I have been waiting for a rebuttal, knowing I could count on one from my friend and colleague, Robert Egger – founder of the DC Central Kitchen and in-your-face advocate for the work this sector does.
Robert did not disappoint. If you are looking for someone to help cheer you on as you do your work today, I promise Robert will get your blood pumping. (Update: Video has been updated from the one originally posted. See the comments for details.)
I am now even more proud that I asked Robert to be the first guest for my podcast at the Chronicle. To listen to his views on the power this sector has to change the world, you can grab that here at iTunes. (Click on the entry called “Making a Difference” from 5/5/10.)
Thank you, Robert – for your enthusiastic advocacy for every single person working to build a better world!
This is a special Rock Out. Not that they’re not all special, but this week is a bit different.
First, this week is the mid-point of my semi-sabbatical. I wish I could say I’ve holed up doing nothing but writing and exploring. But having decided to do this only 2 weeks prior to doing it, I couldn’t magically make all my work vanish.
So yes, I am spending hours every day writing & reading & thinking & exploring.
I am also tying up loose ends for our corporate taxes. And working on a project for a coaching client. And planning a new consultants workshop we’ll be doing in Los Angeles next month.
So that’s the first special thing this week – seeing that I can incorporate into my worklife huge swaths of time for writing and thinking and being. That all it takes is my intending to do so – holding myself accountable.
WOW! Suddenly it is the first day of my sabbatical all over again, because every day can be the first day of my sabbatical! Every day I can get my “real work” done while giving myself loads more time to do the REAL “real work.”
I feel empowered. I feel energized. All while preparing our taxes. Wow. This is the first day of my life.
If you are viewing this in your email or a reader that doesn’t show video, this linkwill take you to the website where you can watch the video. Link to site here.
The other reason this week’s Rock Out is special is this: This week is my birthday.
In my early twenties, I realized I could make my birthday last a full week simply by adding these words to everything I wanted to do: “You have to – it’s my birthday.”
Ice cream sodas for lunch, afternoons at Larchmont Park, evenings at Rye Playland, nights in a divey local bar. My friends indulged a full week of playtime, birthed by the words. “You have to – it’s my birthday.”
It’s been 30 years since I’ve felt my birthday in every cell of my being. Suddenly, though, at age 53, every day feels like the first day of my life.
So let’s celebrate!
First, I would be remiss if I didn’t ask you to celebrate by helping us build Creating the Future. Whether it’s 53¢ or $53 or $53,000 (a girl can dream…) – please click on the button in the right-hand column, to help support this movement for being the change we want to see.
But that doesn’t hold a (birthday) candle to what I really want.
What I really want is that you consider the things you wish you had time to do. And right now, hold yourself accountable for doing them – starting today. Because this is the first day of your life, too.
It’s Monday morning – time to dive into what is possible this week!
If there is one thing we realized through our fundraising campaign this past month, it is that the only way we can move forward to create the future is to be grateful for what has been given to us in the past.
We all have so much to be thankful for, so much to celebrate.
What better way to start the week than remembering all we have to build upon already?
When philosopher and theologian Huston Smith asked Zen master Daisetz Suzuki, “What is zen?” this was his answer:
Infinite gratitude for all things past.
Infinite service to all things present.
Infinite responsibility for all things future.
As you head out into your own week, creating the future for your community, here’s to living your own life and work like it’s golden.
Be grateful. Be of service.
And consider the awesome responsibility each of us has, as every action we take is creating the future.
Have a great Monday and a great week, all!
Many thanks to David Lingholm for pointing me to this week’s video!
This is a special Rock Out. Not that they’re not all special, but this week is a bit different.
