The Fine Art of Volunteering
By · CommentsDon’t ever question the value of volunteers. Noah’s Ark was built by volunteers. The Titanic was built by Professionals. – Unknown
There is a time for volunteering or giving and a time for taking and striking a balance between the two, is a fine art form. Many give , and give generously- of their time, their unique value, their experience and their effort. Often this is given to family and friends, and the large hearted give also to the extended community of people who are less fortunate themselves. Volunteering flexes the emotional muscles of the heart and strengthens both the giver and the receiver.
When the gifts of volunteering are appreciated, both are blest. When respect and credit is given to the person who volunteers, be he ever so humble, it re-inforces that primordial instinct in mankind to give from their strengths in order to contribute to the world from their gifts. Read More→
A Celebration of Language
By · CommentsThere are hundreds of languages in the world, but a smile speaks them all.
September 23rd was the European Day of Languages and it was celebrated in grand style for the first time in Toronto at the Goethe-Institut at University Avenue. Four of the major Language Schools combined to present an event that was marked by the warmth, hospitality and cultural flavours of the different countries of the world that they represented.
As I am passionate about learning foreign languages and speak three of the 5 languages represented, of course I wanted to participate in any way I could. Quelle joie !
The evening started by a Salsa dance presentation and the joie de vivre of the dancers set the tone for the event. There was a table bountiful with hors d’oeuvres and cookies and specialities representative of the different lands and fine wine flowed copiously matched ably with the finest chocolates. Read More→
Leadership Lessons from Kindergarten
By · CommentsFrom winds and seas, and hills and trees, and little ones – Learn ye the ways of wisdom. – St. Mira
Many years ago, I came across a gem of a little book by Robert Fulghum called : All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten. Mostly his musings were about life in general, but he made some very important points.
We all know kids – either our own or someone else’s. Even if we don’t, most of us still remember that we were kids at one time and some of us even like to remember our childhood, often crossing the sands of time to re-live a particular moment, a special feeling.
Whatever our circumstances, if we consider it carefully, we realize that we were at our wisest in our extreme youth- pure of mind, full of love and playfulness, living in the moment and untarnished by life’s experiences.
In that state of innocence we were wise beyond measure – in all our thoughts, actions and intentions. And all it takes is a few stretches of the imagination to re-tap into the magic of childhood in order to regain a sense of perspective about the world around us. Read More→
Driven: The Instinct to Succeed
By · CommentsWhen a man feels throbbing in him the power to do what he undertakes as well as it can possibly be done, this is happiness, this is Success!- Orison Swett Marden
We are all successful people. Just lets admit it and accept that right off the bat! It is all relative to our definition or other peoples definition of success.
Compared to the countless eggs and sperm competing for a chance at life, we made it! Hurray!
We survived childhood without too many risks to our lives and grew up to be literate adults. At least those of you reading this, right? We may not be employed to our entire satisfaction, but we do have ways to earn a living, don’t we? Thus in turn ensuring further successful survival. Well, really!
We are driven by the instinct to succeed and life is made up of many successses, small and big – a shopping trip accomplished having bought exactly what you set out to buy, marriage to a person of our choice (no matter how that turns out!) , food choices from a lavish menu of items, you get to choose life and all its gifts. Some less fortunate ones do not always have that choice! Read More→
