documentary

“Everything closes on Sunday’s. It’s family time” Kara brings us up to speed on the German culture.

“I think adults have to behave the way we are demanding our children to behave,” she platforms with an explanation.

“’We ask our children to compromise… and to talk to each other in a nice tone. And then we are constantly inundated with what’s in the news of people who can’t talk to each other. We’ve got two warring parties and a president who can’t do much because people aren’t behaving themselves. It’s really hard to say to our kids, ‘We expect this of you!’ when we don’t live it by example.’

The biggest thing I want the say to people is, ‘Live the way we want to see our kids living.’

Kids are not having the opportunities that we had… and fortunately for my family, we are in Germany, where it is a little safer for kids (Kara has lived there for eleven years working as a teacher).

My kids can ride their bikes and go down to the bike paths. But here in the States, I worry about stuff like that. What example are we giving our kids with what is going on.’”

I have to ask, “Why is it safer in Germany?”

“The family is important…” Kara responds, “’…multi generations are still living in one house, and we don’t have as many nursing homes to push people off to. Sunday’s are a family day where you can’t go shopping… everything shuts down. That brings out the best in people. You see kids outside playing with each other. Families are walking together… or biking together… It’s a slower pace of life where the family is still important.

It’s not like Germany doesn’t have its problems; but the problems we see are adult based. So again, if we want our kids to have the kind of life we want for them, then we have to restructure within ourselves. We can’t just say, ‘Well… you’ll have it better.’ How are they going to have it better if we are not showing them?

‘Do as I say… not as I do…’ That doesn’t work!’”

Kara gives us a few tips on navigating forward.

“We need to always continue to question ourselves… Are we doing the best that we can?

Are we providing that next generation with what they need? Are we providing the art’s opportunities that there should be? Are we continuing to feel that math and science are the only things we can afford to teach them…? When that is not bringing out a full human being.

And we need to keep history alive.”

I’m always happy to engage in conversations on the modern schooling systems. Not bagging on the teachers, there are so many great ones like Kara and a plethora of other teacher friends that I have known for many years.

The problems actually lie at the top end of education, with administrators working within an antiquated schooling system. A System that is far in need of an update to match that of the world as it is now, and not lagged by the weight of schooling methods that worked in the past.

But what is the solution? I admit that I am clueless. The problem is vast and complex, but there is an educator who has an idea. Sir Ken Robinson, a man whom I have never met, but his message is succinct. He calls it “Changing Education Paradigms.” Here is a link to a presentation that explains his point of view. Check it out; his concepts are very eye-opening.

“I hope we are going to be in a place where kids drive the education…” Kara elaborates, “…if there is something that they want to do, that in the future we will not be so focused on the school programs, and allow them to progress and grow through things.

Sure, we all have to work some kind of job at some point. But we need to have a more rounded people who can all come to an understanding of each other, regardless of race, gender or faith. That Muslim, Christian, Jew and Catholic can get along. We all have our beliefs, and we need to learn how to respect each other. And we need to learn that it’s not a bad thing to be just who you are. I hope that we can come to a day where we live together in a respectful atmosphere… I think we could do it… if we tried.”

For the next week, I am clueless as to the length, or depth, of the entries I will be writing. And for the sake of explanation, just think of me a Mr. Mom. As for the next five days I have positioned myself for a role reversal of responsibilities at the office.

You see, my wife is a very talented designer, and due to the iPad and the new HTML 5 protocol, it is time for us to update our assignment website. So, for me to sit in the office with my eyes over her shoulders would only prove to be a possible demise of our relationship, or at least the beginning of the journey to the guest bedroom for a month or two.

But really, the blessings are all mine, and I get the win/win. It’s not often that I get to dedicate the majority of my time to stepping out of the office, and I’ll, admit that although I love what I do, I am allowing myself to check out as much as I can. And even better yet, I get to come back to work with a great advancement in the positioning of my business. Got to love the tenacity of our better half.

With that said, my entries may be brief for a few days, or maybe not, but whatever they are, I’ll do my best to give you what I can. Plus, there are probably many who know me that might say, “Thanks for using fewer words” (We’ll see if I can?).

It’s day one of role reversal… we go bowling… and meet Steve, his wife Laureen and their grandchildren who are in lane 29, directly adjacent to our spot in lane 30.

Steve is throwing strike after strike. And in neighborly fashion, I begin complimenting him on his game. One word leads to another, and before I know it, my bowling family has vicariously grown larger than only my daughter and I. Never underestimate the power of a simple smile of appreciation.

We all finish our games, the pins have stopped flying and with a pause of bowling ball retrieving settling into our seating arrangement, I decide to extend a 365 invite to my new strangers now friends.

Without a second thought, Steve and Laureen are open to discussion. But with family commitments beyond the bowling alley time they have schedules, we agree to keep it to five minutes… I start my recorder, take a few snaps shots and this is what they have to say.

Steve:
“We are Bible believing Christians. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and fear, being respectful for God. To expand on that a little bit, the world has the wrong stereotype of Christianity… They look at it as hypocritical and judgmental. But real biblical Christianity is about loving one another, and considering others more important than yourself. It’s really caring about other people.”

As customary, I ask Steve his predictions of the world ahead of us.

“It’s hard to put a timeframe on it…” He positions, “… and these supposed Christians that make prophetic statements and set time frames? None of us really know a timetable. The real difficulty is that the world is going more towards an absence of standards on what is right and wrong… and against standards of morality. Ultimately, God is going to redeem a fallen world. How many years…? It’s hard to say…

… There is lot of revival in other countries… And there are a lot of people coming to a belief in Christ. And with that, the world is kind of polarizing… its kind of leaning in the other direction.”

Laureen adds to Steve’s shared hope and faith for the calming of a turbulent world, “Prioritize god…” she smiles an enchanting warmth, “… know of his truth… and then share that truth with others… that is what will change the world. It’s really his timeframe, not ours. We are just called to be faithful in our day.”

“The bottom line is living it… not just preaching it…” Steve resumes, “Taking care of people and living in the moment. It’s not ours to judge. That’s God’s prerogative… that’s his authority. We just have to love people.”

And loving people is exactly what Steve and Laureen model in their lives. I know it to my core… As evident in their very countenance and kindness they so easily place upon my kid and myself.

Our five minutes are up, it’s time to return to our individual lives, but as a last gesture of accepting love Laureen reaches out to my daughter and me with outstretched arms, “I’m a hugger,” She says.

Our hearts are touched by the gesture.

It’s so random how I run into people, and never knowing exactly what we will be talking about, there have been many unpredicted topics unveiled, and today proves to be a first.

At initial impression, a future prediction is put forth that seems as if pulled from the plot of a Sci-Fi film. But upon further examination, there are grounds to support the views of one of today’s very articulate new friends, Jorge, who with his girl friend Cindy have accepted my reach out, as I depart from picking up my daughter from her art school.

It’s very hot, but the does not stall us from taking a time out of our schedules to grab the shade of an alley palm tree for a summers days chat away from the direct heat of the afternoon sun.

At first, Both Jorge and Cindy share universal wisdoms that have been a constant all the way through 365:

Jorge, “’It’s really important to follow your passion. And to be brave enough to leave whatever it is that is not making you happy. To go and find whatever it is you need to do. You know that one old adage. ‘You don’t work a day in your life because you love what you are doing.’

I’ve left jobs that I’ve had… in cubicles and stuff like that… and I’m following my passion.’”

I’ve also heard from a few other friends, “Find something you love doing… even if at times it is not that fun doing it.”

Cindy, “Do not focus on the negative, and just continue life in the positive. And accept any struggles in your life… they will help you… you will learn from them.”

All good council… and, all words that we can never hear enough of.

Now to Jorge’s forecast, “Within fifty years, humans are going to be cross-engineered with machine and technology. We are going to become neo-human being type… half human, half machine. But even if we don’t go that far, I think we will be able to have the processing power of computers within us.”

A dramatic proposal, one that shakes the literal foundation of many a faith or ignites critical bounce back from many a person.

But all through 365, I have campaigned for the development of a listening ear in all of us. And in doing so, the acceptance of the compassion required to not ignore, or react to, any one person’s outlook.

And in that same respect for Jorge, I do my due diligence. Two hours of Google search, reading scans of an endless list of references… some legit, other not so intriguing. I could have read for hours more, but in support of my very patient family, I must step away from the Google suck that is beginning to paralyze my physical self. Today, this is close enough to the virtual world for me.

What I uncover is the general label to the category of research on the matter of the brain, “Neuroscience.” The sub category,  “Brain Computer Interface.”

I know… the premise of living in the world of Avatars is a wild proposition. One that I must admit frightens me a little.

But, for the sake of discussion, lets step back a few hundred steps in asking, “Can computers exist in the heads of man, and if so, what of the effect?”

The answer can be hailed up in a most modern aid to the loss of hearing. Namely, The Cochlear Implant, a device that changed the life of teacher and writer, Michael Chorost, who after the implant of such a machine authored “Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human (Houghton Mifflin, 2005).”

I dig a little deeper in finding a yet another new scientific theory, “Controlled Human Evolution.” A big topic at a vast list of yearly conferences that attracts many a great scientific mind.

Again, I am uncertain of my acceptance of a man altered being or of manipulating Mother Nature. But, after uncovering the huge financial and resource investment in such science, it would be ignorant of me to quickly dismiss the premise that Jorge has presented.

Jorge envisions what society would be like with the technology he predicts, “There will be no more having to touch anything, we’ll be able to think it and send it to anyone… like an email. Kind of like a though, but we’ll be able to send it anywhere around the world. A much more centered collective conscience where we can all think and absorb from one another.

Hopefully, it will be a good thing… I know there are bad people, and they always end up hacking, or doing bad things… some sort of virus or something. But hopefully, if we can control that, I think that will be our next level of consciousness, and we’ll be able to leave this state of mind. Maybe even go into a virtual world, and to change our looks on a daily basis. As long as we can embrace it in a positive light… It would be a good thing for us.

And once we get past having to live off money, and eliminate all the greed… maybe we’ll be living off a bartering system.”

Cindy comments, “Humanity will not really exist because of greed. This world is fascinated with money too much. And I think it’s going to damage us as humans.”

Jorge wraps the discussion with a positive mind-set on the capacity of society, “I think we all have something inside us, where even if we don’t speak it to one another, we have some kind of spiritual connection. Whatever it is that you believe in, there is something that binds us together.

And if we all think positively… all that springs out to everyone else is good. Contrasting, when people start thinking negatively, everyone starts thinking negatively.

Some may challenge me on that… and I don’t buy it… We need to think the positive stuff.”

Jorge, Cindy, you have definitely brought our attention to a very new topic, a pleasure having a sunny chat with you. Your points are thought-provoking.

Regardless of our opinions, science will continue to push to boundaries of our imaginations, and in the words of Albert Einstein, “Nothing is Impossible.”

The Cobalt Café (Day 231) sucks me in again, today meeting Atom the doorman.

I catch him as the evening starts, and between lines of youth, and some parents, who entering to be part of the music fest; Atom and I grab a few words.

Atom has one general wish; “I’d like to have more harmony in the world. That people would figure out that we are all here for a purpose… besides bickering back and forth over nations and stuff like that. There is a higher purpose for us all… to bring something more significant into our lives.

We need to meet and greet our fellow persons before we try to defeat them. And, to do what we can to keep the world going, because it falls in our hands next.

We’re being too proud of ourselves.

I’m hoping that this big 2012 thing will not be a cataclysm, and that it will be a reaching of the next threshold of mankind. We need to get to some level that is spiritual, and from there, a lot of doors will be opened. Understand that sometimes things that are written concrete can be totally rewritten.

In the past we have been at thresholds before, and something happened, where a big cataclysm occurred and things changed.

It’s kind of scary to think about, but we can personally be part of making order in the world… just look in the mirror… and fellowship each other… and pass it all down for the next generation. Like history has proven, there are all sorts of things that we take for granted.

It’s a big world… I was born in 77… I had my adversity as I was growing up, but I can look at it now… and from it, I just want the world to come together. I want to be able to see my Nieces and Nephews and stuff like that. And, I just want the world to be a better place for them. We are part of passing it on for the next time around.”

“How do we accomplish this change of heart?” I inquire.

The Atom(ic) man answers, “Instead of being so damn sure of stuff… pause to take a collective approach to things; even if you have to strain to do it in your mind first. And then, have the strength to make a good collective aspect out of what you are going for.”

There is nothing frighteningly nuclear about Atom. If fission is at the core of his DNA, it is not reacting itself into a devastating explosion. The physics of Atom’s chemistry is much more spiritual than colliding electrons and protons. It is far from scientific and yields no radioactive payload. The warhead that Atom carries is much more sublime and originates in the logical lobes of his brain. And as we all grow closer to our detonation points of the emotional, spiritual and social bombs that we each carry, Atom has turned the key as readies us to press the red button. A button that instead of incinerating us all, introduces hallways to a unified consciousness.

He says, “I’m hoping that this big 2012 thing will not be a cataclysm, and that it will be a reaching of the next threshold of mankind. We need to get to some level that is spiritual, and from there, a lot of doors will be opened. Understand that sometimes things that are written concrete can be totally rewritten.”

Feels like its time to start sharpening our pencils… we have writing to do.

Talk tomorrow my friends.

I’ll be honest; my brain is on half power as I write this entry. Not sure why, but for whatever reason, I’m falling short on any snappy opening or theatrical set up. Possibly its the uneasy feeling that was left on me by hearing the back talk of two people who were positioned outside of a grocery store, solicitation signatures for a very contested ballot initiative.

In listening to them I was wholly unimpressed to hear of the contempt they had for all who disagreed with their ballot proposal. In what they said my heart sank a little as I sat on a nearby bench, trying to enjoy the sun and an ice cream moment with my daughter.

The heartache came in hearing the terse under breath language and demeaning calls of judgment towards all who offered an opposite viewpoint to their position. “I hate all these stupid people” was one of the many comments that went into my mind as I sat, doing the best I could to help my daughter understand that is no way to respect our fellow-man.

What was equally frightening was that after speaking highly offensive words, they would turn to the next passer-by in continuing an outwardly benevolent campaign. And once again, behind the backs of polite “not interested,” utter to each words the likes of, “If I was off the time clock I’d tell these people just how stupid they are.”

Maybe my brain is not on half power after all, for if so, I certainly would not be so charged in this entry. And please, forgive me if I am becoming what I witnessed in exposing my observations of what I am calling, “The plague of hypocrisy.”

I’ll do my best to repent of my hard feelings. It’s really not about the ballot issue. It’s about the disrespect that I was forced to absorb through the numbness my polling neighbors carried in the way they so proclaimed of their point of view. Their atmospheric projection of volume and scorn touched my heart so eloquently that I walked away carrying a bit of the pain they must be feeling. And for that my obligation is to have compassion in my heart.

I understand their frustrations in fielding rejections to something close to their value system. Heaven knows… I have experienced much of the same for almost a year via the endless level of rejections and insults I have born in carrying forward 365.

I’m not saying that I am anyone special, but the one lesson that has been taught to me, over and over again, is to respect those who differ from my opinions even more than those who agree with me ten fold. That, in my mind is the truest school of compassion: To still love and accept when it is not that easy to do.

We are all species human. Every one of us has the same red blood running through our veins. And, at the end of our lives, do we want to look back and feel of the connection we made and of the lessons of compassion we learned? Or, do we want to leave this earth with hardened hearts and calloused intellects?

I guess I did have something to say after all, and in realizing this, let me bridge to the brighter light of my friends of today, Sharkie and his friend Monica. Both of who are the farthest contrast from my unknown earth citizens of this mornings sadness.

And even though Sharkie and Monica reveal differing opinions on society, and of the future, there is a love in their voices and a unity in their relationship. You know… The way people are supposed to respect one another. And in meeting them, I am healed for the moment from the unshed tears that have been trapped in my throat from the pain projected upon me in hearing the words of my politicking friends of supermarket past.

Monica says, “If I had one wish for the people of the world, I wish that people could do what they really want to do, without hurting someone else. And if people could just do that, I think that would save the world.”

Wow, how wise is that advice, and referencing the spirit attack I have been carrying, Monica has healed me. In her advice, we have given permission to either agree or to disagree, but in each instance, she has called us to accountability: Respect one another… in winning… and in loosing. That is the core to building a better humanity.

“And don’t let fear stop you from doing what you want to do,” She adds.

…Monica further facilities the healing. “We have to look at things and realistically see them for what they are, not using fear, or assumptions to direct our thoughts and actions.”

Sharkie addressed fear, “Jump into things that you are fearful of… and just do it.”

A peace falls on the our sidewalk chat as Sharkie and Monica agree in stereo, at the same time saying, “Face your fears.”

“Don’t let anybody intimidate you.” Sharkie expands as he looks at the planet ahead.

“The future is going to be just like it is right now, and it is going to go into a little more turmoil. A downfall… I don’t see anything picking up… because there are so many bad things happening in the world. People go to church and they pray. And many of the people that pray are still getting shot and killed. It’s only going to get worse. The police can’t control it. It’s still the gang members that control a lot of the turmoil on this planet.”

A rather dark forecast, but one well-earned. What is unique about it is that even though a tad fatalistic, Sharkie’s comments are weaved with optimism in comparing his history with his outlook on contributing to society.

“I was married, had a beautiful house, two beautiful kids, and a successful career. Then my wife had an affair, my marriage ended and I fell into a deep depression. I ended up homeless and the depression lasted three years. I’m now past the depression and feel lucky for what I have. I’m thankful for the money that I can earn (Sharkie is a finish carpenter) and the car that I have to live in. There are many that do not even have that. I have enough money and whenever I can help someone, I do. I give what I can to help everyone out.”

Sure Sharkie, has doubts regarding the world ahead, but does he let it paralyze him. You be the judge. And in our analysis a social initiative is presented. That no matter what our views of what is to come, or of our histories, we can all do our part in laying a foundation leaned towards honoring our fellow humans.

Per Sharkie’s words, “We can just hope for a better planet.”

Monica speak out, “I wouldn’t go so far as to project something really negative. I think if people could be little more positive. And really do take part to do something, and not waiting for something to happen. In a way, there is a big part of our destiny that we can control.”

She gives us a few reads to consider. “A Course in Miracles,” “The Power of Now,” “The Four Agreements” and the works of author “Zig Ziglar.” “They are very powerful books. Everyone should read them,” she promotes.

Two very unique people, two drastically different outlooks on society, yet in both there is an undeniable unity of friendship and mutual respect. There friendship is an example to us all. We don’t have to see the world the same, but we are all in it together.

Monica’s looks a little deeper, “You know how we sometimes hear about the end of the Mayan calendar in December; I think there is going to be a change in global consciousness. It will be the end of the shitty way things are going right now.

I know politically they may get worse and I wouldn’t blame banks. I would say that corporations are a big part of it.

People will realize that they exist, and I think that will help. And if people don’t get on the bus, they will have a really hard time… they might get left behind.

Basically people should stick together and help each other.”

The day is ending and Sharkie and Monica have a date with Spiderman.

Enjoy your movie my friends.

The only word that comes to my mind is “Chill” in describing Steven, veteran, cycle builder and now friend.

“I’ve got all that I need,” Steven tells me in describing his lifestyle. “I share a house with a friend and my stuff will fit in the back of a pick-up truck. I don’t stress that much about things. I don’t worry about money, I can pay my bills and it always works out.”

Relaxed, non-judgmental and wise are the attributes that best describe Steven. He speaks no guile, even at one time catching himself to not label a comparison in the way he refers to the people of the world. “I ride my bike, and too many people are not aware of me as I ride. It gets sketchy sometimes. People are…” he catches himself, “I’m not going to say anything about people. They just need to be careful as they drive and to not road rage. That does not do any of us good.”

Steven has witnessed a lot in his life and calls himself a realist. “I went to war and have seen a lot of poverty, hatred and strife. After being there I realized that we are blessed to have what we have.”

In every word that Steven says, his eyes are filled with compassion, friendship and patience.

“I’ve learned to not get angry. Like when I build my bikes. Sometimes I get burned in the bikes I buy and do not make a profit on them. Other times I do alright. That’s part of the challenge in what I do. It’s all OK.”

That is what initially drew me to talk with Steven, the very cool bike he was riding. I did not know, at first introduction, that it was a creation of his mind.

“I like working on, and rebuilding classic bikes… ” Steven mentions, “…I’m a traditionalist and try to fabricate from vintage parts, and I always try to reuse as many of them as I can,” he points to the oil tank that he built from a removed portion of exhaust pipe.

A bike builder per world standards Steven is, but in my mind he is much more… I call him an artist. The detail work in his ride is intricate. From the cut out engine parts to the hand build fender this bike is as trick as it gets. Custom to the core it screams of the love of its maker and is truly one of a kind. And never once did Steven boast of his creation.

Most of my works come to me through word of mouth, I’m not that organized in my marketing.

I understand why, Steven is in no fight for the successes of stature. “I’m happy with my life,” he says… And in making the claim I cannot ignore his conviction… he means it.

What about the future I ask, “We will probably have a another world war, they come in cycles. People get too greedy,” Steven predicts. But as he does, once again, there is no guile, just a realistic and compassionate outlook.

If there is any take away we need to pull from our time with Steven, it is to appreciate his calmness, his ability to look at people without judgment and his obvious acceptance to the conditions of the world we live in.

In all, what Steven suggests is that we look at the planet with realistic eyes, and as we do, be participants in planting constructive seeds in pondering our surroundings. To reconstruct our mental capacity in realizing that we are more fortunate than we know.

“Sometimes I get burned in the bikes I buy and do not make a profit on them. Other times I do alright. That’s part of the challenge in what I do. It’s all OK,” Steven exposes.

In it is a parable to navigating life. “We need to keep our minds grounded in the journey.” To not fear what is to come, or to harbor resentment for what has passed. That in whatever way… we can learn to be in the present. A presence that through a realistic outlook can be found reason for all we see; a tool of sorts for monitoring our decisions and interactions within our societies and our circles of influence.

So whether at peace or at war (hopefully not war), we can still look upon our fellow humans with compassion and an ear leaned towards understanding and away from the animal instinct to destroy. And if we can, resolve might well be the reward.

Perchance, and I wonder, what the world would be like if we all worked to find a little more positive Chill time. Using it, as does Steven, to think realistically in having the courage to think of others before ourselves. A thought that is impressed upon me from one gesture of self-control demonstrated this evening via our new friend Steven. For in his choice to not react negatively in labeling the people he shares the streets with, he exemplifies his bike-building parable of mind balance.

We win some… we lose some… That is reality… Thus, the challenge is laid before us. Leaving us two black and white options to controlling our instinctual desires to battle. Do we opt to prioritize the need to fight, or do we consider the strength of connecting?

At the end of the day we are ultimately responsible for our reactions. Through our actions we are influential catalysts to those we associate with. There is a measurable cause and effect resulting from the way we treat and view our fellow-man.  Our stewardship is palpable and can be profoundly transferred to the humanity around us.

The options are ours to grasp. Do we quest to build? Or, do we thirst for more?

What we do about it is up to each of us.

And Steven, thank you for shaking us to thought!

Auto drivers make way; there is a wise Harley rider out there.

Yesterday I confessed of being stressed and rushed in my day. And in calming me, I credited Ken, the guy I met at the hot dog stand outside of the Lowes Hardware that I was doing business with. What I did not tell you was the spirit of the mentioned lunch stop.

Arno is his name, and after making sure our food was fresh and our drinks cold, he sat with us as we chatted. There was something captivating about Arno, and I knew that he needed to be included in 365. So, at the end of my time spent with Ken, I prearranged a follow-up meeting with Arno for a formal 365 interview. My hunches were right. Arno is the embodiment the peace that Ken talked of. And today his words anchor yesterday’s discussion with a few action points.

“Love each other…very simple… no more… no less…” Arno grounds his thoughts…

“Everything is in love. If you love someone… you respect them… you take care of them… you feel them… and you understand them.

What else can I say… just love each other, that’s all.”

Arno outlines an account of his history: “I’m Armenian, Born in Tehran, then moved to Austria as a refugee (He was persecuted for his political and Christian views), then to United States with his whole family.”

He talks of his life in Iran. “It was a nice place when I was growing up. My father had a business for twenty-five years. Then, when the Arabian government came in and the then president of the United States, it got bad. There is a terrible recession now and it’s all based around oil. But there are good people there.”

What Arno does not fully reveal, other than, “We were refugees to Austria,” is what he went through in being persecuted for his faith and political views. I can only imagine the fear and uncertainty his parents and family must have felt in seeing all that they worked to build be torn away from them.

I’ll keep it brief, for you have bore enough of my rants. But I’ll say this, shame on the selfish minds of the religiously ignorant and the money driven greed mongers. I’m done… on to warmer topics.

Arno shows no signs of bitterness, no air of entitlement and no chip on his shoulder in any way or form. He is kind, outgoing and extremely optimistic.

“God is the first important person in my life, Jesus Christ…” Arno reveals the base of his priorities, “…then my family… then my friends.”

I’m not setting Arno up as a religious zealot, per his words, “’I’m Christian, but I’m not that religious. But I do accept the fact that all of us sin, and in the love our God has to forgive us. No one is perfect. There are times that it is hard. Sometimes I feel that if I help someone… they should help me. If I respect someone… then everyone should respect me. I do my best to be good. But sometimes I have to ask myself, ‘Why? Sometimes when I do good… when I respect someone… they don’t respect me?’ And I’m a little bit sad about that.’”

He sites what he calls a “life changing moment” in referring to a message he read on a Facebook posting. “It really affected my life. It said something like this, ‘I’m God, and I’m talking to you, and what is my message to you… My Son?

Don’t look around… because you will be impressed. Don’t look down… because you will be depressed. Keep your head up and look at me… and you will be blessed.’

This is my message for the people, my friends and to the whole world.

Don’t look around for people to do something for you. Just do your best and be positive…

People… they will come to you… And they will help you… if you just love them.’”

I get it, that is the magic of Arno’s presence, and the pull that stopped me to eat, sitting outside in three-digit weather. It’s obvious that Arno cares about me and of the world around me. When he invited me to sit, he did so to make my life more comfortable, not to make a sale. Evident by the others that he has invited to sit and eat with us at we chat.

Yep… we are not alone. Several others have joined us in a rather deep spiritual discussion. One that in respect to the wishes for privacy of our undocumented friends, further resolves my opinion of Arno… He is a giver.

We talk about balance in life and in work. “People… they become like robots…” Arno reports, “…Day by day they forget about moral seeds…

Money… money… money! I know a lot of people that have a beautiful life without much money… trust me. They enjoy their life… every moment of it.

Maybe money gives you a comfortable life… a good house… a nice car… a wife who married you for money and nothing else… right. But does money give you happiness? Money fills a temporary void.

But happiness is something from inside you and it cannot be bought.

We have to keep our balance. We have to have our fun… our joy… and our family.”

“How?” I ask.

“First you have to build up your family. It’s very, very important.” Arno accounts. “If you want to focus on yourself… alright, go for it. But, you may not find happiness. You broke the rules of life.

You have to work… right. You have to make money… right. But you have to have your family also… to love people… to think positively about life. It’s all balance… right.

Technology is going so fast… I guess. And people are becoming a robot society, forgetting about each other… I guess. I want to think positive, but in reality, everything is going worse day by day… nothing going good.

People right now… we have more population than every before. People need food. There are a lot of very sad things going on with war. People are killed daily, by war, by Tsunami. You can watch the news, every day a lot of people die for every reason.”

Sounds dark at first, and coming from a man who has such a positive outlook towards loving people and of balance, it catches me a bit off guard, so I listen carefully to his next set of words.

“But, the future should be good…” Arno expands, “…it up to the people, if people would try to change something as they look towards the future; their life balance… their work balance. And, use technology for humanity.”

Good council, yet once again, Arno supports his claim with a dose of reality. “But when there are nuclear weapons and chemical stuff and other things disturb our world and our countries. We have to work harder.

This is my vision. We have to keep our balance in order to make a better world. With that, the future can be good.”

Arno… thanks for the frank talk. Or is it the talk over Franks? Whatever it may be, I’m glad I slowed down again.

Talk tomorrow, my friends.

I’m grateful for the business that has befallen upon me. Please don’t read me as gloating in the face of recession. And in saying this, I am humbled by the terrible years of 08 through 11. Years that pushed my family to the very edges of security.

I’ve shared a lot with you over the last months. More than I have ever published about myself, all for the purpose of building trust with you. A trust that I will always do my best to maintain in whatever path 365 carries me on.

The primary reason I write of the good fortune that has befallen to my household is in making an observation in exampling the situation I find myself in.

On day one of 365 I said, “Let’s see what happens.”

At that time,I had zero idea of what I was getting into. Their was no standard set for the heavy writing commitment I’ve now grown accustomed to, the sacrifice of family time that all under our roof have learned to manage, and the deep hit’s to the marketing initiatives of my business. In a world driven by financial and social positions, many might think it crazy to prioritize a social experiment over the responsibilities of being a family breadwinner, yet in a remarkable way, we have wanted not, and have even witnessed our business grow.

I can’t eloquently explain it in writing, but last night our new friend Julia commented her viewpoint on life’s journey when she said, “There is a purpose in everything.”

She also shard her life earned philosophy of “No regrets.”

Julia’s words have been echoing in my head today, and in mentioning my above intro, my intent is to illustrate her point. You see, my heart is changing, not saying that I’ve ever really been a self-absorbed greed-monger, but there has been many a time where business has been first to everything. A battle that I fight to this very day being the self-employed artist that I am.

For whatever reason, I have been given enough to meet my needs. No more… No less. What is fascinating about it, though, is the fact that the more I let go to nurture 365, and in keeping a keen look out to the people around me, work miraculously comes in… my mind is lightened… and my emotional burdens lesson.

I’m not saying that I am anywhere near out of the pit that the recession constantly is pushing on my family. And, I’m sure you have your own set of obstacles, but my point, however, is this. 365 is proving to us that the more we take courage in letting go of… the more we open our lives to gifts un-noticed.

Every day a stranger has proven this to me, and I hope to us. Leaving one condition to meditate upon. “I’ll do the best I can for myself, for other and optimistically accept what is to come.”

I’ve been lucky this season, and I have no expectations of what is around the corner. Yea, I’ve been a little blessed with work lately, and true, I’m a planner and without a doubt this afternoon I find myself in the middle of a heavy post production workload. But in that, I also realize than next week the bottom could fall out, and that is OK.

For what really matters is the lesson learned in meeting today’s friend of 365, whom in the blur of my desire to crank through a hectic day in questing for some much-needed family time, I almost overlooked.

Here is the set-up… I’m rushing like a mad man, multi tasking on everything, won’t say that I’ve completely shut the world off, but I have allowed myself to become a little too numbed is expression eyeless hellos with all I pass. Paused footsteps and fading smiles are the trail I leave as I walk my rushing cadence into the Lowes to return a product.

Transaction complete, I pause… “What am I doing…? Slow down… Absorb… Listen to you own 365 advice Richard.”

I exit and to my left is the very person who made a great impact on me only moments before. Ben is his name, and the sociable response he replied to me as I threw him my zooming hello is still ringing in my head… I slow down and get to know Ben, our friend of the day.

Ben talks of Peace… “’Love each other… Nothing else matters.

Peace is mother of solving all problems. People are greedy, they want money… they want power… with that; we are not going to get anywhere… man! The world needs peace.

I’m Middle Eastern. My country back home is far from peace. That’s what’s we need. If you have peace, you can solve almost everything.

Originally, I’m a Syrian, we have a seven thousand-year empire… we have history.

But people right now are more educated; we are more intelligent than people thousands of years ago. We have to look back… Power…? Money…? It did not get the people anywhere. They ended up dying… somebody killing them. They didn’t take their power or money with them… They went to the grave empty-handed.

So we have to learn. If I die, I want people to remember ‘Ben, what a nice guy he was, he helped me here… he helped my family.’ I don’t want them to say, ‘Ben… he killed my Cousin, or ‘he did this to…’ That’s the only thing we are going to leave in this world… who we were and what we did.’”

“How do we end the cycle?” I ask.

Ben sighs… “’Stop being greedy… Pay attention to your kids, your daughters and you’re your sons. And ask yourself, ‘Would you want somebody hurting them?’

And realize that somebody you’re hurting is somebodies kid… is somebodies father… is somebodies brother or sister. We’ve got to put ourselves in the shoes that we are trying to harm and ask ourselves, ‘Would we like somebody doing that to us?’

People that hate peace… they don’t put themselves in the other persons place. They’re messing up the whole world… and it’s wrong. One day they are going to realize it’s too late. Hitler killed millions of people. What happened at the end? Did he get anywhere? No, he was the most powerful man at the time… He ended up killing himself.

When you are a good person, you have peace. It makes sense, don’t hurt anyone. Hurt comes from when you lie to somebody, killing somebody, raping somebody. Hurting somebody is the mother of all the sins. That’s what the bible says, that’s what the Torah says, that’s what everything says… Don’t hurt anyone and you’re fine.

I’m afraid of the future… I don’t have any good news… I don’t think it is going to get better.

I predict a big war… a bloody war, and at the end, the whole world is going to be controlled by one society, or one group, or one person.’”

A dark prediction, so I challenge Ben to guide us in what can we do to avoid such a fate?

Ben shifts gears, “’Do not listen to the news, do not to believe the newspapers… just go with the logic.

Like politics for example… If you go to the Middle East the media brainwashes you to be against America. You come here, the same thing. From all the news they tell you, ‘All those people over there… they’re terrorists… don’t trust them.’

I was born there. As far as I know, no one ever told me to blow-up Americans.

East and West are telling different things about each other. And it’s not true. Because of this there will always be war… It’s wrong!!

Sure there are bad people on all sides, but that does not mean the whole nationality is bad.’”

Ben had drawn a scale that contrasts a vision of a doomed future with an equally qualified vision of peace.

And per us… no matter what our outlook on the planet of 3013 or beyond, we have opportunity to plant seeds for the future. Never forget that in each of us… as individual as we are… every choice we make or act we play out can either build or destroy.

My vision… that as demonstrated by Ben… is that peace will be our choice.

Glad I slowed down today, Ben, my friend, great chatting with you and thanks for halting my pace.

It’s around 10:30pm, one and a half hours away from the day’s end. And at day 315, the mere thought of a restart of 365, due to a missed friending is in no way acceptable. I promised a new friend every day, and by gosh, I’m no going to let us down.

To the teen dance I go, to as promised, pick up my chaperoning wife and daughter. And, with no idea of where I’ll be settling, and while I drive, I look to the sky in letting go to the evening (well as much as I can, being belted into the driver’s seat of my freeway traveling commute).

Time has proven to me that someone will appear with the right message for the day. So I settle in to watching the traffic as I let my mind numb to rebalance itself after a long day of commercial shooting.

10:45pm now… I arrive at the dance, the clock is ticking, last dance has been called and backgrounded by the scurrying of adult and teen gymnasium clean up, I grab a couple of family friends (the late night watch my back guys) and hit the streets in search of today’s friend.

10:48pm… within minutes we are pulling into a little strip mall where a few people are enjoying a caffeine nightcap. An elderly couple pleasantly dismiss me with a, “Not right now we have just been engaged.” I guess love is in the air and I’m no cupid to them.

10:50pm… countdown speeds up in knowing I have promised to be back for my family at eleven sharp. And on top of that, one of my escorting friends is actually an FBI agent. I realize this later when my wife tells me, “’When he said, ‘I’ll go with you… I’m packing,’ he was not joking.’”

Ten minutes until my camera turns back into a pumpkin, we begin walking to the front of the building of which we have parked behind, and as we do, we come across Julia sitting taking the last minutes of her work break.

“Hi my name is… bla, bla, bla,” I introduce myself, my friends (less any FBI reference, I’m sure that would have not gone over all that well) and 365.

“I’ve got three minutes left of my break, can we do it in that time?” Julia counters… and we are off.

“There is no such thing as regret,” Julia advises.

“There is a purpose in everything. I lost my job at Starbucks four years ago and now I am doing my dream job… helping kids with autism. And I am doing this job as a side job to make a supplemental income (Julia brings attention to the Coffee Bean logo on her hat). If I never left Starbucks, I would still be there… postponing my dream of working with kids who have autism.

Then after Starbucks… I worked at T-Mobile where I bumped into a woman that was a speech pathologist… she hired me.

Things happen… and I can’t regret that I ever left Starbucks. If I never left, this would have never happened, and I would not be working in my dream job.

Yea… short-term I was… Oh my gosh…! I lost my job…! It’s been ten years…!

Now I’m doing what I want to be doing… So there is no such thing as regrets.”

I’m confident that I can say that most of us have had adversity in our lives. It is probably one of the most absolute things we can expect in this mortal existence. But in listening carefully to Julia, what is highlighted is the notion, or maybe the fact, that there is a force in the universe that is greater than us. And in accepting it, as well as our circumstances, there is cause to accept whatever the situation.

“Things happen,” Julia petitions as she faces reality.

But paralyzed she is not, for in the heart of the storm of loosing a ten-year career investment, to a greater plateau she has climbed; one that she might not have summited without the loss of her job security.

I ask Julia to make a prediction for what people can do in preparing for the world ahead of us. “First we need more humanity and we need to travel the world more. If we would experience other cultures and other people, and lose the egocentric ways of our own personal nation, our minds would open to other lifestyles and other cultures. The foods… the religions… the… If we experience it, our tolerance becomes bigger because we are not egocentric ogres in our own ways and our own thoughts… so we need to travel!

I’ve been to China, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Switzerland. Whenever I travel I always try to go to the rural parts so that I can get away from Western influence just to really experience what other cultures are.”

I’ll take it a few clicks down from needing to travel the world. That for many is a very expensive proposition, especially for those who are working to support families and children.

The bright side of the coin, however, we do not really need to board an airplane to travel to new cultures. For in just about any town, village, country or state, there are places or people unknown to us. Find them and work to understand them. In the words of Forrest Gump, “That’s about all I have to say about that.”

I can help but to ask Julia of her long-term goals… you’ve got it, “I am working to gain my degree in speech pathology and to become a therapist so that I can mainly help kids with autism as well as stroke victims, they need help with their speech too.”

Every once in a while for reason I’ll never figure out a third question comes to my mind. Tonight is one of those nights.

“What would you say to anyone who is caught up in judging others at first sight?” I ask.

Julia replies, “’Judge all you want… it does not change me or them. The opinions of others are their own self-reflections of themselves. So if they see a negative attribute the questions really is: ‘Why to they see that?’ or ‘What do you see in yourself to create that image?’ We always have to remember that our vocabularies only grow from what we know.’”

10:58pm sharp… Looks like Julia is keeping her job and there will be no need for a FBI motivated escort back to my 11:00pm commitment in picking up my family.

Talk tomorrow my friends, 365 beats on!