On a hot day — some dance to make it rain. While others dance to celebrate what the fountain gods deliver… The Happy Water Dance Happy boy does the fountain dance pic.twitter.com/4zbOBz4Msw — HUMOROUS ANIMALS (@CUTEFUNNYANIMAL) May 15, 2019 ###
Words: “To Be Everywhere At Once Is To Be Nowhere Forever”
In our rush to be and do everything, we rush past so much that maybe small in the moment but huge in a life time. “There are some good things to be said about walking. Not many, but some. Walking takes longer, for example, than any other known form of […]
Words: “After Us, There Will Be Others…”
You know you are hanging out with the right kind of friends, when, on a day you most need it, you are gifted with a beautiful starfish and the words “You make a difference every day!” The original Starfish Story was part of a 16-page essay called “The Star Thrower” […]
Only Human? So What Does That Take?
There are days when it feels like being human should be easier than it is. We are “Only Human” so what does that take… Can we recognize our fallibility without making an excuse? Can we allow others to be humble without acting superior? Can we acknowledge our limitations without creating an […]
Music: Augustin Hadelich’s “Fantasy of the Cats”
We listen to music for a variety of reasons — to relax, to distract, to celebrate, to evoke a memory, to capture a moment, to alter our mood, to reflect our emotions, to enhance our brain functions… But, have you ever wondered what musicians imagine when they listen to music? […]
Book Review: GOODBYE, VITAMIN by Rachel Khong
“…there is a bit of magic in this author’s ability to tell a deeply affecting story with interspersed humor” I will be honest: I don’t know how to feel about this book. Prior to picking up GOODBYE, VITAMIN by Rachel Khong, I had just finished reading a heavily literary, epic […]
The Myth Behind Fried Green Tomatoes
When I first moved to the south about twelve years ago, I saw fried green tomatoes on just about every menu here. While living in the north, I had not been very aware of this dish. As a home cook the recipe interested me, so I searched for some recipes. […]
Music: FURTHER by Black Lab
The only thing better than finding a song that speaks to a pivotal moment in our lives, is finding a band that continues to reconnect as we journey through life. I didn’t know it at the time, but I first became a fan of the alternative pop rock band Black Lab […]
So Tell Me Again… Who Is Them?
In the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “We are different so that we can know our need of one another.“ And yet, lately (and particularly as I watch the ever-widening political divide), it feels as if we have forgotten how very much we have in common. So here is a poem I share with […]
Book Review: DID YOU EVER HAVE A FAMILY by Bill Clegg
“stellar writing… unique story structure… uncannily genuine” I have to admit, when I picked up DID YOU EVER HAVE A FAMILY by Bill Clegg, I had reservations based on the theme, which felt like it had been done a million times … “Character faces tragedy. Character builds new life with outside family.” However, […]
Martin Molin and the Musical Marble Machine
There is something so utterly fascinating about mechanical music machines. I don’t know what captivates me the most — whether it is the complex timing involved, the thousands of little intricacies and artistries, or the idea that so much thought, imagination and effort went into planning and creating what many times were personal entertainment […]
Words: “… Meeting Physical Force With Soul Force”
In 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t just share his dream of the future and his faith in the American peoples’ (and world’s) ability to come together for equality and justice. He spoke not just of rights and achieving a moral outcome. He cautioned us about responsibilities and a moral process. He challenged […]
Words: “Ingredients For Your Cognitive Salad”
Some Jason Silva inspiration for your day. When asked “Can we harness the secrets of ‘Getting In The Zone?’ Can we ‘Hack Our Flow State?’”, Jason Silva says — Yes! “I have found that the best way is to take yourself out of context… so rest, relaxation, novel spaces, novel […]
Words To Live By: “It’s A Beautiful Glass”
Wanting to understand “What is it that makes us human?” filmmaker and artist Yann Arthus-Bertrand collected images and stories from 2,000 women and men in 60 countries about love, work, poverty, death, war… for his film HUMAN. In this excerpt, John Halcyon Styn shares an inspirational story about his grandfather, Rev. Caleb Shikles. Who reminds us not to […]
Caterpillars — Masters of Domination
Evolution does strange and wondrous things — like creating Caterpillars Masters of Domination! I’m proof of how little we know of nature’s complexity and how much we misidentify actions through our limited knowledge… I always thought the most amazing thing about caterpillars, besides their massive appetite and rapid growth, was their ability to transform themselves from […]
Words: “Do Worthwhile Work”
We all want ‘what we do’ to be valued. And we want to be valued for what we do … Since what we do actually builds platforms for future actions by ourselves and others… Wouldn’t it make sense that the choices we make every day over what we do and how we do it will have greater impact […]
Book: THE ENCHANTED by Rene Denfeld
“Stunning … a darkly beautiful, moving book” THE ENCHANTED by Rene Denfeld in one word: stunning! Of course, I can’t stop at a one-word description for what is, without a doubt, my favorite read this year. This book also makes my “favorites of all-time” list, so rich is it in […]
The #HateWontWin Challenge
How do you continue a legacy of love in the face of a horrific tragedy? The #HateWontWin Challenge Build bonds of hope. Alana Simmons began to build hope for millions of people around the world when she told Dylann Roof, the killer of her grandfather and eight other Emanuel AME Church members that “hate […]
What’s Your Favorite Way To Celebrate The 4th Of July?
The semi-official/traditional Independence Day celebration includes food outdoors with family/friends, parades and fireworks. But I often wonder if we still love our current ways to celebrate the 4th of July as much as the media does? If given the chance to start from scratch and create a whole new set of Independence day traditions would we start over and […]
Music: LAY DOWN by Melanie Safka
If we learn nothing else from history it should be: — Nothing is more valuable than love, more courageous than peace, or more precious than life. Hate, fear and greed hold us hostage to forces that drain our spirit, steal our creativity, limit our opportunities, and rob us of our future. — […]
To All The Dads
To all the Dads who share in our joys during the early years — cartoons, bike rides, water balloon fights, ice cream, joy rides, Halloween … To all the Dads who teach us practical things — how to swim, ride bike, skip rocks, pitch a tent, spit watermelon seeds, plant […]
Quotable You: “Your Mind, Do Investigate.”
We function in a world full of assumptions. We literally start our day with them. We assume if we open our eyes, we will see. We assume if we stand up, the ground will hold our weight. We assume if we see a door, it will lead to somewhere or to something. We […]
Book: THE GRAVITY OF BIRDS by Tracy Guzeman
THE GRAVITY OF BIRDS by Tracy Guzeman — “lush prose” “multiple mysteries – expertly woven into a very literary, character-driven story” ~ Naturally, with the word “birds” in the title, I was drawn to THE GRAVITY OF BIRDS. And with descriptions such as this excerpt, it certainly didn’t disappoint: “A […]
Join NGN Day – A Many Faceted Network Is A Girl’s Best Friend!
Do you have people in your life, personally and professionally, who are willing to step forward to listen, lend a hand, shoulder or idea, share information and experiences, find others who could and would help you when needed? You should. Everyone needs a many faceted network! It used to be universally proclaimed that […]
Music: JUST LIKE YOU WERE by Emma Worthington
I came across the song JUST LIKE YOU WERE by Emma Worthington on my twitter feed a few months back and was immediately captivated. The melody is lovely. Emma’s voice is sweet and clear. Her words, ones she wrote, quickly became etched in my mind. Is there such a thing as a lullaby […]