Happy Soul Food Friday for lucky Friday the 13th!
This week:
Lions, Tiger and Bears Oh MY…
It is not what you think
These unlikely pairings make us appreciate that it is in our inner nature to nurture…
Love,
Neville
Thanks this week to Larry H for this soul feast, and to all that animals that teach us what it is to be human…
Be Unusual!
Love,
Neville
“If two men on the same job agree all the time, then one is useless. If they disagree all the time, then both are useless.”- — Darryl F. Zanuck
Happy Soul Food Friday!
This week:
The Cost of a Miracle:
A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet..
She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three
Times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes.
Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she
slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall’s Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment.
Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster.
No Good.
Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!
‘And what do you want?’ the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I’m talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven’t seen in ages,’ he
said without waiting for a reply to his question.
‘Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,’ Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. ‘He’s really, really sick….and I want to buy a miracle.’
‘I beg your pardon?’ said the pharmacist.
‘His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now.
So how much does a miracle cost?’
‘We don’t sell miracles here, little girl.
I’m sorry but I can’t help you,’ the pharmacist said, softening a little.
‘Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.’
The pharmacist’s brother was a well-dressed man.
He stooped down and asked the little girl, ‘What kind of a miracle does your brother need?’
‘ I don’t know,’ Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he’s really sick and Mommy says he needs an
Operation. But my Daddy can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money.’
‘How much do you have?’ asked the man from Chicago .
‘One dollar and eleven cents,’ Tess answered barely audible
‘And it’s all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.’
‘Well, what a coincidence,’ smiled the man. ‘A dollar and eleven cents—the exact price of a
Miracle for little brothers.’
He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said ‘Take me to where you live.
I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the miracle you need.’
That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery.
The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn’t long until Andrew was home again and doing well.
Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place..
‘That surgery,’ her Mom whispered. ‘was a real miracle.. I wonder how much it would have cost?’
Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost…one dollar and eleven cents… plus the faith of a little child.
In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need.
A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law.
I know you’ll keep this ball moving!
Here it goes. Throw it out to someone who means something to you!
A ball is a circle, no beginning, no end. It keeps us together like our Circle of Friends. But the treasure inside for you to see is the treasure of friendship you’ve granted to me.
Today
I pass the friendship ball to you.
Pass it on to someone who is a friend.
MY OATH TO YOU…
When you are sad…..I will dry your tears.
When you are scared……I will comfort your fears.
When You are worried…..I will give you hope.
When you are confused……I will help you cope.
And when you are lost…..and can’t see the light, I
Shall be your beacon…shining ever so bright.
This is my oath…..I pledge till the end.
Why you may ask?….Because you’re my friend.
Mindful Collaboration Blog:
Enjoy this new CSR wire blog on Mindful Collaboration. Without mindfulness we are unable to capture innovation as it emerges, see the possibilities and opportunities around us, or recognize the need of others…
http://bit.ly/hapmind
90# on your telephone
(This apparently also applies to cell phones!)
I received a telephone call last evening from an individual identifying
himself as an AT&T Service Technician (could also be TELUS) who was
conducting a test on the telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test
I should touch nine (9), zero (0), the pound sign (#), and then hang up.
Luckily, I was suspicious and refused.
Upon contacting the telephone company, I was informed that by pushing 90#,
you give the requesting individual full access to your telephone line, which
enables them to place long distance calls billed to your home phone number.
I was further informed that this scam has been originating from many local
jails/prisons. DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE…
After checking with Verizon they also said it was true, so
do not dial 90# for anyone!
Out of the box thinking:
Speaking of innovation, these images model creative and lateral thinking but beware as a couple are a bit risqué…
Thanks this week go to Ron S and Larry H!
Love & Happiness,
Neville
“Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute
with love, grace, and gratitude.”—Denis Waitely
Happy Soul Food Friday!
“You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you.”– Heraclitus
…Time is like a river.
You cannot step in the same river twice, because the water that has passed will never pass again. Enjoy every moment of life.
As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper’s cemetery in the Nova Scotia back country.
As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn’t stop for directions.
I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch. I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late.
I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn’t know what else to do, so I started to play.
The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around.. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I’ve never played before for this homeless man.
And as I played Amazing Grace, the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished, I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.
As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, “I never seen nothing like that before and I’ve been putting in septic tanks for twenty years.”
Apparently I’m still lost….it’s a man thing.
Ok seriously though, you might enjoy this great visual & mental reset:
Soul-filled living is not all humor and zen-like images…
Sometimes we have to buck the status quo and be the voice for those who would otherwise hide behind the skirts (or kilts) of anonymity.
May we have the courage to speak for the downtrodden, the marginalized, & the poor of spirit
This story puts that in perspective…
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
When Khrushchev pronounced his famous denunciation of Stalin, someone in the Congress Hall is reported to have said, “Where were you. Comrade Khrushchev, when all those innocent people were being slaughtered?”
Khrushchev paused, looked round the Hall, and said, “Will the person who said that kindly stand up!”
Tension mounted in the Hall. No one moved.
Said Khrushchev, “Well, whoever you are, you have your answer now. I was in exactly the same position then as you find yourself in now.”
It that was a bit heavy, this will lighten your mood…
Interspecies Cuddles…Fur or Shell doesn’t matter one hill of beans!
“God made the world for the delight of human beings.”—Mother Teresa
Go fly a kite!
When someone tells you to go fly a kite, here is what you do…
This kite flying is really fantastic and so beautifully done by Ray Bethell. The choreography will transfix you, he even flies one with his waist!
Thanks this week go to Scott H, Robin M, Anthony DeMello, Heidi D and Larry H.
Pay it forward!
Love,
Neville
“Quiet the mind, and the soul will speak.”—Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati
“God made the world for the delight of human beings.”—Mother Teresa
Happy Soul Food Friday!
Ever wonder what this life is all about?
While I can’t claim to know the answer, this week’s content touches on three gifts; friendship, belief and beauty
Enjoy..
This first clip will help answer that eternal question, with the gift of friendship and stewardship from the luckiest cowboy and his amazing dog
Life is too precious to be upset…
www.silverandgoldandthee.net/V/Sk.html
Faith is the substance of things to come, the evidence of things not yet seen
Believe…
And last but not least, breath taking beauty and awesome creations, from nature in all her wonder…
Thanks this week go to Scott H. and Larry H.
Pay it forward, you can’t take it with you!
Love,
Neville
“Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.”— Wayne Dyer
Happy Soul Food Friday!
This week:
Café Gratitude:
My friend Jerry P sent me some photos from Café Gratitude that he visited in Berkeley not so long ago, that totally resonates with Soul Food Friday!
Apparently, there are several locations like this.
Check out the sample menu
I AM inspired!
http://cafegratitudeberkeley.com/
BREAKFAST
I AM GREAT Live buckwheat granola with fresh almond milk 8.5
I AM BRIGHT-EYED A blend of coconut milk, nuts, fruit, vanilla and cinnamon 8
I AM PEACE Live onion bagel with cashew crème cheese, nori “lox,” tomato, onion, capers and sprouts 6.5
Add avocado 2.25
I AM SUSTAINED Steamed quinoa with seasonal fruit, cinnamon, pecans, almond milk and agave 8
I AM FRESH Fresh summer fruit with Thai young coconut yogurt 8
Check out this Amazing Puppy!
Finally, Incredible pictures from around the World!
Thanks this week go to Jerry P and Larry H!
Stay Soul-Filled…
Love,
Neville
Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” ~ Mark Twain
Happy Soul Food Friday!
Have you ever really pondered the power of technology and its impact in our lives?
Our relationship to technology can be a real love/hate thing
Here are a few interesting applications to make us think and feel about how technology can be a great servant but a horrible master…
The Power of Simulation: Flight 214 Airline Crash Animation
Learning from our mistakes so we can prevent them in the future can be a handy application of simulations.
Here is some powerful animation of flight 214 by an ex airline captain who specializes in forensic animation.
The actual recording from the control tower plays in background.
http://mashable.com/2013/07/14/flight-214-animation/
The Power of Information: ACCESS ANY ADDRESS IN THE WORLD faster than Google Earth.
This might startle you … it’s incredible technology.
After opening the link below, type in the address you want slowly, letter by letter, space by space, and watch each time where it takes you by successive approximation.
The Power of Space Travel: Take Your Personal Tour of the International Space Station:
This link will take you to the Space Station, complete with a “personal tour” by Sunita Williams.
Sunita shows us how big this place really is and explains how all aspects of human needs are handled on board.
http://www.wimp.com/orbitaltour/
The Power of Attention: The Beauty of a Second
6 Billion seconds ago the chronograph was created. Today, can we experience the moment, one second at a time?
Thanks this week go to Hélène G, Jehangir J, Chris B & Mitch S
Pay it forward!
Love,
Neville
“The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides and gravitation,we shall harness for God the energies of love.
And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world,
we shall have discovered fire!”–Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Happy Soul Food Friday!
This week successful integration in various flavors.
Integrate Social Leadership into your Leadership repertoire
Integrate your Work, Home, Community and Self
Integrate the Right & Left Sides of your Brain
Integrate Inside and Out
Integrate Stunning Soul Food Photos into your Day
On Social Leadership
As we are all aware there is a growing collective energy and intelligence around social leadership and social capital. This article reminds us of their importance.
http://www.inc.com/geil-browning/why-being-social-will-make-you-a-better-leader.html
Successfully Integrate Your Work, Home, Community, and Self
Take a quick quiz to see how you are doing…
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2013/07/successfully_integrate_your_work_life.html
Integrate the Right & Left Sides of The Brain
Sometimes things are hidden in plain sight and it takes a different way of seeing to appreciate things anew.
The following will show you when you are using your Right or Left side of your brain.
If you see the picture exactly as it is, you are using the left side.
When you stare you will see the figure shift; and you will be using your right brain.
You can switch back and forth.
Stare to go to Right brain (it sort of trances you out or puts you in an altered NON THINKING state).
Begin thinking and reasoning about it and you will move back out of the altered state into Left brain thinking.
Stare at this picture and you will see this man turn his face.
Integrate the Inside and the Outside:
Enjoy these stunning photos
Thanks this week go to Alan D, Maurice C, Larry H and Kaiyoze B
Pay it forward!
Love,
Neville
“A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.”— Francis Bacon
Happy Soul Food Friday!
This week:
A Soul Filled video that will recalibrate both what is important in life and what is possible, with that rare combination of Courage and Compassionz
An cherubic voice and angelic mom, this soul filled video will recalibrate both what is important in life and what is possible with that rare combination of courage and compassion.
Emanuele Kelly – the story of his life that is utterly incredible. If only we can have a quarter of the courage this guy possesses and as for his foster mother – she’s an angel in disguise…. so selfless. This could change your life and the way you think. Emanuele reminds us that ANYTHING is possible
8 ways to Improve your Morning Routine:
We are creatures of habit. Here are 8 ways to start your day right. Remember all’s well that begins well!
What is a Positive Educator?
When I think about the teachers who made a difference in my life I realize they were all positive. Mrs. Liota smiled every day and made me feel loved. Coach Caiazza believed in me while Mr. Ehmann encouraged me to be my best. Years later as I think about the impact these teachers had on my life it’s clear that being a positive educator not only makes you better it makes everyone around you better. Positive educators have the power to transform lives and inspire young minds to believe they can and will change the world. In this spirit here are seven ways we can all choose to be a positive educator.
1. Be Positively Contagious – Research shows that emotions are contagious. Sincere smiles, kind words, encouragement and positive energy infect people in a positive way. On the flip side your students are just as likely to catch your bad mood as the swine flu. So each day you come to school you have a choice. You can be a germ or a big dose of Vitamin C. When you choose to be positively contagious your positive energy has a positive impact on your students, your colleagues and ultimately your school culture. Your students will remember very little of what you said but they will remember 100% of how you made them feel. I remember Mrs. Liota and her smile and love and it made all the difference.
2. Take a Daily Thank you Walk – It’s simple, it’s powerful, and it’s a great way to feed yourself with positivity. How does it work? You simply take a walk… outside, in a mall, at your school, on a treadmill, or anywhere else you can think of, and think about all the things, big and small, that you are grateful for. The research shows you can’t be stressed and thankful at the same time so when you combine gratitude with physical exercise, you give yourself a double boost of positive energy. You flood your brain and body with positive emotions and natural antidepressants that uplift you rather than the stress hormones that drain your energy and slowly kill you. By the time you get to school you are ready for a great day.
3. Celebrate Success – One of the simplest, most powerful things you can do for yourself and your students is to celebrate your daily successes. Instead of thinking of all things that went wrong at school each day focus on the one thing that went right. Try this: Each night before you go to bed think about the one great thing about your day. If you do this you’ll look forward to creating more success tomorrow. Also have your students do this as well. Each night they will go to bed feeling like a success and they will wake up with more confidence to take on the day.
4. Expect to Make a Difference – When positive educators walk into their classroom they expect to make a difference in their student’s lives. In fact, making a difference is the very reason why they became a teacher in the first place and this purpose continues to fuel them and their teaching. They come to school each day thinking of ways they can make a difference and expecting that their actions and lessons will lead to positive outcomes for their students. They win in their mind first and then they win in the hearts and minds of their students.
5. Believe in your students more than they believe in themselves – I tried to quit lacrosse during my freshman year in high school but Coach Caiazza wouldn’t let me. He told me that I was going to play in college one day. He had a vision for me that I couldn’t even fathom. He believed in me more than I believed in myself. I ended up going to Cornell University and the experience of playing lacrosse there changed my life forever. The difference between success and failure is belief and so often this belief is instilled in us by someone else. Coach Caiazza was that person for me and it changed my life. You can be that person for one of your students if you believe in them and see their potential rather than their limitations.
6. Develop Positive Relationships – Author Andy Stanley once said, “Rules without relationship lead to rebellion.” Far too many principals share rules with their teachers but they don’t have a relationship with them. And far too many teachers don’t have positive relationships with their students. So what happens? Teachers and students disengage from the mission of the school. I’ve had many educators approach me and tell me that my books helped them realize they needed to focus less on rules and invest more in their relationships. The result was a dramatic increase in teacher and student performance, morale and engagement. To develop positive relationships you need to enhance communication, build trust, listen to them, make time for them, recognize them, show them you care through your actions and mentor them. Take the time to give them your best and they will give them your best.
7. Show you Care – It’s a simple fact. The best educators stand out by showing their students and colleagues that they care about them. Standardized test scores rise when teachers make time to really know their students. Teacher performance improves when principals create engaged relationships with their teachers. Teamwork is enhanced when educators know and care about one another. Parents are more supportive when educators communicate with their student’s parents. The most powerful form of positive energy is love and this love transforms students, people and schools when it is put into action. Create your own unique way to show your students and colleagues you care about them and you will not only feel more positive yourself but you will develop positive kids who create a more positive world.
If you commit to being a positive educator consider The Positive Teacher Pledge.
The Positive Teacher Pledge
Need a new car?
While the spot is too sexist for my liking, the vehicle is pretty darn cool!
Fascinating & Rare Historical Photos:
Pay it Forward, you can’t take it with You…
Love,
Neville
“Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice.
It is not a thing to be waited for, but a thing to be achieved.” —William Jennings Bryan
Happy Soul Food Friday!
Yesterday was International Day for Freedom, Justice and Democracy
Can you invest 67 minutes in your community, with each minute representing 1 year that Mandela sacrificed for the values of freedom, justice and democracy?
This week:
7 Black Belt Insights for Elite Achievement
Take the Personal Leadership Quiz
Nelson Mandela turns 95 and One man’s Artistic Tribute to Freedom through Boxing and Art
International Day for Freedom, Justice and Democracy
An Easy Safety Idea
On Perception: When the Reflection is Larger than the Reality
Followed by Amazing Photos from Around the World (what’s your favorite?)
7 Black Belt Insights for Elite Achievement
http://www.robinsharma.com/blog/07/7-black-belt-insights-for-elite-achievement/
Take the Personal Leadership Quiz
http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=db6c729d17829878c2b0c594c&id=c1d75475ed&e=81282888ae
One man’s Artistic Tribute
http://www.good.is/posts/artist-punches-wall-27-000-times-in-honor-of-nelson-mandela?utm_medium=tdg&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=readon&utm_content=Monumental%20Mandela%20Street%20Art%20Made%20of%2027%2C000%20Punches%20To%20a%20Wall
International Day for Freedom, Justice and Democracy: The 67 Minute Challenge
http://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/
An Easy Safety Idea
Great idea!! Even when you travel and stay in a motel!
Even if your car does not do this, tell all your friends & relatives & neighbors who could use this for help.
What to take to bed with you – not a joke.
Put your car keys beside your bed at night.
Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your doctor’s office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across.
If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.
This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It’s a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage.
If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won’t stick around. After a few seconds, all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won’t want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.
P.S.. Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can’t reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn’t hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she’ll know there’s a problem.
Amazing Photos from Around the World
Thanks this week go to Robin S, Will M, The Daily Good, Jehangir J, and Larry H
Stay Safe, Sane and Soulful!
Love,
Neville
“We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference.”– Nelson Mandela
Happy Soul Food Friday!
This week enjoy some glimpses of:
Keep Climbing!
Love,
Neville
What’s your Mission?
People who lived purpose filled lives are clearly happier and more fulfilled.
If you can link your purpose to your vocation, you are even luckier!
I am blessed to work for a double bottom line, purpose-driven organization that gives back to our community.
Being a generator of value rather than an extractor will ensure we create value and advance the collective good…
Passage to Bollywood
It is inspiring when we hear about kids changing the world!
Here is a great example of a local high school student thinking global, and demonstrating how and why Gen Next are the most societally- conscious generation on our planet
How Good is Your Memory?
Aging has its limitations but rightly understood, poor memory might actually be a benefit.
Enjoy this re-framing thanks to my brother at HRG
http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=8498bc1a4a768f7aa94cc3102&id=934dc33c15&e=5f435af334
Future proofing and Revisiting Our Relationship to Money
Here is an excerpt from my remarks at the UCSD True Triton Brunch as it relates to future proofing…
What the heck is future proofing?
It is the process of trying to anticipate future developments, so that action can be taken now to minimize possible negative consequences, and to maximize opportunities. It is about building a strong enough foundation to ensure long term, sustainable success.
Here are some future proofing factoids:
If you are working, your job is your #1 investment.
Your education is your second most important investment.
If you are serious about future proofing, invest more time building a legacy than an inheritance.
If you cultivate the proper work ethic and relentless passion for lifelong learning, and develop a culture that focuses on generators of value not just extractors of value, the next generation will produce their own annuity.
Money doesn’t cause problems, your bad relationship to money causes problems. Most of us have a lousy relationship with money. The same sadly is even truer with time. Most of us have a lousy relationship with time.
How do I know? Well, we kill time, we waste time, and we spend time but rarely invest time. Lousy relationships with both money and time cause a lot of problems both in the present and by extension in the future… Maybe it’s time to revisit our relationship with time and money.
Interestingly, if you think about this in the context of volunteering, time is more valuable than money. You can lose all your money and earn it back, but you never get the time back. Today is unprecedented. Today is unrepeatable. We never get today back so invest it wisely. Do give BACK! Invest your time giving back. Giving back is highly correlated with healthier and happier people.
“Gratitude is the ultimate antidote for materialism”
We ARE spirits in a material world as Sting and the Police remind us…
Apparently, I am not the Only One Thinking this Way…
This post reinforces similar ideas about money and happiness
http://willmarre.com/blog/more-is-less/
Climbing Half Dome years ago, like any committed undertaking requires adequate preparation and taking the steps
These steps all around the world, should give you some perspective…
In mountaineering, “Going up is optional, Going down is MANDATORY!”
For many, the stairs are something to avoid, unless you’re determined to lose some weight.
But lovers of nature and spectacular views are more than used to climb steps and more steps to experience the view.
Caution: This list of steps might be a challenge for those who get a little dizzy with heights…
Peldaños del Cañón
Where you are: Pailon del Diablo, Ecuador
Where are they going?
Designed to descend to the bottom of one of the most famous waterfalls in South America, along the way, lost in the fog in many cases, it is extremely slippery and steep for tens of meters to a lookout where you can see a dramatic effect, accompanied by hummingbirds, gulls and other local birds
El pozo de Chand Baori
Where you are: India
Where are they going?
The decline of these steps leads to a huge pool, built in the tenth century to overcome the lack of rainfall in the region and store water for long periods. The structure has a total of 3,500 steps, and down to a depth of 30 meters.
Stairs Elbe Sandstone Mountains
Where you are: Dresden , Germany
Where are they going?
Stairs carved into the stone itself of these mountains.
They date from the 13th century and have been eroded by wind and water, but there are still being used daily by tourists. 487steps, though not enough, were restored and expanded in the eighteenth century to facilitate transit.
The Rock of Guatapé
Where you are: Antioquia , Colombia
Where are they going?
The rock is an authentic stone monolith of 220 meters.
The steps are constructed with cement, directly on the rock.
Some 702 steps are to be followed to reach its peak.
The ladder Haiku
Where you are: Oahu , Hawaii
Material: metal
Where are they going?
On the small island of Oahu there is this tremendous journey of 3922 steps, climbing, crossing and descending a hill of 850 meters.
They were created to facilitate the installation of a satellite in 1942. Originally made of wood, they were modernized in the ’50s, but since 1987 are closed to the public.
The Inca Trail
Where you are: Peru
Where are they going?
An ancient trade route linking the city of Cuzco to Machu Pichu.
For the rugged geography of the area, the Inca Trail and forced detours shift between hills and mountains.
The result: miles and miles of stairs, in some cases very precarious, as this famous floating staircase.
Ladder Via Crucis
Where you are: Bermeo, Basque Country, Spain
Where are they going?
This endless row of stairs attached to the rock coast where a small church dating from the tenth century and seems to be of Templar origins.
To reach the hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe you have to climb 231 steps and there are gaps in the steps that are identified as the footsteps of St. John himself, giving different healing powers. For example, you have to put your feet in them as a solution for corns or leave hats, scarves or chapelas, to cure headache.
Spiral staircase in the Taihang Mountains
Where you are: At the boundary between the provinces of Shanxi and Henan , China
Where are they going? This spiral staircase of almost 100 meters have been installed recently in an attempt to attract thousands of tourists each year to the beautiful Taihang Mountains .
Before undertaking the ascent visitors are asked to sign forms to ensure they do not have heart or lung problems, and are under age 60. And that narrow metal ladder can certainly can serve as your stairway to heaven- think Led Zeppelin.
Wayna Pichu
Where you are: Machu Picchu , Peru
Where are they going?
Stairs carved into the rock that crown a climb of about 360 meters from Machu Picchu itself.
In some sections, the ascent is complicated to pass through narrow sections and small eroded steps.
The rise time is calculated at one hour and 30 minutes.
90 minutes climbing stairs! Access only allowed to 400 tourists a day and is closed from 1pm on, just in case you were planning on heading out soon…
Thanks this week to my work mates, my vacation mates, my UCSD mate, my brother Paul, Will M, Larry H, and you for climbing the steps that will carry you to a higher plane of living, knowing and loving!
Pay it Forward.
Love,
Neville
“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.”
— Roger Crawford
Happy Soul Food Friday! 