The Modernization of Finnish Lament Singing
Lamenting is an ancient way of releasing emotions through a type of singing when one is feeling overwhelmed by grief, sadness, pain, anger, or other negative emotions. Before laments were sung at times of loss and upheaval, the practice was about connecting to one's ancestors, and was often focused on helping move people from one world to another. In Finland, lamenting is rife with symbolism and r... posted on Nov 11 2017, 12,303 reads

The School that Replaced Detention with Meditation
A Baltimore school has come up with a brilliant way to curb kids from acting out in class. Instead of sending children to detention, they send kids to a Mindful Moment Room for meditation. In partnership with the Holistic Life Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes wellness, Robert W. Coleman Elementary School introduced a meditation room to help its students "calm down and re-centre.... posted on Nov 10 2017, 32,459 reads

The 'Magic Strings' of Mitch Albom
"Ever since I wrote Tuesdays with Morrie, I've had people who have said to me, 'That book changed my life.' You actually said it to me not too long ago. I have to say, the first hundred times that that happened, I probably internally rolled my eyes and said, 'Well, that's nice, but a book doesn't change your life. It's a book.' Having heard it so many times at this point, I started to think, well,... posted on Dec 21 2015, 14,572 reads

Unpacking a Gift from 21 Years Ago
While cleaning out her dresser, a woman stumbles across a beautiful handwoven purse that was gifted to her by a special teacher more than two decades ago. A question from her husband leads her to reflect for the first time on what prompted that teacher's thoughtful gesture. What followed was a beautiful insight on the ways in which our lives are supported by the kindness of countless people. Read... posted on Dec 22 2014, 22,022 reads

Slomo: The Neurologist Turned Slow Motion Skater
Dr. John Kitchin was a successful neurologist who, on the surface seemed to have it all. But underneath the trappings of his material success he was ill-at-ease and unhappy. There was a haunting emptiness inside. After a serendipitous interaction with an elderly man in a cafeteria line, Kitchin decided to trade in his career and luxurious lifestyle (that included a Ferrari, an exotic animal farm a... posted on Jul 14 2014, 6,078 reads

The Oldest Living Things In The World
For almost a decade, Rachel Sussman has been traveling the world to discover and document the Earth's oldest organisms - living things over 2,000 years of age. Sussman unearths Earth's "greatest stories of resilience, stories of tragedy and triumph, past and future, but above all stories that humble our human lives, which seem like the blink of a cosmic eye against the timescales of these ancient ... posted on May 29 2014, 19,655 reads

Material World: A Global Family Portrait
"Photojournalist Peter Menzel's visual anthropology captures the striking span of humanity's socioeconomic and cultural spectrum. In 'Material World: A Global Family Portrait', Menzel traveled to 30 different countries, found a statistically average family in each country, and photographed them outside their home, with all of their belongings. The result is an incredible cross-cultural quilt of po... posted on Dec 16 2013, 41,132 reads

The Truth About Love & Vulnerability
"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will ... posted on Dec 13 2013, 7,419 reads

Bertrand Russell's 10 Commandments of Teaching
Philosopher, mathematician, historian, and social critic Bertrand Russell is one of the most intellectually diverse and influential thinkers in modern history. Writer Maria Popova, founder and editor of Brain Pickings, summarizes Russel's remarkable vision for the responsibilities of a teacher, touching on the purpose of education, the value of uncertainty, the importance of critical thinking, the... posted on Dec 09 2013, 49,952 reads

What Makes Us Feel Good About Our Work
What motivates us to work? Contrary to conventional wisdom, it isn't just money. But it's not exactly joy either. It seems that most of us thrive by making constant progress, meeting challenges, and feeling a sense of purpose. In this TED talk, behavioral economist Dan Ariely presents several eye-opening experiments that reveal our unexpected and nuanced attitudes toward meaning in our work.... posted on Nov 22 2013, 7,015 reads