Happy Soul Food Friday!

Happy First Soul Food Friday for 2017!

The Boarding on Flight 2017 has been announced……🎤

⛄Hope you have checked in only the best souvenirs from 2016 in your luggage…. 🎒💼👜📦

✂The bad and sad moments ⌛if carried, must be thrown away in the garbage on arrival …..✂

✈The flight will be 12 months long. ⛄↔
🔁So, loosen your seat belts, jingle and mingle. 💑
🚧The stop-overs will be :  ❤Health, 😍Love, 😃Joy,  😴 Harmony,  🙏Well-being and ✌🏻Peace….
⛽Refueling will be at 💓Giving, 💞Sharing and  💗Caring…..
👮🏻The Captain 💒(God or belief of your choosing) offers you the following menu which will be served during the flight…..✈
🍹A Cocktail of Friendship 👫👭
🌹A Supreme of Health 🌹
💰💴A Grating of Prosperity 💷 💶 💵
🍜A Bowl of Excellent News 📰🔛
🍎🍋🍒🍇🍉🍓🍌🍐A salad of Success🎰
🎂 🍰  A Cake of Happiness 💃🏻🎼🏆💝
👏🏻All accompanied by  bursts of laughter….😂
👉🏻But remember, you will enjoy these meals and the journey better if you talk 🌜🌛 share ⛄ smile 😊 and laugh😅 together….👯
🙊Sitting silent and sullen 😌 will make the flight seem longer⌚
💐Wishing you and your family 👪 an enjoyable trip on board of flight 2017…..

💥✨💫💃🏃👫💑👯❤💖💌💍☔⛄🌊🌈🌁🌴🌹🌷🍀

Before the Flight 2016 ends….
Allow me to Thank All  my Amazing  Friends Who Made 2016 Beautiful For me and my family
We Pray that you all be Blessed With an Awesome Year Ahead….
😘😍💝🎁🎊🎉🎈⛄

2016 Retrospective- The Year In Memes:

Memes are no longer slightly embarrassing internet in-jokes but essential and omnipresent expressions of culture. For every day in 2016, Select All has picked one meme that either originated, broke through, or reached its height on that date, and done its best to explain it. The result is a collection of the best memes of 2016 — the funniest, weirdest, most outrageous, and most viral objects. It’s also, for better or for worse, a portrait of our collective unconscious: the story of our attention, and the things that managed to hold it, even briefly, throughout the year.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1QGeoR/:1O02-f6wM:mSbL_q5X/nymag.com/selectall/2016/12/best-funny-memes-2016-harambe-arthur-dat-boi-joe-biden.html

20 Tips for a Positive New Year:

1. Stay Positive. You can listen to the cynics and doubters and believe that success is impossible or you can trust that with faith and an optimistic attitude all things are possible.
2. Take a daily “Thank You Walk.” It will create a fertile mind ready for success.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and less foods manufactured in plants.
4. Talk to yourself instead of listen to yourself. Instead of listening to your complaints, fears and doubts, talk to yourself and feed your mind with words of truth and encouragement.
5. Post a sign that says “No Energy Vampires Allowed.” Gandhi said, “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”
6. Be a great team member. When you help your team improve, you improve.
7. Don’t chase success. Decide to make a difference and build meaningful relationships and success will find you.
8. Get more sleep. You can’t replace sleep with a double latte.
9. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.
10. You don’t have to be great to serve but you have to serve to be great. Look for opportunities to Love, Serve and Care.
11. Live your purpose. Remember why you do what you do. We don’t get burned out because of what we do. We get burned out because we forget why we do it.
12. There’s no such thing as an overnight success.  Anything worthwhile takes time to build.
13. Trust that everything happens for a reason and expect good things to come out of challenging experiences.
14. Implement the No Complaining Rule.  If you are complaining, you’re not leading.
15. Read more books than you did in 2016.
16. Don’t seek happiness. Instead live with love, passion and purpose and happiness will find you.
17. Focus on “Get to” vs “Have to.” Each day focus on what you get to do, not what you have to do. Life is a gift not an obligation.
18. The next time you “fail” remember that it’s not meant to define you. It’s meant to refine you.
19. Smile and laugh more. They are natural anti-depressants.
20. Enjoy the ride. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy it.

The Uncommon Decision That Will Make 2017 a Great Year:

Living your best life most likely requires you doing something extraordinary. Few of us maximize what’s possible by just doing what we’re already doing. The big breakthroughs; the big improvements come from making big decisions.

What is the big decision your life has been asking you to make? The clue to answer this question is to inquire of your deepest self “What have I settled for?”  Put another way, the question I most often asked my clients is “If nothing changes, what will your life be like a year from now, or two years from now, or five years from now?  Is that okay?”  If it is, nothing will change. If it isn’t okay then you’re in need of a big decision.

Big decisions are often risky. But safe decisions or no decisions at all will dull your mind and numb your heart. So how do you make big decisions without being reckless?

It’s simple. Every decision you make should be leading you toward the vision of the life you want to live. This isn’t as common as it sounds.  Many times we make decisions to avoid stress. Being clear on what you don’t want is much easier than being clear on what you do want.  But stress avoidance isn’t a vision.  And your personal vision is absolutely essential to your ultimate fulfillment and deep life satisfaction.

So what big decision would lead you to greater happiness, health, love, work and joy?  Do that.

Don’t be impulsive. Don’t be selfish. Be both brave and wise. Plan carefully. Prepare yourself and others who might be affected by your big decision for the worst that can happen . . . then act. Learn what’s working and what’s not.  Be flexible, but have the grit to sustain your direction. Unless you’re planning to skydive without lessons you can survive any setback . . . and you will have setbacks. All big decisions unleash some surprising consequences but nothing you can’t handle if you’re committed to your vision.

The best advice I ever received is to just start living the way you want to live.

That’s it . . . just start.

That’s what I am doing.

Gratitude- An Attitude AND A Practice- Why and How to be Thankful:

Gratitude is a foundational element of grit and of leadership. Gratitude means being thankful, showing appreciation and returning kindness. Gratitude counterbalances the urge to complain and blame and reinforces the reality of independence and accomplishment; when we feel grateful, we appreciate what’s already present in our lives, even as we strive for more. It strengthens engagement and empowerment. Be a leader whom people want to follow with the simple act of gratitude.  Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year… Enjoy the video and share your gratitude!

https://zc1.campaign-view.com/ua/viewinbrowser?od=11287eca4d432c&rd=1d1c09133dc5f7a&sd=1d1c09133dc005f&n=11699e4c37f4b4d&mrd=1d1c09133dc0053&m=1

 

Holiday Flashbacks:

8 of the Best British Christmas Video Ads of 2016:

You may not have seen these circulating on our side of the pond, but Christmas ads in the UK are a big deal. Top store brands pull out all the stops with major productions, heart-touching stories, and a pretty light touch on selling. Here are some of the top ones from 2016. What is your fav?
http://tubularinsights.com/best-british-christmas-video-ads/

If you want to keep that holiday cheer flowing, enjoy this rendition and keep sharing the love!
USAF Band WWII Holiday Throwback
<https://www.youtube.com/embed/khQN5ylb3H0?rel=0 > http://www.youtube.com/

 

How An Unexpected Friendship With A Wolf Transformed A Whole Town

Despite their incredible beauty and their obvious similarities with our considerably tamer canine companions, everyone knows not to play with wolves. So when wildlife photographer Nick Jans and his Labrador encountered a wild wolf behind their home, adrenaline started pumping through them both.

When the wolf approached the Labrador, Nick could only stand helplessly by and watch. But what he didn’t know then, on that cold winter day of 2003 was that that encounter was the beginning of a relationship that defied all logic – and fundamentally transformed an entire community. During the winter of 2003, a jet-black wolf showed up on the edge of suburban Juneau, Alaska. But this wolf didn’t bear his teeth and growl aggressively. Instead, it seemed to long for companionship. Wildlife photographer Nick Jans was on his back porch when he saw the wolf for the first time. Despite the danger, Nick’s Labrador went to meet the visitor.

Nick, who had photographed and tracked wolves for years, immediately knew that the wolf was wild. So he was shocked when his Labrador suddenly started to play with him. He hurriedly grabbed his camera, and began to capture the unexpected moment.

After a while, the wolf returned into the wilderness, but it wasn’t long before he returned. The wolf would come to Nick’s house to greet him often and sometimes it even followed Nick when the photographer went skiing. And the wolf was always gentle, says Nick.

“This wolf was downright relaxed and tolerant from the start, as if he had dropped out of the sky like a unicorn,” the photographer told National Geographic.

Years passed and Nick spent much time documenting the wolf. He eventually named the wolf Romeo. At first, many of the small town’s residents didn’t trust Romeo, but they soon realized that he was a wolf unlike any other.

Romeo soon became known by everyone in the area. People took their dogs to Mendenhall Glacier Park so their dogs could meet Romeo. There were never any serious incidents.

Not only did Romeo make plenty of dog friends in and around Juneau, he even sometimes interacted and played with humans.

“The wolf would bring out toys that he’d stashed. One was a Styrofoam float. Romeo would pick it up and bring it to [my friend] Harry to throw. He clearly understood the same sort of behaviors that we see in dogs,” Nick said.

“The amazing thing was Romeo’s understanding. It wasn’t just our understanding and tolerance. It was the combination of his and ours and the dogs. We were these three species working out how to get along harmoniously. And we did,” said Nick.

Romeo lived on the outskirts of Juneau for six years. He became an ambassador for nature and a powerful symbol for the entire community.

“He was a pure wild wolf. He was not a pet, as some suggested, that had been released, because then he would have been coming to us for food. He was his own gatekeeper and came and went as he pleased. Sometimes he disappeared for weeks. He clearly was catching and eating wild food with great skill,” explained Nick.

After six years, Romeo’s time in the community ended. He passed away in 2010, but residents will never forget how he transformed the village. “The average life span of a wolf in the wild is three years. Romeo was already full grown when he showed up, and then he lived among us for six-plus more years. So he was at least eight years old at the time of his death,” Nick says.

Shortly after Romeo passed away, the city of Juneau commemorated the wolf, creating a special plaque to honor him. The plaque is installed by the lake he used to frequent.  What a beautiful touch!

That three such different species were able to live alongside peacefully and in complete harmony is so inspiring. It really shows you how wonderful the world and nature can be!

If you are local…
Consider the Epic Mastermind Experience Jan 13^th and 14^th to kick off 2017 with some verve!
http://www.epicmastermindexperience.com/

Thanks this week go to Emily D, Larry H, Will M, Erik K, & Robin M
HNY 2017 and please pay it forward…

Love,
Neville

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NevilleB108
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbillimoria

“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 Final Soul Food Friday for 2016!

This week:

The World’s Countries Swapped According to Their Population:
This should trip you out…
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/9IOoyk/:q+.usbTN:p3AU01CK/mentalfloss.com/article/88695/worlds-countries-swapped-according-their-population

15 Sayings from Around the World that are Sure to Refresh Your Vocabulary:
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/4SSRdY/:1B88y$vVI:fjSIwZj5/www.upworthy.com/15-sayings-from-around-the-world-that-are-sure-to-refresh-your-vocabulary

 

THE MANY ROADS OF LIFE AND A FEW WORDS OF WISDOM..

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD:

 

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptize cats..
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don’t let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don’t hit her back. They always Catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can’t trust dogs to watch your food..
6) Don’t sneeze when someone is cutting your hair..
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don’t wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you’re sad is Grandma’s lap.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing Jello to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don’t hurt.
3) Families are like fudge…mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today’s mighty oak is just yesterday’s nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It’s like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD:
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you’re down there.
4) You’re getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It’s frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don’t believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.

SUCCESS:
At age   4 success is . . . . Not piddling in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . . Having friends.
At age 17 success is . . . . Having a driver’s license.
At age 35 success is . . . . Having money.
At age 50 success is . . . . Having money.
At age 70 success is . . . . Having a driver’s license.
At age 75 success is . . . . Having friends.
At age 80 success is . . . . Not piddling in your pants.

Thanks to all that contributed, benefited and practiced soul-filled living in 2016.
Happy New Year!

Love,
Neville

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NevilleB108
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbillimoria

“LOVE is our Soul Purpose”

This week:

Are we entering the Post Truth Era?
The Post-Truth Era is Just What Nietzsche Predicted…
http://theconversation.com/the-post-truth-era-of-trump-is-just-what-nietzsche-predicted-69093

Some People are Born on Third Base, and Think They Hit a Triple!
Meet the Guy Corralling Billionaires to Fight Inequality:
This author discusses growing up in the 1 percent, and his unusual approach to fighting economic inequality…
http://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/meet-the-guy-corralling-billionaires-to-fight-inequality-20161205?utm_source=YTW&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=20161209

Reconciliation is the Reason for the Season
How do we transform conflict into cooperation?
Is it possible to bridge the gap between rich and poor?
After a horrible hate crime, how do you not hate back?
This radio hour will remind us of our humanity…
http://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/

Returning Kindness Continues:
The giving continues with free food and drinks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-H1JGADRTs&feature=youtu.be

Mission Fed Community Moments
This new edition of Mission Possible is filled with the people and programs that are part of Mission Fed’s community engagement.

200,000 Member Milestone Means “Return Kindness.” The perfect way to spread our attitude of gratitude for reaching our 200,000 member milestone was through our Return Kindness program. In the spirit of giving, our Community Relations Team set good examples all over San Diego County by surprising people at coffee shops, stores, restaurants and other venues and paying for their purchases. Via TV, radio spots and social media, we shared these stories and encouraged all San Diegans to return kindness to someone else as part of our ongoing efforts to make San Diego not just America’s Finest City, but “America’s Kindest Region.” Thank you for your loyal membership and continued support throughout 2016.

Through their BBB Torch Awards, the Better Business Bureau^® of San Diego, Orange and Imperial Counties honors local businesses that demonstrate the highest ethical and customer service standards and community involvement. Mission Fed was proud to be not only a BBB accredited and A+ rated business, 2015 winner of the BBB Torch Award for Ethics, category 250-499 employees, but also served as a sponsor at the 2016 awards. We’re committed to providing ethical business practices for members and our community.

These Community Moments are just some of the ways that we give back to our membership and San Diego—and your continued loyalty makes that Mission Possible.

 

Photos that need no words or comment just reflection…

After reading this, please stop  for a moment and hold some space for those in harm’s way all  around the world…  

Thanks this week goes to Ron M,  Larry H, TED, Equity Designers, and Peaceful Warriors Everywhere!

Pay it forward
Love,
Neville

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NevilleB108
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbillimoria

 

“Mission Bells Ring, Are You Listening?”

This week:
The Bystander Effect and its Opposite, The Helper Effect
If you think one person’s decisions and actions don’t matter, this will change your mind!

The first vid is instructive in understanding the Bystander effect, & the TED talk that follows discusses that and then goes beyond to the Helper Effect.
It’s uplifting to remember that there is good in human nature, and how personal leadership can prevail, releasing the good over the bad in people.

The Bystander Effect:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSsPfbup0ac
and The Helper Effect:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufs8cKyzLvg

What’s Your Social Purpose? Here is a KUSI TV clip featuring our social purpose work in this community
Mission Fed and yours truly start around the 7:30 mark, ending at around 14:30, so if you just have 7 minutes you might care to check it out…
http://www.kusi.com/story/33918285/san-diego-people-celebrating-philanthropy-by-giving-back-to-the-community

A stranger walks into a school and pays off all overdue lunch balances…
What a great idea!
http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/09/health/iyw-secret-santa-school-lunch-trnd/index.html

Advertising Sells Peace Not Products:
A refreshing twist on the power of authentic communications to transform lives and shift fear and terror to prosocial behaviors
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-colombia-advertising-to-sell-peace-not-products/
The 60 minute story…
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/benjamin-netanyahu-the-new-colombia-lost/
starts at 14:50 into the video

If you are local…
Work for a Nonprofit?
Mind Answering this short 8 question survey to help move the needle on the social sector?
Small or large,  nonprofit directors and support staff/volunteers. This will further research for a master’s program!
Simply click this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CKHDMJ6,
Thx so much!!

Thanks this week go to Ruben H, Ron A, Cyrus B, & Shannon Mc!
Peace on earth, good will towards all, and please pay it forward…
Love,
Neville

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NevilleB108
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbillimoria

“To live is the rarest thing in the world.
Most people exist, that is all.”– Oscar Wilde

Happy Soul Food Friday!

This week:

A Cartoon that will Touch Your Heart:
An experience that reminds us that journeys are short, can change a life, and possibly did yours too…
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/plane

Returning Kindness Continues:
Let’s pay it forward 200,000 times…
https://youtu.be/KRoU7rT0x7o

Practicing Random Acts of Kindness for the month of  December Calendar:
This will make it easy and fun!

Happy Pictures to Brighten Your Week:

There’s so much bad stuff going on in our world today,
we need to periodically stop,
take a deep breath & consider what’s truly important & then

smile!!!

Thanks this week go to Elaine T, the Kindness team, Leora L, Larry H and You for reading and living a soul-filled life!

Pay it forward…
Love,
Neville

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NevilleB108
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbillimoria

“Fear is a darkroom where negatives develop.”
— Usman B. Asif

Happy Soul Food Friday for the week of #GivingTuesday!

This week:
Our Most Powerful Force to Increase Optimism
Neuroscience Says Listening to This Song Reduces Anxiety by Up to 65 Percent
National Philanthropy Day Recap and the Dvorak 9^th Symphony -a tribute to the cultural mix that is America
Extending the Power of Thank You Post Thanksgiving
Mind Bending Photos of the Places that Time Forgot

Our Most Powerful Force to Increase Optimism (#427)

WHAT IF . . . gratitude is the most powerful force we have to increase positive feelings of optimism, creativity, and friendliness?

RESEARCH SAYS: If you can spend 90 seconds, 3 times a day on what you’re grateful for you will actually build more brain capacity to feel happiness and well-being.  That’s because gratitude exercises the part of your brain that processes feelings of well-being so more and faster brain cell synapses develop.  Now that’s something to be grateful for!

TRY THIS:  Keep a daily gratitude journal.  When I wake up each morning I write down one thing I am grateful for that day.  I try to never repeat.  I read my entries on Sunday morning.  I hope you try it.  It’s happiness training and it works.

Neuroscience Says Listening to This Song Reduces Anxiety by Up to 65 Percent:
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1DUBii/:DPMbHVCM:jmRdTO!Z/www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/neuroscience-says-listening-to-this-one-song-reduces-anxiety-by-up-to-65-percent.html

National Philanthropy Day Recap and the Dvorak 9^th Symphony -a tribute to the cultural mix that is America
This was playing last week on NPR (Here and Now) and I found it most timely
The Dvorak 9^th was written as his tribute to America and is infused with Spirituals, Native American drumming and other music that he viewed as truly representative of the cultural mix that is our country.
http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2016/11/23/antonin-dvorak-new-world-symphony

NPD was an amazing gathering where we also did three Facebook Live Broadcasts from the event and Mission Fed generated over a reach of over 3,000 per video.

Broadcast 1

Broadcast 2

Broadcast 3

Extending the Power of Thank You:

The Power of Thank You

In extending the spirit of Thanksgiving, this week I’d love to share with you the benefits and power of two simple words. THANK YOU.

They are two words that have the power to transform our health, happiness, athletic performance and success. Research shows that grateful people are happier and more likely to maintain good friendships. A state of gratitude, according to research by the Institute of HeartMath, also improves the heart’s rhythmic functioning, which helps us to reduce stress, think more clearly under pressure and heal physically. It’s actually physiologically impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time. When you are grateful you flood your body and brain with emotions and endorphins that uplift and energize you rather than the stress hormones that drain you.

Gratitude and appreciation are also essential for a healthy work environment. In fact, the number one reason why people leave their jobs is because they don’t feel appreciated. A simple thank you and a show of appreciation can make all the difference.

Gratitude is like muscle. The more we do with it the stronger it gets. In this spirit here are 5 ways to practice Thanksgiving every day of the year.

1. Take a Daily Thank You Walk – I started this practice 15 years ago and it changed my life. Take a simple 10-30 minute walk each day and say out loud what you are thankful for. This will set you up for a positive day. I wrote more about this in The Positive Dog.
2. Meal Time Thank You’s – On Thanksgiving, or just at dinner with your friends and family, go around the table and have each person, including the kids at the little table, say what they are thankful for.
3. Gratitude Visit – Martin Seligman, Ph.D., the father of positive psychology, suggests that we write a letter expressing our gratitude to someone. Then we visit this person and read them the letter. His research shows that people who do this are measurably happier and less depressed a month later.
4. Say Thank You at Work – When Doug Conant was the CEO of Campbell Soup he wrote approximately 30,000 thank you notes to his employees and energized the company in the process. Energize and engage your co-workers and team by letting them know you are grateful for them and their work. Organizations spend billions of dollars collectively on recognition programs but the best and cheapest recognition program of all consists of a sincere THANK YOU. And of course don’t forget to say thank you to your clients and customers too.
5. Say Thank you and Goodnight – At bedtime reflect on your day, identify and share all that you are thankful for. If you have children you can read Thank You and Goodnight with them and add to it.

PLACES THAT TIME FORGOT . . .

1  A tree growing through an abandoned piano

2  Overgrown palace, Poland

In 1910, this grand palace was built as a home for Polish Royalty. The rest of the century proved uncertain for the country And under communist rule the palace became an agricultural school, as well as a home for mentally handicapped adults and children.  The former palace was deserted following the fall of the USSR.

3  Jet Star Rollercoaster, Seaside Heights, New Jersey

The Jet Star Rollercoaster was left submerged in the Atlantic Ocean after Superstorm Sandy in 2013.  It stood rusting for six months, until it was plucked from the sea.

4  Abandoned House in the Woods

5  Church in St. Etienne, France

6  An abandoned church with a few lingering parishioners, Netherlands

7  Doll factory, Spain

8  Tree growing around an abandoned bicycle

9  Shipwrecks in a sandbar, Bermuda Triangle

10  Floating forest, Sydney, Australia

11  Movie theater in Detroit, Michigan

With Detroit’s decline, many of its historic buildings have fallen into disuse. This movie theater is both a fascinating and sad example.

12  Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California

The Mare Island Naval Shipyard acted as a submarine port during both of the World Wars. In the 1990s,  The building was abandoned and flooding has since created an amazing mirror effect.

13  Victorian-style tree house, Florida, USA

14  Forgotten Bugattis

15  The Titanic wreck

The titanic took its first and last voyage in April, 1912. It was not until 73 years later that the decaying wreck of what was once The greatest ship in the world was discovered. The 1,500 souls lost with the vessel had been devoured by sea life, leaving behind a ghost ship.

16  Chemin de fer de Petite Ceinture, France


The “little belt railway” was a circular railway system built in 1852 to supply Paris’ fortifications. When the city outgrew its defenses in 1934, the railway system was also left to run wild.

17  Spreepark, Berlin, Germany

Spreepark, opened in 1969, was the only amusement park in East Berlin during Soviet rule.  When the Wall fell, bigger and better parks opened, leading to Spreeparks closure in 2001.

18  Library, Russia

19  Island Home, Finland

20  Chris McCandless’ magic bus, Stampede Trail, Alaska

Bus 142 was left behind by the workers who built the railway at Stampede Trail. Christopher McCandless, an American hitchhiker whose story was told through the movie “Into The Wild, lived and died in what he referred to as the “magic bus” during the summer of 1992.

21  Turquoise Canal, Venice, Italy

Just like any other city, areas of Venice are boarded up and abandoned.

22  Staircase to nowhere, Pismo Beach, California

Once giving access to the beach, the walkway that connected this staircase to the bluffs has long since Rotted away.

23  Nara Dreamland, Japan


Nara Dreamland was built in 1961 after Disneyland took the world by storm. The entrance to the park Was almost identical to Disneyland and included its own version of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.  The park closed in 2006 because of low visitor numbers.

24  Abandoned mining track, Taiwan

25  Abandoned Jetty

26  Bare footprints in an abandoned nuclear reactor

27  An abandoned waterpark

28  Boathouse, Obersee Lake, Germany

29  Abandoned hallway

30  Methodist church, Gary, Indiana

Gary, Indiana, was founded in 1905 during the boom of US steel. During the 1950s, more than 200,000 people worked in the bustling city. As the manufacturing sector declined, nearly half of the city fell into disuse.

31  Church in the snow, Canada

32  Blue spiral staircase in a European castle

33  Soviet naval testing station in Makhachkala, Russia

34  Church steeple peeking out of a frozen lake, Reschen, Italy

Lake Reschen is an artifical reservoir which submerged several villages and a 14th century church.

35  Glenwood power station, New York

The Glenwood Power Station, built in 1906, has long been obsolete. After closing in 1968, the sight was used as a backdrop for creepy thrillers and zombie movies.

Thanks this week go to Will M, the team at Mission Fed, Larry H, and those that make our lives better through the power of music!

Pay it forward…
Love,
Neville

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NevilleB108
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbillimoria

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always
told me that happiness was the key to life.
When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted
to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’.
They told me I didn’t understand the assignment,
and I told them they didn’t understand life.”

–John Lennon

This week:

Practicing An Attitude of Gratitude with Our Returning Kindness Campaign:
By popular demand, here are round two of our pay it forward, back and sideways campaign that runs on 94.1 and 93.3 through December with a new spot sharing the love each week!

http://star941fm.iheart.com/features/mission-federal-credit-union-presents-return-kindness-2632/

http://channel933.iheart.com/features/mission-federal-credit-union-presents-return-kindness-2632/

Thanks to the 1,000+ people in San Diego that added their energy to National Philanthropy Day 2016
It was a Symphony of Philanthropy!

National Philanthropy Day only comes once a year, but your contribution of goods, time and donations are needed all year long to meet the needs of our community and nonprofit organizations. Help us extend the attitude of gratitude throughout San Diego County every day by making a contribution today.

 

A Powerful Antidote for the Workplace: Respect & Appreciation!

a powerful antidote for the modern workplace
Today’s workplace is asking employees to do more than ever. People are accessible via technology at all hours, at home, and even on vacation. Despite their efforts to keep up with ever-increasing demands, most workers aren’t feeling adequately appreciated. The result is lower productivity, lack of engagement, and high rates of turnover. In contrast, employees who do feel recognized and appreciated report 53% higher focus, 58% higher engagement, and 109% higher likelihood to stay with the organization.* A little appreciation goes a long way and has the power to change the entire milieu of an office. You may compensate employees in the form of flexible work hours, higher salaries, or even an on-site barista, but none of these can top the power of two simple words: “Thank you.”  Specific words of thanks and appreciation fill our reservoirs with positive emotions and prevent burnout. Appreciation is a win-win. When you sit down to write a note of thanks, not only will the recipient benefit from your expression of positive emotions, but so will you. Making others feel more valued makes us feel more valuable. Remember, emotions are contagious. Make the simple but profound act of appreciation an intentional part of your day.  For more tips and ideas for expressing appreciation, check out our album on Facebook where you can like, share, and comment on your favorites. *Read more findings from our Human Era @ Work white paper

from our blog

The Bad Behavior of Visionary Leaders Our research at The Energy Project has shown that the more employees feel their needs are being met at work – above all, for respect and appreciation – the better they perform.

top tips

1. Say thank you. In our digital world, it’s tempting to shoot off an email or even a text to thank someone, but taking the time to handwrite a note has more of an impact. Remember to be specific about why you’re thanking him or her. A face to face thank you or even an email sent to his/her boss are also good options.
2. Start a gratitude journal. Appreciation starts with the ability to take note of the positive things that are working and acknowledge your gratitude for them. The practice of keeping a gratitude journal will slowly alter the lens through which you view the world. And when you have a bad day, you can open up your journal to be reminded of what’s right in your life.
3. Listen. At the most basic level, listening makes other feel valued and appreciated. Give the people you’re conversing with today your full, focused attention.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” 

— John F. Kennedy

 

The Love Drug- Oxytocin, A BBC Podcast:
The hormone oxytocin is involved in mother and baby bonding and in creating trust. Much is known with respect to oxytocin effects on the perception of well-being, happiness, and importantly, interpersonal bonding and human social behavior…
Want to know what really happens at a wedding?
Want to improve your therapeutic session?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01cg20t

If you are local…
Catch us on KUSI TV this Thanksgiving Sunday at 11 am!
http://www.kusi.com/

Thanks this week go to Deepak C, Tony S, Anu T, Cathy S, and all of you resonating on the appreciation vibration as we launch the holiday season!

Pay that “attitude of gratitude” forward…
Love,
Neville

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NevilleB108
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbillimoria

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that
gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder”
Gilbert K. Chesterton

Happy Soul Food Friday and Happy Birthday Arman!

 

Citizenship in the Republic

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

— Theodore Roosevelt

This week:
A Surprising Prescription for Heartbreak and Let Down:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/surprising-prescription-your-broken-heart-bea-boccalandro?trk=mp-author-card

The Power of Vulnerability with Brene’ Brown:
27 Million Views of one of the most popular Ted Talks out there- for darn good reason
https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability?language=en

Your Last Call to Sign up for FutureFit LEAP for Education November 29^th and 30^th:
Note: We have limited space left and while the event is free, we are going to ask no shows to make a $50 dollar donation to the nonprofit of their choice if they don’t attend as they precluded someone else from being there:)
The reception on the 29^th will be at the Bella Vista Café with more details forthcoming for all those that RSVP…
FutureFit Invitation

National Philanthropy Day 2016 in San Diego: A Symphony of Philanthropy
Extreme gratitude to all of you in our community and beyond that make every day Philanthropy Day by your generous contributions of time, treasure and talent to create transformations for others!

If You Are Local:
Do watch us on KUSI TV this Sunday Nov 20^th at 11am (correction this will air on Sun Nov 27th same time)

Return Kindness:
Just buying someone else’s gasoline can make their day!
Are we at 200,000 acts yet?
Gas Station: https://youtu.be/9isQLeR33Fw

Thanks this week go to those mere mortals that through their authenticity and vulnerability dare greatly, and teach us what it is to be divine!
What would you attempt to do even if you failed magnificently?

Pay it forward…
Love,
Neville

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NevilleB108
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nbillimoria

“Give me the courage to show up and let myself be seen”
–Brene’ Brown’s Vulnerability Prayer

“Come friends, it’s not too late to seek a newer world.” – Alfred Tennyson

This week:
EVERY Day is National Philanthropy Day in San Diego

November 16^th 2016 marks the 44^th annual celebration of National Philanthropy Day (NPD) around the country. But EVERY Day is National Philanthropy Day in San Diego. If you are committed to a New Culture of Philanthropy, We Hope We See You There
San Diego has a long and distinguished history of philanthropy.  Even in a region with a limited number of national corporate headquarters or industries that spawn the wealthy, this community has demonstrated enduring kindness and generosity to help better the lives of San Diegans in need. November 16^th 2016 marks the 44^th annual celebration of National Philanthropy Day (NPD) around the country, and San Diego’s gathering is one of the largest in the nation. This is a huge testament to the generosity and civic engagement of our community.  NPD is an important opportunity to recognize and celebrate the critical role philanthropy plays to position San Diego as both America’s finest city and America’s kindest region.

Whether you define philanthropy as a love of humankind, or an activity intended to promote human welfare,” said Neville Billimoria, SVP Membership/Marketing and Chief Advocacy Officer Mission Federal Credit Union, “we know that to have a healthy vibrant region to strengthen our social fabric, we need the interdependent work of committed nonprofits working effectively on their mission, coupled with generous and smart investing by philanthropists.”

Billimoria noted that while the heart-set has not changed, both the face and nature of philanthropy has evolved significantly over the last decade and it is time for our mind-set to catch up. Today’s new face of philanthropy is engaging so many heroes – young people and adults — through strategic volunteering.

Keely Tidrow, AFP San Diego President and Major Gifts Officer, Old Globe Theatre stated that efforts in philanthropy have moved from working largely in silos to solve a specific problem to more systemic, integrated efforts that achieve collective impact.  AFP has a unique opportunity where over 300 local non-profit professionals convene monthly to discuss how to collectively work together to solve and better our community by saying that Philanthropy Matters in San Diego.

“Today,” said Tidrow, “there are more nonprofits doing good work- 12,000+ in San Diego- seeking support and exposure, a more diverse and inclusive community than ever before. Today’s leaders understand that effective collaboration and partnership are essential for sustainable and scalable social systems change.”

She added, “To be more reflective of the face and needs of today’s region, we were inspired with the help of our friends to envision and implement an entirely new National Philanthropy Day experience for this year – A Symphony of Philanthropy for San Diego.

“The Symphony, “said Billimoria, “is a perfect metaphor for society. After countless hours of perfecting their craft, musicians come together with intimate care for every note, breath and emotion, knowing some of that individual nuance might be lost among the numerable other musicians on the stage, but trusting that something bigger will come from that collective sound. This is what makes society great! Each of us laboring diligently in our own area, yet recognizing that while what we do individually might have impact, what we do collectively changes the world.”

“This metaphor holds true for the philanthropic community as well. Every grant, every gift, every hour we invest, every need we fill, every heart we touch, every life we improve- each adds up for the greater good. We are all instrumental in this effort but when we play symphonically our impact is transformation.”

This year’s National Philanthropy Day offers the community an opportunity to connect with young people that are changing their communities, and adults that have devoted their life to serving others. Proceeds go to scholarships and monthly educational workshops to build our capacity and improve outcomes right here in our region.

A limited amount of complimentary tickets are available to those that are not able to purchase a ticket.  For additional information, please contact Georgia Ringler, Chapter Manager, AFP – San Diego at 858.212.1706 or reach her by email at georgia.ringler@afpsd.org.

Celebrating 35 Years of Teaching the Wisdom Traditions at UC San Diego
Hard to believe it has been 35 years of teaching traditional martial arts, yoga & meditation to kids, students, the campus and general community at UC San Diego.

This week people from all over are returning to connect deeply & celebrate our collective efforts touching thousands of lives on our shared journey Embracing the Past, Polishing the Present and Reflecting (our best selves) in the Future.
My heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your loyalty, steadfast commitment to lifelong learning, and dedication to making our world just a little bit better on step at a time!

UpWorthy:
Do the wisdom traditions really matter in the 21^st century?
You can ask those with a practice.
Meanwhile, here is a school that replaced detention with meditation. Check out the results…

https://www.facebook.com/Upworthy/videos/1428562230517964/

http://www.upworthy.com/this-school-replaced-detention-with-meditation-the-results-are-stunning

Another 200,000 Thank You Vid
Our Return Kindness Campaign continues and we hope you can add your energy to the positive wave spreading through our community!
It is fun and so easy!
Carnitas Snack Shack: https://youtu.be/ZxXKSlyN6Q8

Thanks this week go to the entire Aoinagi Ken Shu Kai community, Margaret M, those returning kindness and YOU for reading this!

Pay it forward.
Love,
Neville

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.“— Confucius

This week:

Let Unity and Civility Define Us:
No Matter Who Wins

Returning Kindness:
A 200,000 Thank You Campaign:

Committed to Education?
 Join this amazing and diverse team that will ensure our lifelong learning educational systems are future-proofed, future designed and ultimately future fit.

The Power of Education:
 13 Year Old Girl Named America’s Top Young Scientist and Wins $25,000:

National Philanthropy Day November 16^th 2016- A Symphony of Philanthropy
Is Social Purpose An Integral Part of Who YOU Are?

 

Let Unity and Civility Define Us, No Matter Who Wins by Ken Druck, Carl Luna and Neville Billimoria:
                     What so funny ‘bout peace, love and understanding…

As Election Day nears, it is time to shift our attention from the damage this campaign has done to our nation and our standing in the world, and focus on what happens after November 8th. The divisive political discourse that has filled our heads and airwaves for the past 18 months has rendered our democracy weaker and less functional than at any time in recent memory. Playing to the lowest common denominator of hatred, distrust and vengeance, we are now at an all-time low.

America faces real risks at home and abroad if we continue to viciously attack our countrymen and women with whom we disagree. It’s time to transmute the daily dose of hatred, vitriol and contentious arguing and shift our attention from throwing fuel on the “Who is more corrupt?” fire to asking “What exactly are we doing to our country and our children by modeling hatred and spewing vitriol?”

Exercising our right to vote is critical. It’s what makes up a great nation. But civility goes beyond voting to policing our words and behavior in the service of the common good. Each of us needs to remember the values that have made this country a model for the world for the past two hundred years. It is time for our elected officials and their surrogates to check their self-righteousness and overblown egos at the door, and to begin acting like public servants who want to bridge the partisan gap and end gridlock. “Do what you were elected to do!” as one local community leader put it, “and work with your fellow Americans to build a better America.”

It’s time to take ownership for our part at citizens in making our democracy work. Asking “What’s best for America?” Rising above the fray is a tall order indeed when so many of us, it seems, prefer to rubberneck a good fight. We need to demand a change in the conversation to “How can we make positive change in an atmosphere of mutual respect?”

This country has always endured candidate bashing during an election cycle, yet years of divisiveness and inaction at the legislative level have frustrated and polarized the American people of all persuasions like never before.

Millions of Americans are likely to feel deeply depressed and disenfranchised the morning after the election, whoever is elected. And what will we do then?

Do we have the character strength to reach across the aisle and work together or will we allow the philosophy of “my side is right and yours is not just wrong, but Un-American,” to prevail?

The time between now and January 20th when we inaugurate our new President, will say it all. Our age-old tradition of agreeing to disagree with civility has kept our nation united and strong. The choice to heal, respectfully agree to disagree, find common ground, choose civility over civil war, reunify our nation and move America to higher ground begins with each of us. Here are a few ways to help make this happen:

– Refocus on the end goal. Make unity, civility and respect a priority. Be passionate, yet tolerant and inclusive.

– Pivot from a “Tear Down” to “Build Up” mentality.

– Engage others with respect, open-mindedness, trustworthiness and a genuinely interest in learning why they feel the way they do.

– Champion community, corporate and elected leaders who model civility.

– Listen, learn from others, work collaboratively to solve problems across the partisan divide, embody fairness and support those with have a proven capacity to bring about substantive and sustainable change.

– Vote

We are one nation. As Abraham Lincoln so sagely pronounced, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Strengthening America from the inside out starts with bringing out the best in ourselves and one another, working through impasses, reconciling differences, finding common ground and working together for the common good.

Returning Kindness; 200,000 Thank You Campaign:
As we reach our 200,000 member milestone, we are practicing, intentional acts of kindness all over San Diego and inviting our community to pay it forward…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AaQG9FYoOk&feature=youtu.be

Committed to Education?
Join this amazing and diverse team At FutureFit LEAP for Education
Networking November 29^th and the Main Event on November 30^th in San Diego:

Future Fit LEAP for Education 2016
Networking on November 29 and Main Event on November 30

Download a version of this email

Once all the election noise has abated, as a nation we will need to turn our attention to making America better no matter who wins. As someone committed to critical issues in education, we would like to personally invite you to a convening on the evening of November 29th (Pre-­Reception & Networking) and morning of November 30th  (The Main Event) to shape what Future Fit Education in our region will look like.

A diverse group of leaders from education, business, government, community, philanthropy and other sectors will come together to discover what our community cares most deeply about and then focus on what we can do in and for education in our region. Together we will harness the best thinking from the micro-­neuroscience of education to the macro-­collective impact community building models to deliver on the promise that those served by our lifelong learning educational systems are future-proofed, future designed and ultimately future fit. Together we will answer Who Cares? What is Possible? And validate how we will we know we have been Successful with a whole person-­‐centered orientation.

Please join our LinkedIn group, Future Fit: Our Next LEAP for Education, to get connected and learn more about others in this dynamic ecosystem filled with amazing people. As appropriate, do invite others that you feel resonate with this focus and work – we seek quality, not quantity participation.

What matters to you matters and guess what? It is the same for our kids…  Let’s not waste this leap year!

No one of us can do it all, but all of us can do something meaningful to advance this mission. We welcome your energy and experience in the inspiration, ideation and implementation of a FutureFit Education Model.

Thanks for all YOU do to make our community better.

With LOL (Love of Learning),

The Future Fit Team -­ Alan Daly, Neville Billimoria, Devin Vodicka and Brenda Hall Please register for the event here:

Pre-­Reception & Networking: November 29th 5:00 – 6:00 PM Location: TBD
https://sdcoe.k12oms.org/eventdetail.php?gid=1020&id=123617

Main Event:  November 30th 8:30 AM – Noon Location: Quantum Learning Center
https://sdcoe.k12oms.org/eventdetail.php?gid=1020&id=123619

 

The Power of Education:
13 Year Old Girl Named America’s Top Young Scientist and Wins $25,000:
Maanasa Mendu, a 13-year-old girl from Ohio, recently won the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge for creating a $5 energy harvesting device. Mendu’s innovative design, called HARVEST, converts sunlight, wind, and rain into renewable energy. Mendu has been named America’s Top Young Scientist and won $25,000.
http://inhabitat.com/13-year-old-maanasa-mendu-invents-groundbreaking-clean-energy-device-that-costs-just-5/

National Philanthropy Day November 16^th 2016- A Symphony of Philanthropy
Is Social Purpose An Integral Part of Who YOU Are?
It is us…

San Diego has a rich legacy of giving and generosity, with an aspiring vision to be widely recognized as both America’s Finest city and America’s Kindest region.

So many San Diegans consistently share their time- volunteering, treasure- investing, and amazing talent- helping those in need, and we are so proud of them.

This year, Mission Fed is proud to partner with the San Diego Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and its mission to recognize and celebrate the critical role that philanthropy plays in enriching our San Diego community.

With social purpose as an integral part of who we are, Mission Fed is honored to serve as Presenting Sponsor for National Philanthropy Day in San Diego. Every grant, every gift, every hour we invest, every need we fill, every heart we touch, every life we improve adds up for the greater good. We are all instrumental in this effort, but when we play symphonically, our impact is transformational!

Visit afpsd.org for more information.

 

If you are local – The San Diego Nonprofit Association (SDNA)
“YOU are only as good as your Board. You get the board you deserve”:

Only Few Seats Available to  Access Insights on Effective Board Leadership SDNA & TriNet  “Access to Experts” Series on Nov. 15th

“YOU are only as good as your Board. You get the board you deserve”

“Exceptional governance is always a work in process.”
Liz Shear, USD Nonprofit Governance Symposium Director

Join a Spirited, Strategies-based Discussion Moderated  by Donald Stump Executive Director, North County Lifeline

• Janine Mason Executive Director, The Fieldstone Foundation
• Javier Guerrero Executive Director, San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum
• Tamara Fleck-Myers Executive Director, Casa de Amparo
• Rob Hutsel  President & CEO, San Diego River Park Foundation

 Gain insights and share strategies to build and strengthen board relationships and critical communications between directors, board members, staff and key stakeholders to maximize effectiveness and impact.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016
8:30am Check-in, Refreshments
9am Sharp -10:30am
Program At Mission Federal Credit Union Headquarters
5785 Oberlin Dr. San Diego, CA, 92121

Click Here to RSVP

There is limited seating for this event.  Tickets are required.

Non-member price is $25

No Charge for SDNA Members
Members Receive Priority Access
Memberships start at Only $100

You are invited to become a Member of SDNA, at:
http://www.sandiegononprofits.org/membership/sdna-membership/

These events are made possible by the active members of SDNA: The San Diego Nonprofit Association (aka SANDAN) and TriNet.
We Welcome Your Participation!

Leadership Sponsor
Supporting San Diego’s Growing “Chamber of Purpose”

$50 for You and $50 for a Friend or Family Member

A new way we’re thanking you for the loyalty and trust that helped us grow to 200,000 members strong!

With money-saving benefits and great service, Mission Fed membership is the gift that keeps on giving.

Ask a friend or family member to open an account, and you’ll both receive $50.

Just be sure to tell your friends and family members soon, because this offer ends December 31, 2016. Details: https://www.missionfed.com/gift-of-membership

Thanks this week go to Civic Leaders like Ken and Carl, Kind Souls, Purpose-Driven organizations, Whole Person Educators of all stripes and Lovers of Humankind everywhere!

Pay it forward!
Love,
Neville

“You see things; and you say Why? But I dream things that never were; and I say Why not?”— George Bernard Shaw