want your stress levels to be not too high, not too low, but just right
Drivin the Bus at Mission Fed ArtWalk in Little Italy in the Piazza della Famiglia on the Main Stage, on West Date Street- Saturday April 27th from 12:30 to 1:30 Free, + you can explore the amazing annual art scene either before or after!
Strange Crew (Clapton Tribute Night) Saturday April 27th from 6 to 10pm at Duck Foot in Miramar at 8920 Kenamar Drive. No Cover and it’s Phil’s birthday so will be wild!
Sometimes things don’t go, after all, from bad to worse.
Some years, muscadel faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don’t fail.
Sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.
A people sometimes will step back from war, elect an honest man, decide they care, enough, that they can’t leave some stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.
Sometimes our best intentions do not go, amiss; sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow, that seemed hard frozen; may it happen for you.
Awe!
Scientists Have Identified ‘8 Wonders Of Life’ — And Their Health Effects Are Powerful Studies conducted in 26 different countries offer intriguing data on the surprising benefits of experiencing awe.
Jane Goodall Reflects On How A Childhood Dog Changed The Way She Saw Animals “Rusty, I’ve never known a dog like him,” the famed primatologist said, remembering her beloved canine companion.
Suddenly aware that you have been paying attention to the wrong body and mind all your life!
Drilling down through layers of delusion, confusion, personal strategies and karmic tangles to arrive at an experience of a stunningly simple and fundamental truth:
Spending time in nature makes you a more authentic person – a new study shows how: Why simply going outside can make you more honest with yourself and others.
If you are local, come join us as Drivin the Bus will be playing at Mr. Peabody’s Bar and Grill on Friday April 5th from 8:30 to 12:30pm, with your favorite classic jams!
5 habits to borrow from people who’ve lived to 100: Dan Buettner, who has been studying people who live the longest for 20 years, shares their secrets.
My 95-year-old grandfather is a former cardiologist—his 8 ‘non-negotiables’ for a long, happy life: Mika Cribbs spent the summer with her 95-year-old grandfather in Japan and was inspired by how he boosts longevity and happiness. Here’s his daily routine for living a long, healthy life.
Exemplary Heroes and Healers to Inspire You Over Labor Day
“Heroism is really the quest to live according to one’s internal standards of right and wrong, regardless of whether the world is watching.”—- John F. Groom
Italian banker hailed a hero after catching toddler falling from fifth floor balcony: A 37-year-old banker from Turin is being hailed a hero after miraculously catching an Italian toddler who fell from her family’s fifth floor balcony on Saturday.
Life of diner in China saved by doctor in same restaurant who spots symptoms of brain tumor and intervenes: A doctor in China who saved the life of a stranger by noticing the symptoms of a brain tumor in a woman eating at the same restaurant was celebrated as part of the country’s Doctors Day earlier this month. Zhao Ming, a senior member of the neurosurgery…
Watch the astonishing moment this dog predicts his owner is sick before she does: Watch this incredible display of communication and love as this sweet pup tells his owner she’s sick before she even realizes it.
A mother of 3 was struggling at the airport. Then the ‘mom tribe’ swung into action Adrianne Drazin was on a long overseas flight with her baby and two young children. After she exited the plane, she noticed a family nearby waiting for something.
From the U.S. Surgeon General: Anyone can be a Healer: In an exclusive interview, Dr. Vivek Murthy speaks about the growing mental health crisis and loneliness epidemic in America—and what we can do in the workplace to help.
Enjoy some killer live music overlooking the Pacific Ocean and join Drivin The Bus on Saturday September 2nd from 6-8pm at The Camp Store inside the entrance to South Carlsbad State Beach at 7201 Carlsbad Blvd. Carlsbad CA92008.
We will be playing all your favorite classic jams. No Cover.
With my dear brother Dr. Danny Friedland when we Co-Chaired the Cause Conference in 2017
The 25th Annual San Diego Cause Conference:
For nearly a decade during which I co-chaired this conference 3 times, the focus of this gathering has been about uplifting society, initially through the nonprofit sector but more recently through all purpose-driven enterprise, regardless of their tax designation.
Here is a link to this year’s conference, in the brand spanking new Sharp Prebys Innovation and Education Center on Sept. 14th 2023.
Here is a CloudCast podcast with host Drew S that we did recently featuring Staci Reidinger, who along with DeLinda Forsythe are the Cause San Diego Co-Executive directors and are co-producing the conference with the help of an amazing group of volunteers.
Enjoy the story and hopefully find your place in it, wherever you find yourself!
The Zen Room at the 25th Cause Conference: Warning: Experiences could lead to unbridled joy and delight!
To harmonize vocational and avocational passions, this year Mission Fed is sponsoring a Zen Room at the conference (deets below):
Ever noticed that as a society, we seem to seem to venerate action and vilify reflection? As critical as self-care and self-compassion are today, why do relegate them to “nice to haves” v. “must haves”?
At this year’s cause conference, we have intentionally incorporated a Zen room with a variety of Zen experiences (Zen Ex), designed to help you tune up, tune in, and bring your best self to the day, in just a few minutes!
Even a world class symphony begins by tuning and don’t just jump outright into the “playing”. We all can benefit from short bursts of re-centering to be fully present, but if it’s easy to do, it’s easy not to do.
Forget the charge on your smartphone. Charge up your intention, attention, and attitude!
From massage stations, to yoga, to singing bowls, to breath breaks (today’s far better version of smoke breaks), you will have the opportunity to experience a variety of modalities and therapeutics to keep you in flow and in a peak state.
Why? Be Cause.
Conscious leaders intentionally and consistently incorporate micro habits into their schedule, and you can experience and incorporate some of these Zen Ex’s as part of your conference experience- all for free, courtesy of the practitioners and their gifts of service.
The choice is simple. Critical self-care now, or critical care later…
If you are coming, check the Whova app or visit the Zen Room #211 anytime you feel the need to decompress, reset and recharge!
Even the heart pumps blood to itself first, so listen to your most authentic self.
We’ve got you…
PS. “All our (Zen) Ex’s don’t live in Texas 😊”
Thanks this week go to Staci R, DeLinda F, Drew S, Niki C, Rebecca T and all the Cause Conference volunteers!
What Can the Wisdom Traditions Teach Us About Winning and Losing?
Are We Civilized?
Kindness 101: Friendship
Why It’s Perfectly Normal to See Baby Puffins Thrown Off Cliffs in Iceland Each Year
Your “Before I Die List” with Robin Sharma
+ Taking You Out With The Unbridled Joy Of Music (I Can’t Help Myself- It Always Cracks My Heart Open!)
In the past week, I had the privilege of speaking at the CIF Symposium where the focus was proper sportsmanship, not just by the student athletes, but by coaches and spectators too!
Thought you might value this perspective…
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 01: Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy celebrates sharing the gold medal with Muta Essa Barshim of Qatar in the High Jump on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 01, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
What Can the Wisdom Traditions Teach Us About Winning and Losing?
If we look at what have become an all too common cultural norm, be it in politics, business or personal life, it seems that winning at all costs has replaced the more humane and wise notion of winning- but doing so following the rules of the game and a moral imperative.
When we look the other way, ignoring fouls and other ethical violations, are we tacitly endorsing these behaviors at best, or enabling at worst, behaviors that are antithetical to our own betterment and survival not just as individuals but as a species?
In the wisdom traditions, using traditional martial arts as a proxy, we are trained to strive for personal excellence and the contest whether in the ring of competition on in the ring of life provides a “proving ground” to test ourselves not just versus another player or contestant but against our own best potential.
Here there are 4 levels of winning and losing, not just the binary winning and losing we have become all too familiar with today.
The highest level of achievement is an honorable win. Your win is supported by right conduct and if you know you did not win cleanly you self-report the foul or incident rather than hide it under the rug or play to the chorus of if it wasn’t seen, or can’t be proved, then it didn’t happen.
One level down from this is an honorable loss. If you lost but did your best and were beaten fair and square you honor both your opponent and yourself, and learn from the experience by being a gracious “loser”. Here winning still occurs through character development, investing in loss, and remaining focused on long term growth not just short term outcomes. Honorable losses build resiliency and forge a character of perseverance and grit.
Next comes a dishonorable win and obviously in last place comes the dishonorable loss where in spite of trying every dirty trick in the book you still get your clock cleaned!
Whether it is in Olympic competition against the best in the world, or a personal competition to better oneself, it would be useful to foster a climate/culture that underscores the importance of honor and humility in the “success calculus” or we find the win meaningless, transitory and ultimately not supportive of our individual or collective growth.
Daily Practice:
This can also play out in our day to day choices; doing the right thing for the right reason, the wrong thing for the right reason, the right thing for the wrong reason and the wrong thing for the wrong reason. I will leave it to you to discern the hierarchy and Faustian bargain this path takes us to when left to its ultimate conclusion.
Much is made of Alpha animals dominating their tribe and being willing to prevail over all contenders both inside and out.
Not as much is understood or appreciated about Alpha leaders, even in primates, modeling empathy and seeing their primary role as caring for and supporting their group not just terrorizing their peers and den members.
A real Alpha leader has the capacity to win at all costs but subordinates themselves.
I have heard altruism defined as “self-handicapping” for the greater good…
What kind of leader do you want to model, follow or create?
Let’s start now!
Love,
Neville
Are We Civilized?
Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts!
“Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones.
But no. Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal.
A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts, Mead said.”
We are at our best when we serve others. Be civilized.
Kindness 101: Friendship As part of the ongoing series “Kindness 101,” Steve Hartman and his kids are sharing stories built around themes of kindness and character and the people who’ve mastered both. His latest lesson is friendship.
Why It’s Perfectly Normal to See Baby Puffins Thrown Off Cliffs in Iceland Each Year Throwing thousands of baby puffins off a cliff is a yearly tradition for the people of Iceland’s Westman Islands. It’s part of what’s known as “puffing season” and is a crucial life-saving endeavor.
Sorry to bring up death in the title yet you and I both come with an expiration date.
Like it or not, we’ll all end up as dust. Soon or late.
Makes me think of Ted Leonsis. The tech titan, visionary leader and business disruptor.
He was on a plane when the pilot said it looked like they would crash. Just imagine. Actually, please don’t.
Face to face with the end, he reflected on the things that truly mattered. No accessories. Only priorities.
He considered all the things he didn’t do and the places he didn’t visit and the people he failed to meet.
He confronted his truest values and highest visions, reflecting on the busyness of life and how it causes even the best amongst us to stray from the mission.
Fortunately the aircraft landed safely.
In the terminal, Ted wrote out a list that would transform his life: a list of 101 things that he vowed to do before he died.
Within a few years most were done.
Yet here’s the opportunity for you to take a few pristine hours—hidden away from the world—to generate your list. Of 50 or 75 or 100 things you absolutely must get done before you pass into that great field of daisies in the sky.
It’ll help you identify what truly counts. So you can strip out the trivialities. And lead your most majestic life. Beginning (hopefully) today. Because now is a gorgeous time to start a better way.
Take You Out With The Unbridled Joy Of Music:
From 8 to 80, the love of music makes your heart sing
Happy Soul Food Friday! 