Beach Walk #159 – Out beyond right and wrong…

July 31, 2006 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

I finally saw the movie Crash. And I loved it.

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h3. About Today’s Show

I saw Crash the day after I talked about the Rox Theory of Connectivity (#157) – how we are all connected whether we remember or like it. In the movie of course, people literally who think they hate each other keep crashing into each other, and in the end, are responsible for each other’s salvation on various levels, from literal to metaphorical. I loved this film precisely for how it points out the abstract rage and fear that drives so much of our prejuduces, our kneejerk responses, our forgetfulness.

Here are the quotes I mentioned, one by Rumi, a Persian poet from the 13th century, and from Jesus, in the Gospel of Matthew. Doesn’t it strike you as odd how so many religions teach the same values, yet ignore them in the face of conflict?

A Peace & Conflict Resolution Project at the University of Maryland provides the quote from Rumi:
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.

The Illustrated Rumi is one of my favorite books.

Here is a speech from Martin Luther King quoting Jesus:
Ye have heard that it has been said, “Thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.” But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.

Start anywhere. It might be someone in your own family. Or a co-worker. Or a sales clerk. Look past the surface and seek something you share in common. Allow the heart to soften, the mind to open, and things will change.

Hawaiian words
Aloha: love
Mea aloha: loved one

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Beach Walk #158 – You too can seed a business!

July 30, 2006 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Kiva.org allows you to be micro-lender and help other entrepreneurs.

Download this episode here. | 5:01; 22.4 MB

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h3. About Today’s Show

I learned about kiva.org over at Jon Rawlinson’s blog, The RAD Blog.

Kiva was started by former employees of Tivo, PayPal and Google. It connects you with budding business owners in developing countries via microloans. These are very small loans, under $1000 typically, but based on very small amounts from lenders. Now, you can find a tailor in Cambodia and lend $25 towards his business. And also find a farmer in Honduras, and loan her $25. Since several lenders actually make up the bulk of an individual loan, the risk is spread wide. Not that it needs to be. Microloans have an average 96% repayment rate, and so far, Kiva is batting 100%.

Each loan is managed by a local business partner, who screens applicants and collects a small amount of interest to administer the loans. As a lender, 100% of your loan goes directly to the recipient. The “interest” you receive is in helping another person grow a sustainable enterprise. PayPal processes all the payments, both your initial loan and your repayment, all without any fees. You are repaid as the business owner pays back the loan, typically over a 12 month period.

Kiva’s site shows you a picture and bio of each recipient, and also logs each repayment. You can rate projects as especially worthy and help them get funded even faster.

This is a perfect project in my book and I hope you will consider participating.

Hawaiian words
Hāʻawi no ka manawa: loan, to give for a short time

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Beach Walk #157 – Rox Theory of Connectivity

July 29, 2006 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Awakening to the fact that we are all connected, all related.

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h3. About Today’s Show

I read this morning in The Week that 8 out 10 people won’t turn off their cell phones even during sex. At first, you might think this is very neurotic. But it struck me that so many of us are very hungry to connect with each other. On some level, technology is giving us a much more potent way to do that, and people in general just can’t seem to get enough of it! Note to investors: anything that helps people connect with each other is a good bet.
I believe that we are truly are connected, on the spiritual level of things. Yet one of life’s many games is pretending how separate we are. My friend Shaina Noll sings a song by Susan McCullen, You Can Relax Now that shares this message so beautifully:

You had a dream
You misunderstood
You thought we were separate
But now you hear my voice and
You can relax now
C’mon and open your eyes
And breathe deeply now
I am with you.

There are sayings that have been around a long time, like “You hurt the ones you love the most.” What does that really mean? What if it meant that those closest to us are willing to bear witness to our explorations of self? What if we are as deeply connected to our enemies as we are to our loved ones, what does that say about the prospects for peace?

On the other hand, what if all the “superficial” sharing on MySpace and YouTube is really a joyful reawakening of our unity?

Hawaiian words
Hoʻomanaʻo: remember
Pili ʻana: connection

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Beach Walk #156 – Lucky or Smart?

July 28, 2006 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Does it matter if you’re lucky or smart?

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h3. About Today’s Show

The interview I read last week with Dr. Ben Barres mentioned something I’ve been thinking about: luck vs. accomplishment or grace vs. merit. He said he feels lucky to be teaching at Stanford, but imagines that Lawrence Summers feels deserving to be at Harvard.

I’ve often wondered how actors will thank God for their awards but business people tend to attribute success to their own making. I see a lot of holes, as you can “do all the right things” and still fail, and of course do all the “wrong things” and have a fabulous success. Clearly, there are many things outside of our control, and I find it curious that in some fields we dismiss those things so readily.

Here’s my logic. Since we cannot prove whether a result occurs exclusively from our own merit, then that means we can try the things we want! It means that if we fail at something, it may or may not have been our “fault.” I find it much more useful to observe “what worked for me, what didn’t” and “Do I want to try that again?” It is so easy to get so invested in the results, and think they actually mean something other than they are the results of this one particular task. A single experience does not measure the true relevance of any given goal and it certainly does not measure your talent or brains.

Hawaiian words
Hana: business, labor

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Beach Walk #155 – Fill her up! She’s out of gas….

July 27, 2006 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

At my computer since 6:20 am, it’s 10 pm and I am outta gas!

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h3. About Today’s Show

Crazy bizzy with work today so no trip to the beach! I did take Jerry and Elle to the airport though, with a final trip to the gas station to fill up my gas tank. It’s a great metaphor for me too. I’m tired, and looking to get recharged.

My hunch was right the other day — it is Mercury in retrograde. I am looking forward to that being over in a few days. :-) And apparently the car trouble was gas-related. She’s running just fine now. And I noticed that I put it in the past almost immediately. Previous versions of my self would have been waiting for it to keep dying on me. I like noticing those milestone of change.

Hawaiian words
Hakahaka: empty

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