Glory Points

Derek Redmond may have defined the spirit of the Olympics this summer in Barcelona, 1992. He was in the race of his life when everything changed. He snapped a hamstring and in that moment his Olympic dreams were over.

A lot of words come to mind when I watch this...

Power. Loss. Perseverance. Dedication. Sacrifice.

Love.

I was in training for Junior High Cross Country at the time, and I remember watching this on the TV highlights, and feeling so inspired by it I laced up my shoes and went out jogging around the block.

I never forgot.

I watch this video a good triple dozen times a year as it plays such a powerful reminder that we all have a strength inside of us that we may have never accessed or known existed, were it not for the pain it took to get us there.

GRATUTIOUS RECREATION OF THE MOMENT I DISCOVERED THAT ANGELINA JOLIE DECIDED TO FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.

Message In a Bottle

World Water Day was on Tuesday. 

The UN General Assembly began the campaign in 1992 due to the challenges we currently face in the use and distribution of this natural resource. It has been years since the United Nations created this day of observance as a way to draw attention to the growing worldwide crisis of water sanitation and scarcity. But for many, such a reminder is totally unnecessary. Their daily lives are reminder enough. 

I know this from personal experience. I have actually carried fresh water by hand to villages in Rwanda, Africa where hundreds of people have gotten sick and died from not having access to clean drinking water. Africa is just one example. Worldwide, 1 Billion people have no reliable source of drinking water. 3,000 children die each day from diseases caught from tainted water.

Here in the U.S., it is our economic survival that seems threatened by water scarcity. Recently, the Obama Administration redefined the terms with Mexico on how water from the Colorado River can be distributed. This redistribution of water was also what put former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in the hot seat when he cut water flow to California’s Central Valley. His concern, mostly environmental, turned much of the region’s fertile farmland into a modern day “Dust Bowl”. A metaphorical reference to the government's endeavor that left farmers with water parched farms and a loss of some $100 million in revenue. 

If water translates into money for a lot of people, it must follow that MONEY translates into water many others. 

Certainly, the bottled water industry would agree with this. When it emerged in the mid 90s, everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY thought it was going BUST. Not only did it seem like risky business, but it was thought egregious that anyone should have to pay for what comes free from the tap. 

Today, the bottled water industry nets $100 Billion dollars a year. 

Imagine if our government sold water, we could cut the budget deficit AND generate a profit. Thankfully though, our government is not a business.

But with close to 200 billion - with a B - bottles of water consumed worldwide, the real indelible mark will likely be found somewhere on the Earth.

We throw away 38 billion water bottles a year. That’s in excess of $1 billion worth of plastic. We also have this accumulating pile of trash, mostly plastic, in our oceans. All of us are contributing to this heap of garbage. And if that doesn’t make us feel bad enough, there’s this:  24% of all bottled water comes straight from the tap. 

Not only that, but if we paid for tap water what we pay for bottled water our monthly water bill would run upwards of $9,000. 

It’s worth reiterating that Aquafina and Dasani are just tap water. There’s nothing wrong with that, since tap water is very good water — it’s just not worth paying 500 times as much for. I don’t have any argument against the convenience factor, either, since it makes perfect sense to take water with you when you’re on the go. You’ll just get something that has less bacteria and generally better quality if you fill your bottle from the tap.

Please go and visit their website at www.tapproject.org. 

Thanks for reading. 

Dreamer

sometimes the only way to know if something is real
and not a dream
is the pain you feel when it goes
away
maybe the only way to keep things moving forward
is to find the dream
whispers inside a memory
that hasn't happened yet.

Kissing

It's been awhile, but I've been thinking about the topic. Kissing could very well be one of the "coolest" things to do of all time. Just on sheer account of it as an activity to pass the time, I offer it up as the funnest thing ever. I forget how many kisses I've just flippantly thrown around, even towards those I love. In my quiet moment of Zen tonight I've hatched an idea, that maybe every kiss is really an event. Because they really are. It seems that I can so easily forget that while I'm rushing out the door, or waking up and the coffee hasn't taken hold, or the fight hasn't ended but the day has and it's time for sleep. 

Being human is complicated somedays.

The Impossible

Okay, so maybe not everything.

Things that I would never be able to try.

Another billion years wouldn't be enough time for me to work up the courage to climb a tall ladder in a speedo and... well you'll see what I mean. 

Oye!! Oye!! Oye!!

Maybe it was just a matter of time. But with the slight technicality of Antarctica - my readers have joined in from every continent on the planet to read some stuff a guy happened to write down yesterday. Since Australia was the anecdotal undotted "i" or uncrossed "t", this blog entry is dedicated to you. So, Aussie land - I wish to thank you for not only dropping by once, but multiple times.

We like repeat guests around here.

And before I run off and overhype the complicity of this blog - I still have yet to break 500 "views" - it really has just reminded me about the power of the Internet, and the way it can reach people in all parts of the world. People that are in some pretty unique and celestial places. Remote and far away Never-Never-Lands that I will probably Never-Never visit were it not for the scope of the Internet. Sometimes the web really does amaze me.

So really what can I say Australia...

Thank you for the best known fun in the sun (aside from maybe Southern California), thank you for Vegemite and Peanut Paste on toast, thank you for your Kangaroos and for Kanga AND Roo, thank you for the childhood examples in Crocodile Dundee and the Crocodile Hunter (RIP Mr. Irwin), thank you for the Outback and for Outback Steakhouse, but most of all, thank you for the boomerang. I never told anyone this, but I launched one off in the suburbs of my childhood home and it never curved back around like it was supposed to. Instead it "curved straight" and knocked out a neighbors window - kinda like my bowling arm would've done. They still don't know who did it.

So, long lost neighbor, if you happen to be reading this too, it was me who broke your window. I guess I've just never been good at putting a spin on anything.

Boomerangs or Bowling, and yes even Blogging.

My Mama

Since I’ve talked a lot from the heart, it would only be fair to offer up something that is very near and dear to mine. Oddly, the one person I haven’t talked about on this blog.

It’s my Mama’s birthday today.

So I would like to tell you a story about a woman with a 2-1/2 year-old boy, and a 4 year-old daughter. A woman tasked with raising two kids alone, without a lot of resources.

She was a teacher, and had the unusually long working hours teachers are known for. But she was mostly credited with having an audacious capacity to help those around her.

Hired as the Department Chair, she used all her experiences and “know how” to take the Department’s ONE CLASS – their one sapling of a class – and give it some water. She nurtured it.

She used what time was remaining, to attend school herself, night school, ONE night a week. After years of studying and pushing through, she graduated with her SECOND Masters Degree. It was a big accomplishment.

At this time, her program was continuing to grow. Every year more people came through the doors. Every year more people graduated. The school itself was growing and had plans to expand to another campus. One that was closer to home, closer to her “chillins”.

Me and Jessica.

Just that one class had now become a program with multiple classes. That program became the LARGEST department at the college. That one department alone generated over A MILLION DOLLARS in revenue every year. That’s no exaggeration.

Because one day, several years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer and was forced to give it all up. Retire. Just walk away from everything she had ever created. Her life’s work. It felt like giving up.

My Mama showed incredible grace in the face of tragedy that day. And she continues to do so as she wages the fight of her life today. To even begin to try and articulate the amount of courage and strength she has is impossible.

Mom, You have raised two very different, and equally good people. I’ve never been afraid to be me, or where I am in a particular moment, because of your example. I am a living, breathing, louder version of you. I firmly believe I have the passion for life and the ability to try anything, regardless of others judgment because of the example you set.

I live loud. I live full. I live big, because of you.

I’m not afraid. Because of you.

It’s just impossible to thank you.

I love you so very much.

“Timmer”

A Disastor's True Value

A little more than a year ago, Haiti was struck with a 7.5 earthquake. The world rallied and came to it’s side, raising nearly $1 billion dollars, according to the latest Associated Press estimate.

And now Japan gets hit with what could be an even worse catastrophe. Not surprisingly, in an interview today Japanese Prime Minister Kan called this tragedy the nations “toughest and most difficult crisis.”

I watched, shocked and horrified, as the news LITERALLY FLOODED my home.

As the worlds 3rd largest economy, Japan will rebuild. Japan will overcome great difficulty to get there. They may use the next hundred million hours finding ways to learn how to make their country safer for the next great quake, but Japan WILL recover.

And then there’s Haiti with its out-dated and ineffective government desperately in need of new ideas and responsible leadership. But because of it’s connections to rapacious dictators, the country has remained among the poorest 5 percent of all nations on Earth. Without steep reforms in the current state of government, the country will continue to toil in its historic state of despair, even as the world continues to throw close to a billion dollars of aid its way.

In the coming months I will be traveling to Haiti as part of a relief team to bring care and restoration to their country. Before I even step foot on the ground, it's becoming apparent to me that the rate of Haiti's recovery will have little to do with those cash assets and even less to do with its unfortunate draw in the tectonic lottery. But it may just provide the opportunity its been waiting for to seize these much needed reforms.

Meanwhile in Japan, officials upgraded the earthquake to a 9.0. With this grim situation still unfolding, I already feel the need to commend the people of Japan. Government-ordered blackouts are unnecessary because the people, entirely on their own accord, stopped using all non-essential electricity. People are patiently waiting in single file lines, for food and gas. And amidst this country of 128 million people, there hasn’t been a single report of looting.

The people are working together.

There is a reason for that.

The Japanese call it DOUTAI or “One BODY”.

Catastrophes defy logic. Yet despite each country continuing to suffer through their own individual tragedies and devastating loss of life, you can almost see how this will end. The people of Japan and the people of Haiti will find the beauty in the mess, an incredibly BIG mess, and what we will see unfold will be the true value of the Human Condition.

Ahhh, Steel Cut

They're not normal oats. They're STEEL CUT.

Great marketing.

Case in point.

And this is a true story because I literally walked out of the local Trader Joe's tonight chuckling. I had been busy loitering in the breakfast foods aisle. I needed a moment to whirl over and smell every coffee selection, when a customer shopping next to me shouted out to the nearby stocking clerk, "Do you have any more oats?"

To which the clerk replied, "Steel cut?" as he began walking toward the storage room.

I didn't look up from my coffee trance. The answer seemed obvious to me: "Is there a better oat on the market?"

Without hesitation the customer said, "Ahhh, steel cut...."

Which seemed to say it all. I wanted to laugh, because he knew what I knew, that there isn't a better oat on the market. I mean no matter how you slice it, they're just not normal oats. They're steel cut.

So I selected my morning coffee this week, checked out and called it perfect.

I wish you love

I've been listening to some Ann Sally in my own solidarity with Japan. There's always the beauty in the mess. You'll find it, Japan.

Who We Are

Facebook and Twitter demographics from 2010.

What if...

instead of living in a society that honored the ideals of the HOLLYWOOD kingpins, we had a society where this woman was being recruited into a four year, 20-some million dollar deal to teach.

And wherever she went there were papparazzi chasing her down, asking what makes her such an amazing teacher.

Our days shouldn't end on a dream... it should begin with one.

Walk on Water

Maybe the best categorical definition of human BELIEF.

Could you be comfortable enough to sit with defeat.

Could you try. And then try again.

Could you stand and dance and whoop it up better than anyone else.

Who do you want to be. The Beatles or The Rolling Stones.

Maybe its... Sometimes it's only as small as a maybe...

It takes a year but....

I have learned a few things.

That the world is a crazy place.

That we ALL have a voice. We all have opinions that come from our life experiences and have gotten us to this point.

Neither is better or worse. We are all human. RIDDLED with complications, contradictions and holes from the wear and tear of living.

And one thing that was continually REINFORCED is that when a conversation between humans takes place, they fear each other less.

We just get so afraid of each others differences.

Everyone has their own unique voice. EVERYONE’s voice is IMPORTANT. In whatever medium you choose to use it.

Whether you “voice’ yourself by playing guitar, by writing poems, writing in a journal, sharing with a close friend, sharing with anyone who will listen, or even when you are sitting still and just “being quiet”.

We all have room to be a little more understanding, a little more tolerant, sitting down for a second and listening, and not trying to be “right”.

No human is any better or worse than any other. We are just on different paths.

I want to TRY and look up more and listen when I “bump” into others.

And one more thing……

Jaylen's Challenge

Jaylen Arnold.

He’s ten years old and in the 4th grade. And has started a website.

Jaylenschallenge.org

Jaylen has advanced Tourette’s Syndrome. And has been the brunt of bullying at school.

He’s putting a stop to it.

He started an anti-bullying website.

He’s TEN.

Thank you Jaylen. Everywhere you look, people are doing their small part, in their small “corner”. Living life to their fullest potential.

Please go to his site.

The Conversation

My blog has been a straightforward account of my experience as a human.

My thoughts and ideas about the world, why I am in and learning from it, and pressing other people to stand up and have a conversation.

It's incredibly narcissistic that anyone would be interested.

But here is what I know.... THIS BLOG is not about me.

Never has been. My stories are, perhaps, the millions and billions of stories that play out everyday because of the human experience.

The daily moments, the quirks of things, the fragile insights into why every moment is beautiful.

Wayne Gretsky, the greatest hockey player to ever play the game, once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you never take." When asked about what went through his mind before taking a shot, he said, "There's not much thinking, but a whole lotta belief."

That kind of understanding comes from trying at something, failing, and trying again. Which may depend on your definition of failing.

This blog has been read on every continent EXCEPT for Australia. (And, well - Antarctica.)

For now, at least, my dream of visiting all seven continents will have to wait.

Maybe I failed from what I set out to do. Maybe not.

Maybe it’s that I have learned the hard way how to do it. Brick by brick. Everyday working. Until eventually you have a brick house.

Tomorrow I'll wake and lay another brick into the mosaic.

Tomorrow I'll wake and try again.

Wow...and WOW again!

This photo was taken a few nights ago in Norway at the pinnacle of a solar episode. The auroras are astounding because the light that NORMALLY reaches Earth is a long, dilute umbilical chord of light stretching 93 million miles, most of which gets deflected by Earths' magnetic field.

After a period of time of stretching out and around the magnetic field, those photons of light begin to whip backwards like an elastic band and crash down to Earth in big, dense GLOBS that are visible to us as "the Northern Lights".

The BIG Picture

Part of blogging about the Human Condition is connecting some pretty personal things to it, and at times it can be draining emotionally, and spiritually.

I needed a moment, and get some quiet time for me.

There is daily beauty each of us can find. All the time. Everyday.

You just have to find it.

It’s the beauty in the mess.

Life has no pause button.

Even in our instant gratification give it to me now culture, I have to remember to slow down and know that if I lived my life the way I shuffle through my iPod, I probably wouldn't get much accomplished.

If you've been following me this year, you'll know that I’ve always tried to play my hand from the pocket. From where I’m standing.

No matter what.

This blog is in the midst of some "growing pains" as I strive to push through and finish what I started last year, with the excitement and knowledge of what this year holds in store.

I've never really been much into the results business. I'm more interested in the journey. The long and beautiful, and perfectly imperfect road.

Besides, this site doesn't boast near the numbers as others on the internet.

But as I near the "checkpoint" of the year, I only wish to say....

Morocco, Belarus, Denmark, Germany, UAE, Canada, Latvia, China, Brazil, Vietnam, Malasia, Panama, and of course, the USA...all of you, thank you.

You have truly humbled me.

Grateful...

Extinction

Now, time to chuckle.

My Dream

Last night I had a dream I was standing under a painted sky.

With my sister standing beside me.

I looked up at the sky and said, “Sister you know, it’s been a long road we’ve been walking on.”

She said, “Brother I know, it’s such a long road we’ve been walking on.”

I said, “You know my heart’s been broken now. I am weary.”

And she said, “You’re too strong to carry it on.”

And I said, “My mind is too strong to forget.”

And she said, “Love hurts, because love is real.”

We watched in quiet as the clouds drifted through the sky.

And then I pinched her.

She cried out and said, “Why did you do that?”

And I said, “Because you’re real.”

And we stood there. Just standing.

Wisdom Years

I was having my coffee and paper this weekend, where I have them every saturday, and an older man came out of the store and sat down. He opened up a sandwich and started eating. And his old, wrinkly hands were softly shaking. I don't know why, but it has ALWAYS freaked me out to watch older people eat. It just does. He must have felt me get uneasy, because he asked me how I was doing. And i looked at him, and for whatever reason, didn’t lie.

He listened to me for about 6 minutes while he ate. Just nodding. I was starting to get more passionate, and I finally asked him what he thought.

He said, to just slow down.

“When you get to be my age, you only really remember the good. The bad goes away.”

I sat there in a stupor. I could imagine him watching his children or grand children go through things, and him just having a smile on his face.

Slow down.

Just perfect.