Re-Constructing Philanthropy
"The Empire State Building is a marvel, one of the seven modern wonders of the world. Yet when it was built, the most revolutionary change wasn't the architecture or the height, there were two other buildings built nearby, almost as high. The less acclaimed, quantum leap was in the construction practices by which the building was framed. Never before had a building been constructed the way they di... posted on Feb 02 2016, 6,082 reads

Seven Ways to Help High Schoolers Find Purpose
"One thing nearly all teens agree on is that most of what high school teaches them is irrelevant to their lives outside of school or their future careers. One study found that the most common feelings among high school students are fatigue and boredom. Another study concluded that 65 percent of the jobs that today's high school graduates will have in their lifetime do not even exist yet. But we ar... posted on Feb 01 2016, 11,255 reads

The Pollination Project: The Power of Small & Philanthropy
The Pollination Project has a unique approach to philanthropy. It grants small donations of up to $1000 each day, to causes spanning all geographies, all unmet needs, and all issues. The common element for each grantee is that their work spread compassion. Founder Ari Nessel defines compassion, "being this ability to see yourself in others, and others in yourself. Wanting to reduce our collective ... posted on Jan 31 2016, 10,731 reads

A Beautiful Mind: A Conversation with Gina Sharpe
What if "the real adventure and beauty in life does not consist in grand gestures but in imperceptible acts of daring -- moments of daring to be open, to listen, to not run away or defend ourselves from what arises"? In this interview, Tracy Cochran explores precisely this idea with Gina Sharpe, co-founder of Manhattan retreat center New York Insight. Their illuminating conversation explores how ... posted on Jan 30 2016, 19,266 reads

Dr. Abdul Kalam on Life's Pursuit
This artful rendition of the inspiring words of the late former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, cautions us against the constant pursuit of material goods and status symbols, and prompts us instead towards discovering our own deepest dreams and convictions.... posted on Jan 29 2016, 17,515 reads

Love Life: An Inspiring Journey Spurred by Tragedy
It's impossible to miss Steve Fugate's message when you catch sight of him, an older man pulling a cart of water and supplies. The message emblazoned in big red letters on the sign he carries is simple: "LOVE LIFE." For the last decade and a half 67-year-old Fugate has been walking across America spreading that message town-by-town in every state on the mainland. His mission? "To mend the broken h... posted on Jan 28 2016, 0 reads

The Surprising Benefit of Going Through Hard Times
Psychologists studying "post-traumatic growth" find that many people come to thrive in the aftermath of adversity. Read on to learn more about the amazing ability of human beings to not only adapt but to grow incredibly after loss.... posted on Jan 27 2016, 31,289 reads

Stop. Look. Go: Practices for Grateful Living
"All of us want to be happy...by experiencing, by becoming aware that every moment is a given moment -- it is a gift! You haven't earned it. You haven't brought it about in any way. You have no way of assuring that there will be another moment given to you. Grateful living -- that's the most valuable thing that can ever be given to us." In this beautiful video, filmmakers from Gnarly Bay have used... posted on Jan 26 2016, 5,612 reads

5 Important Things We Learned About Mindfulness in 2015
The more we learn about mindfulness -- cultivating a focused awareness on the present moment -- the more health and well-being benefits we discover. In 2015 researchers delved deeper into the science of meditation and uncovered even more surprising evidence of the powerful effects of mindfulness on mind and body. ... posted on Jan 25 2016, 22,822 reads

A Comic Book For Refugee Children
"International Medical Corps developed a series of comic books for children displaced by the conflict in Syria and Iraq in order to teach them important messages about disease prevention, safety in camps and about how to promote their well-being. The first two comic books in the series tell stories about children facing the same problems young refugees encounter in their daily lives, introducing s... posted on Jan 24 2016, 8,817 reads