Holiday Greetings 2009
It’s been a while since I’ve been here. I’ve taken time to shop, spend time with friends and family, and to celebrate the holiday season. For me, it was a good holiday season. I was able to give some gifts that were really appreciated, and spend time thinking about what this season is really about. Love, Family, Service, Spirit – not necessarily in that order.
I’ve also gotten to spend some time researching and thinking about life purpose. I found a few good books along the way, as well as a couple of good websites that I will introduce you to.
I was inspired by another TED Video. This time, the video is by a Pakistani man speaking at TED India. With him, he had brought pictures and greetings from ordinary Pakistani citizens. He read about each of their lives, their life aspirations for their children, and brought a greeting of peace from each of them. He was successful at separating the politics of the nations from the daily dreams and aspirations of everyday people. It occurs to me that these dreams and aspirations are universal, regardless of the nation, religion, or ethnic background we happen to be born into.
We all want to make a difference. We want adequate food, health, and shelter. We want to be known. We want to prepare a better life for those who are to follow us. We want to be able to follow our dreams. We want our rights to be respected. We want a government that allows us to achieve these goals. I believe that these dreams and aspirations are universal, regardless of the country, religion, or ethnicity you happen to have been born into.
For this holiday season, I wish for each of you to have the opportunity to experience your life dreams. I believe it is our common birthright, regardless of our country or religion of origin. I wish this for every citizen of the United States, Canada, Britain, Iran, Japan, China, Taiwan, and the citizens of every other world country. I wish this for every Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, and the participants of every other religion. My prayer is that we learn to embrace our commonality of desire, not our differences.
Blessings for a bright, safe, and healthy Holiday Season.
Something to think about…..
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Most Fascinating People of 2009
We turned on Barbara Walter’s “10 Most Fascinating People of 2009″ special last night, expecting typical Barbara Walter’s quality. Boy, were we disappointed. In fact, we dropped out after the first 5 minutes.
Of the 10 people picked, five of them fell into my category of being the types of people that I don’t want our younger generation to emulate! Of the rest, OK, but there are SO MANY deserving people out there who deserve the honor much more – people who serve humanity on a daily basis.
Who are they? Well, the list is far longer than this space will allow. Everyday people do great things everyday. We have the work of many people to thank for making our lives as good as they are today. We live in the age of everyday air travel, the Internet, cars that will transport you anywhere, medical miracles that are too numerous to mention, the longest human life spans in history, and scientific advances that are truly unbelievable. Each of these advances have been brought to you through the tireless effort of someone, somewhere, performing their everyday tasks.
Of those, some touch thousand, millions, or more lives. Those are the people that I want our society to hold up before others. Let’s be inspired by those whose work touch many. Here are a few links of places that list people who may deserve that recognition. For everyone listed, there are many, many more who should be. Let us hold these people in our hearts and minds as people deserving of the “Fascinating People” awards.
Something to think about…..
Time Magazine’s Top 100 People
BeliefNet’s Most Inspiring Nominees of 2009
Amazing Facts Inspirational People
Visit www.TED.com for scores of fascinating people
Bear in mind that the wonderful things you learn in your schools are the work of many generations. All this is put in your hands as your inheritance in order that you may receive it, honor it, add to it, and one day faithfully hand it on to your children. – Albert Einstein
The Halogen Channel
Today’s video is really a commercial for the Halogen Channel. This new cable channel breaks from common TV Themes involving violence, sex, and insulting comedy and provides a new focus and outlet for the more noble in all of us: the more responsible, generous, and kinder parts of us.
The Halogen channel can be found on the web at http://www.halogentv.com/index.php/welcome/. The introduction to the TV channel can be found below. I hope that the concept succeeds, and I intend to support it through communications to both Halogen and DirecTV. If you know anything additional about this channel, please let me know.
Hope you enjoy.
Something to think about…..
Charter for Compassion
“I say that religion isn’t about believing things. It’s ethical alchemy. It’s about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and sacredness.” – Karen Armstrong
As a former Roman Catholic Nun and a prolific religious writer, Karen Armstrong has studied the religions of the world at length. From her perspective, there is an underlying commonality amongst the world’s major religions. That commonality was expressed in her wish for a formal world-wide Charter For Compassion. In the video that follows, Karen makes her case for the Charter For Compassion. She won one of the 2008 TED prizes to help her actualize that dream. Today, her dream is being executed. For information on the execution of that dream, click here. To sign the charter yourself, move further down this page.
To sign the Charter for Compassion yourself, click on your language of choice, read the charter, then click on AFFIRM THE CHARTER. By doing so, you will be joining Karen, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and a worldwide movement of people who are also moving in a compassionate direction. (click here for more information on the Charter for Compassion).
TED
You may have noticed my recent fascination with the organization called TED. The TED organization brings together the world’s brightest and most fascinating minds to share ideas with the world. Each presenter is invited to give the speech of their lives in 18 minutes. These speeches and the ideas contained in them are now shared with the world for free at www.TED.com. While at TED.com, I have listened to many moving and fascinating speeches.
The organization has grown to include several TED conferences held in various locations throughout the world, bringing together the brightest minds from America, India, the UK, and many more. 3 yearly TED prizes of $100,000 plus TED resources are awarded yearly to 3 of the best speakers to help them actualize their world dream.
I will be posting more of my favorite videos from TED in the coming weeks, along with a short description of what each video has meant to me. I urge you to check out the free speeches available at www.TED.com. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Something to think about…..
Shown below, in blue, is an excerpt from the TED website that describes the TED organization. Read more »
About
I decided to put this page together at the urging of friends. Several of them were encouraging me to do this, as they were sure that my words were needed to help counteract all of the negativity out there. I’m not a pollyanna. I understand the problems of the world. I also understand that most of our problems are of our own making, and that the only way for any of us to solve our problems is to start exactly where we are, and solve what we can. We made the problems. We can solve them.
I know we cannot improve our lives by being negative. I know we cannot create what we want by fighting what we don’t want. It just doesn’t work that way, though the nightly news is full of people who are determined to do so using just that method. The only way out is to find a path of cooperation, Love, and compassion. This Blog is written so we can find a way to do just that. I hope you join me.
Mark
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