5/1/09

Union of Souls


We live in times where even sacred things have become shallow, practical and done for an interest. Society tends to become more and more cynical about things. Pre-nuptials are a popular thing these days. Couples do background investigations on each other before making any commitments. More and more of my friends are either separated, divorced or in artificial marriages. And it’s all norm it’s OK, we got used to it. Just part of reality.

Sometimes, when I am with my sister Barbara and her husband Davide I pause and think about their marriage. They deeply and genuinely love each other. When they are not together I can see from their faces that their minds are on each other. Their souls are truly united. They are “ONE”.

My sister was diagnosed with stage IV cancer 3 years ago. Since that terrible day, Davide has been on her side. He has not missed a single day of chemo with her or a doctor’s visit. When cancer patients are under heavy chemo treatment their auto-immune system is very weak, and a simple cold could kill them. Davide drove Barbara to work and picked her up every day, in order to minimize the risk of her catching germs on public transportation.

Davide was put to the test at some point. I can’t expand too much on this, but he had to choose between his wife wellbeing, at one end, and putting at risk things that were dear and important to him, at the other. He chose Barbara without any hesitation.

His mission is to keep her happy and excited every day until this terrible ordeal is over. Quite often he turns into a comedian to keep my sister’s beautiful laugh alive. They live like a normal couple, and sometimes they fight over normal things. But nothing ever stains the strength and purity of their marriage.

I recently wrote a poem called “The Dove”. In “The Dove” a man sees a dove flying behind a glass. He breaks the glass to reach her, without fearing pain and consequences. The dove flies over his hands and lays there. His blood is over her and the white, the purity, of her feathers and soul, penetrate his soul.

Barbara and Davide are a true inspiration to me and they make me still believe in a thing of the past called “Love”.

The Dove: http://sites.google.com/site/risersserengeti/dove

4/17/09

Robert Redford. A man of courage and vision

Sundance Festival started 25 years ago. Actor, Director and Activist Robert Redford used to beg people outside the one movie theatre to go in and watch movies.
Thanks to his leadership and vision today Sundance is one of the major movie festivals in the World and attracts 50,000 visitors a year and runs over 200 movies.

Robert Redford’s interview with Wall Street Journal:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123266544269807877.html

4/12/09

Graceland

April 6, 2009, for Christians around the World kicked off the week of Easter. On Monday, April 6th in L’Aquila, Italy, earth shook with a magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter Scale. The merciless earthquake took the lives of almost 300 people, destroyed the 800-year-old Capital of Abruzzo (my Region) and left 70,000 people homeless.

One of my high-school friends, Marina wrote a sad, hopeless note on her Facebook page: “Una Pasqua senza resurrezioni” meaning: “An Easter without resurrections”. I don’t consider myself a practicing Catholic, but I feel inspired by some of the messages that transpire from the New Testament. Resurrection is one of the things that move me the most. According to most dictionaries the meaning of “resurrection” is the state of one who has returned to life.

My friend Andres’ cousin: Juan Vanegas is a Catholic Priest in L’Aquila. His church and residence were destroyed. Father Juan had the option to leave after the disaster and go somewhere safe, to an easier life, perhaps rejoin his family abroad. He decided to remain with his new family and fight a long and demanding battle. He is guiding his people like a good shepard, leading them to a new life out of rubbles, pain and chaos. People like Juan help me believe in resurrection.

There is a popular song by Paul Simon called “Graceland”. In the song Paul and his 9-year old son are traveling to Graceland. Of course the place Mr. Simon is referring to it is not Elvis’ tacky house in Memphis. He is referring to an imaginary place, a place of hope, redemption and resurrection. A place that means the start of a new life. He wrote the song during a divorce from his longtime wife. The song says: "There is a girl in New York City who calls herself the human trampoline and sometimes when I'm falling, flying or tumbling in turmoil I say oh so this is what she means she means we're bouncing into Graceland".

People have choices after disasters strike their lives. They can pull themselves out of the rubbles, let their wounds and pains heel and head to their "Gracelands" or do nothing and let death win. I believe anyone can make a resurrection. I know someone who went through a rough time in his life. Disasters seemed to happen all at once around him. One of his close family members was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, his 18-year old marriage came to an end, and he was on the brink of losing his job. These events can put anyone on his/her knees. This person decided to stand strong and make a trip to his "Graceland". He is still fighting some of these battles but something good came from his ordeals. There is an old say: “What doesn’t break you will make you stronger”. Today this person feels much stronger and a better person that he was 2 years ago. He found his resurrection.

Like the great Italian Dramaturg Eduardo de Filippo used to say: "Tests never end in life", and personal "earthquakes" will keep testing us. We win only if we decide to pull ourselves out of the heavy rubbles, stand on our feet and rebuild our lives. It is never easy.

I believe in the ability of people to rebound because of the strength they have in their hearts and the deep desire to choose life versus death. I will tell my friend Marina that resurrections can happen. Like in the song: "Maybe I've got a reason to believe we all will be received in Graceland". A

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Stefano Paolinelli
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Father Juan Vanegas with a rescue team in L’Aquila


4/11/09

High Altitude Leadership

I strongly endorse one of my recent readings: "High Altitude Leadership" by Chris Warner and Don Schmincke. This book is one of the best I ever came across on leadership and team management. The authors go over lessons learned and best practices on driving teams during extreme situations and high crises. Fear and failure can stop us from making the right decisions. During climbing the wrong decision can be deadly, in business can be costly. Their teachings can be applied to any situation where the "right stuff" needs to be put on the table.
Please check their Web site: http://highaltitudeleadership.com

4/10/09

Ken Blanchard on how to establish your leadership point of view

The Leadership Hub, a very resourceful online community, hosts short videos from leadership guru Ken Blanchard.

http://www.theleadershiphub.com/videos/ken-blanchard-how-establish-your-leadership-point-view

4/9/09

A Second Life

Matt Long had life by the horns—until the day he got crushed by a 20–ton bus. Though the firefighter and Ironman suffered horrific injuries, he somehow survived. Then he had to learn to live again.
Story By Charles Butler - Runner's World Magazine
© 2009 Rodale Inc.

Read Article:

4/1/09

Moment of Surrender

I am getting too “new-agey” these days. Maybe spring is getting to me. No sure what’s going on but I like it. Anyway, I have been listening to U2’s melodies and I discovered an underling theme in their songs that reminded me of Buddhist teachings of union with the world and surrendering to the “whole”.
U2 with the help of master musician Brian Eno composed a song that blows my socks off every time I listen to it: “Moment of Surrender” from their latest album “No Line on the Horizon”. “I was speeding on the subway through the stations of the cross… At the moment of surrender a vision of visibility…”
U2’s producers said that this is one of their most intense songs.
American scientist and business author Pete Senge’s interpretations of Jesus analogy: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” is that the only way to feel connected is by empting our mental load from worries and our attachment to material stuff, so that we can pass through the needle and feel the whole. It may be too hard to do for a bunch of neurotics beeping on minivan horns, rushing for a metro, fighting with teenage kids and losing sleep over a Powerpoint presentation.
The only way to “feel” the One, God, Manitou, or something as simple as love for the world (or whatever that good feeling that has gotten over me is) is by empting ourselves. Put everything behind and just surrender to the best part of you.
Give it a try and let yourself go.

3/31/09

Inspirers

In one of my previous blogs I discussed about the power of those who fight day-in and day-out tough and cruel diseases like cancer - http://stefano-vincere1.blogspot.com/2009/01/beating-beasts.html
We can have nothing but admiration for people such as Patrick Swayze who still works and performs at his best despite painful treatments and Lance Armstrong who after beating testicular cancer that spread to his brain went on to win 7 Tour de France races.
My sister Barbara has been fighting cancer for almost 3 years now. During this time she had the strenght and motivation to help many people understand how it feels to live with cancer. She wrote a beautiful book currently used by medical schools in Italy to sensitize aspiring doctors. She has also composed a beautiful song available at emusic (soon on iTunes) in MP3 format: http://www.emusic.com/album/Barbara-Paolinelli-Chi-Vincer%C3%A0-MP3-Download/11411413.html
All I need to express is that Barbara has been a true inspiration to me. I feel lucky to be his brother.

3/30/09

Raising Funds for a Good Cause

Friends,
I am coordinating a fundraiser for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Funds will help me run a half-marathon in September for the Livestrong Team. The money raised by the team will go toward cancer research and other initiatives supported by the foundation. Please kindly donate by accessing the following site: http://www.livestrong.org/grassroots2009/stefanovabeach09 .
Thank you!

3/29/09

The Power of Visualization - Focus on what you want

Improving your attitude, according to Keith Harrell will help you achieve your greatest potential. Focus on what you want and you'll get it. The first time I heard about the Laws of Attraction I thought of one person: Nelson Mandela. 20 years ago South Africa was a hopeless nation in the hands of a ruthless and inhuman dictatorship. I wrote an article on Nelson Mandela back then, when I was in my beautiful 17, for a local newspaper in Italy. I wondered how a man could live for over 20 years in a narrow prison cell without hope of ever getting out. I finally got the answer from Keith Harrell. Nelson Mandela has written that visualization helped him keep his sanity and health in place while being imprisoned for over 27 years. Every day spent in prison, Nelson Mandela kept thinking about walking out of that cell and what he would do once free. That thought kept him alive and at some point became reality. Power of visualization is one of Keith Harrell 10 attitude strategies and I highly recommend reading his writings - http://www.mei-inter.com/2009/03/10-strategies-to-improve-your-attitude.html