Your Soul Food for May 9th 2014: Are You Out of Your Tree?

Happy Soul Food Friday!

laughsohard

First branch out with a reframe, because I can tell you are a bit stressed…

Don’t scroll past the animals until you have decided upon your answer:

The Banana Test
There is a very, very tall coconut tree and there are 4 animals,
A lion, a giraffe, a squirrel and a chimp

lion giraffe squirrel chimp

 

 

 

They decide to compete to see who is the fastest to get a banana off the tree.

Who do you guess will win?

Your answer will reflect your personality.

So think carefully … . ..
Try and answer within 30 seconds.

Got your answer?

Now scroll down to see the analysis.

 

 

 

 

If your answer is:


Lion = you’re dull..


Chimpanzee = you’re dense.

Giraffe = you’re a complete moron.


Squirrel = you’re hopeless.

chimplaughing

 

A COCONUT TREE DOESN’T HAVE BANANAS.

Obviously you’re stressed and overworked.
You should take some time off and relax
Have two glasses of wine.
A full box of Chocolates.
And a nice lunch.
Now hurry up and forward it to someone else….
They may need this attitude adjustment!

 

This week: 

The Family Tree:

respectyourparents

 

Connect with Your Roots As Part of the Same Global Forest:

The Stay Classy Collaborative

“Hollywood has the Oscars, Broadway has the Tonys and now Philanthropy has the Classys!”

Locally inspired Social Entrepreneurs on a Global Mission to address complex issues such as: Poverty & Hunger Relief, Disaster Relief & Public Safety, Educational Advancement, Animal & Wildlife Welfare, Health Services, Human Rights & Social Justice Services, Environmental Protection and Active Duty and Veteran Services using-

o   A Comprehensive Understanding of Problem Dynamics

o   An Evidence-Based Methodology

o   A Creative and Sustainable Model

o   A Commitment to Measureable Change

o   A Culture of Learning

o   High Growth Potential

Did you know:

  • 22 Veterans commit suicide every day and we have lost more service members to suicide than died in all the wars combined?
  • The number of Natural Disasters Worldwide are growing at an unprecedented rate (71 in 1900 compared to 3,500 in 2007)
  • That 2.5 B people of people around the world are living on less than $4 a day
  • That innovative responses to health include a cervical cancer test that can be done with regular vinegar?
  • That by linking the databases on sex trafficking and the ivory trade you can leverage big data in ways never considered before?

These and other large complex problems ARE being addressed by amazing social entrepreneurs around the world as we speak!

 Some Snippets:

From Aleem Waliji Director, Innovation Labs, the World Bank

The biggest game-changer in social impact might not be something obvious like Micro Financing that obviously transformed the sector, but something less evident like cell phones and more specifically being able to buy phone times in very small packets as this revolutionized the opportunities to connect.

From Robert Egger Founder of LA Kitchen

Don’t get caught in a devil’s bargain between choosing profit over value creation (.com vs. .org). There are no profits without nonprofits. Distinctions of an organizations legal status should not be confused with social purpose!

Solving hunger in the world might be better addressed through teaching nutrition rather than feeding the poor other people’s left overs.

Check out Fed Up that comes out this week (see below)

Fed Up!

An Inconvenient Truth for the Food Industry

The Menu is Not the Meal: Reframe the Issue- For example not as Hunger but as Nutrition!

The reality that we have as many obese people on this planet as people starving to death is a travesty.

Sometimes you find pockets of the very same cohorts in the SAME location ex: parts of this great nation’s capital Washington DC, where in the same block the incidences of obesity and diabetes as well as poverty and hunger are both off the charts. WTF!

Here are some of the sobering facts about the state of health in America revealed in “Fed Up” a new documentary from producers Katie Couric and Laurie David due out this week about the country’s food industry:

(1) “Over 95 percent of all Americans will be overweight or obese in two decades”;

(2) “By 2050, one out of every three Americans will have diabetes”;

(3) 80 percent of food items sold in America have added sugar.

We simply can’t run off or exercise off the amount of sugar we are consuming, so we need to revisit- from a systems thinking perspective- what the root causes are and how to address them. Solving hunger in the world might be better addressed through teaching nutrition rather than feeding the poor other people’s left overs.

What is the proxy for this in your organization?

 

Leaf Old Limbs Behind, Branch Out and Get Plucky with Emotional Intelligence:

Emotional, Social & Cultural Intelligence Will be a Better Predictor of Success than Just IQ:

http://www.dailygood.org/story/693/how-emotionally-intelligent-are-you-carolyn-gregoire/

Why soft issues are actually the solution to hard/complex problems

 

Rooting out New Travel Plans?

Go Dutch!

windmill

If You Are Local:

Meet the Funders…

Click here!

FACT$ of Life:

  • Kids know more about the “birds and bees” than fiscal responsibility at an impressionable young age.
  • Few parents teach their kids the FACT$ OF LIFE.
  • The average debt of college graduates in 2012 was $29,400.
  • Where and how will kids learn to navigate the world of money?

Why are parents avoiding the “money conversation” with their kids?

Here is a fun filled workshop where parents can learn how to discuss the sensitive issue of money and related issues with their kids.

Who:                    The presentation will be led by Glenda Sacks and Hillel Katzeff.

What:                   1.5 Hour live presentation (with additional time for Q&A)

Where:                 4330 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 330, San Diego, CA 92122 (conference room)

When:                   Wednesday May, 14 , 2014

11:30am – 1:30pm

A nominal charge of $15 includes:

–          presentation printout

–          light meal

–          follow-up opportunities

If you agree that starting conversations to educate children about financial literacy is very important, then please forward this invitation to anyone who you think may benefit or who would like to attend – Grandparents, Educators, Program Directors, Parent-Teacher-Student Organizations, etc.  ALL WELCOME

RVSP by 5.7.14 to Glenda at 858-546-8505 or glendasacks@gmail.com

See you at the Cause Conference for Purpose-Driven Leaders

Click here!

The President Tree:

3200 Years in One Photo…

The PRESIDENT tree is the name of a giant sequoia in Sequoia National Park California. 

It takes a special kind of tree to have a nickname. Not every tree has a nickname, but ‘The President’ has earned it. This giant sequoia stands at 247 feet tall, and is estimated to be over 3,200 years old. Imagine, this tree was already 1,200 years old when Jesus walked the earth.

tree1The trunk of The President measures at 27 fee across, with 2 BILLION needles from base to top.

tree2

Because of its unbelievable size, this tree has never been photographed in its entirety. Until now. A team of national geographic photographers have worked along with scientists to try and create the first photo that shows The President in all its glory.

tree3

 

They had to climb the tree with pulleys and levers, and took thousands of photos.

tree4

 

Of those, they selected 126 and stitched them together to get this incredible portrait of The President.

tree5

And here it is:

 

tree6

Incredible, is it not?

Thanks this week to Peter S, Larry H, Helene G, Glenda S and Hillel K as well as Non-Profits Locally, and Social Entrepreneurs all over the World!

 

Pay it Forward and Keep Up the Good Work!

Love,

Neville

 

limb

 

Your Soul Food for Friday May 2nd 2014

Happy Soul Food Friday! 

This week:

Most of Our Problems are the Result of Wrong Identification of Self.

Here’s to right identification as we strive for a “we not me” narrative and rightly understand ourselves…

  • Redefine the Future
  • Acquaint Yourself with the Real Rules of Life
  • Play a Pivotal Role in Foster Care
  • Stay in the Flow
  • Support Social Mobility, Research and Service
  • Stop Trying to Delight

The Future is in Our Hands:

Uncertain about the future? This should help…

The Real Rules of Life:

My dear friend, Dr. Ken Druck has earned countless accolades as an author, speaker and international authority on resilience and healing after loss.  A true pioneer in psychology, where he earned his doctorate, Ken is the recipient of many honors and awards, including “Distinguished Contribution to Psychology,” “Family Advocate of the Year” and “Visionary Leadership.”

Ken’s work with families after tragedies and disasters like 9-11, Columbine, Boston and Hurricane Katrina has also been recognized for his contributions. With the current crisis in Korea, his reach and contribution extend worldwide, and we are grateful to have him as one of our presenters at the American Marketing Association Cause Conference in San Diego in May…

http://sdama.org/events/cause-conference-2014/#agenda

The Korean edition of “The Real Rules of Life” is now being sent to the families who lost loved ones in the South Korea Ferry Disaster

real rules of life

Get your copy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Real-Rules-Life-Balancing/dp/1401939724

May is National Foster Care Month:

May is National Foster Care Month, a time to recognize the role each of us plays in the lives of children and youth in foster care. Voices for Children provides more than one-third of local foster children with the support of a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). But, there are many more who still need a CASA to advocate on their behalf—in the courtroom, classroom, and community—to ensure their needs are met.

We are seeking companies who would be willing to promote this unique volunteer opportunity to their employees.

There is no experience necessary to become a CASA volunteer. Voices for Children provides all the training volunteers need and matches each CASA with a staff member, who works with them on their case. Voices for Children is the only nonprofit organization in San Diego County designated by the Court to recruit, train, and lead CASA volunteers.

We have made it easy to spread the word about your company’s commitment to serving San Diego County’s foster youth.

Our new online resources include templates for newsletters and social media and flyers to hang or email. These resourcescan be downloaded to get involved and promote volunteer opportunities to your employees and customers: http://www.speakupnow.org/business-templates/. (The entire Speak Up Toolkit, geared toward both organizations and individuals, is accessible here: http://www.speakupnow.org/toolkit/.)

We believe that every child deserves a safe and permanent home, and know that you do, too. Please join us in Speaking Up for foster youth. If you would like to request hardcopies of any of our flyers or brochures or would like to book a speaker for a presentation at a staff meeting or lunch-and-learn session, please let me know. I welcome questions and other ideas you may have on how our organizations can work together.

Stay in the Flow:

If you are in the western US, you know we have been experiencing a strong offshore air flow—very odd for late April.

Check it out visually at: http://hint.fm/wind/


Try to please everyone, and end up pleasing No one!

Stop trying to delight your customers…

Click here!

Thanks this week go to Heather J, Ken D, Sarah A, Charles S, and everyone at UC San Diego that is focused on helping the next generation with a quality education!

Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited.

Imagination encircles the world.”

–Albert Einstein

Some content on this page was disabled on March 20, 2025 as a result of a DMCA takedown notice from Harvard. You can learn more about the DMCA here:

https://wordpress.com/support/copyright-and-the-dmca/

Your Soul Food Friday for April 25th 2014: Change Ups

Happy Soul Food Friday!

This week it is all about change ups. Change ups are inevitable. How we respond to them is debatable.

Resilience is a skill that can be cultivated to deal with both the speed of change and the nature of change.

Here’s to persistence, flexibility and resilience, all practiced with purpose…

This week:

  • Woman Stops Grizzly Attack with a .25 Caliber Pistol
  • Every Master Suffers
  • Kindness = More Bang for your Buck:
  • Leave it to this Little Girl to Set Us Straight!
  • What a man can do a woman can do better!
  • Mission Fed ArtWalk 2014: Where Creativity Connects

 Woman Stops Grizzly Attack With .25 Caliber Pistol

Grizzly

 

This is a story of self-control and marksmanship.  A woman survived a grizzly bear attack with one well-placed shot from her itsy bitsy .25 caliber Beretta Jetfire.

 

gun

 

These are her own words.:

While out hiking in Alaska with my boyfriend, we were surprised when a huge grizzly bear came charging at us out of nowhere.  She must have been protecting her cubs because she was extremely aggressive.

If I had not had my little Beretta Jetfire I would not be here today!  I yanked it out of my purse and fired one shot.  It hit my boyfriend in his kneecap and the bear caught him easily. While the grizzly mauled the poor cripple, I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace.

I love that pistol,  I’ll find other boyfriends…

The Pain of Excellence by Robin S:

Most of us have been hypnotized into thinking that suffering’s the wrong move, false path and worst play.

But the truth is that every master suffers.

You just can’t rise to iconic without experiencing the pain associated with greatness along the way.

I call these The 5 Pains of Mastery. Understand them and rather than resisting them, you’ll leverage them to make EXPONENTIAL versus incremental growth.

Mastery Pain #1: Ridicule

Michelangelo was mocked for his vision for The Sistine Chapel by his jealous peers.

Copernicus was condemned for his sense that the earth wasn’t flat.

The very nature of mastery is an audacious act of disruption. To go for your personal greatness, you’ll see a future few see, have habits few have and produce results few do.

This scares the 95%. It messes with their complacency. It suggests they too must do something big.

And so rather than raising their games with you, it’s far easier for them to label you a misfit, call you an oddball and cry you’re an eccentric.

Mastery Pain #2: Self-Doubt‎

As the dominant voices of the herd ridicule you, the performer on the path of mastery falls into self-doubt.

You question your dream. You disbelieve your talents. You lose your faith.

This is the second pain we all will face along the journey to becoming legendary.

The key is to acknowledge the suffering yet keep moving forward. Remember: nothing stops the achiever who refuses to be stopped.

Mastery Pain #3: Failure

Ok.

Big one here.

So many of us are on fire with a vision until we meet our first obstacle. And then we retreat.

But you’re smart and strong. So you get that a failure only becomes a failure when treated as a failure.

Failures are gifts in wolf’s clothing. Nothing more. Leverage them to produce something even better.

Mastery Pain #4: Isolation

Standing for the highest of standards, installing the personal habits of the super-producers and having a vision braver than anyone around you will make you different.

You’ll be misunderstood.

You won’t fit in.

You’ll be alone sometimes.

But the pain of isolation is definitely less than the heartbreak of regret on a life weakly lived.

Mastery Pain #5: ‎Confusion

“Chaos gives birth to dancing stars,” said Nietzsche.

As you advance on the master’s path, you disrupt all you knew yesterday for the sake of an even better tomorrow.

You challenge your beliefs and you reorganize your ways of being.

This creates confusion. And it can hurt.

But confusion always gives way to clarity. And sooner rather than later you arrive at your next level of uncommon performance.

And the way you do things wow those who watch.

So please reflect on these “Pains of Mastery”. And just commit to doing what it takes to become your absolute best.

It’s not easy. But it’s definitely worth it.

 

Kindness = More Bang for your Buck:

…it lights up the same part of our brain in the same way that chocolate, intimacy, and sunshine do

Click here!

 Leave it to this Little Girl to Set Us Straight!

http://www.upworthy.com/this-little-girl-needs-just-90-seconds-to-explain-the-problem-with-girls-toys-today?c=upw1 

 

What a man can do a woman can do better!

 

If you are local: Mission Fed ArtWalk 2014

Click here!

Thanks this week go to Larry H, Robin S, Will M, Darcy B, Monette M and the entire Mission Fed ArtWalk Gang!

Pay it Forward!

Love,

Neville

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

 

Your Soul Food Friday for Friday April 18th 2014: Hidden in Plain Sight

Happy Soul Food Friday!

handsheart

What if that which we Seek is Hidden in Plain Sight?

Given:

Common Sense is Uncommon Practice

To know and NOT to do, is not to Know

It is not a lack of resources, but a lack of resourcefulness that keeps us from living our dream or living period,

Here are some links, clips and posts to remind us of our unbounded spirit, the power of the collective, the importance of taking chances and living OUR dream while helping others fulfill theirs…

10 Painfully Obvious Truths EVERYONE Forgets too Soon:

http://theunboundedspirit.com/10-painfully-obvious-truths-everyone-forgets-too-soon/

How Fast the Years Go…

Zero to fourteen years in a few minutes. Don’t miss a clip just because you are moving with zip!

http://viralvita.com/video/dad-films-his-daughter-every-single-week-for-14-years-the-result-is-breathtaking?%2Fvideo%2Fdad-films-his-daughter-every-single-week-for-14-years-the-result-is-breathtaking

 The Cure for Blood Cancers like Leukemia are Actually in the Hands of Ordinary People Like You and Me:

Every 4 minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer. That is 15 people an hour…

The power to save a life is right in your bones if you are that critical match

http://bethematch.org/

To personalize this for a moment, a member of our community Mason M could use your help if you have a sec

Little Mason has had 16 transfusions in the last three months, and remains transfusion dependent in order to survive.
YOU could be that cure:

http://join.marrow.org/masonm 

Note: Regardless of if you are a match, we encourage everyone to visit your local Blood Bank, and donate blood and/or platelets and literally give the gift of life!

 Transformation Through Collaboration:

As we are a little over a month away from one of most collaborative events I have had the privilege of inspiring, ideating and implementing…

On May 27th and 28th in San Diego, join us for the American Marketing Association’s Cause Conference titled, “Transformation through Collaboration” for Purpose-Driven Leaders.

Comprising  42 Amazing speakers, moderated keynotes, breakouts and ignite presentations, all working in “Pasteur’s’ quadrant” where it is applied theory and a propensity for action that matters, using design thinking instead of strategic planning, and fostering radical collaboration in eco-systems instead of feudal and industrial age ego-systems + the right 300 people in the room will  = sheer magic!

Will you be there?

The sampler that follows is intended to give you a flavor for some of the speakers and their purpose and how they can help you live YOURS!

http://sdama.org/events/cause-conference-2014/

In the last week, with one of the Founders of the AMA Cause Conference Parker Pike, the Chair of the Ed Studies Department at UCSD, Dr. Alan Daly, and my fellow Co-Chair for this year’s American Marketing Association Cause Conference, Charles Tassos we produced a pod cast (4 parts) on Cause Marketing.

Here is the link to the first segment:

http://filesource.abacast.com/wsradio/weekinmarketing/040914/segment1040914.mp3

Wade the President of the station had this useful tidbit that I found insightful:

We are moving from a world of turning on a TV OR a Radio, to a web based world where I can have Video AND Audio AND Print on a website.

So we need to use them synergistically, recognizing their unique qualities.

What Print does best, is convey data, because it moves at the speed of comprehension.

What Video does best is instruct through the power of demonstration.

What Audio does best is creating bonding relationship, because of the power of “Theater of the Mind”, which is engaged when there are no visuals.

One message, 3 communication platforms. Use appropriately.

 

Here are some vids from a few of our amazing speakers in May:

 

The Disconnected, Connected World. with Larry K.
I have worked most of my life to make a difference in the world. On January 26 I delivered a TEDx Talk, titled “The Disconnected, Connected World.”
This talk is the culmination of numerous life lessons over the past 20 years. When I was asked to deliver the talk I thought the most enjoyable part would be delivering the speech, but that was not the case. The process of creating the talk was actually the amazing part. I invite you to watch the talk at the following link and provide me your feedback:

Authentic Self-Expression” with Sarah H.

TEDx Talk –

 

Give Something Back with Michael H.

 

For a complete list of Speakers click here:

http://sdama.org/events/cause-conference-2014/#agenda

 

Thanks this week go to Ron M, Heidi D, Wade T, Mason and Corinne M, Larry K, Sarah H, Mike H, the AMA Cause Conference ALL-Volunteer Planning Committee, and every one of you who helps make someone’s life better this week!

Whether you are simplifying your life, saving another’s, or changing other’s lives for the better, here’s to a life well lived!

Pay it Forward!

Love,
Neville

“We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.” —Anais Nin

 

Soul Food Friday for April 11th 2014: Grand Ultimate Limits!

Happy Soul Food Friday

This week:

Let’s Explore those Grand Ultimate Limits! 

  • 4 Questions to Test your Smarts (no pressure)
  • Stand in Awe as One Person Transforms Her “Vulner-Abilities” into Sheer Magic
  • Had an Extreme Day? Try this One!
  • Value Extreme Leadership? Steve Farber is a Master                                                   o   Getting your Core Values Seen not Just Heard- This is Extremely Cool!
  • An “Open Way” Like a Growth Mindset can be that Difference that Makes a Difference
  • Extreme Genius in Theater, Film, and beyond: Pushing Boundaries with a Muse called Innovation
  • An Extreme Hug and its Neuro-Biological Effects:                                                         o   Trust, Morality and Oxytocin
  • Extremely Zany Non-Smart Do-It-Yourself Work

 

Let’s Start with that Brain Teaser to test the limits of your Smarts 🙂

IF YOU ANSWER ALL FOUR, YOU ARE PURPORTLY A GENIUS (OR AT LEAST A GOOD LATERAL THINKER)

Question 1

question1

Question 2

question2

Question 3

question3

Question 4

question4

 

ANSWERS

* 1. The last person took the basket with the egg in it.

* 2. All the other card players were women.

* 3. Pour the juice from the second glass into the fifth.

* 4. The recluse lived in a lighthouse.

PASS THIS ON TO FRUSTRATE THE SMART PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE

If I can can, YOU can can…

Maysoon Zayid is a comedian who happens to have cerebral palsy. She advocates for the disabled and founded Maysoon’s Kids (which addresses the needs of disabled children in Palestine).  Maysoon is inspirational and proves that stereotypes are meant to be broken.

Her extreme courage and vulnerability will touch your soul at: http://www.ted.com/talks/maysoon_zayid_i_got_99_problems_palsy_is_just_one

 

If You Think Your Day is/was Extreme, Check out this One… 

There are many flavors of Extreme and No One Models Extreme Leadership better than Steve Farber!

 Getting your Core Values Seen not Just Heard- This is Extremely Cool!


 BTW, Steve is a bestselling author, terrific speaker, downright nice guy and will be at the American Marketing Association Cause Conference I am co-chairing, May 27th and 28th in San Diego along with 40+ other leaders, speakers, and change agents as we deliver on the theme of “Transformation through Collaboration”. We will close registration at 300 to keep it a rich and intimate experience. For more info and to register visit: http://sdama.org/events/cause-conference-2014/

 

Present Moment Mindfulness/Self Awareness x Radical Collaboration predicated on Collective Intelligence can = Transformational Outcomes for Previously Intractable Social Issues

An Open Way Like a Growth Mindset can be the Difference that Makes a Difference…

Click here! 

“Ditching the Plan and Embracing Imperfection”

There is no easy way to summarize the contribution Quebec-born Robert Lepagehas made to the arts, and no single art to tie him to either. He is not only considered a genius in the field of theatre, but also a creative force in film, opera and Quebec’s signature Cirque du Soleil shows. The actor and director has earned a reputation for pushing boundaries and conjuring up complex visual effects. His one constant muse appears to be innovation itself.

Some Takeaways:

  • A thirst to innovate, an appreciation for the Renaissance, Shakespeare and Moliere
  • Unafraid of chaos in the creative process and humble enough to say I don’t know everything…
  • The real promise of real theatre – a community meeting a community. Bad theater is when what happens onstage never makes it into the room- i.e. Never really connecting with the audience

“It always arrives where it belongs in the end”

The article:

http://www.cbc.ca/q/blog/2014/04/02/robert-lepage-on-q/

Listen now…

http://www.cbc.ca/q/popupaudio.html?clipIds=2446138639

The 6 second Hug:

http://www.gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2007/04/why_happiness_i-2/

Trust, Morality and Oxytocin

http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_zak_trust_morality_and_oxytocin

Last but not least some Zany Humor…

How to Change the Brake Pads in Your Car- some extreme do it yourself work…


Thanks this week go to Larry H, Heather J, Steve F, BH K, Sonia R and those who push the extreme limits of humanity everywhere!

Follow your Muse & Pay it forward…

Love,

Neville

“Do what you LOVE
Serving those who
Love what YOU do”
–Steve Farber

Soul Food Friday for April Fool’s Week 2014

Happy Soul Food Friday!

ali_quote

Compassion IT in America’s Kindest City
Re-Design Your Thinking and Radicalize your Collaborations
Percuss your Soul

In the past week, I completed yet another trip around the sun, over 19,723 days + by last reckoning. Using the 10,000 hour rule you would have thunk I would be getting good at this but that is debatable…

As my karate community wanted to celebrate my birthday we invested the day with dojo mates from near and far; setting our morning intention with a compassion meditation thanks to Sara S of Compassion IT, followed by a fun and deep dive into design thinking, social capital optimization and working on the design process in “Pasteur’s Quadrant” courtesy of Dr. D, leading to an afternoon in embodied practice of collective intelligence and radical collaboration advancing our art, and it all culminating in an extraordinary surprise and most deeply resonant drum circle and percussion fest courtesy of Monette M bringing her infectious energy back into my soul after two decades of being part of her Afro-Caribbean drumming class.

My karate group set me up really well for this surprise at the end of the day proving once again that making a fool of yourself, or being made a fool of is not such a bad thing after all. Most of us have been well conditioned (rightly or wrongly) to develop an abject fear of failure, which precludes risk-taking, which limits innovation, which restricts growth which kills surprise and wonder, which leaves our soul hungry and thirsty.  Thanks to their conniving and stealth, I am still smiling –inside and out- as I reflect on how both the intended and unexpected collided into a terrific, near magical experience. But enough about me…

Is it Time for Your Hero’s Journey:
Let this vid set the tone for your advance…

While I’m not 35, this clip says it pretty darn well
Surprise YOURself. Be Happy, Excited and Inspired so you can say, “Damn, that was awesome!”
http://vimeo.com/62716181

Slomo:
The One that Got Away…
If you don’t feel like this from time to time you’re lying, or so deep under that social hypnosis spell it is hard to consider an “alternate reality”
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/01/opinion/slomo.html?_r=0

Speaking of Percussion, Stay Thirsty my Friends!

Too Yang for you? Try This Irish Blessing…
Click on:  Irish Blessing
Then sit back, take a deep breath, relax and click on Start!

If you are local…
Brand Narrative – Your Competitive Edge in a Crowded Marketplace

nevilleTuesday, April 15, 2014
UC San Diego Extension
6256 Greenwich Drive
San Diego, CA 92122

 

Thanks this week go to Peter S, Sara S, Alan D, Monette M, Terri and Ken M, Paul S, Larry H, my entire traditional martial arts community, as well as friends and family worldwide!

Wishing you a Spring in 2014 that coils up tight and launches you to your pole star where dreams really do come true and there is no place like Aum.

Love and Happiness,
Neville/Dad/Friend/Sensei/Neighbor/April’s Fool

Soul Food Friday for March 28th 2014

Happy Soul Food Friday!

image005

The History of Our World in 2 minutes?
Click on this video but don’t blink for even a second!
17 year old Joe Bush got a high school assignment to make a video
reproduction. He chose history as a theme and tucked it all into two minutes.
Take pictures from the internet, add the track Mind Heist by Zack Hemsey
(from the movie Interception) and then you get something like this.
Hold on tight!
http://marcbrecy.perso.neuf.fr/history.html

Take Measure of America
Easy to use and methodologically sound tools to understand Wellbeing and Opportunity in America, exploring Health, Education and Income
A great resource!
https://www.measureofamerica.org/

The Ten Best Sentences from Fiction and Non Fiction
While subjective, if you are lover of language these are powerful forms of human expression
http://theamericanscholar.org/ten-best-sentences/

The Number One Way to Increase Happiness:
Screen Shot 2014-03-28 at 9.29.49 AM

WHAT IF… the best way to maximize your happiness is to savor it?
Find out more about savoring the moment on the Thought Rocket website.

Irreverent Reverence:
It is important to be able to laugh at ourselves…

HOLY HUMOR
During these serious and troubled times, people of all faiths should remember these four great religious truths:
1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God’s Chosen People.
2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world.
4. Baptists do not recognize each other at the liquor store.
GOOD SAMARITAN
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan.
She asked the class, “If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and
Bleeding, what would you do?”
A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, “I think I’d throw up.”
DID NOAH FISH?
A Sunday school teacher asked, “Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ?”
“No,” replied Johnny. “How could he, with just two worms.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible – Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task – but he just couldn’t remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.
On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, “The Lord is my Shepherd, and that’s all I need to know”.
UNANSWERED PRAYER
The preacher’s 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why.
Well, Honey,” he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. “I’m asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.”
“How come He doesn’t answer it?” she asked.
BEING THANKFUL
A Rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, “So your mother says your prayers for you each night? That’s very commendable. What does she say?”
The little boy replied, “Thank God he’s in bed!”
ALL MEN / ALL GIRLS
When my daughter, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past). For several weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, “And all girls.”
This soon became part of her nightly routine, to include this closing. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, “Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?”
Her response, “Because everybody always finish their prayers by saying ‘All Men’!
SAY A PRAYER
Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother’s house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away.
“Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer.” said his mother.
“I don’t need to,” the boy replied.
“Of course, you do “his mother insisted. “We always say a prayer before eating at our house.”
“That’s at our house.” Johnny explained. “But this is Grandma’s house and she knows how to cook”.
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Training on the Equinox at the Salk and staying in tune with nature…

Sincere thanks this week go to Helene G, Larry H, KPBS, The American Scholar, Will Marre, my Aoinagi Karate Community and the Divine Comedy in All of Us!

Savor!!
Love,
Neville

Happy Soul Food Friday for St. Patrick’s Day Week!

Happy Soul Food Friday!

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This week:

GR-IT:
Does Teaching Kids to Get Gritty Help them to Get Ahead?
Given the name of our martial arts school translates as the Green Willow embodying persistence, this NPR story go my attention…
http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=290089998&m=290759663

Compassion IT:
As the Co-Chair of the American Marketing Association Cause Conference this year, I am privileged to run into people and organizations like this one…

At COMPASSION IT, we made “compassion” a verb; our #1 goal is to inspire people around the world to consciously incorporate compassion in their daily lives and inspire others through compassionate actions.
We believe we can move the world toward happiness and global connection through our one-of-a-kind reversible COMPASSION IT bracelets—dark side reminds you to commit an act of compassion, flip to the light side when your compassionate action is complete.
With something as simple as a smile to a stranger, helping a friend move, or thinking before we speak, this daily ritual of “flipping your bracelet” has a ripple effect and will enrich and change millions of lives.
From the Parliament in Botswana to classrooms in Costa Rica to homes in Nepal to small-town America, COMPASSION IT is spreading its message, one bracelet at a time. In fact, COMPASSION IT is already in more than 42 countries around the world!
Our bracelets are intended primarily for fundraisers; at an affordable cost, communities, schools, businesses, and even families can raise money using COMPASSION IT bracelets, influence positive behaviors through a pass-it-on ripple effect, and have an impact of peace and mindfulness that affects everyone.
Thanks Sara J. Schairer, Founder of Compassion It
www.compassionit.com

 Grat-ITude:
One of my favorite Ted Talks which will remind us all of what is most essential…
https://www.youtube.com/embed/gXDMoiEkyuQ

10 Simple Rules to be Nice
Just friggin’ do IT!
http://www.robinsharma.com/blog/03/10-simple-rules-to-be-nice/

MORE COMPANIES SEE ‘DOING GOOD’ AS WAY TO GROW BUSINESS:
We are working hard locally to transform the region… Can you help us lead IT?
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/Mar/17/tp-more-companies-see-doing-good-as-way-to-grow/2/?#article-copy

If you are local…
Join IT

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Make Art & Support Art in Schools
Sunday, March 23 2pm to 5pm
Mia Francesca
Del Mar Highlands Town Center
Register now!

In case you missed IT:
Hope you enjoyed St. Patrick’s Day…

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Thanks this week go to KPBS/NPR, Sara S, Scott B/L, Robin Sharma, Andrea Y/C, ArtReach and Heidi D who is soon to be married!

Pay IT Forward!
Love,
Neville

7 Minutes of Soul Food Friday that Could Change Your Life Now

Happy Soul Food Friday!

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This week, instead of several items, I provide just 1 link to 1 video that takes about 7 minutes

If we can’t find 7 minutes in one week which has 10080 minutes, we have made ourselves quite time poor…

We don’t get today back so here is to your total enrichment!

Thanks this week to Helene G for this moving piece!

Pay it forward and backward, in the moment…

Love,

Neville

“Parents (and teachers) can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, 

but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.”

– Anne Frank  (parenthesis mine…)

Please donate Airlines Miles, it takes 2 seconds. Thank you!

http://sandiego.wish.org/ways-to-help/giving/airline-miles

Happy Soul Food Friday for March 7th 2014

Happy Soul Food Friday!

livinginthepresent

This week:

How Wolves Change Rivers

Old beyond her Ears

What a difference timing makes…

Click here to find out why!

Paint your heART Out!

If you are local…

artreachpaintyourheartout

CREATIVITY CONNECTS:  CELEBRATING 30 YEARS!

Mission Federal ArtWalk @ Little Italy:  April 26 & 27, 2014

Ask me how ARTREACH can bring art education into elementary schools county-wide.  www.artreachsandiego.org

A little birdy told me…to click here

butterfly

Thanks this week go to Helene G, JJ, Heidi D, Will M, Sandi C & Larry H.

Pay it Forward!

Love,

Neville

“We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery.”—H. G. Wells