L'Infinito

I made a collage of quotes, excerpts from poems, videos and songs, from Bible to Buddhism, from Romanticism to Pop. At the end there is one common denominator...

There are things that we only get close to if we pause, feel what is around, look

within ourselves.

"Always dear to me was this lonely hill

And this hedge, which from me so great a part

Of the farthest horizon excludes the gaze

But as I sit and watch

I invent in my mind

Endless spaces beyond

and superhuman

Silences

and profoundest quiet

Wherefore my heart

Almost loses itself in fear

And as I hear the wind

Rustle through these plants

I compare

That infinite silence to this voice

And I recall to mind eternity

And the dead seasons, and the one present

And alive, and the sound of it

So in this

Immensity my thinking drowns

And to shipwreck is sweet for me in this sea"

- L'Infinito

Giacomo Leopardi (1798-1837)

Actor Dustin Hoffman's interpretation of Leopardi's "L'Infinito"

"Ego could be defined as whatever covers up basic goodness [...] Egolessness is a state of mind that has complete confidence in the sacredness of the world. It is unconditional well being, unconditional joy that includes all the different qualities of our experience." Pema Chodron (Buddhist Nun)

"I am the light that shines over all things

I am everywhere

From me all came forth, and to me all return

Split a piece of wood, and I am there

Lift a stone, and you will find me there..."

Jesus - Gospel of Thomas v. 77

"...You created the world

to serve humanity's needs

and to lead them to You.

By our own fault

we have lost the beautiful relationship

which we once had with all your creation.

Help us to see

that by restoring our relationship with You

we will also restore it with all Your creation." - Prayer of St. Francis

-

"Oh God, what if we harm these whales? What if we did that, oh God, what if we arm this coast? What if we did that? Then directly in front of me, about a hundred yards out, a lone whale gave me for spouts. Silence. A minute afterwards, off to my left, a whale rolled over in the ocean four times. And then there was nothing. I knelt there for the longest time. I felt as if I was bleeding from an open wound. I felt my heart was completely open and had merged with those of the whales. There was no separation between us. I remained in that open state of intense compassion for a long time, feeling as if I were in a great cathedral. I knew that I would never be the same again. "

- Presence

P. Senge, O. Sharmer, J. Jaworski, B. Flowers

"The Indian prefers the soft sound of the wind darting over the face of the pond, the smell of the wind itself cleansed by a midday rain, or scented with pinon pine. The air is precious to the red man, for all things are the same breath - the animals, the trees, the man."

Chief Seattle

"At the moment of surrender

I folded to my knees

I did not notice the passers-by

And they did not notice me

[...]

I was speeding on the subway

Through the stations of the cross

Every eye looking every other way

Counting down 'til the pain would stop

At the moment of surrender

Of vision over visibility

I did not notice the passers-by

And they did not notice me" - Moment of Surrender
Song by U2 (2009)

Cancer Won't Wait

By Lance Armstrong, Special to CNN
(CNN) --
On October 2, 1996, I was diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer. Like many 25-year-olds, I was fearless, ready to conquer the world and without health insurance. I was lucky. One of my sponsors, Oakley, stood up for me and threatened to take all their business elsewhere if their insurance carrier refused to cover me. Without their help, I might not be alive today. Or I might be completely broke, still trying to dig my way out of a massive pile of medical bills. That kind of luck shouldn't have anything to do with whether the 1.5 million people in the United States who will be diagnosed with cancer this year go broke trying to get the treatment they need to survive.
Go to full article

Leadership - The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation and The Gentlemen's Fund

Caring, constructive guidance should not be a privilege limited to those of stable communities or of financial means.

Together, The Gentlemen's Fund ® initiative and Mark Wahlberg are supporting the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, which-by offering leadership now-provides kids with the skills to become leaders in the future.

Through financial and community support, the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation aims to eliminate barriers that prevent youth from succeeding.

This collaboration is not a quick fix; it gets to the root by helping young people find their way. The Gentlemen’s Fund® initiative raises support and awareness for issues that are essential to modern men. Established in 2007 to commemorate GQ's 50th anniversary, The Gentlemen's Fund encourages men to become agents of change by contributing to charities that champion these causes.

Visit the Gentlemen's Fund

Visit the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation

The Battle Within Us

TWO WOLVES - One evening an old Cherokee Indian told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all..." - Read More

Source: www.legacydad.com

A similar theory is offered by Tom Rath and Donald with the acclaimed publication: "How Full Is Your Bucket?"

The Last Lecture

On Sept. 18, 2007, only a month after doctors told him that he had three-to-six months to live following a recurrence of pancreatic cancer, Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, presented a lecture called "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" to a packed auditorium at Carnegie Mellon.

He shared his insights on finding the good in other people, working hard to overcome obstacles and living generously. "If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself," Pausch said. "The dreams will come to you."

The video appeared on countless websites and has been viewed by millions. Appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC's Good Morning America and the CBS Evening News followed.

A book version, "The Last Lecture" co-written by Jeff Zaslow of the Wall Street Journal (and a fellow Carnegie Mellon alumnus), became a best-seller.

Randy Pausch died at 47 on July 25th, 2008, he has inspired countless students in the classroom and others worldwide.

Randy Pausch's Home Page
The Last Lecture and other resources
Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

When Capitalism Works

"TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple premise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about." - TOMS


Success Magazine article on TOMS Shoes
Blake Mycoskie's Blog

The Right to Love

- Ever since “And Tango Makes Three,” a children’s book detailing the story of two male penguins and the baby chick they hatched, has been published, in 2005, more people have requested the book’s removal each year from schools and libraries than any other book in the United States, according to the American Library Association [..] Now the authors of the book, Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, have their own baby Tango. In February, the gay couple, who live in the West Village, had their first child. - Read full article: "A Baby for the Gay Authors Behind the Daddy Penguins" By Jennifer 8. Lee

- But if homosexuality occurs among animals, does that necessarily mean that it is natural for humans, too? And that raises a familiar question: if homosexuality is not a choice, but a result of natural forces that cannot be controlled, can it be immoral? - Read full article: "Love That Dare Not Squeak Its Name" By Dinitia Smith

- Rob Calhoun and his partner, Clay Calhoun, of Avondale Estates, Georgia, have two adopted children -- 4-year-old daughter Rainey and son, Jimmy, who is 18 months old. The children share the same biological mother.

"We're not moms, we're not heterosexual. We're not biological parents," Rob Calhoun said. But "we're totally equal and just as loving as female parents, as straight parents, and biological parents."

"Love makes a family, not biology or gender," he added. - Read full article:"Gay Adoption: A new take on the American family" By Taylor Gandossy

Another Day in Paradise

“She calls out to the man on the street
"Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?"
He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there
Oh think twice, it's another day for
You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, it's just another day for you,
You and me in paradise...” - Another Day in Paradise (Lyrics by Phil Collins)

“When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed.”

“Love begins at home , and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do.” - Mother Teresa of Calcutta


Turn around , someone may need your help. Not all of us are saints or a missionaries, ready to fly to Chad, but pay attention and you'll see someone who is down, a friend, a co-worker, a sibling. Be there for them. According to the Talmud to save one person is to save the World. A young person may need a mentor, a child may need a parent, a sick person may need comfort. Don't look the other way!

A man who turned around...

Last summer, my family and I were desperately searching for a cure for my sister Barbara. Many doors were shut on us, because of insurance reasons. My sister needed to prove that she was able to cover treatment costs, before being considered as a research patient.

Finally, Dr. Penson opened a door to hope. I spoke -- and cried my heart out -- to him on the phone. Two days later Barbara was on a flight to Boston, ready to start a treatment recommended by Dr. Penson.

The first time we met Dr. Penson was during a visit on August 2008. I was struck right away by his humanity and people-skills. He asked Barbara about her hobbies and what she enjoyed doing in life. It was only later in the discussion that he started talking about her disease and possible medical treatments. He wanted to meet Barbara as a person, first, then as a patient. We met him as a man, first, then as a doctor.

I am thankful to Dr. Penson for turning around and paying attention to someone I deeply love.

Heidi's Story

Heidi is a cancer survivor. She describes on the Livestrong blog how she won the battle with the disease and how this fight has changed her life. Read Heidi's story on Livestrong


Patrick’s beautiful life came to an end, but his courage and story will continue to live on in our memories.

Emotional Capital

How important are characteristics such as self-realization, assertiveness and people-skills in management and leadership? How important is for a manager or anyone in a leadership position to show reliance, confidence, empathy and let transpire a sense of optimism to people? As a Project Manager, I believe it is fundamental in my professional area. A highly qualified subject matter expert: Dr. Martyn Newman, wrote a terrific book on this topic: Emotional Capitalists: The New Leaders, Wiley, 2008. The book is quickly becoming a best seller.

Read:

Great post on emotional capital from the "Leading Answers" Blog

Martyn Newman’s “Emotional Capitalists: The New Leaders”:

Assess your Emotional Intelligence – free test