Move to get Acknowledged

"Forget about being world famous, it's hard enough just getting the automatic doors at the supermarket to acknowledge our existence." -Doug Coupland

Walking Alone

Not long ago, I was walking down the sidewalk in a large metropolitan city. There were scores of people walking towards and with me. Some would be entering stores while others would be running out in order to catch a bus or taxi. I am sure you have been in a similar situation, lots of people passing by and you being one of them.

What I remember most is that nearly everyone was oblivious to each other. Each person was wrapped up in their own world. There seemed to be no acknowledgement of the fact there were others in close proximity.

I certainly understand that people have thoughts on their mind, have places to go, appointments to keep. But on that crowded street, I felt lonely and that feeling was going against some of our basic human needs for esteem and belonging.

Hierarchy of Needs

An American psychologist, named Abraham Maslow, wrote in 1943 a paper called "A Theory of Human Motivation". In it he described his "Hierarchy of Needs" which is a pyramid depicting the levels of human needs, psychological and physical.

What I found interesting is that if I looked at someone, smiled or said hello, that loneliness collapsed. In nearly every case where I did, the other person smiled or responded nicely and without any rude gestures. It was one person acknowledging the other in a world filled with too much to do and too little time to think of others.

Extending a Smile

Everyone needs some level of acknowledgement in their life. It validates our existence and raises our hopes of a great life. There are many things that being acknowledged impacts at both physiological and psychological levels. Being lonely can lead to a lack of happiness in life, but there are ways for you to combat it.

Gretchen Rubin wrote The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun and also hosts a blog with the same name, The Happiness Project. She wrote in a Psychology Today article, about strategies you can use to combat loneliness.

In short (read the entire article for more detail);

Movement creates change

It was this last step, a step out, movement in which I acknowledged others. In return they acknowledged me and the lonely walk became a walk with friends. It changes the whole atmosphere.

Sometimes, to change our place in life, we have to create the movement. We have to be the ones to step out, acknowledge others by smiling and simply saying hello. You will be amazed how it changes your life when you change someone else's life.

Stay inspired my friends.

Homeless

"If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience." -George Bernard Shaw

Yes, all of us know our American economy is struggling up a steep hill. The recovery we are pushing through is like many other countries that are strugglings to recover. Long periods of what many would term wild spending and untamed greed placed us at this moment in history.

What I am not here to talk about is the political or ideological reasons for the economic woes. Nor am I here to discuss aspects of the recovery. What I am here to talk about is that history has repeated itself and we are left with many in desperate need. One particular topic is homelessness and how it affects people.

Consider these figures according to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness;

- 2009 Homeless Assessment reports on a single night, 643,067 people were homeless.
- Of those, 63 percent were sheltered, 37 percent were unsheltered.
- Individuals (63%) and Family groups (37%) used shelters in 2009.
- In 2009, 1,558,917 people used emergency shelters or transitional housing programs.
- On a single night in 2009, 238,110 people in families were counted as homeless.

It is found that families experiencing homelessness are usually headed by a single woman who on average is in her late 20s with approximately two children, one or both under six years of age 11. It is also found that the three most important differences between families experiencing homelessness and other poor families concern the resources they need to secure housing.

Families experiencing homelessness;

- have extremely low incomes,
- have less access to housing subsidies than low income families who remain housed,
- and have weaker social networks that are not able to provide sufficient help.

One can always argue various reasons for homelessness. Regardless of those reasons, we should care for those who need housing or shelter. The shanties of the 1930s or the nylon tents of today, each represents someone in need. And that is what we should at least agree upon, that those in need should be helped.

That help can come from public sources, but I tend to believe the bigger assistance is going to come from you and me. From individuals caring for those in need and wanting to care for their fellow human being. We may never completely rid the world of poverty and homelessness, but we can try.

Stay inspired my friends.

A Juggling Act

"Juggling is sometimes called the art of controlling patterns, controlling patterns in time and space." -Ronald Graham

I have wondered at times if we are not simply the amusement of our God at times. As He watches us live our lives trying to do everything possible under the sun. The juggling act we perform every day can be quite entertaining when you think about it.

There have been articles I have written about this juggling act all of us attempt to perform. When I hear those words, I am drawn back to the old Ed Sullivan variety television show. There was always some act of juggling or plate spinning being showcased.

What I never realized way back then is how much life would reflect those performing acts. I too was going to juggle the many things that life sends my way. I would have to find a way to keep all of my plates spinning.

I have tried to explain the correlation to life and the art of the juggler in various articles. I then found a book that describes it wonderfully. A book that details those struggles each of us have to work through. And the great thing about the book is it was written by a person I would not have expected.

Pat Gelsinger is the author's name and he may or may not be a well known name to you. But in the computer industry, he is well known for his many years as a driving force behind the success of Intel Corporation. In 2009 he became our President and Chief Operating Officer at EMC Corporation and very recently was named CEO of VMware.

You might try to apply the stereotypes about high-powered executives prevalent today. But those would not stick very well and it is evident in his book called The Juggling Act: Bringing Balance to Your Faith, Family, and Work.

As one reviewer wonderfully said, "Perhaps it's because I'm a new dad, a corporate employee and a believer in unconditional love - but this is the best book I've read in the last 10 years when it comes to practical wisdom. Pat's family stories are mind-blowing and full of heart. The afterword by his wife, Linda, is a true gem - hearing her perspective and thoughts on Pat and what it means to be a supportive wife...."

This is a book that anyone, at any point in their career, family or walk in life can pull strength and knowledge from. I certainly learned quite a bit from it and so will you.

Keep those plates spinning and stay inspired my friends.

And now for your entertainment...

Just Breathe

"A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge." -Thomas Carlyle

With all that is going on today in your life, just breathe.
With all of the news and politics, just breathe.
With all of the heartache you may be suffering, just breathe.
With all of the uncertainty, just breathe.
With all of the love you have to give, just breathe.



Stay inspired my friends!

Read more about what Love Is or to Invite Me to Speak, just click on the link.