V-Thought 4 the Week: On Hard Choices

As the Situation in Iraq continues to go from bad to worst, this curated series from http://ted.com  was "kind of" timely in that it gives a roadmap about how to make tough choices--potential lessons to be learnt by all: 

PLAYLIST OF THE WEEK

7 TED Talks on how we make choices

Inspired by the talk above? Keep exploring, with the selected talks in this playlist. Explore why some choices are so hard to make -- and learn how we can choose to make better ones. (Or are we in control of our own choices at all?) Watch »

Total run time 2:16:47

View of the Week: Reflections on the Middle East

This week has seen the final nail in the coffin of Iraq as we've known it since the end of World War I. The headlines around the World have been dominated with how ISIS has been ever so successful--and continues to be so right now based on all that has been happening on the ground.   Iraq, though, is part of the tragedy that continues to evolve in the Middle East as Syria continues to burn and Israelis and Palestinians are at each others' throats as Israel continues its' hunt for the young kids who were kidnapped on their way home--a profound tragedy for those children and their families.   

This month, though, also saw one very hopeful sign: The joint appearance by Mahmoud Abbas & Shimon Peres with Pope Francis at the Vatican at a Prayer for Peace.   

In assessing some of the deliberations in the US Public Affairs Shows,  what did not get "much traction" in the Worldwide mainstream press that was so much the cheerleader for the Second Iraq War is the views of those who actually get That part of the World. One of them is Vijay Prasad of the University of Beirut who had some compelling things to note in his recent commentary on the Real News Network:  

 The hard truths noted is ever so crucial. The same cheerleaders who wanted war were again calling for another war. Thankfully, voices even on the Conservative Community (including Glenn Beck) are saying enough is enough. There is a bigger challenge, though: What to do now. It was frankly shocking to see the latest BBC dispatch about the fact that the Iraqi Air Force ran out of hellfire Missiles two weeks ago. What about all the Billions that was spent? What is absolutely clear is that no one seems to know the answer. There are reports that Irbil--one of the key cities in the Kurdish Region--is also under threat. As the Shias were mobilizing and parading in Baghdad, there were increasing calls to replace Maliki. What was laughable was reports about who would replace him, though: Ahmad Chalabi or Ilay Alawi. In the meantime, as the bombings and killings continue, the ordinary man and woman is forgotten as refugees continue to flee in their thousands.

Excepts  released to http://www.outsiderviews.com, June 2014

A "Thought 4 the Day" as the Week-End Looms :-)

On This Day: A "Brief View of the Week".....

It has been a challenging few days. around the World as Iraq implodes.    Although not easy, there is no other choice but to remain optimsitic.   Everyday is a new opportunity to begin anew.    This was so timely from Ralph Martson: 

Today, life will give you the opportunity to be honest. Take that opportunity, and keep yourself aligned with the power of truth.

Today, life will give you the opportunity to be compassionate. Take that opportunity, and feel the priceless satisfaction that comes from making a difference in the lives of others.

Today, life will give you the opportunity to act with discipline and focus. Take that opportunity, and enjoy the fruits of being highly effective in whatever you do.

Your life today will give you the opportunity to learn, to achieve, to enjoy, to reflect, to share, to listen, to understand and to love. Embrace each opportunity that comes your way with gratitude, enthusiasm and a sense of positive purpose.

On this day, life will give you the opportunity to be your best, to live and to act true to the unique and beautiful person you know you are. Take that opportunity, and run with it.

If you’ve been wishing and waiting for a perfect opportunity, it is here and now. This day will be what you make of it, and there’s no opportunity better than that.

It was also even more so to not forget this admonition from the ever so inspiring Mary Tyler Moore:

Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.     

Enough Said....May we all be blessed with the beauty and the majesty of life.

On This Father's Day 2014: Being Happy & Engaging Ever More....

Today is Father's Day in the United States.    I count my blessings every day and wish all a sense of happiness and joy that is beyond this World as I am blessed to observe my Son as he grows up.   It is not as easy as one may hope as I see the reporting on Iraq and the brutality by ISIS or what is happening in Pakistan as The Pakistan Army began a new offensive after the bold attack on Karachi.   Gandhi Ji reminded us to be the change we wish to see in the World---it begins here with a sense of happiness because it begins with us:  

May it be so on this Father's Day for all while remebering to count blessings every day and noting:

  

Being Optimistic//Never Losing Hope

It is Father's Day W-End here in the United States.    It is not easy to be optimistic about our World as Iraq and the Near East (also known as the Middle East) seems to be falling apart before our eyes and Ukraine seems to be on the edge of the abyss.    Yet, I see no other choice.

I hope all enjoy this "thought 4 the week-end" from the great Kahlil Gibran courtesy of the team @ Givemore.com along with excerpts of a recent outreach I received from them on truly "thinking different"--and  continue to be ever so thankful for all that we've been given.

“ The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious of the rose.”

To help you kick off the day (or next week) ... Click here for a beautifully shot and scored video of New York (5 minutes). I've found it puts me in a great state of mind to make good things happen.   Grab today's mini poster (pdf)

Thought 4 the Week (II): May it be so for all us all :-)

On Iraq: Latest Notations (6/11/2014)

The Iraqi insurgents are marching on. CNN, to its' credit, is headlining the debacle and how Iraq is now open to US Airstrikes as the insurgents march on and potentially threaten Baghdad. But FOX is featuring another story on the Bowe Berghdal as MSNBC is featuring (and focused on the Eric Cantor defeat).

Post by Mike Pouraryan.

Thought 4 the Week

Post by Zig Ziglar.

View of the Week (II) : Dr. Robert Gates @ Boy Scouts of America Speech as National President

As I work away, I have been listening to Dr.Gates; speech as National President of the Boy Scouts.      This speech is resonating with me because of how Scouting has made such a profound difference for me and ever so for my Son.