Ripples v7.34: Ripples of REACTIONS!
Monday, September 12, 2005
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PEBBLE
To succeed, it is necessary to accept the world as it is- and rise above it.
-Michael Korda, submitted by Mia W., Greensboro NC
BOULDER
Our lives are not determined by what happens to us,
but how we react to what happens;
not by what life brings to us,
but by the attitude we bring to life.
A positive attitude causes a chain reaction
of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes.
It is a catalyst….a spark that creates extraordinary results.
-source unknown, submitted by Karen K, Milwaukee, WI
PONDER
After a quick trip up to University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire to encourage 2,000 new students to MAKE GOOD CHOICES (with a nod to Jamie Lee Curtis’ character in Freaky Friday), I spent a day with some remarkable helpers from Lane County, Oregon. I tried to avoid the topic of Hurricane Katrina, but of course many people continue to express a desire to help and inevitably we had to acknowledge the unique size and scope of this challenge.
The bright news is that It appears that we are already seeing resilience in the victims, a few signs of recovery, and a sense of hope that good possibilities exist beyond the tragedy. It is also clear that the news coverage has shined an overdue spotlight on the ever-present and often ignored issues our society faces around race and class. Poverty exists in many corners of the U.S. and around the world, and I hope that as we start to hear people say “Yes I feel for the Katrina victims, but what about the millions of other poor people?” we can transform the “yes, but” into “yes AND” (with a nod to Jodi Cohen and her passion for helping people find their YES!). While our citizenry has responded compassionately in times of acute crisis (can you believe four years have zoomed by since 9/11?), our reaction to chronic issues has been lackluster.
On an unrelated note, if you are someone that has ever downloaded a podcast or other non-music audio content from the internet, I would like to hear from you. We may be opening a new chapter in The Ripples Project soon, and your feedback would help a great deal.
Peace,
Paul
p.s. I will report next week on our fundraising efforts for those displaced by Katrina (I have not been back in Madison to check the mailbox yet!)
