As I rode to a meeting this evening it struck me that it was 6pm and there was still some light left in the sky; during the darkest days of winter the light shrinks away nearly two hours earlier…the days are getting longer! And as I pedaled and coasted into the winter’s cold wind IContinue reading “L’Hiver…”
Tag Archives: inspiration
Five Quotes from Rosa Parks
Photo found here. Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005) Click here for the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development. “I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people toContinue reading “Five Quotes from Rosa Parks”
Death By Advertising
This interesting but short video was made in collaboration with junkthought.org and Micah M. White (from Adbusters). I find it interesting and it does make sense to me, but at the same time I find it somewhat ironic that it seems to be a sort of anti-advertisement (or a hidden advertisement) for their websites. ButContinue reading “Death By Advertising”
Five Quotes from Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948 “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.“ “Let everyone try and find that as a result of daily prayer he adds somethingContinue reading “Five Quotes from Mahatma Gandhi”
Two Short Videos Honoring Two Great Men…
I find both of these videos really moving. The one below shows Nina Simone singing a song (which she and the band had just learned) honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, jr just three days after his assassination. And the very short clip above shows the humility of our president…a man who holds oneContinue reading “Two Short Videos Honoring Two Great Men…”
Something to Ponder…
I came across this short clip a few days ago. It makes me feel small (which isn’t a bad thing, I believe, in the ego-centric world in which we live). It also makes me remember that we–human beings on planet earth–are all in this together. For better-or-worse we are all on this big marble hurtlingContinue reading “Something to Ponder…”
Five Quotes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968 “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to theContinue reading “Five Quotes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Five Quotes from Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda (né, Narendra Nath Datta) 12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902 To learn more about Swami Vivekananda, visit one of the foundations that bear his name (here or here), or also this wiki.“We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; theyContinue reading “Five Quotes from Swami Vivekananda”
Five Quotes from Henri Nouwen
Henri Jozef Machiel Nouwen (Nouen) (January 24, 1932 – September 21, 1996) I came across the the above photo recently at Indy Bikehiker (thanks John!) and it reminded me of some of the books I’ve read by this inspirational and prolific author (this one is my favorite). But it also reminded me that even thoughContinue reading “Five Quotes from Henri Nouwen”
Merry Christmas!
Photo Credit: Filipe Dana I came across these two photos yesterday and they inspired me to post them for Christmas. The above photo is of the Christ Statue, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in front of a full moon. And the below image is of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama praying in front of anContinue reading “Merry Christmas!”
The Longest Night…
Today is the winter solstice, which of course is also the longest night of the year. But it doesn’t have to be the darkest. From this night on, until the summer solstice, the days grow longer and the nights shorter. And I’ve used this example very recently (about light overcoming darkness) but I will again…whenContinue reading “The Longest Night…”
Five Quotes from Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor (Joe Strummer) 21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002 “And so now I’d like to say – people can change anything they want to. And that means everything in the world. People are running about following their little tracks – I am one of them. But we’ve all got to stop justContinue reading “Five Quotes from Joe Strummer”
Non-Violence Overcoming Hatred; Love in Action
Firstly, I have to apologize for so many Beatles-centric videos…three in a row. I do really like them, but that’s not the reason; I posted the one yesterday and happened to come across the above one today (and then had to post the below one as well). Anyhow, this is awesome. If you only watchContinue reading “Non-Violence Overcoming Hatred; Love in Action”
Silent Night…
In tribute to the Connecticut shootings, this was the opening to Saturday Night Live last night. I find this incredibly moving; it made me cry…
Advent…
Thankful
“If thank you is the only prayer you say, that will be enough.” — Meister Eckhart To learn a bit about the above photo, read this post that I wrote for last year’s Thanksgiving holiday. To read more quotes on thankfulness, click here. Urban Simplicity.
From My Front Porch…
It’s interesting, I think, how these two photos were taken five minutes (or less) apart and from the same location but looking in different directions; the top photo is looking west while the bottom photo is looking south. But I’m getting ahead of myself. I have the weekend off this week…the first in aboutContinue reading “From My Front Porch…”
Five Quotes from Desmond Tutu
Photo found here. “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” “Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument.” “In the end what matters is not how good we are but how good God is. Not how much we love Him but how muchContinue reading “Five Quotes from Desmond Tutu”
45 Seconds and 51 Years Ago…
Okay…so this gives me goosebumps. It is a 45 second clip recorded slightly more than 51 years ago. And it is just as relevant today–even more so–than it was when it was recorded. Why, I wonder, are the messengers of peace on this planet so often assassinated…JFK, MLK, Ghandi, and of course Jesus the Christ,Continue reading “45 Seconds and 51 Years Ago…”
Yes!
I took this photo on the corner of our street four years ago on the date of our president’s historic first election. November 5, 2008. Welcome to to your second term Mr. President. I still believe in hope! Urban Simplicity.
Urban Simplicty 