Copenhagen Climate Summit - Might as well be walking on the sun

“…But if the offer is shun, you might as well be walking on the sun.”

Some of you might remember these lyrics from Smashmouth’s song, “Walkin on the Sun.”

Although the song is about something different, I am reminded of the chorus of this popular tune when thinking about the Global Climate Summit happening in Copenhagen.

I love the earth and nature. I planted two trees recently. I recycle. But I am by no means an expert on climate change or the environment. However recently for work, I was asked to monitor Copenhagen (that’s what folks refer to it as). And I got to tell you – WE ARE IN TROUBLE.

• Small island nations are screwed - their islands are already getting swallowed up slowly by the warming waters, their coral reefs are bleaching (=getting destroyed), and fish supplies are diminishing. They want the most stringent climate control measures possible. Makes sense.
• Developing countries have banded together (for the most part) demanding accountability (in climate measures and finance) from developed countries like the U.S., the Europeans, and Japan, who have pretty much done the most damage. But they don’t want to stray too far from the Kyoto Protocol which let them more off the hook in terms of emissions standards. Also makes sense.

“We, the developing countries... when we think in money, we should not think that someone is paying us a favour…We should not think that someone is giving something that we are begging for, because the money that would be put on the table is the payment for greenhouse emissions released over two centuries by those countries that industrialised themselves first."

- Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from BBC article

• India and China are taking the lead on demanding answerability from countries like the U.S. But as up-and-coming polluters because of their growing economies, China and India have a vested interest in not making climate controls too stringent or involving monitoring (China will not agree to monitoring) Okay.

• U.S., the Europeans, and Japan - they all agree that something needs to happen now and fast but there is a question of finance to poorer countries (how much) and emissions targets. And they want emerging economies like: China, India, Brazil to be held to the fire as well for taking strong climate measures and being monitored. I can understand from their view.
• U.S. and China have been playing the power game of “whose ______ is bigger?” which has been a significant barrier to progress in making a deal. Sorry I can’t relate.

• Finally, it is likely that NONE OF THIS WILL BE LEGALLY BINDING.

= WE, AS INHABITANTS OF THE PLANET, ARE IN BIG DOO-DOO

Now as I said, I’m not an expert so I could have gotten it all wrong.

More power to the developing world for tag-teaming it and standing up for their rights. Indeed, they are not responsible for the bulk of the damage that has already been done unto the earth.

But that does not diminish the reality of a warming climate. India, oh motherland of mine, you can stick it to the man, but without taking serious measures, you are going to be sticking it to your people (poor ppl first of course) and your over-populated but incredibly diverse and beautiful land!

In order to survive as a planet, we really need to start evolving from politics as usual. Is 2012 that far-fetched? I mean, people are already matter-of-factly speaking about different places going underwater soon.

I guess I should not arrive at a judgment before the summit actually ends. The media at Christmas time suggests that miracles do happen.

Yet I can’t help but feel the urge to start spending more time with nature, visiting beautiful ecosystems around the world in the next several years, while our “leaders” sort out how WE are going to save them...

Uncle Drinking in the Basement

I’m all for online dating, matchmaking sites. I have seen and heard of a lot of great people, including good friends of mine, find a wonderful partner and/or significant other via the web.

This build-up of course, is leading to a……..BUT

Enter Shady.com, officially known as Shaadi.com. Now envision a fifty-something Indian uncle sitting in a basement sipping a glass of Old Monk Rum or five, and creating the world’s largest (self-proclaimed) matrimonial online service for the Indian community.

First, let me clarify a few culture-specific usages for those unfamiliar:

• “Uncle” & “Aunty” - Most brown folks of the South Asian persuasion use these terms to refer to members of the community that are older and not necessarily blood related. It’s a title used for respect but not always a term of endearment.
• Shaadi – means wedding in Hindi (Indian language, not a religion, or ethnicity).
• Caste – Yes, I said it – you’ve probably heard it. It was/is a social system and hierarchy prevalent in India which seems more bad than good. The Wikipedia entry on Caste drives home the fact that at the very least, it is a super controversial topic.

I love and respect those I know who have found their future brides and grooms on shaadi.com. And here’s another….BUT, I was helping a friend get set-up on this site, and it rocked my world, in an, “are you joking?!!” kind of way. The front page looks all innocent and promising and then POW!

WHY IS CASTE A REQUIRED FIELD FOR REGISTRATION? No blank option. The only non-specific answers in the drop down menu are: I DON’T KNOW that could make you look like a moron or out of touch, and OTHER which has its own negative implications to some.

WHY IS THE DEFAULT FOR MOTHER’S OCCUPATION – HOMEMAKER? Absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I don’t think the father has that same default.

WHY DO PEOPLE STILL HAVE TO PUT DOWN COMPLEXION (lighter skin still translates to prettier even if you are unattractive) AND WHAT THE HELL DOES WHEATISH COMPLEXION MEAN?

All of this leads me to believe in a wise friend’s thought: that this site was actually created by an uncle drinking in his basement. An old school, traditional, conservative uncle. And when I say drinking, I don’t mean water. And when I say basement, I mean one of those bomb shelters that he must have been in for at least twenty years before we began to evolve some more.

Because clearly, from the incredible diversity of relationships across caste, class, race, religion, gender, etc, we know that you don’t have to be cut from the same cloth to be compatible. We also know that all the measures, requirements and criteria in the world do not guarantee a perfect match. Don't we?

And yet uncle, you still think its okay to make caste a required category to register to meet someone? Aren’t you just forcing a whole new generation to continue a practice that well, we aren’t shouting from the rooftops about?

Okay so one alcoholic uncle in a basement is probably not the mastermind behind this website.

BUT it’s less troubling than thinking about shady.com as the brain child of a group of uncles, with wheatish complexions drinking in the basement…

Of Death, Lists, and Art in Pittsburgh…..

Rather than bore you with my own musings, I thought I would subject you to the musings of others! These are things that I happened upon: on my own, by force (ie. via work related research), and through a friend, not in that order.

If I have intrigued you, then by all means, click the link and read more! Life is too short to say you don’t have the time. I hope any and/or all of it catches your fancy like it did for me.

• Happy Ending by Todd May = (essay/blog post from the NYtimes) (length – 2 scrolls with your mouse thingie)

At first glance the essay seems a little morbid. But actually it is incredibly thought provoking in its discussion about living and dying. Wonderfully written. My take away thought- we have to die in order to truly live. It is the idea that our lives will eventually come to an end that enables us to live with a certain degree of purpose. I’m curious to hear what you get from it. It’s the last post of an awesome column, blog, discussion or whatever hosted by the NY times. It’s called, “Happy Days: The Pursuit of What Matters in Troubled Times.” A dream blog I wish I knew about earlier!!

• We Like Lists Because We Don’t Want to Die = (interview w/ a famous Italian dude :) who is curating a new exhibition at the Louvre in Paris (think-tough life) (length – 2 pages worth)

Hmm it really seems like I’m obsessed with death doesn’t it? Well it’s either because I’ve hit that age OR that I don’t believe that discussion about death should be limited to the morose. Or I was just so inspired by the previous posting. You be the judge. While some parts of the interview are not that riveting, I have never ever thought about the role and importance of lists in a given culture before. Umberto Eco thinks their important enough to build an exhibit around. It could still seem boring but it’s absolutely fascinating for those of us who enjoy considering new ways of thinking about things. Thanks to my friend for shooting this over. She knows who she is.

• Bill Strickland makes change with a slide show = (TED talk/video) (length - ~35 minutes but worth every freaking second)

If you watch this, you’ll know that I’m not in a Goth phase. I don’t know how I got to this video. But that is probably what happens when you are still on your computer in the wee hours of the morning. Like crack. I love TED like crack, which could also explain it. Anyway, in my am delirium, I sent this link to a bunch of friends who probably saw the length, rolled their eyes, and said “one day.” Well after seeing it, after shedding tears while brimming with inspiration, I felt I needed to plug it again. It’s about how a man named Bill Strickland from a rough neighborhood in Pittsburgh is using his love for art and humanity to make a difference. I’m sure he is well known enough by now to have plenty of critics but it can’t take away from how special this talk was.

A Little Walking Never Hurt Nobody!

I enjoy walking. I really do. But I wasn’t counting on the amount of walking that I’m doing now!

The SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) workers in the city of brotherly love are ON STRIKE. Since Tuesday, November 3^rd, all buses, subway lines, trolleys and their operators have come to a bumpy halt.

That means in true working woman/grandma style, I carry a bag containing my work shoes to switch out from the sneakers I use for the 30-45-minute brisk walk to work.

I guess you could argue that this strike is good in that at the very least, it is forcing people whose signature dish is the philly cheesesteak, to walk more. But given the growing traffic volume and number of taxis dispatched, I think we found a way around that.

Now, this is the first time that I’ve been personally affected by a strike. In the past, I’ve only seen strikes and/or boycotts on television and have read about them occurring in a distant land or state. Being on the free-radical side of things, and given my parents’ socialist homeland, I’ve always thought myself a “power to the people” sort of person. Inquilab Zindabad (Long live the revolution) as the brown folk used to shout at the Brits.

BUT this little uprising in my backyard got me thinking more deeply about the other side of strikes. Are they always justified? How does it affect others apart from the evil boss man?

In this case, there are mixed reviews on if this strike is justified or not. The abridged version is that union workers were negotiating their contract and are not satisfied with what SEPTA management is bringing to the table, specifically by way of contributions to pensions. The Philly Examiner has a good update for specific details.

The Mayor, the Governor, SEPTA and a growing number of disgruntled commuters think that the union has been given an excellent offer in light of the economic climate. I should add that the offer includes a $1,250 bonus upon signing the contract. The general feeling is that the offer might not be great but hey, its better than what a lot of folks are getting right now. In fact, some Philly brothers and sisters are so annoyed that they are advocating for a protest in front of the union’s headquarters!

So, I can’t say if this strike is justified or not but I can say there is enough dissent within and outside of the union ranks to raise a few questions. A woman I work alongside even claimed that her uncle works for SEPTA and he didn’t even know about the strike until he got to work in the morning and the station was still locked. At the very least, it was poorly organized.

And to tell you the truth, I never thought too much about others affected by a strike before. Of course, there are the union members. But there are also workers that don’t have a car and have relied on public transportation to get to their jobs across the city, which they desperately need. There are seriously ill patients who need to see a doctor. Equally awful is that there are hundreds of children attending public schools in the city who depend on public buses and subways who are sh-- out of luck. The mayor says it’s the responsibility of the parents to get their children to school. Well how feasible is that directive for a single parent who now has double the commute to work without public transportation, and needs this job to provide for his or her family?

As much as I dislike dirty, dingy, urine-scented SEPTA facilities, as infuriating as it is to see an inexcusable lack of handicap accessibility, and as much as I feel the whole system should be burnt to the ground and rebuilt, I have also come to realize that there are people out there who will take what they can get.

I can’t say who is right or wrong in this strike situation, and I’m sure the devil is in the details of the contract. But who do you support as the strike evolves into the union people vs. the rest of the people, and has become an issue of worker’s rights on both sides?

I will definitely look at strikes and their dynamics differently from now on.

I will also don my sneakers without complaint come Monday, since other people in this city have a lot more to contend with.

I admit it. My glass is half-full

Molay is a bit of a movie enthusiast. Maybe that is a bit of an understatement. I watch all sorts of movies from You, Me, and Dupree to the Japanese film, Departures (whose music was fantastic). I don’t playa-hate on movie genres.

To defend what ends up being hours of time I could have spent on finding a solution to poverty, I often watch movies to observe the craft of storytelling and messaging. So in a weird way it is educational for me. That said, I admit that I’m not immune (read: I’m a sucker) for a good ol’ fashioned movie that pulls at the heartstrings and makes us want to root for the underdog.

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire is one such movie, that I’m eagerly anticipating.

But I find the response to my excitement in this film very interesting. Or at least telling of the way different people see the world. For those of you who haven’t heard the hype a la Oprah and Tyler Perry or seen the preview, here is a short summary from Film Jabber, which seems to be the same as the official one:

“Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece "Precious" Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother (Mo'Nique), a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write.

Precious may sometimes be down, but she is never out. Beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. Precious doesn’t know the meaning of "alternative," but her instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting for...”

Now depending on our clichéd half-empty or half full view on life, you could see this as having the potential to be incredibly depressing or immensely uplifting.

Some people I have talked to ask me why I would want to clinically depress myself by watching something like that? Am I being morbid? Others are curious about the hype. But funny enough, no one who has expressed they want to see this to me, has suggested that it is because of the half-fullness they foresee in the story.

Is it because it is sort of weird to admit you want to see a more elevating story? I guess I can see that. I don’t think many people walk around saying they want to be inspired by watching Rudy. I know I don’t….yet…

But on the other end, its seems kind of unfortunate that its harder for us, myself included, to welcome inspiration more openly. Apart from the few motivational articles, videos, etc forwarded to me by friends, most of what I come across in a week are negative and hugely disheartening. The ceaseless fighting of politicians claiming to have our best interests in mind, the missing Caucasian child on CNN (sorry guys, its true), or imagery and language of the rest of the world crumbling (except India and China of course) because of civil strife and natural disasters - it is all dismal. And yes, I would include Jon & Kate plus 8 here also.

While I would never diminish the reality or seriousness of these situations, I find it hard to believe that there isn’t more good stuff happening out there. Hell, if a large chunk of the people I know are working towards the social good and for social change, there has to be a lot of great things happening out there. The question then becomes why aren’t we seeing it?

So without belaboring my point, and I think I have one, I really want to see movies, articles, tv shows like Precious (not to be confused by the creepy dude saying that in Lord of the Rings) and more like them because: I want to see the good in life and in the world and I refuse to settle for less.

I want to see her character getting a chance to make it despite her circumstances. I want to see more positive portrayals of minorities as heroes and inspiration in the mainstream, not just funny sidekicks. I want to cry but then smile.

And soon I will admit that I saw Rudy for the inspiration.

Is there a space between East and West?

I read a passage today that really got me thinking. And we all know how dangerous that can be.

Unfortunately, Malcolm Gladwell is an author that consistently jump-starts the intellectual, pondering Molay.

This time it was his book Outliers: The Story of Success. I won’t spoil it for you except to say that it compels the reader to challenge traditional notions of success - that someone is just naturally brilliant, talented, etc. Gladwell doesn’t deny a certain level of skill or talent or interest in a given individual. Yet, he begins to analyze some of the circumstances in which success is born and thrives, which are intriguing to say the least.

The passage that got me this evening was his discussion about culture and language. He talks about power hierarchies that are part of the culture in many Asian countries versus Western. Even more interesting is Gladwell's discussion about the differences in the way each culture uses language:

“Western communication has what linguists call a 'transmitter orientation' – that is, it is considered the responsibility of the speaker to communicate ideas clearly and unambiguously…But Korea, like many Asian countries, is receiver oriented. It is up to the listener to make sense of what is being said."

Are you fascinated yet? I’m guessing not. But for me, this passage really clicked and brought me back to my confused cultural roots. Although I was born and brought up in the U.S., my parents came from India. I think India, in the case of Gladwell’s observation above, is similar to most other Asian countries.

Like many others of my background, we were exposed to the American culture but we also absorbed the culture that our parents transplanted from India. We were brought up in a bubble of Indian culture (frozen in time by our parents), only to exit that protective world and be face to face with a very different way of life. So when I was reading Gladwell’s passage, I was imagining a kid like me growing up stuck between the cultures of transmitter and receiver. Literally, stuck inside the phone! Don’t cry for us….. yet.

Anyway, with this notion in mind and growing up in the mighty West, most of the time, the culture of transmitter won out. It was only after college that I realized that I had to un-train my deferent, self-effacing, respectful ways that I was brainwashed to believe in by my parents. To make it out there, I needed to thump my chest, market myself, and never take no for an answer!

Although I’m still fighting old tendencies of cultural expression, I’ve made a lot of progress, and Gladwell’s sentence about Asian cultures placing emphasis on the listener for making sense of what is being said, almost seems foreign.

BUT then in a cruel twist of something, our dear Gladwell comes full circle to say something I don’t think I’ve ever heard uttered so eloquently by a westerner. After citing an exchange between a Korean employee and his supervisor, Gladwell says:

“There is something beautiful in the subtlety of that exchange, in the attention that each party must pay to the motivations and desires of the other. It is civilized, in the truest sense of the word: it does not permit insensitivity or indifference.”

WHAT THE??? I am trying to get over years of eastern cultural brainwashing just so it can start being understood now?

Okay, now you can cry…. Or at least hit the transmitter and receiver ends of the phone against the wall for me. J

Oh the websites you will go (NR materials not covered today)!

One of the things that I love about the World Wide Web is the random, but fascinating places it can take you. Sometimes I think they should call it: World-Wide-Choose your own Adventure, because depending on what and where you click, you could stumble upon a whole new world that you have never considered.

Speaking of stumble upon, I just found out that there is a site called Stumble Upon which if you sign on for and personalize your specific interests, will take you to a random site or article that matches your interests whenever you feel like surfing.

An example of a little adventure before I actually learned about the stumble upon tool, started when I was reading about TED on Wikipedia. (For those naysayers of Wikipedia – I say, it’s a great baseline to begin learning more about something, not a one-stop shop).

And TED for those of you who are unfamiliar, stands for: Technology, Entertainment, and Design. TED is known for their “idea” conferences, for attracting attendees across sectors who can afford it (read: rich and famous people) to share thoughts and ideas on an array of topics, and for ridiculously interesting and often inspiring talks which are easily available to us commoners, online. TED’s excellent business model does a great job of keeping the event exclusive but making it accessible to everyone via the (yes, you got it): World Wide Web J The best part is that these talks are usually no longer than 20 minutes. I could go on and on but check it out if you want. One of my favorite talks so far is from Benjamin Zander on music and passion. You won’t be disappointed.

ANYWAY, so one of the founders of TED is Richard Saul Wurman. I clicked on his name and found out that he is a pretty cool guy. He is seventy-something and he is considered a pioneer in the practice of trying to make information understandable. Calls himself an information architect. Very neat. A few clicks later and I’m on his website.

A few more taps on the mouse pad and I was onto his latest project: 19,20,21. COOL STUFF!

I’ll let you explore but it is basically an effort to identify, map, and understand the 19 most populous cities in the world. Why? Because more than half of the people on earth live in what he calls super cities, and the trend is accelerating to where 2/3rds of the population will be concentrated in cities in the future. Wurman and his partners think that by understanding different issues in cities (eg. Health, transportation, demographics, economics, etc) and making that information available to policymakers, businesses, non-profits and others, we can better prepare for this trend ahead. And given his TED founding, and just the design of his website, I can’t wait to see how Wurman and his crew share this with the world! Did I mention that he is seventy something? That’s even more amazing to me.

Breaking the vicious cycles of boom and bust?

The oppressor becomes the oppressed. The oppressed becomes the oppressor. OR put more simply: the bully will eventually become the smallest kid in the class. The smallest kid in the class will become the bully eventually.

It struck a chord when I came across this idea in The Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire, a well-known Brazilian born educator and theorist whom I am a fan of.

Amongst religions, races, castes, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, political parties, and on and on – we work towards an idea of freedom, equity and power (let’s be real) only to impose that “power” on someone else. Even and especially without realizing it. In my opinion, we never truly understand what it means to be free. So the cycle continues across the globe and history.

For all of the example categories of separation, that divide us mentioned above, people feel like they are justified and are geared up to vehemently defend their rights. But what happens when we explore the category of age?

If you are older, you were once young. If you are young (sorry to burst your bubble) but it’s only a matter of time friend, until you are considered older (by others of course!). What happens then?

A recent conversation that I had with someone that included: “This was before you time, so you probably haven’t heard of it…,” got me thinking about this issue. If this wasn’t in a professional context I might not have cared. But since my value/role in the conversation diminished after that comment, it got me thinking…

It got me thinking about quite a few past experiences where my elders in a work, academic and personal environment have written me off because I’m “too young.” On the other end: MTV-culture; certain friends, family and others make it clear that I’m not getting any younger, especially after the big 3-0! I'm sure I'm guilty of quite a few age-ist comments on either side myself.

In essence – it seems we have a societal culture where the more experienced generations (better word? J ) antagonize the younger generation and they in turn, disregard, undervalue and even neglect their elders when the ball is in their court.

Does this make sense especially given that we will be both young and old through the course of our lives?! It doesn’t to me. We are on the same damn continuum! It’s kind of ridiculous. So my next question is, can we actually break cycles like this?

I am not sure of the answer here, and would love to hear what you all think. I could say that this is just how things are and accept it, but er, well, uhh,…that didn’t work!

Something tells me that there is a common thread here that might involve an incredibly difficult but worthy leap of faith in ourselves and in others. But where do we start?

Until then, I guess it’s a fight to the finish - literally!

Taking a Reflective Moment

Muir Woods National Monument, CA

"Watch an animal, a flower, a tree, and see how it rests in Being. It is itself. It has enormous dignity, innocence, and holiness. However, for you to see that, you need to go beyond the mental habit of naming and labeling. The moment you look beyond labels, you feel that ineffable dimension of nature that cannot be understood by thought or perceived through the senses. It is a harmony, a sacredness that permeates not only the whole of nature but it is also within you."

- taken from Stillness Speaks by Eckhart Tolle

Nuff said until next time....

My Tribute to the Chinatown Buses and to all those who love them...

A mix of nausea and frivolity inspired this tribute to the genre of buses commonly referred to as “the Chinatown bus.”

Here’s to the Chinatown Bus!

Nothing compares to you O’ Chinatown Bus!
With names* like Zenith, Sunshine, Happy Moon Star, 6th Century, North-Southern,
You are the gotobus!

So highly coveted,
We scramble to elbow through confused mobs,
We play nice with frighteningly unhelpful staff,
We allow unauthorized “Baggage Handlers” (ie. random people hanging around) to rip us off,
Just to be in your presence.

“Furry” seats with vibrant colors set in a gray backdrop,
A thoughtful touch of plastic bags dangling from the seat arm for unwanted crap,
Speaking of crap, a delicate aroma creeping forward from the rear,
You delight the senses.

You offer the thrill, the adventure of the unknown:
Are you structurally sound? Will we be pulled over?
Will I suffer from hypothermia or hot flashes on this journey?
Does your driver have a valid license?
The unnerving uncertainly heightens your charm.

Lest we forget,
Your welcoming spirit to the fondue/melting pot that is America.
All ages, ethnicities, religions, configurations,
From rookie international travelers asking repeatedly if they are on the right bus,
To seasoned regulars asking repeatedly if they are on the right bus,
To those you have left during a 10-minute (which to you = 4.5 minutes) break at a rest area,
You are the great equalizer.

So to those that reject, ridicule and/or despise you and the experience, I say:
It’s less than 30 bucks so grab a furry seat!
The Bolt Bus may try, but will never reach your dirty but lofty heights!

*names were falsified to protect identity and for dramatic effect

To Profit or To Non-Profit?

So far, I’ve dabbled in the govt., non-profit, and unemployment sectors. Each has its unique nuances. But until recently, I thought I would be lingering longer in the non-profit world. Now, I’m thinking that maybe I should explore new territory? How you doin' private sector? But should I?

Some say, this line of reflective questioning, “soul searching,” is inevitable. It’s only a matter of time until I start thinking less idealistically and begin voting like a radical, gun-touting, conservative.

Is it just the natural progression of life? The more I think about it, a better question might be: Is there a non-compromising alternative for smart, social-change minded folks out there?

I explore these questions and frustrations not only for myself, but for other friends and readers out there who have found that they struggle with the same dilemma.

The story goes something like:

• I CAN CHANGE THE WORLD DAMMIT - We get out of school with: bright-eyes, fresh new ideas, and ready to change the world for the better! Bring it on!!
• I AM WORTHY! - Unless we have a great network, and/or are extremely aggressive (which Asian families don’t socialize you to be), we struggle but end up finding something because…hello….we have a lot to contribute.
• THE BUBBLE BURSTS - Thrilled to be launching a career to make the world just a little bit better, we realize that the non-profit world is not as open and accommodating as we falsely imagined.
• THE DARK SIDE - There are office politics, inefficiencies in management and leadership, and of course, we are too young and inexperienced to be taken seriously and given a chance to bring our strengths to the table. Maybe next year…
• THE DARKER SIDE - What’s more, we realize that very often, non-profit orgs are not really determined to fulfill their selfless mission and put themselves out of business. Many would rather not put ourselves out of a job and hand over the work to the community. But instead we want to stay important and valued and talk about sustainability and expansion when it would be more “self-less” to move onto something else and let people take ownership over the work, and their own lives and livelihoods.
• LIFE IS TOO SHORT -Months, years pass. We are not in our twenties anymore. Enter the cynicism and bitterness (ha, can you tell?).
• WHAT ARE WE DOING? We start thinking about our lives, and how our other friends who weren’t as “altruistic“ as us, are making enough money to actually survive without help and enjoy other parts of life, and we continue to toil in a field that we have less and less faith in.
• CASTING THE FIRST STONE - We stop judging other friends for being less altruistic and realize that at least they were being true to themselves from the get-go unlike many non-profit leaders. And they have money to travel!
• KEEPING US DOWN - Attempts to transition to something more challenging are met with: “You don’t have 30 years of experience abroad,” or “You don’t have 10 years of management experience or you cannot speak 5 different languages.”
• KEEPING US DOWN -RESPONSE (that you never actually say aloud): Sorry that I’m not yet 70 years old to justify the required years of experience, and was not lucky enough to be able to afford years of international experience (ie. travelling abroad) while paying off student loans….
• ASIDE: If you want to be amused, please visit a great non-profit job site like: Idealist and observe some of the starting salaries that are offered. Sadly, it isn’t a joke.
• DESPERATION -We get desperate and apply for jobs we are overqualified for. We are rejected because we are overqualified.
• RECAP: If we do not “sell-out” in some way or the other, we are not getting paid enough to live, we do not enjoy our jobs because our strengths and interests are not being engaged AND the economy stinks and even otherwise, without a personal connection, we are not getting opportunities for growth.

WHAT TO DO?

OPTION 1- Stay in the non-profit field, in your job, becoming more dissatisfied and unpleasant to others, hoping you will stumble upon something new and amazing…

OPTION 2 – Stop to re-assess if this is what you are meant to be doing as a job. And if not, figure out what to do about it.

OPTION 3 - ????

What do you think? Especially, in light of my rant? Seek professional help? J

For now, I think I will certainly explore other options although I don’t know if I will ever be ready to join the mobs attacking town-hall meetings on health care.

And because I am still not ready to see things without a silver lining, I am grateful to my non-profit world experiences for cultivating my strength to explore these difficult life questions and lessons. Seriously. They say the best insights into life and happiness are gained that way. I hope THEY are right...

He Had that Something...

I am a fan of MJ. I would not consider myself a die-hard fan but I am a fan. Since my younger years, his music moved me and his movements and sense of rhythm were awe-inspiring. At that age, we just called that: cool.

Though I mourned the loss of a great like Michael Jackson. I didn’t think I would be that emotionally affected like the scores of fans that were devastated enough to wail in such sorrow and anguish.

Yet I became surprisingly overwhelmed by a sense of something that I can’t completely articulate upon seeing this icon known as Michael Jackson be remembered, honored, cherished, loved in the very public memorial service in Los Angeles that was re-broadcasted on BET. Maya Angelou said it best through her words read aloud by Queen Latifah.

Yes, it was a lot of hype.

Yes, the same press that spent years harassing, ridiculing, and chastising MJ was in some ways yet again, capitalizing... But this time on his death.

Yes, over the years, that same media and a likely reality, exposed a darker side of Michael Jackson in his questionable decisions, and his relationship with children. I don’t think anyone can deny that he was troubled in many very apparent ways.

But watching his video clips, pictures, reflections of him by his admirers, friends and family, made it clear that no one can deny his genius, his magic.

What is this “magic,” that special something? I had a very knowing sensation in me as I was watching Michael’s growth from young to older during the broadcast. It is the same feeling that I get when I experience other brilliant dancers, musicians, athletes, and artists. It is the glimpse of God in them that gives me this feeling. I know God is an extremely loaded word but here I mean: a higher consciousness, something of God or however you want to phrase it. Basically, I mean something special, which logic and the mind cannot easily explain away. Something that, if you quiet your mind……………………..you will recognize without realizing.

Micheal had that something that cannot be explained. In his songs, dance, words, eyes, body, being. And if you think of it that way, it is really easy to understand how we as humans responded to him. Some of us worshipped him like an idol. Why? Because we saw that something in him and we worshipped that something. Some of us deemed him creepy, a pedophile, screwed up, cheesy, over-hyped, ugly. Why? Because we could not see, we did not recognize, or were too afraid to see that something in him. There is no wrong or right in that. Really, it is what it is. It has happened time immemorial to individuals that burst into our world living by something other than the status quo. For better or for worse.

In my case, I felt something very heartening in accepting the feeling that I told you I could not articulate. I still can’t do that something justice. But I can tell you that it was beautiful and I whole heartedly agree that something indescribably amazing has passed on with MJ. It is my hope that I will see that greatness manifest itself in another beautiful form in this lifetime. So our children can be inspired and fall in love with that something again. I have no doubt that we will.

The Evolution Continues.....

So I don’t know if my zodiac sign has anything to do with it, but in recent weeks I have been feeling limited by the topic I chose for this blog. I am still nourished by stories and experiences that inspire and I will share them as they come along and I welcome you to share them on this blog also (just drop me a line so I can add you as a contributor). But I don’t want to limit myself. I don’t want to limit you either.

I had quite a few entertaining internal debates about this. Oh no, I’m directly undermining the advice of blog gurus about staying focused on one topic! Woe is me, no one will ever pay me a bajillion dollars for my blog or my articles or my soul. Darnit, I might not be deemed an “expert” on a particular topic and invited to blog the world over! And then I stopped to realize that for the time being….I don’t care! That doesn’t mean that I won’t regret my decision and throw myself into a puddle of non-alcoholic champagne. But for now, I’m good.

So as the evolution continues, you might see posts about: funny incidents, which you don’t find funny; reflections on a particular topic; or an inspiring quote that I came across, and/or many other options. Why you ask? I guess because I’ve never been the type to see through one lens or believe in defining myself by one major, specialty, or view of life. I’m giving myself permission to think that, contrary to practical and worldly advice.

The world is my oyster. Or rather, for now, this blog is my oyster. Even though I don’t eat seafood right now. And it’s yours too when you are ready. For now, wish me luck and stay tuned!

Where's the fire?

Have you ever been in one of those rough patches where you feel like you can’t accomplish anything if you don’t move a mile a minute and let it consume you?  In those moments, there is nothing like having people and experiences come into your life to remind you of the value and beauty of taking things slow.  To take time to take in the moment.  That lesson was brought home to me this past week.

I finally stopped making excuses for myself and decided to try out a Tai-Chi class, which incidentally is something I wanted to try.  It was an added incentive that the first class was free.   I didn’t do my homework to learn more about the form before class. I just jumped in hoping that it would give me the peace reflected in the slow movements I had seen others doing in the park, public television and elsewhere.  Dana Schlesinger, the instructor, originally from Israel, demonstrated that: 1) It’s not as simple as it looks and 2) There is more to Tai-Chi than it’s pace.  Tai-Chi Chuan as it is more formally called which translates to “supreme ultimate fist,” is an ancient Chinese martial art that incorporates slow movements to enable one’s internal energy to flow smoothly and with training and discipline would allow one to deflect an opponent’s energy rather than reply by force.   At the same time, I learned that it’s not enough to mimic the movements.  You really have to listen, become attune to the moment, your movements, and LET GO of various tensions in the body and mind to get it right.  By the end, of the session, I felt like jello in a really good way. 

I have no idea how Dana ranks as a Tai-Chi teacher but she seemed to embody the approach in her person.  I eventually asked the dumb over-anxious American question of if she had ever used her training to defend herself? Before she replied, I imagined an elaborate street battle where she is fending off five opponents with one graceful swipe of the hand.  She said that she tries to integrate her training in every aspect of her life from opening the door without the use of tension and force, to lifting her child, to a more conscious way of speaking with me.  That sounded amazing.  How wonderful would it be to approach every aspect of life without force and tension, but just go with the flow of the waters? Better than a street battle. I couldn’t help but pay for my first class and slow down to a stroll as I headed back to the car…

Eureka!! Idea-theft vs. Idea revolution?

At various moments in my academic and professional career, I would get eerie warnings about being protective of one’s own ideas. Getting credit is paramount. The notes of caution would often refer to a vague but tragic consequence of the boogeyman by way of your next door neighbor, close colleague, or “trusted” somebody snatching your idea away and gaining universal recognition for it, while you wallow in self-pity. And I have to say, that if you think this way, this consequence feels very very real.

I saw the movie Flash of Genius the other day based on a true story of Robert Kearns, a college professor/part-time inventor who fought for decades before he got the recognition he deserved for his invention of the intermittent windshield wiper. The frustration he and his family felt was palpable but all I could think about was: you basically lost everything else important in your life so that you could say that you created that, that it was your idea? Was it worth the fight?

So with all of this dancing in my mind, and my ideas stashed away safely in my pillow case, it came to me as a surprise when I read an email forward from a Zak Shwarzman asking everyone in socially-conscious Web land to post their brilliant social innovation ideas on his blog with no type of return except that maybe someone would successfully run with it to the promise land. The premise being that ideas are useless without the proper execution.

This got me thinking. Is he right? What is the intrinsic value of an idea, innovation, or invention? Doesn’t that type of creativity have value of its own, or is it still meaningless without implementation? What about the whole dizzying world of intellectual property? Shouldn’t we be sharing our thoughts and ideas freely if ultimately, it is in the name of the betterment of our communities, and maybe even ourselves? Ben Franklin did. Am I smoking something?

As I started reading the steady stream of social ideas and innovations, and the flurry of excited conversation and discussion between bloggers on Zak’s blog, I started getting giddy and energized too. How cool is this? Can I play too? Wouldn’t it be awesome to see someone with the means, make your damn good idea happen? And suddenly I dusted off a throwback thought from childhood which the idea-theft warnings and years of “experience” had suppressed which was: maybe the person is actually more important than the idea. An individual with a good idea is most likely destined for more than just one good idea in their lives. Contrary to the popular world view, the ability to generate original thoughts and ideas is not something incredibly elusive or possessed by a golden few. It’s just a matter of believing that at your core, and knowing that no one can steal that which you have always possessed. Molay steps down from her soap box. Now that’s a good idea!

Are you David?

“Are you David?”  I asked of the man seated at the first table of the tiny coffee shop who resembled the picture I had seen online: A big, athletic-framed, African American man with glasses and a warm smile.  

“Nope.” And he turned away quickly.

As my brown skin including ears turned as pink as possible, I hear a hearty chuckle from the same man and then, “Yes, I’m David.”  To make up for it, he bought my tea and a cupcake.

So started a conversation at a coffee shop that helped shift my day from not wanting to get out of bed in the morning to feeling like “I can do this” as I received a rather surprising giant bear hug that lifted me from the ground before I left the café.

David is one of those people.   He considers himself a “regular guy,” from Philadelphia, although his bike tours across the U.S., Africa, and Asia would offer a different view.  Moved to action after the death of his dear friend on 9/11, David decided to do something with the frustration he was experiencing by riding his bike across the country to honor his friend. From there and even before in some ways, began a journey that took him biking through continents, successes, setbacks, which brought him in touch with many others, including himself.  His story thus far as he told me in a little over an hour, was filled with twists and humor as I sat engaged as if a movie.  But what moved me most was his openness and honesty. In spite of all that he had been through, he was sharing his very personal story with a stranger and putting it all out there, imperfections and all.  I cannot imagine how hard it must have been to overcome: the dying of a father; death of a dear friend; the everyday challenges of being an African-American man amidst everyday ignorance here and in his travels; biking again after a severe car accident, and after all of this, he still has the faith in people, and in life to share it all with me and others without a second thought.    And he shares with a purpose: to motivate and inspire using his life as an example.  Doing better than you did the day before, taking nothing for granted and going after your goals no matter what, believing that you have the power to accomplish what you want in life, are all things that flowed from his mouth with such power and conviction.  What I would have normally considered somewhat cliché, “fluffy,” was infectious coming from David, a near perfect stranger at the time.  And it struck me that this really makes all the difference: not what you say, but the way you say it, the way you believe in it.   That is the magic, and that is why others believe.

For a regular guy, I see David going places on his bike and beyond.  To learn more about David Sylvester, check out www.contribute2.org, a website he created to inspire others to contribute to something in life.  

I’m lucky to have crossed paths with David even just for that first uplifting conversation.  But I have a feeling I’m in store for more.  The last time I met him, he was telling me how I should be so excited to jump into my 30s and how it’s a time when I can either just do what people tell me to or leap head first onto another plane of enjoying and exploring life on my own terms.  30s here I come! Thanks for getting me started David.