Sister Marilyn: To Come and See
At age 18 and new to the convent, Sister Marilyn Lacey turned down an invitation -- an opportunity to connect -- explaining she didn’t think human relations was her field. Later on, she got an invitation she couldn’t refuse to “come and see” the suffering in South Sudan. She accepted, and that experience and invitation led to many more invitations to invite people into her ... posted on Jun 24 2024, 2,772 reads

Exploring the Science of Everyday Wonder
In an insightful discussion, Dacher Keltner, a renowned psychologist and author delves into the science of everyday wonder and its profound impact on our lives. Keltner explores how awe-inspiring experiences, whether found in nature, art, or human connections, can enhance well-being, foster resilience, and even improve physical health. He emphasizes that moments of wonder are accessible to everyon... posted on Jun 23 2024, 1,261 reads

People Dread This Type Of Social Interaction But It Has Benefits
Researchers find that people who have richness and diversity in relationships experience greater life satisfaction and overall well-being. An important part of that diversity comes from talking to strangers, and they found there was “deep delight and joy that ensued from these unexpected encounters.” Whether in a supermarket, coffee shop, or on a walk, a smile, a nod, a simple hello, o... posted on Jun 22 2024, 1,384 reads

The Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement of Sri Lanka
The Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, founded by the late Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, is considered to be the largest non-governmental organization in Sri Lanka. Straddling the roles of a grassroots development program, peace movement, social service network, and microfinance scheme, this movement transcends traditional methodologies with people-centered innovations. Driven by values and beliefs inherent i... posted on Jun 21 2024, 1,578 reads

Captioning Ubuntu
Our stories are a product of countless other stories in time and space. In South Africa, there is a saying that translates to: "A person is a person through other persons." In Kenya, there is a saying that translates to, "A person is other people." Both adages echo the essence of "ubuntu" -- systems of values that honor deep interconnectedness. Storyteller and author Wakanyi Hoffman illustrates pe... posted on Jun 20 2024, 3,585 reads

Why Age Diversity Is a Strength at Work
Research suggests many benefits from age diversity in the workplace. Among them are better performance results, reduction in age and other biases, and two-way mentoring that can expand learning all around. Tips include purposefully forming diverse groups and teams of people of all ages, life stages, and generations in order to reap the benefits. And there is this: Be a perennial! Perennial is a ne... posted on Jun 18 2024, 2,175 reads

I Double Dare You
In a world brimming with jarring headlines and amplified messages of the ever-widening rifts across worldviews, a striking poem by Pavi Mehta unveils a tapestry of ways in which we are inextricably connected. "The edges of things are always deceptive / because we are taught to believe / in endings and beginnings," she begins, observing how "people like to put thingsin their places." Yet, the visce... posted on Jun 17 2024, 2,658 reads

How Luddite Teens of New York Changed My View of Social Media
The article shares a student author’s journey of reevaluating their social media use after encountering the Luddite Club, a group of New York teens who reject digital norms in favor of more fulfilling, offline activities. Inspired by their commitment, the author deleted Instagram and TikTok, experiencing improved attention span and appreciation for creative and meaningful pursuits. This expe... posted on Jun 15 2024, 2,625 reads

How the Pandemic Led One Photographer to Greater Collaboration
Photographer Ashima Yadava turned to photography during the pandemic to reconnect with friends. Due to required distancing, she asked them if she could photograph them in their front yards from across the street. Unsatisfied with her single one-sided perspective, Ashima provided them with black and white photos she had taken, and asked “how do they want to be seen and what do ... posted on Jun 14 2024, 1,211 reads

Five Keys to Managing Intrusive Thoughts
"Persistent thoughts can be signals to ourselves about underlying life issues that need resolution," writes Dr. Jill Suttie. "But by drawing upon mindfulness, a self-distanced perspective, physical exercise, redirection, and social support, you can perhaps find a path forward." Dr. Suttie presents these five practices as collaborators for our internal world of thoughts, which sometimes feel like t... posted on Jun 13 2024, 3,213 reads