Category: Uncategorized

Happy Soul Food Friday!

This week:

11 Benefits of Being Positive:

There is a lot of research on the positive effects of being positive and the negative effects of being negative. The research is clear. It really does pay to be positive and the benefits include enhanced health and longevity, happiness, career advancement, athletic performance, team building and financial success. Being positive is not just a nice way to live. It’s the way to live. In this spirit here are 11 benefits of being positive.

1. Positive People Live Longer – In a study of nuns, those that regularly expressed positive emotions lived on average 10 years longer. (The Nun Study)

2. Positive work environments outperform negative work environments. (Daniel Goleman)

3. Positive, optimistic sales people sell more than pessimistic sales people. (Martin Seligman)

4. Positive leaders are able to make better decisions under pressure. (Heartmath.org)

5. Marriages are much more likely to succeed when the couple experiences a 5 to 1 ratio of positive to negative interactions whereas when the ratio approaches 1 to 1, marriages are more likely to end in divorce. (John Gottman)

6. Positive people who regularly express positive emotions are more resilient when facing stress, challenges and adversity. (Several Studies)

7. Positive people are able to maintain a broader perspective and see the big picture which helps them identify solutions whereas negative people maintain a narrower perspective and tend to focus on problems. (Barbara Fredrickson)

8. Positive thoughts and emotions counter the negative effects of stress. For example, you can’t be thankful and stressed at the same time. (Several Studies)

9. Positive emotions such as gratitude and appreciation help athletes perform at a higher level. (Heartmath.org)

10. Positive people have more friends which is a key factor of happiness and longevity. (Robert D. Putnam)

11. Positive and popular leaders are more likely to garner the support of others and receive pay raises and promotions and achieve greater success in the workplace. (Tim Sanders)

(Thanks Larry)

Some highlights from His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s (HHDL) First San Diego visit entitled “Compassion without Borders”:

HHDL was in San Diego for several days, speaking at all the major universities. I was privileged to attend his UCSD event as I serve on the UCSD Alumni Board. The topic was Climate Change but the discussion encapsulated so much more from a wise and humble soul…

Important global issues such as Climate Change require agreement that it is a problem, as well as collective agreement on the response. Unlike bloodshed and violence that are “visibly abhorrent”, climate change is a slow, silent killer and invisibly abhorrent; hence the lack of public awareness and support to address the critical issue.

A theme HHDL brought up was universal responsibility, and how global interests must take precedence over national interests. “Look at birds: Even they respect their nests because they know their survival depends on it,” he said. “This small blue planet is our only home. If we do not respect it, the entire planet and billions and billions of species will be affected. This is a question of life, a question of survival for the entire planet.”.

The Left Behind 2.7 Billion… Out of 7 billion people on this planet, 2.7 billion people have no access to fossil fuels. The resulting cost to their health, and planet’s health is disastrous, and If we don’t stem the tide in the next 5 to 10 years the prognosis gets progressively worse! This urgency is scientific not political or ideological as validated but the eminent scientists that were panelists with HHDL on the stage.

Sometimes human development requires a  “Change of Spirit”. We work hard to cultivate sharper minds, and that is good because Mind creates Meaning. However, Spirit creates Understanding. Many of our most insidious challenges are the result of wrong identification of self. In other words we believe we are somehow different from our neighbor. But don’t believe everything you think! We need to open our eyes, and our hearts to the nature of our condition as a community, living together inter-dependently on this small blue planet we call our home.

His HHDL has cultivated such a genuine respect & admiration for the practice of science because in his words; Skepticism à Creates Questions àBring Research à Fosters Analysis à Generates Answers! And this is the very same process on the spiritual path…

Developing our minds makes us smarter. Developing our spirit, cultivates warm-heartedness, and this is an essential ingredient in a complete education. Note: Sounds like a pretty good case for Soul Food Fridays!

(Thanks UCSD)

Committed to Giving Your Kids a Complete Education? Turn your Family, Friends and Community on to Back Pack Free Friday May 4th:

Every day millions of children go to school tired, dehydrated, and many times also hungry. Back Pack Free Friday focuses public awareness on the very real burdens lack of appreciation for children’s foundational health, places on children and schools. Back Pack Free Friday is sponsored by an international consciousness movement called Parenting 2.0 (P20), the top ranked parenting group on LinkedIn with nearly 1,700 members in more than 40 countries.  P20 advocates a more proactive educational process for non-academic Life Skills.

I am proud to be a member of Parenting 2.0, and invite you to join the group, participate in and spread the word about our Back Pack Free Friday campaign that launches May 4th.

For more information visit:  http://parenting2pt0.org/media/

Here is additional information from another P20 member who blogged about this at: http://braininsights.blogspot.com/2012/04/lifting-burden-off-children-and-schools.html

(Thanks Marlaine)

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Mission Fed ArtWalk 2012:

Artwalk is a flagship event for Art in San Diego and Mission Fed is proud to be the title sponsor for the 5^th year in a row. ArtReach (a non-profit)- but I prefer for benefit -brings art professionals into the classroom to unleash the artist in every one of us.

Art and Spirit are integral aspects of the human experience. Discernment requires not just looking but seeing! Our aesthetics are forged in spirit and ironically, vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity & change.

Seeing ourselves differently, this change of spirit can be sparked by art. It reaches a deeper part of ourselves, it touches our soul.

Your rational mind may or may not be able to explain the awe and wonder that manifests when you resonate with the artistic but it is there…

Explaining is fine, but when we start to explain AWAY; awe, wonder, mystery, the sacred, the magical we stifle a key aspect of the human experience and thwart the soul.

Think Different has become a maxim of modernity

Try SEE Different and watch as “shift happens”…

Come to Little Italy this weekend and experience the best of San Diego’s local art scene for yourself

ArtWalk 2012 Email

(Thanks Mission Fed)

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Google Earth reconnects a lost child with his mother after 25 years!

An amazing story that speaks to an unintended consequence and power of the information age…

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/4/2012041720120417223101765ab97b287/Google-Earth-helps-lost-Indian-boy-trace-Mom-25-years-later.html

(Thanks Brian)

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A Real Tearjerker: One young person’s attitude in the face of adversity giving rise to greatness…

Korea’s Got Talent and this young man understands that “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” as Zig Ziglar likes to say…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThI7QT8znpc&feature=youtu.be

(Thanks Heidi)

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Soul Food Friday is never complete without some Animal Crackers:

Enjoy some pet humor…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q34z5dCmC4M

(Thanks Sarah M.)

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Stay Soulful, Artful and Inspired!

Pay it forward…
Love,
Neville

“Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working.”
— Pablo Picasso

Happy Soul Food Friday!

This week:

Imagination is a very special ingredient in our soul food repertoire, and this piece was submitted by two separate sources (thanks Larry & Robin) to bring you joy and delight.

Remember when you were a little kid and how the power of your imagination kept you occupied for hours?

This little guy, with the support of his dad, acted on his imagination and built a whole arcade out of cardboard in East LA.

Sadly because of its location nobody came 😦

Then one equally imaginative customer decided to use a similarly important soul-food ingredient (a conscious act of kindness) to make this dream come true!

Watch this all the way to the end…

http://vimeo.com/40000072

Servant Leaders are constantly getting hammered in the media

In stark contrast to mainstream mania, here is a leader that models real leadership and courage (terror faced just like the rest of us but just a bit longer than most)

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2012/04/13/woman_rescued_by_nj_mayor_in_serious_condition/

(thanks Louis)

Wonder why many of the Yoga poses are named after animals?

This won’t solve the mystery but will make you smile all the way to the Finnish J

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2010/sep/15/yoga-bear-finland#/?picture=366722335&index=0
(thanks Rex)

It really is all about Perspective:

Stare at this picture carefully and you will see this man turn his face.
Is it is all about how you look?

(Thanks Larry)

Music Interlude:

Whether you are young and already animated, or aging and in need of some re-animation, music has a unique power to transform our lives.

First check out these young’uns kicking it on their musical instruments

Click here: sleepymanbanjoboys – YouTube 

(Thanks Larry)

Then see the power of Music profoundly awaken the souls of senior citizens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKDXuCE7LeQ&sns=em

(thanks Heidi)

Finally, go deep in your own underwater paradise in Fiji and Tonga

http://www.youtube.com/embed/mcbHKAWIk3I

(thanks Larry)

Feed your imagination, cultivate your leadership skills, stay flexible, maintain perspective, let the music move you and go deep into soul-filled living!

Love,

Neville

“I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty…”

— Kabir

Happy Soul Food Friday!

If you had people over for the Passover/Easter weekend, I am guessing you could probably have used this table

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh_qn62zny0

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Here is something else you can store under your bed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxcKBcqZyNA

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Tired of bike racks and even pedaling? This bike from VW engineers takes ‘transportation within transportation’ it to a whole new level -and is a great feat!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXhhWXw9V7A

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Some Contemporary Poetry to fill your soul…

The Journey

Above the mountains
the geese turn into the light again
Painting their black silhouettes on an open sky.
Sometimes everything has to be inscribed across the heavens
so you can find the one line already written inside you.
Sometimes it takes a great sky to find that
small, bright and indescribable wedge of freedom in your own heart.
Sometimes with the bones of the black sticks left when the fire has gone out
someone has written something new in the ashes of your life.
You are not leaving
You are arriving.

By David Whyte

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Business Schools actually teaching and studying Mindfulness, so execs can clear their heads and become aware of reflexive emotional actions that can lead to bad decisions ?

Read this article

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Let’s end as we often do, with the power of pictures, where you can create your own captions!

Caption These

Thanks Larry, Elisa, Ron S, for this week’s contributions!

Stay Kind & Pay it forward…
Love, Neville

“One should guard against preaching to young people success in the customary form as the main aim in life. The most important motive for work in school and in life is pleasure in work, pleasure in its result, and the knowledge of the value of the result to the community.” – Albert Einstein, On Education

Happy Soul-filled Friday!

The Power of Attitude:

Have you ever run into people that seem eternally positive? It’s not like they are putting you on or anything, they just genuinely have cultivated the skill of being and focusing on the positive things in life. They embody the notion that attitudes are infectious and make theirs definitely worth catching!

At work we are blessed to have a plant service. Ernie New is our BD and Client Care Specialist from Green Leaf Interior Plant Solutions. Ernie does “the rounds” making sure our plants are healthy, happy and watered just right.

But Ernie doesn’t just care for the plants. Plant care, in my opinion, is just a great excuse to care for people!

While we may see his role as the plant guy, I think we are missing his PURPOSE as a people guy.

Our I does not equal R, in other words our identity is not our role

Ernie is always positive, takes the time to connect with you personally if you are receptive, or does his thing innocuously if you are busy, and just seems to know when and how to extend himself.

As a student of human behavior, I have observed him keenly for months and last week felt compelled to ask him about his attitude and how the heck he remains so positive ALL THE TIME?

His response was quite illuminating.  Ernie said, “I don’t give much thought or attention to the negative”. In other words, it wasn’t some big deal or focus or personal commitment or externally imposed way of being. Ernie simply made THE DECISION to focus on the positive and at minimum, not focus on the negative.

All things being equal in the plant care business (or any business for that matter), I would want an Ernie taking care of my plants because at the same time he is also taking care of me!

Our role is not our identity.
At Mission Fed we are not in the financial services business, we are in the trust business.
It might be useful to self-assess how this plays out in your various roles too…

When each of us get clear on why we are here and the real impact we CAN have in the day-to-day lives of others BLISS HAPPENS!

Alignment with our Passion and Purpose transform our relationships to ourselves, one another and our world, and today I take my hat off to Ernie New from Green Leaf Interior Plant Solutions for modeling “the way”!
(thanks Ernie)

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Leading with Attitude is Critically important.

Here are 10 THOUGHTS ABOUT LEADERSHIP that resonated for me this week…

1. People follow the leader first and the leader’s vision second – It does not matter if the leader shares a powerful vision, if the leader is not someone who people will follow the vision will never be realized. As a leader, who you are makes a difference. The most important message you can share is yourself.

2. Trust is the force that connects people to the leader and his/her vision – Without trust there is a huge gap between the leader and the vision. Without trust people will stay off the bus. However if people trust the leader they will hop on the bus with the leader and help move the bus forward towards the vision.

3. Leadership is not just about what you do but what you can inspire, encourage and empower others to do.

4. A leader brings out the best within others by sharing the best within themselves.

5. Just because you’re driving the bus doesn’t mean you have the right to run people over – Abraham Lincoln said “Most anyone can stand adversity, but to test a man’s character give him power.” The more power you are granted the more it is your responsibility to serve, develop and empower others. When you help them grow they’ll help you grow.

6. “Rules without Relationship Leads to Rebellion” – Andy Stanley said this and it’s one of my favorite quotes. As a leader you can have all the rules you want but if you don’t invest in your people and develop a relationship with them they will rebel. This applies amazingly to children as well. It’s all about relationships.

7. Lead with optimism, enthusiasm and positive energy, guard against pessimism and weed out negativity.

8. Great Leaders know they don’t have all the answers – Rather they build a team of people who either know the answers or will find them.

9. Leaders inspire and teach their people to focus on solutions, not complaints. (The No Complaining Rule)

10. Great leaders know that success is a process not a destination – One of my heroes John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach, never focused on winning. He knew that winning was the byproduct of great leadership, teamwork, focus, commitment and execution of the fundamentals. As a leader focus on your people and process, not the outcome

(thanks Larry)

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Everyone is a Superhero!

Check out this individual’s commitment to helping kids
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/rosenwald-md/post/who-is-the-route-29-batman-this-guy/2012/03/28/gIQA8nPjgS_blog.html
(thanks Rex)

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Our superhero traits sometimes are part of our nature and sometimes need to be nurtured. Enjoy this little guy who shows us that it is never too early to rock out… http://youtu.be/4wt824D1Bqg
(thanks Arman)

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Connecting with the natural world can be extremely centering and soul filling
This first slide deck is striking in the contrast of black and white photography of animals in Africa: Click here

The second Is a stunning hi def video from Alberta, Canada.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=ThFCg0tBDck
(thanks Chris for these two)

Finally, if a picture is worth a thousand words resonate with this…
A Visual Meaning of Words
(thanks Heidi)

Pay it forward!
Love,
Neville

It’s time for your Soul Food Friday again!

In the past week, in two different settings; one for the American Marketing Association Cause Conference and the other for the Platinum Awards, an event honoring some of the best and brightest at Mission Fed, I have had the opportunity to build on an idea that is integral to two separate sources:

The 2007 bestseller, The Passion Test http://www.thepassiontest.com/TPT/TheBook/index.cfm whose authors Janet and Chris Atwood I hooked up with recently

and “Born to Be Good, The Science of a Meaningful Life” By Dacher Keltner  http://www.amazon.com/Born-Be-Good-Science-Meaningful/dp/039306512X

The essence of the predictive question here is, “Do you believe the world is a beneficent place?” and “How many of you believe that we were born inherently good and are actually wired to help others?

In Born to Be Good, from the relatively new field of affective science, the author makes a compelling case that humans are not hardwired to lead lives that are “nasty and brutish” but we are in fact born to be good. He investigates an old mystery of human evolution; Why have we evolved positive emotions like gratitude, amusement, awe, and compassion that promote ethical action and are the fabric of cooperative societies?

Isn’t that an interesting and important question for us to ponder?

While there was a time when ‘might may have seemed right’- evolutionarily speaking, today more than ever we require one another to be successful, and those that can actually get along better with others seem more likely to be successful in a complex, networked world.

This misuse of might is not just about physical dominance- mind you. We can be just as brutish being intellectually dominating as well. We have all met people that we think to ourselves, “They are so smart, they are stupid!”

Our modern intellectual, rational, analytical brain is brilliant at explaining things.
But “when all you have got is a hammer, everything looks like a nail!”

Explaining things is a very useful pursuit. But when this morphs into explaining AWAY things, we start explaining away; awe, compassion, faith, trust, mystery, goodness, kindness, wonder and this does NOT create social value and a healthy society….

Got any thoughts on this?

Speaking of social value and effective leadership, on this week’s slate:

Education-
Changing Global Educational Paradigms:
I shared this one months ago, but it bears re-watching if we are even remotely serious about education, check out:
RSA Animate – Changing Education Paradigms
(thanks Kathy)

Transforming Local Education:
If San Diego Is to Work Tomorrow, Business Must Join in Educating Young People Today: San Diego Business Journal Article
 (thanks Andrea Y C)

Applied Technology in Education:
Exclusively iPads in the classroom and the end of text books as we know it?
It is happening here and now, as we speak in Burlington Massachusetts …
Check out: http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2012/03/23/schools-textbooks-ipad
(thanks NPR and Andrea for digging up the link)

What you focus on MANIFESTS!
Looking for a little happy news to counter the negative doom and gloom and sensational hype that dominates mainstream media?
Explore the Happy News website, that actually focuses on good stuff.
Here is one story that validates the power of honor & humility
http://www.happynews.com/news/3192012/man-returns-money-laden-bag.htm
(thanks Heidi)

Soul Food is not complete without Babies or Pets: 
Experience this explosive welcome home for one Marine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsqEHuuMfYo
(thanks Larry G.)

Finally, take some time to smell the roses…
Click here!
This is a friend test. Send virtual flowers to as many friends as you “like”!
(thanks Larry)

Pay it forward…
Love,
Neville

“If you want to be happy practice compassion; if you want others to be happy, practice compassion” – The Dalai Lama

Happy Soul Food Friday!

This week:

Social Hypnosis v. Paying Attention

Take this test and see what is right in front of us, yet hidden in plain sight (thanks Larry)

A Think Test

On Creativity

Enjoy amazing music by this mega-talented young person for the first 13:15 or just jump to the 17 minute mark to learn about sync and flow and then watch improv happen right in front of your eyes!

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/jennifer_lin_improvs_piano_magic.html

Planning any Travel?
Keep an eye out for these scams. Social engineering and then some… (thanks Mohit)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO6CFSosqKE&NR=1

Personal Development & Leadership:

As we reflect on the question (where am I?), and combine it with “the goal of growing people” (where are we going?), I started to think about “what” to change (how am I going to get there?).

Here is some really interesting and well-researched insight around our “strengths and weaknesses.”

This info is focused on what makes great leaders and contributors in the workplace, but I think it will transfer to other areas.

It can be summarized like this – there are two areas you can choose to work on:

1. Correct a weakness (60% choose to work on this)
2. Magnify something you are reasonably good at (30% work on this)

Turns out one of these has better results, is more fun, and a more positive experience…

This video explains it better than I can and only takes 3 minutes and 22 seconds of your Leadership Development time:

http://zengerfolkman.com/player/vid-building-strengths-zenger.html

The punch line is around the 2:50 mark (thanks Paul)

Making a Difference in the Community:

Here is a link to our Community Relations Newsletter

And last but not least here is a meaningful lesson about how Time makes a difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One day you will no longer be the big dog…
just the old dog….

and it’s nice to be surrounded by friends.

Pay it forward!

Love,

Neville

 

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless” – Mother Teresa

It’s Soul Food Friday

Stay Soul-Filled and Share Your Energy- the World Needs YOU!

On Leadership:

This week I had the privilege of sharing some thoughts on Leadership with the Management team at Mission Fed. Here are two clips that allowed me to get to the heart of two key dimensions of leadership. The first while heavy, addresses the fundamental question about leadership is individually focused, and speaks to personal accountability. The second is much lighter and more group focused as it relates to engagement, recognizing the role everyone plays in that process.

As we know, most major events start with the singing of the national anthem. Now, imagine what it is like to do this as a 13 year old in front of 20,000 people…
Check out this video

(Thanks Rex)

How to Start a Movement:

Click here!

(Thanks Jack & Sonia)

Thanks for all that every one of you do to Lead, Follow and as needed sometimes just Get out of the way when it comes to leadership in your circles of influence!

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Kid’s Helping Creating the Conditions to Stop Bullying:

Listen to one young person’s advice to her peers in this YouTube video as part of Monster March

Watch this

(Thanks Victoria)

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Committed to Social Justice?
This clip at the most recent TED conference garnered one of the largest standing “Os” and features both thoughtful content AND is brilliantly delivered:

http://www.ted.com/talks/bryan_stevenson_we_need_to_talk_about_an_injustice.html

(Thanks Jack and TED)

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2nd Annual Sustainable Feast Event

Mission Fed is one of the sponsors of the 2nd Annual Sustainable Feast event, presented by Kaiser Permanente. Taking place on April 22, and set in the heart of Point Loma’s Liberty Station, this event will pair local farms with top chefs in San Diego who will prepare fantastic food—up close and personal. Two great bands will be present and the Outdoor Education Fun Zone will demonstrate how fun learning through nature can be. For more information, or to purchase some tix, check out the two clips below—and visit the event website.

http://youtu.be/STf8otE6jrQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgsr30jNXDs

Don’t Throw Out the Baby with the Bathwater:

Here is a little positive energy with respect to our Armed Forces- where all give some and some give all– to afford us the freedom and lifestyle we are blessed to enjoy. This wordless video will leave you a little speechless…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyZ9b4My6NU

(Thanks Larry)

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Now to Lighter Fare…

How smart is your right foot?  Try the test below—

Click here!

Finally Warm the Cockles of your Heart with:

 Pets and Kids!

Pay it forward!

Love,

Neville

UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL,
PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED

Happy Soul Food Friday!

The one thing that nobody can take from us is our ability to make a choice. We can’t always choose our circumstance, but we can ALWAYS choose our stance. Here is a story of choice…

Two Choices

What would you do?….you make the choice. Don’t look for a punch line, there isn’t one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: “When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?”

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. ‘I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.’

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, ‘Do you think they’ll let me play?’ I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, ‘We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..’

Shay struggled over to the team’s bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt.. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay’s life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman’s head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, ‘Shay, run to first! Run to first!’

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, ‘Run to second, run to second!’ Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, ‘Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay’

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, ‘Run to third! Shay, run to third!’ As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, ‘Shay, run home! Run home!’ Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

‘That day’, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, ‘the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world’.

Shay didn’t make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY:

We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.

If you’re thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you’re probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren’t the ‘appropriate’ ones to receive this type of message Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the ‘natural order of things.’

So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise person once said every society is judged by how it treats it’s least fortunate amongst them.

You now have two choices:

1. Delete

2. Forward
May your day, be a Shay Day.
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In challenging economic times, strengthening the social fabric of our community and considering those less fortunate than ourselves becomes more critical than ever. There are so many ways to get involved in your community, pair your passion with opportunity- and your time can often be more valuable than your money. A couple of years ago, at Mission Fed we stepped up with both time and money and helped launch Step Up San Diego to cultivate smarter and more effective giving in America’s Finest City. Today they are housed within the San Diego Association of Nonprofits.  One way you can get involved with a Non-Profit is through or SANDAN. Check out http://www.sandan.org/. Click on the video link on their home page and learn more about Step Up San Diego as well.

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Sports-minded and over 50? Check out The San Diego Senior Olympics! I met with their Executive Director Danny Propp this week and was blown away by the number of events and levels of participation available to foster a healthier lifestyle and stay competitive. They are
looking for some help building their organization and getting the word out so if this is a passion of yours get involved at: www.sdseniorgames.org

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Committed to change on a more global scale? Last year I took my teenage son Arman to TEDx San Diego where he was exposed to the consummate ROI experience. This is not the run of the mill return on investment you were thinking of, but return on IMAGINATION, return on the INCREDIBLE, return on INSPIRATION variety I have gushed shamelessly & blogged about in the past. Yesterday Arman modeled engagement and social consciousness for me and showed me he gets it, by sending me this link: http://www.facebook.com/invisiblechildren

Consider supporting KONY 2012

—
Love Paraprosdokians?
Try these on for size…

PARAPROSDOKIANS: (Winston Churchill loved them.) Here is the definition: “Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation.”

1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it’s still on my list.

3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

4. If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.

5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

6. War does not determine who is right – only who is left..

7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

8. Evening news is where they begin with ‘Good Evening,’ and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t.

9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.

12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, ‘In case of emergency, notify:’ I put ‘DOCTOR.’

13. I didn’t say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

17. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

18. Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

19. There’s a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can’t get away.

20. I used to be indecisive. Now I’m not so sure.

21. You’re never too old to learn something stupid.

22. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

23. Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.

24. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

25. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

26. Where there’s a will, there’s relatives.

Now, let’s give your brain some exercise—

Click here to see 10 pretty cool things

Finally enjoy this lavish Aquarium in Dubai!

Aquarium_in_Dubai

Pay it forward, you can’t take it with you…

Sa-Shay Today!

Love,

Neville

Happy Soul Food Friday!

Mission Fed just celebrated a successful 2011 with our Annual Business Meeting at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and the theme was Mission Super Heroes!

The results of a record-breaking year were the capstone that empowered us with both valuable information and inspiration to continue to step up our game and drive real value back to Mission Fed and our members.

As practice makes permanent (perfect practice makes perfect), I wanted to extend myself and share a couple of insights and tools that maybe we all can collectively use in our work and community, as we keep our pedal on the growth accelerator.

My first insight was that a leader’s fundamental role is to enliven the heroic cause in their people.

Remember, we are all leaders- leadership is a choice not a position and we can all lead from where we stand.

Our “noble” job description is something we should give serious consideration to both understanding and internalizing.

My Heroic Cause is: “To manifest success in our staff and member’s personal and professional lives, for their TOTAL wellbeing, that of their families, and for the greater good of our extended community”

 

What’s YOURS??

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Extending oneself into our community can be transformational!

Everyone has a favorite charity that is near and dear to their heart. Now through March 28, you can vote for your favorite charity—the one with the most votes will receive $5,000! Vote once per day in our first-ever Mission Possible Charity Challenge, hosted by Mission Fed and Clear Channel to showcase our love of local nonprofits and the life-changing work they make possible each day.

Just go to Mission Fed’s Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/missionfedcu,  “LIKE” us, and then click on the Charity Challenge Tab, which will walk you through the easy voting process. There are currently around 95 fantastic local nonprofits on our voting list, so you are sure to find one or more that you are passionate about to vote for.

Thanks for all YOU do in your community!

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Neuroscience is opening new pathways to understanding how our brain works.

Here are a couple of links and videos- some short and some long- to help you stay current:

Profit vs. Principle: The Neurobiology of Integrity

‘If it’s a sacred value to you, then you can’t even conceive of it in a cost-benefit framework.’

http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?sid=186

(Thanks Larry)

Use your Brain   to Change your Age –What is Known about the High Performing Brain Brain Health is   all about the quality of your decisions. If you have some time, here’s  Dr. Daniel Amen presentation talking about what to do and not do for your   brain: http://bit.ly/w5MIB9If you just want to see the short list of what to do and not do to   cultivate a high performing brain click here: http://bit.ly/ygg70F(Thanks Paul) — Everyone’s Brain is  different. Understanding how other people process the world can by   enlightening. Last year I attended a   Dyslexia Symposium that for the first hour gave me the experience of what it   is to be dyslexic and it blew my mind! Now they are making this   experience available for all educators and I strongly recommend it if you   want to see the world through the experience of others: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39CpEf2PfT0&context=C3bc1893ADOEgsToPDskLcFZWgSGMeGbTNW08HViZm There are a lot of myths  and falsehoods about California Higher Education As a member of the UCSD   Alumni Board of Directors, I was exposed to this Bakers Dozen from UC   President Mark Yudof in the last week. Education is power. Don’t   believe everything you think! http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150402368604542 On a lighter   scale check out the musical potentiality of the simple harmonica Here’s to the musician in YOU! http://www.wimp.com/harmonicacarnegie/ (Thanks Larry) Committed to your own   wellness? Here is a blog post I wrote   on the subject. “If it is easy to do, it   is easy NOT to do!” https://www.missionfed.com/blogs/bottom-line-blog/what-can-you-do-today-your-wellness Finally use your lateral thinking and enjoy the humor as you play “Name   the Picture.” Name the Picture

Happy Soul Food Friday!

Enjoy some lighter Soul Food fare this week.

There is nothing like a little perspective to change ours…

Witness this 24 hour  Air traffic view from satellite of all of the large aircraft flights in the world. You will see the light of the day moving from the east to the west, as the Earth spins on its axis.

You’ll also see the aircraft flow leaving the North American continent and  traveling at night to arrive in the UK in the morning, then you will see the flow changing, leaving the UK in the morning and flying to the American continent in daylight.

You can tell it was spring time in the north by the sun’s footprint over the planet. You could see that it didn’t set for long in the extreme north and it didn’t quite rise in the extreme south.

We are taught about the earth’s tilt and how it causes summer and winter and we have had to imagine just what is going on. Now, with this 24 hour observation of aircraft travel on the earth’s surface we get to see the daylight pattern move as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4g930pm8Ms

(thanks Chris)

Air travel not your thing and basic parking woes alone get you down?

Check out this parking job!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5-reZ_nGzI

Laughter IS the best medicine

Need a little exercise with your best friend?

You will be wowed by this Playmate of the Year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOIag4GRhgE

(Thanks Larry for these last two)

Keep smiling, stay connected and pay it forward!

Love,
Neville

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting
something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” — Frederick Koenig