You Have 2 Hands for a Reason

“For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

 For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

 For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

 For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day.

 For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. 

 People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.

 As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.” 

― Sam Levenson

Love Alone is Worth the Fight

Not since U2 entered the musical scene has a band reverberated the level of inspiration that Switchfoot is doing these days. Their messages of Faith, Hope, and Love inspires people of all walks of life.  To introduce their upcoming film "Fading West," the band has released the official video of their latest song "Love Alone is Worth the Fight."

Packed with inspiring images from various parts of the world, the video's music and visual scenes combine to offer yet another awe-inspiring look into one of today's most inspirational bands - Switchfoot. Plug in your earphones, turn up the volume, and prepare to become inspired!




Love Alone is Worth the Fight Lyrics:
I'm trying to find where my place is
I'm looking for my own oasis
So close I can taste this
The fear that love alone erases
So I'm back to the basics
I figure it's time I face this
Time to take my own advice
Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight
And I never thought it'd come to this
But it seems like I'm finally feeling numb to this
The funny thing about a name is
You forget what the reason you were playing the game is
And it's all an illusion
A 21st century institution
So I'm headed down the open road unknown
And we find what we're made of
Through the open door
Is it fear you're afraid of?
What are you waiting for?
Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight
We're only here for a season
I'm looking for the rhyme and reason
Why you're born, why you're leaving
What you fear and what you believe in
Why you're living and breathing
Why you're fighting it and getting it even
Let's go headed down the open road unknown
And we find what we're made of
Through the open door
Is it fear you're afraid of?
What are you waiting for?
Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh! Oh!
Here we are, here we go
Where the road is our own
Hear it calling you home
Here we are, here we go!
Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight
Love alone is worth the fight

Unknown Heroes are Key to Social Media Sadness and Heroism

The other day a young man posted a picture of a local Chicago magazine cover onto his Instagram account.  Since his Instagram links to his Facebook, I had the fortunate opportunity to view it in my News Feeds.  The picture, which featured actor Danny Glover, was somewhat interesting at first glance, but it was his comments that really caught my attention.  It read:

“DePaul has taught me there are people who struggle in Chicago, but still strive for more. One lady I met today has been working all day since 7am just to sell her last magazine and I'm proud to say I made her day with a smile, a simple hello, and a great night conversation. It's sad though how people ignore someone so motivated, but I know that these people in the city will motivate me in my life to be the best me I can be. #streetwise#DePaulLife #godbless “

Do you remember the last time you had an ice-cold glass of your favorite drink after a hot, tiring, and stressful day?  Well, that’s how I felt when I read his comment. Refreshed. It’s the cool breeze that blows through the stagnant-sadness-causing posts polluting Instagram and Facebook these days. 

In fact, research recently mentioned on ABC News, The NewYorker, and other sources suggests the more people use these social media platforms, the more unhappy they are likely to become.  According to ABC News, “Independent studies by researchers at Utah Valley University, Western Illinois University, Gothenburg University in Sweden, and others have found similar results: People look at the overacurate digital lives of all their other friends, compare themselves to what they see and then feel a decrease in self-esteem.”  This is especially true with vacation photos and the plethora of materialism that people gloat online. 

This young man’s post is not only refreshing, but it sizzles with heroic inspiration.  I don’t mean the kind of extraordinary heroism we associate with legendary warriors like Odysseus or humanitarians like Mother Theresa and Mahatma Gandhi.  Nope. Odysseus belongs in Greek mythology, and the latter two’s sacrifices are too much to expect from most people. The heroes I’m talking about are ordinary people, who in particular situations, do extraordinary things; such as the case of this young Depaul University student.

Knowing fully the lady selling the magazine is battling financial hardships and that Streetwise is a magazine raising awareness on the impact of poverty and homelessness in Chicago, something I learned later; this young man did what most wouldn’t, and that is simply – to care.  So does this make him a hero?  In society’s eyes, perhaps not, but in my eyes and of those in despair, I think so. 

Imagine if more people posted acts of kindness, positive news, and inspiring thoughts on social media platforms.  Maybe, just maybe, one might be inspired enough to do something extraordinary for someone else and bring an inkling of hope into the world.

Odds Are Everything's Gonna Be Alright

With all the negative news bombarding us, sometimes it's good to hear something inspirational.  Here's a happy song by the Barenaked Ladies band that's just pure "feel-good."

Cyberbullying Encounters Inspirational Hearts of Today's Youth

I know a sweet little 5 year old girl who is one of the sweetest girls on this planet.  Always smiling, always makes other people smile, always a bundle of joy to be around. Sadly, she’s being bullied at school. Right now the bullying she encounters is much like the bullying that existed when I was a child – face to face, in person, direct nastiness. 


It’s heartbreaking to hear that such a sweet little girl is being bullied.  What’s worse is knowing that she is likely to encounter cyber bullies as she grows older.  It took me awhile to wrap my brains around cyberbullying, but now that I know of its magnitude and impact on our youth, I am convinced that something needs to be done to combat it.

In the case of a young child such as Natalie, we parents still have a great impact on how our children’s self esteem and worth is nourished.  As they grow older, however, they tend to tune us parents out.  This is where other kids and teens can step up and help in this battle against bullying.  Kids listen to kids.  Teens listen to teens.  Youth armed with an inspirational heart for others are possibly the greatest weapon in this war against self-worth-robbing bullies. 

Author and parent advocate, Sue Scheff, wrote an excellent article that expounds on this idea of youth reaching out to inspire others.  It’s titled, “The Best Answer We’ve Seen to Cyberbullying Yet.”  In short, it lists the following “Takeaway tips”:

• Kids can be teachers too. The more they learn about online safety, the more able and willing they will be to mentor others.
• Create a club in your school where kids can learn to look out for each other.
• Be part of a proactive community of helping others learn about being safe online.
• If you witness cyberbullying, don't be a bystander, be an upstander.
• Youth unite worldwide against bullying. Join willUstand and make a difference in the lives of other kids

 You can read the article in its entirety HERE. It’s good to know that people like Sue are inspiring others through their writings and actions.  It’s even better to know that the types of teens she mentions in her article, such as those of Westhighbros, who are helping to make a positive difference, are out there in numbers. Now that’s inspirational!

   

How far can one get on sheer kindness?

Leon Logothetis is a former London broker on a mission. Together with his motorcycle, which he calls Kindness One, they will attempt to travel the world on sheer kindness.  With not money, no place to stay, and no food; Leon is relying on the generosity of strangers to get him across the world. So far, his trip has brought out the best in many people including a homeless man who shared his food with Leon and allowed him to sleep in the same garage for a night.

"It's all about inspiring other people and being inspired myself," Logothetis said of his passion project on "Good Morning America" last month.

Hats off to Leon.  His actions will not only inspire others to "act" in kindness with others, but they will also help raise awareness and funds for Make a Wish International.

Watch a video and read more about this story at ABC News.