Gratitude, Gifting and Grandpa
A picture of John Styn's grandfather, Rev. Caleb Elroy Shikles, with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had a huge impact on John Styn's life growing up. It made him realize that great people are not "them" - they are "us." In this funny, emotional TEDx talk, Styn shares his grandpa's lessons of living life in intense gratitude and the joy that comes from gifting. He reminds us of the choice we all have... posted on Feb 20 2013, 4,325 reads

What If Money Were No Object
"What do you desire? What makes you itch? What sort of a situation would you like?" Alan Watts, an English philosopher and writer, routinely asked these very questions to college students in the U.S. during the 1960s and 1970s. Back then, as in today, many students had no idea what they wanted to do after graduation. Watts' timeless wisdom and guidance to them, as illustrated in this cartoon, stri... posted on Feb 19 2013, 42,189 reads

What If Money Was No Object
"What do you desire? What makes you itch? What sort of a situation would you like?" Alan Watts, an English philosopher and writer, routinely asked these very questions to college students in the U.S. during the 1960s and 1970s. Back then, as in today, many students had no idea what they wanted to do after graduation. Watts' timeless wisdom and guidance to them, as illustrated in this cartoon, str... posted on Feb 18 2013, 0 reads

The Beautiful Fragility of Language
"I remember my first day of school with such clarity that it might as well have happened last week. I was five, and I was starting in the local kindergarten, along with all the other kids my age. Except for one difference: I didn't speak a word of English. Not a one. The only thing I knew how to do was write my own name-- M-A-R-I-A -- so that I could recognize it if the need arose. I practiced it ... posted on Feb 17 2013, 24,547 reads

Music As A Three-Dimensional Experience
The music program at St. Paul's Episcopal School in Oakland, California opened my eyes. It happened at a student concert and was a subtle thing, hard to put in words. It all comes to light in our interview with Melanie DeMore who was a key part of their program for 21 years. "I think that whenever you go to a concert, whatever it is, the people should leave feeling way bigger than when they came i... posted on Feb 16 2013, 3,806 reads

How To Be Yourself
Some days, you need to remind yourself about what's truly important in life. So sit back with a cup of your favorite beverage and give yourself a few minutes to savor this sweet video, which gives you a prescription for happiness in two minutes, starting with "show up."... posted on Feb 15 2013, 13,882 reads

Rebranding Valentine's Day
"I never thought I would create a day. And yet, two years ago, with a few friends, I did. It all started back in 2008 on a cold December evening like any other. I was in the New York City subway rushing home. A man I'd seen many times on the train was asking for money to help the homeless. He had a warm smile and an open demeanor, and was wearing a hat that said he was a Vietnam vet. Like everyone... posted on Feb 14 2013, 19,158 reads

Everything I Need to Know I Learned in the Forest
"My ecological journey started in the forests of the Himalaya. My father was a forest conservator, and my mother became a farmer after fleeing the tragic partition of India and Pakistan. It is from the Himalayan forests and ecosystems that I learned most of what I know about ecology. The songs and poems our mother composed for us were about trees, forests, and India's forest civilizations. My invo... posted on Feb 13 2013, 16,673 reads

There's More to Life Than Being Happy
"In 1991, the Library of Congress and Book-of-the-Month Club listed Man's Search for Meaning as one of the 10 most influential books in the United States. It has sold millions of copies worldwide. Now, over twenty years later, the book's ethos -- its emphasis on meaning, the value of suffering, and responsibility to something greater than the self -- seems to be at odds with our culture, which is ... posted on Feb 12 2013, 34,826 reads

The Art of Slowing Down
"One key to taking care of ourselves lies in learning how to slow down. I have a friend who's in the middle of a well-deserved sabbatical. These months represent the first chance she's had in two decades to unwind a bit as a working, single mom. 'It's just incredible,' she remarked, 'having time to exercise and read and cook meals and walk outside -- it's really unbelievable.' 'I'm curious,' I ask... posted on Feb 11 2013, 22,131 reads