Sham Wow!

Jim Frinzi sent me this news article.

Moral of the story?
Prostitutes bite.

This is (partially) why we do it...

Healthy Competition...

I just read this story.

Can someone tell me what ever happened to good old fashioned "competition"?! Why is it SO wrong that someone is more skilled at something than another? Maybe that losing team needs to work a little harder...and perhaps this kind of defeat will motivate them. I think that the winning team should be applauded, not chided for their huge victory!

It seems people have become so obsessed with conformity that we suck the creativity and ambition from our youth.

Carl & I were at an elementary school last month where we witnessed a teacher yell at these little 1st graders because a few of them "hopped" over a cord on the floor versus "stepping" over it. Was there any real danger in doing this? Hells no. The teacher just had an agenda that her brood needed to conform.

Then I was visiting my Little Sister last week at her middle school, and while I was waiting for her, I saw another teacher angrily say to a boy, "a pre-schooler could stand in a line better than you". Seriously?! Well done, teacher lady. Spoken like any good military leader.

I understand that kids can get unruly if there are NO rules, but the way they're being raised nowadays is only teaching them how to be lifeless, spiritless, and dumb. Talent and ambition should be encouraged, not deflated! Children need to know it's ok to stand out.

Carl did a ton of guitar competitions when he was a teenager, and on several occasions, he was asked to NOT enter, because they wanted to "give other people a chance". Dude! How about giving them something to work towards?! By allowing more skilled players into a competition, don't you think it would bolster the urge to practice and improve? This is a contest for the BEST musician, right?

Maybe they should hand out "honorable mention" and "participant" ribbons while they're at it, so everybody feels special. ;)

Just amazing...

Moral of the story: never let a crack head speak or sing at a funeral.

Community...

Everyone should know about this website: www.carecalendar.org

Some beautiful folks we know recently set up a Care Calendar for a lovely woman who is going through chemo. The calendar allow you to go online and see what days she needs meals or help with various tasks. Then you sign up to fill the needs!

I'm sure there have been times when you know someone going through a rough situation and you wonder how you can help. Well, this is a perfect way to rally the troops and help your brothas and sistas!

We signed up to deliver a meal last week and made soup, salads, rolls, and apple slices with a little organic dark chocolate drizzle. Good stuff for the body.


It's only been in recent years that I've realized the importance of building community. I think it's absolutely essential for personal development to have relationships with people that are beyond the superficial. You wanna go...(sing it with me)...where everybody knows your naaame...and they're always glad you caaame...

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, adults are just older versions of children. You still need that village of people to be there for you in your later years. People that care about you and will help you when you're down. People that will support your ambitions and want to see you succeed.

I'm talking about real connections. Not the kind that happen with going to the club and doing some dry-humping on the dance floor. Community begins when people come together to make sure that every soul is included and accounted for. The strong help the weak. With that being said, to avoid this becoming socialism, each person must be personally responsible for being all they can be. And having a community of people you can look up to can make all the difference in getting up and then staying on your feet. The mark of a truly great man is reflected in his ability to make others feel like they can be great, too.

When building your community of friends, it's important to remember that the personalities you surround yourself with will be hugely influential in your own personal development. So choose wisely! Negativity can bring you down just as happiness and sunshine will brighten your days.

And you can't always just be the child in the village that everyone is tending to...depending on the charity of others to get what you want. You need to be part of the village, a worthwhile member of society. And to be worthy of kindness, you must be willing to give back what you give 10 times over. Earl calls it Karma. Religion threatens with heaven vs. hell. I say just be good for goodness' sake! Spread a little love butter on your toast, then share it. It's good and good for you.

How to not get your ass kicked by police...

Debbie Downer...

I just read this article about happiness and the importance of building a positive community around you. Don't surround yourself with negativity as it has an adverse affect on your own outlook. I need to expand on this topic when I have time, but please don't be a Debbie Downer:

Prepare for a good cry...

I love this little boy. He melts my heart. :(

Pay It Forward...

We were leaving work the other night at like 9 o'crap and found a twenty dollar bill in the middle of the crosswalk. Knowing it wasn't ours, I asked Carl what we should do. He said the best thing to do would be to give it away to someone who needs it. So we found a homeless woman (not hard to do in Austin) and passed it on.

Andrew Carnegie Quotes...

“As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.”

“The average person puts only 25% of his energy and ability into his work. The world takes off its hat to those who put in more than 50% of their capacity, and stands on its head for those few and far between souls who devote 100%.”

“No man can become rich without himself enriching others”

***

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Carnegie

Creativity...

I LOVE this talk!! It's so worth your 19 minutes.

Tolerance...

“Your greatness is measured by your kindness; your education and intellect by your modesty; your ignorance is betrayed by your suspicions and prejudices, and your real caliber is measured by the consideration and tolerance you have for others.”
—William J.H. Boetcker

“We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant.”
—Karl Popper

“Tolerance implies a respect for another person, not because he is wrong or even because he is right, but because he is human.”
—John Cogley Commonweal

“The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.”
—Ralph W. Stockman

Diversity...

“Human diversity makes tolerance more than a virtue; it makes it a requirement for survival.”
—Rene Dubos

“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.”
—Maya Angelou

“We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion.”
—Max De Pree

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”
—Maya Angelou

***

Amen.

Another Public Service Announcement...

OJ is dangerous. The murderous football player AND the beverage. I went to pour a glass of the vitamin C delight when the shelf took a big bite out of my finger. Now that I think about it, maybe it's the refrigerator that's out to get me! Beware the giant icebox of doom!!!!!!!!!

Sage Advice...

I commented on someone else's Myspace blog about why they are still single. They seemed to be taking the stance that it would be a negative thing to be in a relationship. Here is my response, it might apply to other people, too. :)

"No one knows how love will affect them until they find it. And once you have a taste of the real deal, you'll be addicted. It will make you want to give all of yourself for that other person and lose sight of selfishness. And a true life-partner will do nothing but enhance all of the fun that you're already having in your life! So don't fear finding it because you think it will be a burden. I believe that God sends the right person into your life when your heart has been prepared. Everyone needs to become the person that their dream mate would want to be with!"