Fine Art

I call him a gentle giant. He smiles graciously as we share a few minutes together as he waits for his wife to conclude a doctor’s appointment.

It would have been easy for me to judge, to profile, to make assumptions to the intent of my new friend Michael, as he sits ominously under the shade of a tree. His sheer stature taking a dominant section of city bench.

But to make any assumption is not my job, or a burden that I wish to carry. 365 has taught me to see the world for what it is. A surface covered with frail people. People who, in majority, are unknowingly deeply united with a unanimous want to be loved, appreciated and respected for who they are; or in difficult cases, who they were, or even want to become. Definitely, it is not any one of our duties to cast ourselves as judge, jury and prosecutor.

Sure, I’ve just rebounded from an expected flurry of rejections in course to meeting Michael. Even a little shaken as I approach him in not really wanting to receive another deflating brush off. But here is the thing, in every face turned away from me this day; I know that deep in my heart, I’ve done my by best to keep my intent pure. That in itself is the greatest healer to any esteem hit that I have taken over the course of 365s stranger meeting experiment.

Now I’m not saying that I a master of Zen by any means. I’m as mortal as any of us. Just as suspect to projecting the negative as well as the positive; and yes, my emotions run away the same as, I guess, it does for many of us. They key though is keeping our internal dialogue in check. Hard to do, but I promise, the rewards are great. The amazing lesson taught to me by the hundreds of individuals I have met over the last year.

So it is with this subtext that I reach out to Michael in approaching him under his shaded rescue from the heat of the early afternoon sun. No malice to hurt, no judgmental finger pointed, nor any agenda other than wanting to meet another human for who they are.

Upon my introduction, Michael is reserved, yet in his held back caution, I see an open mind. “It’s always a little scary approaching stranger,” I expose in my summation of 365 and in opening my perspectives to him.

Michael thinks for beat, “Yeh… I’ll do it.” He invites me to take seat beside him in our sanctuary of traffic noised shade.

As we talk, and despite the occasional thunder of passing trucks, we find our time together is rather peaceful. And even though we are further besieged by the hum of the continued pulse of smaller moving vehicles, Michael give’s his opening advice to the world, “I’d tell everybody to treat each other like you want to be treated.

There are a lot of different people in the world, but still we are cut from the same cloth… We’re people… We’re human. It’s not about ethnicity… even though the world sees it that way. But I don’t see it that way.”

An eighteen-wheeler thunders by… shaking the ground a little.

A brief pause and Michael picks up where he left off, “I think we’d live in a whole much better world if people would just take the time and hear what the next person’s got to say… and to pass something on that is good if they do have something to say.”

Michael speaks of his observations of society, “You have people that are here for one reason or another. For whatever they think they may stand for… or what they might do… or something like that…

…I find today that a lot of people are unapproachable… but still, there are a lot of people who are approachable.

I’m no individual to judge, but you can pretty much see the good from the bad, and sometimes I miss a call: The person that you think is bad, is not… and the person you think is good, is actually bad. It all depends on how well you get to know the individual and what they are going through.”

Therein the wisdom in Michael’s eye’s is revealed. My take on what he is challenging us to do… We need to at least be open in getting to know the people around us, not judging, and surely not attacking. It’s like that “I can put my head on the pillow and sleep tonight” feeling. The knowledge of day well spent in not carrying malice home to dream about.

It all depends on how well you get to know the individual and what they are going through,” Michael points out.

We have no idea of what is inside a person at first glance. What appears as dismissible intolerance could actually be feelings of loss, despair or lowliness. Or, the grasping sound of ecstatic laughter could be a shroud in escaping any range of hidden hurts. There is no absolute answer to being able to know of any deep experience that any one of us is going through, but we can at least look at each other with compassion and inquiring minds.

I’m not saying that we have to be saviors to the world, just open to taking an extra second in governing our mind waves as we view of all that we meet or pass by.

This is an exercise that I do from time to time, I tell myself, “They were once infants, just like all of us, what happened to them to make them who they are?”

And as Michael has brought to our attention, “We have no idea of what they have gone through, or are going through.”

“People seem to be disconnected today…” Michael suggests,  “… and a lot of it has to do with technology.

You walk and you see a lot of young kids… they have headphones on, and they’re really not paying attention to their surroundings. They are looking up… they are looking down at their phone screens, or texting.

To me it seems that if we keep heading in that direction, we are going to fall out of touch with the real value of human socialness. And if it keeps going like it is… people are just going to fall out of touch with each other.

People are not aware of their surroundings, and I don’t think they really care. It’s all about right now… they are not looking into the future.

I don’t see a real good future for us… that is in the next twenty years or so. I would hope things would change or get better… but I don’t know?

People don’t talk anymore… really talk! You know… try to see where you are coming from.

The way I look at it… the Internet, the iPhones, the iPads… even with them, everyone is disconnected.”

My only words to Michael, “You’re not alone, my friend.”

So to readers of my blog… to all users of the social media… and to any who find hours past in gazing into the entertaining grip of technology… please, and by all means keep using it.

But in your routines, Michael asks us one basic request. To put them aside in balancing our lives… to get out… to meet people… and to socialize the old-fashioned way… face to face. Then you can tell the world about it with whatever device you choose. It works better that way… 365 has taught me that.

Michael, thank you for you direction, and we’ll do our best to stay connected the right way!

No secrets anymore… the new friends I hid from you last night take center stage today, Young family, Anthony, Kristen and son Israel.

At under twenty-four, both Anthony and Kristen want with a peace that is beyond their years. I made quick reference to it in my writing yesterday. But tonight In sitting with them, nothing has changed.

Recently relocated to Los Angeles from Rhode Island, they say, “It is a miracle we even made it here, we both come from backgrounds of being very poor.”

Perhaps that is what matured them, but the light that they invisibly shine is deeper than the humility learned through the school of hard knocks. Not knocking the wisdom that is to be learned through trials. But still, I can’t exactly put my hand on it… and even as I write, I continue to review of the feeling that I felt emitting from both Anthony and Kristen, a peace that can even be seen in the loving attitude of Israel as he plays with my girl.

I forgot to tell you, I have brought my daughter with me tonight, so with our kids playing in the background, we take time to chill as friends.

“Things are going better now that we are here, but it is still hard to stay positive,” Anthony notes while Kristen listens intently.

Our conversation ranges from talking of the cultural differences of the West coast as compared to the East coast, faith, parenting, and some sharing of our life histories. Another one of those we don’t know each other, but we are now family moments.

And per all those feeling I expressed in my last entry as I pre-introduced the special qualities I sensed in first meeting of Anthony and Kristen? I’ll turn to page to them in allowing their responses. I hope you will be able to fully absorb the character they carry.

Anthony, Kristen… If you had any words of wisdom, advice or counsel for the world, and they were listening, what would you say?

Anthony:
“There’s no one single perfect thing I could say to an imperfect world. There’s such a wide spectrum of complex issues from one end of the earth to the other. From the slums in southeast Asia to the hustlers in inner-city America, to the billionaire corporate owners…I can only give one bit of my own imperfect advice; Seek God… Above, within… or around us… seek God.

Kristen:
“Protect our children at all costs. Hold utmost responsibility for the wellbeing of the children we bring into this world. Preserve their innocence during their youth and nurture their minds. Be proactive in their development and encourage their imagination. While you complain about the minds of the younger generations remind yourselves who raised them. Instill good values and spirituality, and never be afraid to speak out against worldly traditions of today’s society to your children.

Be your son’s and daughter’s role model instead of celebrities and reality show actors. Let your child be the difference, the diamond in the rough, the gem among hundreds. That is the most important thing you can do in this life as a parent.”

Anthony, Kristen… Looking towards the future, as close or as far as you want to. Where do you think we will be, or how do you advise us to approach the future?

Anthony:
“Looking towards the future I advise that individually and collectively we look to the example of two great men who defined a portion of our past, Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali (Did not tell you that Anthony is an amateur boxer).

Learning from them, let’s be ambassadors of our cultures, express our arts, stand up against our oppressors, exude confidence, and always remember that sometimes we must FIGHT and fight hard. So float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.

Love.”

Kristen:
“Tie strong bonds with the good people you meet through the guidance of spirituality. There are fun times to be had, places to see, goals to accomplish, but even the most successful man is empty without spirituality. At the end of every hard day, find time to reflect and include prayer and meditation. Discuss with people topics of substance and share good values. Don’t ever think someone may not understand where you come from or who you are. Revive the sense of community we are gradually losing. This is how we have to approach our future as a people.”

I can’t top what Anthony and Kristen have encapsulated in their early found fountains of life wisdom.

Wisdom that is inspiring to hear… and wisdom that I am certain was the genesis to drawing us together last night.

Like Kristen says, “Tie strong bonds with the good people you meet through the guidance of spirituality.”

Not saying that I am any great spiritualist, or guru in any form, but one thing is undeniable… The more I simply keep my chin up and eyes to the world, dropping my fears in greeting all who lock eyes with me, and, the more I notice, or hear what I see at a heart level. It is proven to me again and again in meeting so many uniquely different people.

And this evening I am definitely blessed in being able to spend time with a special and loving family.

Anthony, Kristen and Israel, thank you for letting my daughter and I into your hearts. You are good people. Hope to see you at the park again!

DON’T FORGET, MARK YOUR CALENDARS, TWO DAYS TO THE PING PONG COUNCIL

On Saturday, August 25 (that’s two days from today), between the hours of 3:00pm and 7:00pm, let’s get as many Angeleno’s as we can to play a few rounds of Table Tennis at Vahid’s club. It’s not the expensive, $7 each and I’m sure will prove to be a lot of fun.

I see two things that can come from it. One: A great opportunity to share thoughts and witness just how in common we all are, and Two: to help a deserving dude get his business off the ground. And in either I see no downside.

So friends within commuting distance of Vahid’s “Table Tennis Club” we look forward to seeing you at the tables.

Table Tennis Club
21911 Sherman Way
Canoga Park, California 91303

Click for the full story

I’m standing in the middle of a field under the artificial light of incandescent floods. To the left of me is a gathering of soccer kids, their parents and coach, all deep in practice ending chatter. Ahead of me are two female teenagers in the middle of some type of gymnastic exercise, and to the right of me are three gentlemen engaged in a round of somewhat aggressive Cricket.

Why I am here? I don’t fully know, other than the residue of a strong impression that hit me only minutes ago. One that absolutely directed me to stop here this evening.

Still, my thoughts are wavering as to exactly why my brains GPS kicked into overload as it places me in the center of this grassy open space, especially after already receiving one very kind, “not tonight for an interview, but we will follow you” response I just received from a friendly couple upon my arrival.

So here I stand, feeling very vulnerable in sticking out like the strange stalker at a park family night.

But like I mentioned, for some higher reason, I am here. A feeling that my gut tells me, and even though I feel a reserved caution in the back of my voice box, I approach my not known Cricketing neighbors in telling them of 365.

They accept the offer, and I am instantly ingratiated to be part of a team like meeting between sporting buddies. The time is heartfelt and new friends I have made. But, even with the meeting of these three fine gentlemen, all of which have invited me to join them in play on some other night, I feel as if I have not found the full reason I am here; a reason that is found in my departing from said field in route back to my car. But before I get to that, let me share with you the words of tonight’s friends:

THE BOWLER… KIRAN

For the present:
“Be honest, because there is a lot of violence and criminal activity going on all over the world… in every country in the world we see people are killing each other, terrorism, it is really not good… we should really start thinking about establishing peace. You never know what is going to happen tomorrow… so people need to be more conscious about it, and be honest in all things… their jobs, their families and all that they do.”

For the future:
“Technology is going to take over… every day people are inventing different new technologies, and in the future people will be doing lesser and lesser jobs. It will be a world run by technology in the next one hundred years.”

Question:
“Is that a good thing?” I ask.

Answer:
“I think in some points it is… but not totally, because people will start getting lazy and begin to rely on non-human things. They will start depending on the technology and maybe one day it will not work out.”

THE STRIKER… SANJAYA

For the present:
“The first important thing is how we look at each other economically. If there is, like, a different world economy… then I don’t think there would be any wars… or something like that. But since there is class difference between the rich and poor people, that’s why there is fighting and violence.

We have help the poor people, and make the United Nations find better solutions and organize more and more. To go out to the villages in the countries… like myself, being from Nepal. We should help those people so that they can do good. We should give them an education so they have a chance to come up and provide for themselves, that they can have a chance.”

For the future:
“Like Kiran said, the technology is growing more and more every day, so maybe we will depend too much on technology. Not like before, we have to do things for ourselves. We are going to be more and more dependent on machines.”

Question:
Once again, I ask, “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Answer:
“I’d say it is a bad thing. We wouldn’t be moving our bodies, we would lean more on technology.

When we were kids, we didn’t even see a computer… we spent our time running, playing soccer or something else. And right now… kids are staying in their rooms, playing video games, on the computers, watching movies. They won’t get a chance to think higher.”

THE FIELDER… BINU

For the present:
“The people have to turn back to God.”

For the future:
“I believe this world will not go more than thirty years. I believe that Jesus will come back… and after that, the world will be chaos. Almost all the signs have almost been fulfilled… we are in the end days.”

Question:
“Should we be frightened?” I inquire.

Answer:
“No, not frightened… If we believe, we do not have to be frightened.”

My time with Kiran, Sanjaya and Binu has been well-spent, all exceptional human beings, all polite and accepting in sharing their wealth of wisdom. Men who I look forward to sharing future rounds or Cricket with, but as I telegraphed above, even in meeting them, I know there is another group of people I am meant to meet. And meet them I do as a stroll the sidewalk in route back to the parking lot.

I spent a bit of time talking with these new friends, and for the integrity of 365, as well as respecting the energy spent with Kiran, Sanjaya and Binu, we mutually agree to meet tomorrow evening… same place… same time…

…However, I’ll give you this; they are an exception family with a wonderful spirit. To quote them, “You could not have approached us at a more perfect time.”

In meeting them, the Look, Listen, and Hear challenge of yesterday manifest itself as if in three-dimensional color; for the invisible bond that drew me to approach this fine family, pulled us together in a united perspective of trust and respect. A pull that is too strong to overlook. I invite them to participate in 365.

They accept, and with it, I know that I am in the right place… at the right time.

Come back tomorrow for the full story.

Be well my friends, talk tomorrow!

The environment is at the top of the list this week. And over a summer escaping chilled Jamba Juice pit stop we run into Erin.

It’s very late in the afternoon and the day has been packed with start-up business. Part of which has been planning for the next phase of 365. Yes friends, the locomotive has way too much momentum to stop now. So readers, be expecting announcements of next destinations very soon.

And with minutes left to our publishing time code deadline, this is one more of those entries that spares you from too much Radstone dialogue, I know, you’ll miss me!

But with the sparkle of this week’s unsolicited topic, that being the environment, Erin does more than enough to gracefully follow theme with her giving heart and emphasis towards the power of one.

“How important it is to give to people.” Erin sincerely encourages. “That’s something that we don’t do very often. A lot of the time we are so focused on our own lives… and we forget about other people. When I think about something like that… how much you get from it… and also how much it means to other people. It’s easier to do the works.

I try to have a positive outlook, but sometimes it is hard… environmental issues in particular; I’m worried about the future. I think that with technology, we have a good chance of turning things around. But, I still think we are going to have a struggle.

In the next one hundred years…? The water… the food… a growing population, the whole system… that’s my biggest concern… the environmental issues.

The hardest part is each person trying to make a difference in getting everybody together… no one themselves thinks that they can change it. That’s the hardest part… getting everybody on the same page.”

I’ve got seconds left to publishing deadline, and I really have no message any greater than Erin’s this day. The environment is a huge intersecting point in bringing us together, and Erin has smacked us head on in directing us to the same book, a book that we can all quietly read into our daily rituals.

The resolve then rests with us, that in each of our routines of living, that we strive to give, just give… not only to people… but as importantly… to the planet.

“That’s the hardest part” Erin gleams, “Getting everybody on the same page.”

So without any more wasted delay, I’m off to Chapter One/Page One, “Sorting Recyclables.” Anyone want to join me?

6:00am… take a walk in the neighborhood in readying myself for the day. As I stroll, passing many a house, I ponder the years have I lived in my home, the added twenty my wife has resided on our block (we bought her parents house) and the one year of my 365 awareness. In it, a stream of thought, one that directs me to a stark conclusion, “I am nowhere near even cracking the surface of the depth of humanity that lives in my area.”

Absolutely, I am more in touch with my community, both with those who readily accept me, as well as those who time and time again choose to ignore my subtle hellos (must be the edgy impression that I throw off. Sure dad… your out of control… not).

But turned heads, and eyes locked to the ground do not sway me, for in every rejection there is an equally resonating acknowledgement of what we are doing with 365.

And with two bold brush-offs beginning my morning, I stagger not. For there are visions of new friendships in my head… so I forge on, knowing that to odds are in my favor.

Across Alfonso my route takes me, and just as I have done for thirty minute, I reach out with a smiling, “Good Morning My Friend.”

Alfonso reciprocates and we strike up a 1940’s style sidewalk conversation. Our language is a little struggled, but not too much to see eye-to-eye on the importance of community.

“Respect each other,” Alfonso contributes as I find out he has lived in his house for twenty-two years.

Originally from Mexico, he has settled into a comfortable life in raising children and grandchildren. And inspired by his career (Alfonso works in electronics manufacturing) plus opinions grown from watching the activities of his grandchildren, he asks us to be aware regarding the society ahead.

“There are a lot of electronics… if we have a problem… it is going to be a big problem.”

Everything is going that way.”

I confirm what he is expressing in wanting to be sure we are on the same page. So I reconfirm, “Is it going to be a problem?”

Alfonso: “In my life… No… Maybe another generation,” he speculates.

We might think that Alfonso has lived the larger percentage of his life, and is turning the world issues over to the next generation, but that is not the case. And, as 365 has proven on many an occasion, this week is running it’s own theme… conservation.

And for Alfonso, it is a conscious choice to conserve water, something that I can tell instantly by comparing our matching front yards of yellowed grass. I guess it’s better to grow a few more weeds than to overuse our resources. Also, I’ll be shallow enough to admit, I’m trying to save a buck or two.

It’s funny how the utility companies have a shrewd way of accessing yearly rate increases, claiming drought as the reasoning. But on the other side of the season, when the rainfall begins, and the water use drops, they never quite seem to figure out how to lower our utilities using the same scale. I’ve given up trying to figure the math.

Sorry, another Radstone rant, and again my Achilles heel has been exposed. But, meter readers… know that I still like you guys… and gals… It’s not your fault what happens in the boardrooms.

Alfonso obviously is in the same boat as I and has it nailed as far as conservation; low pressure water as he washes his car on the grass, cleaning and watering at the same time… Really smart, greener grass, shiny chrome, and lower H2O use, all at the same time… very cool.

And once more, I see no stream of polluting detergent running into the street gutter, a detail that eloquently hits me in reflecting the copy of a sidewalk sign I just passed. Over it a plaque reads, “Whatever you put in here reaches the ocean.”

I can’t say that Alfonso has chimed any new chords in his advice and actions, but after 343 days, that is a hard thing to do for anybody who contributes to 365. We have covered so much ground, but equally powerful as unheard words is the empowering fact that the more we hear of similar perspective, the greater the impact of 365. Many a language we have spoken, many a faith we have approached and many an opinion or attitude have we encountered. But the wonderment of it all is this. “We share far too many concerns to turn away from each other.”

Yes, it is a fact that this first version of 365 is nearing it’s close. I’m proud to be part of such a growing community. And amazingly, our numbers are large enough to be of influence to the world around us. Never have I been so absolute about anything as this statement. Literally twenty-three days to the end of this chapter of our call, “We are all in the thing together”

And in our journeys I have not held back in doing my part to pass on the message of community and tolerance. So to save your ears from having to hear me express a charge, I relieve myself of post for a moment, in turning the podium to Alfonso’s words,“Respect each other.”

Pass it on… my friends… we are only just beginning our outreach!

And for you LA locals, don’t forget to mark you calendars, This Saturday, August 25, 3:00pm to 7:00pm… The Ping Pong Council. Click for details.

I’m sitting here watching the clock tick by, and with my time stamp getting very close to advancing to tomorrow, I’m feeling a little nervous in being able to get you comments from today’s friend John.

It’s been an interesting day in keeping the 365 flame burning. Not so much so in regards to my perspective of the world about us, but in the general undertaking of story finding.

You see I’ve had to prioritize my personal life for a few days in promising my family a staycation. They have been very patient and supportive in loosing me to the extensive time required in keeping 365 moving forward. Not begrudgingly do they set me free. We are committed to the mission of 365 and in it have seen great blessing within the walls of our home. And as I mentioned, they have been very supportive in our destination of bridging gaps to the cultures and world around us. But this said, it is still only fair for me to give back to them in allowing us a bit of quality family time.

Yesterday it was Long Beach and Whale watching, and today it is phones off the hook, delivered food, Farrell’s for ice cream, and back home for fun, naps and general activities.

Yet, as I promised, no matter what… I’ll never a day miss in meeting a stranger turned friend, especially being so close to the completion of my one-year commitment. And in revealing the real truth, I actually meet more people than I can write about. You know, that “Chin up and eyes open to the world” stuff that I keep talking about. It’s affected my life more than I can express, and I hope you are feeling what I mean in your life adjustments.

So, this morning, knowing that my day is pressed with family commitments, I decide to leave a little early in my commute to teach my spinning class, my aim… to find a new friend in route to class.

Twenty minutes of extra time is what I have, not that long in 365 time, and knowing this, I push into the back of my mind the fact that every time I do not let go and begin trying overly hard to profile, select, or control whom I interview and where I will meet them, never do I meet a stranger turned friend.

And because of the sort window of time I have, I go a little further in ignoring a second fact that the average 365 interview has run anywhere between thirty minutes and two hours.

Forgetting any agenda, except twenty minutes before I need to be happily pedaling to twenty or so of my regular riding buddies, I veer into a strip mall directly across from the gym at where I teach. Up the driveway I cruise, completely lost in thought of where to stop and who to mingle with. I tour the parking lot for a few minutes, and although I see quite a few people, no impression is brought to mind in who I should approach. The throw in the towel voice starts to creep up on me, but before it can take full hold of my enthusiasm, and at the exact instant that I decide to exit the area, a man on the horizon strikes me to alertness, the above-mentioned John.

I pull up beside him, introduce myself and within a heartbeat, it is apparent that he is on the same page as I in needing to be to work within minutes. But even with this, there is something about our dialogue that is worthy of noting… John is equally accepting of the notion of; “We are all this thing together,” in the excitement he directs back to me.

“Man, I’d love to do this, but I’m already close to being late for work.” John positions.

“Me too…” I chime in, “…how about we take a few pictures and catch up later.” I propose.

We agree, and it only takes us about three minutes to grab a few snap shots and share information.

So here I sit, writing, and with message in to John in waiting for a response, I’ll wait as long as I can to post, but the last thing I want to do is miss my time stamp… We’ll stand down for a minute.

…Cool… John just called, fifteen minutes to publishing time, now you will know how fast I write.

His reason, “Sorry it took me so long to get back to you, there is no reception at work. This is the first time I’ve had a break.”

Wow! I quick read as to how I see John’s character. Nine hours ago I first spoke with him, Nine hour to a break, and now back to work for another five hours. Why. In his words, “I just wanted to help out some of the kids I work with. It’s the weekend and they want to do stuff. It no problem for me to cover for them.”

John is truly a man who puts others before himself, and some of the reasons why are revealed in his optimistic responses to our 365 questions:

Question 1) If you could share any advise, council or wisdom with the world. What would you say?

John: “Be respectful to others, have real confidence in yourself, and to be humble, and I think that would make the world a better place.”

Question 2) Looking towards the future, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 years. As far, or as close as you want to look. Where do you see the people or the planet being. Or where do you suggest we steer towards in our decisions today?

John: “In ten years I think the economy will be better than what it is right now, no more war, because everybody is trying to calm down about things like that. Technology is going to skyrocket through the roof. I hope and believe that there will be better natural resources… instead of gas and oil.”

I credit his with optimism. “Where are you from?” I ask.

“I’m from Tonga, a small Island over by Fiji and Samoa. I was born here, but my parents were born and raised there. We moved to America around 1975.”

“Is you outlook based on any of the island outlooks, like in Hawaii where Aloha means something and there is a love for the land?” I question again.

John links his perspective to his upbringing, “’Our island has a saying, it called ‘The Friendly Islands.’ And that’s the way I was born and raised; be respectful, to actually pick up after yourself and take responsibility for what you do. Basically that is how we learn to live… actually being humble to people, no matter what size, color, shape or wherever others are.’”

“I’m actually a really shy guy, I get that from my dad. But my mom… she has been trying to raise us to be more socializing. To speak our mind and to actually meet new people… and that’s funny how you came up to me this morning. And then how this all came about.”

He ends, “Is there anything else I can help you with, just let me know?”

John, thanks for just giving your words. You are a good man, my friend.

I’m on short vacation in Long Beach, home of the Queen Mary, and harbor to many a commissioned cruise line. But it is a much shorter excursion that I find myself, and family, on today. For being the land-legged buccaneers that we are, we have decided to hit the high seas, well at least the channel between the coast and Catalina, for a three tour (less the Gilligan’s Island storm). And no, the weather never started getting rough. And if it did, we are covered… thought ahead and took our sea-sickness meds. Pacific ocean… bring it on.

But storm we do travel through, not rain, not the charging of a Moby Dick sized mammal, or the attack of bow breaking waves; a storm that chime as a narrative voice of loudspeaker charm and enthusiasm, as it informs all on board of the ocean’s wonders.

Her name is Jennifer, and not only is she a wealth of knowledge in regards to the magnificent Blue Whale’s we have spent hour along side of, but is a charming advocate for the seas she adores.

You can see it in her eyes as she speaks of her love for the ocean and of her concern for the way human is treating it.

“’Everyone needs to realize that every single person in this world has an impact on their environment, more specifically the ocean environment. For those of us who live on the coast, we see it, and we really don’t understand it. For the people who never really see the ocean, they may have a tendency to say, ‘How do I impact the ocean…? What do I do here in the middle of the country…? How can I touch the ocean…” and how does the ocean really impact me…?’”

Jennifer explains, “’The truth is… the ocean impacts everyone… every single day.” She throws a couple of facts, “The ocean creates about seventy percent of the oxygen we breathe; the toothpaste we use comes from kelp… It provides us all the sorts of things that we use in everyday life, and what happens to it severely impacts us in every way.

It does not matter where you live… the impact is the same, even if you drop a piece of trash into the grass, it is going to find its way into the habitat of an animal. That is really important to realize… The lights we leave on, the trash, pesticides we use.

So many talk about making big change… but really, it is the small changes that each one of us can do. Whether it’s turning off the lights that we’re not using, picking up the trash on the sidewalk, carpooling or biking to work.

We can actually make a difference. What if we all went around, picking up one piece of trash and throwing it away, we would probably reduce the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, or all the garbage patches, that are in the ocean right now.

My words of wisdom… Realize that you can make a difference, even one person; it just takes a little effort.

Right now we are sort of standing at a fork, and we can go one of two ways. If we continue to act as we are… to fish irresponsibly… to trash what we want… and to fail to reuse and recycle… basically to keep taking and dumping more and more, we are going to find ourselves in a really scary position in about twenty-five to fifty years. We see oceans that are a lot emptier.

A lot of people look at the ocean and say, ‘That will be there forever.’

We can’t guarantee that if we continue to over fish that it won’t be gone… and once it is, we can’t bring it back. We are on the brink of losing species like Tuna. Who could imagine a world without Tuna sandwiches?

If we are not more responsible, we are going to see a very different ecosystem. We’ll lose or grazers, we’ll loose our kelp forests, we are going to lose a lot.

But if we can stand at this fork and go the other way… to a place where we each do something, and in working to inform our generation and our generations to come.

We have to take responsibility to be stewards to the ocean; and if we do, we can potentially look forward to a really beautiful future.

We have to accept that we are coming very close to the point of no return… and it’s going to get scary.”

Jennifer meets many people, working at the Aquarium of the Pacific. A job that brings giggles of joy to her. Working there has given her first hand communication to hundreds of kids and teens, all of whom she has the greatest admiration.

“There are a lot of really smart kids out there…” Jennifer notes, “…and they are teaching us. I know our middle schoolers and our high schoolers are going to do something amazing for the future. We need to listen to them… and we might have some cleaning up of our own to do.”

And with Jennifer’s calling of us old folk to accountability, she throws rays of hope of what the upcoming generation will do, “There are new ideas to come up with to fixing things that we have done. Things that at this point are looking fairly irreversible. So maybe, in the next one hundred years we will be able to still have this beautiful world… it really deserves our love and care.

If you can’t see that when you are out on this ocean… I don’t know what else will tell you how wonderful this planet is.”

It really has been an amazing cruise, and Jennifer’s willingness to spend a bit of on ship and on land time with us has been very enlightening. And with the radiant optimism that she emits, Jennifer give’s us departing instructions, “’A lot of us are disheartened, but everyone will find themselves at a point where they are at the right point to see that they can make a difference. Many will say, ‘There is so much.’

But they have to remember, it is baby steps… we can’t expect to take these giant strides. We need to understand that to make our goal of a cleaner, healthier planet, it just takes the baby steps forward.

We’ll find that each thing that we add to our repertoire of helping out the planet is going to expand, so that fifty years from now, when our kids are old and grey, they’ll be able to look at how much they have learned… how much they will be doing… the lights will be turning off and the trash will be ending up in the right place.

It just has to start from one point. Its baby steps… not large strides.’”

Now cast off maties, we have an ocean to save.

I run into Damian, who with one reservation, “I have a few minutes, I’m waiting to meet a friend,” agrees to share a few words with us and in our meeting I have no idea of the wisdoms to follow.

Damian is a gentle guy and very accepting to sit with me in offering his advice. “Worship music, and reopen the ear to music and life… to find the rhythm of life, not just ignoring it.

Don’t turn music off… it’s like turning the power off.

It’s a hidden treasure that is being buried again and again. It’s becoming so overly commercialized that you can’t find any real artists anymore. There is no variety,” he begins as his phone rings mid conversation.

“Excuse me, this is my friend,” he pauses to answer the call.

I know we are pressed for time, so I quickly transition to question two regarding the years ahead.

Damian resumes, “I think everyone is going to be mostly the same. We are steering toward insanity because everyone is being neutral. It’s kind of sad, but at least people are surviving…”

Again our conversation is broken with the arrival of his carpooling friend, Shashanna.

“Do you think she would be interested to contribute to 365,” I petition.

Damian turns to Shashanna and brings us all together through a thoughtful introduction.

At first she is a little resistant. “It sounds like a very cool project, I’m just not sure I’m ready to have my photo taken, it’s been a long day.”

“Don’t worry, I never force anyone to be in my project,” I comfort as I ask her to pass it on.

No I want to do this,” Shashanna replies and with the support of her friend Damian, she launches into what she preempts, “I have a lot to say.”

“The stage is yours… share all you want,” I invite as we settle in side by side on the bench where Damian and I had only minutes before met.

“Try to find lasting fulfillment, rather than momentary pleasure…” Shashanna ramps up with the most hypnotic of energy, “…things that we find that are quick fix to happiness, or to pleasure… they don’t last long. They are distractions. Lasting fulfillment is what every human seeks.”

I find myself smitten by the most interesting blend of youthful glow and wisdom of the aged.

“To different people it might look like different things…” Shashanna resumes, “’…but overall, it’s things like love, peace of mind, joy, relationships, and in this day and age we have a lot of distractions. And a lot of things that are readily available for us… that we sometimes go for, thinking that is what we really want, end up being counterproductive to what we really truly desire in the long run.

If you keep on repeating something that doesn’t work… try something different. A lot of times it is because we are being reactive to life… rather than being proactive to it. We really do have a lot of power… and one person can make a difference in the world.

It’s really easy to say, ‘I’m only one person and I don’t matter… or, what I do doesn’t really matter.’

But like every penny does add up to a dollar… every person does add up to something bigger.’”

Shashanna warns, “’Consumerism is driving our culture and there is so much more to life than that.

Plus, the media, entertainment, politics, sports, even education and religion, although, all of it has its place and there are good bits of wisdom and value in each of those spheres. But right now, I think they are really used as tools for distraction. It’s like the group mentality, especially if we are not aware, living in autopilot going through life. It’s like being herded.

We all have our own cultures, but we are all interrelated, and we really are not all as different as we think we are. We all are coming from different races, different backgrounds, different skin colors, but we are all people… and we all desire the same things.

Everyone knows what it feels like to laugh, to have joy, to have a broken heart, or to experience pain. We are all the same in those ways… but when we focus on our differences rather than our similarities, that is why we have all the dissention, the wars, anger and misunderstandings.

I think there are some forces in this world that like to inflame those fires and continue to stoke them because maybe they benefit in some way. Someone is benefitting off the wars we are fighting… someone is benefitting off the economic crash and collapse.

We each need to realize the power that we have, not only in how we are affecting the entire world, but in our own lives. We have the power to transform our entire lives. We have to believe, and to never give up.

We can create something that has never been done before. Just like Edison created the light bulb.

If we continue to think, ‘This is what it is’ we will cease to progress. Don’t be afraid to speak out and to be different… to fight for what you believe in. You really can have what you want.

We need to question what is being handed to us, or served to us as reality through the news. Everything has an agenda. If we just accept what is and we think, ‘I’m limited by what I currently see,’ that is a mistake.

It is up to us to make the changes. The rules are meant to be broken, obviously, not the laws, they are there for our well-being. But overall, if we look at things with, ‘There is a lack of this,” perspective, then it is up to us to go fill those gaps.’”

“Like the rule ‘Don’t talk to strangers,’” I ask.

“’That’s what I’m saying…” Shashanna energetically and happily aligns, “…we get taught certain rules that we never think to question. But really, it is good for every individual to look at everything they have been taught their whole lives, even the things they believe; the things that they are telling themselves about themselves or the world. And then to ask themselves, ‘Is it substantiated?’”

Shashanna strikes on yet another impactful thought, “And if we believe the negative then we will become that.”

Per the future, in anticipated Shashanna form, she steps back to the podium, “’The way things are going right now… I see us heading towards a worldwide dictatorship. Everyone is afraid of that… and no one wants to talk about it. And if you do talk about it, then you are labeled as a conspiracy theorist.

Throughout history, for thousands of years, we have had many rise and falls of many great civilizations. Power is something that people crave… they get drunk off it.

My hope is that the good causes are eventually going to take over. But, as long as people are living in fear, we are going to continue to hand over our liberty, and we are going to make our decisions under the disguise of safety.

Fear is an illusion. My father used to tell me, ‘Any decision made in fear is the wrong decision,’

It is fear that is keeping us in slavery to the big system, and directing us in the comparisons we place on each other. We need to learn to trust in ourselves more in being part of the change. We are smarter than we are given credit for. And as long as we keep our walls up… and as long as the walls are up in looking at our differences… the detention will keep on going. We have to look through the chaos… we need to wise up in not just listening to the news.

We have a lot of power and need to not automatically believe what we hear on TV or read in the newspapers. To go beyond that and rise up amongst ourselves… we have the voice to go beyond that.

I see the world moving towards more consolidation for power, with more and more people handing things over to their governments. I think it will get to a point where people will become resistant to it.

I would recommend people look toward listening to their inner voices, or higher powers, if they believe in that; or, at least some sort of spirituality… because in a way, we are all saying the same thing. There is a lot of focus being put on everyone’s differences… and that is what is keeping us at odds with one another.

We need to reconnect. Community is the most important thing, whether one to one or in group, like what we are doing right now,’” She gestures to our conversation, “This is what’s real.

Let’s not be so naive to be shaped by what we are told by the media and the authorities, let’s listen to ourselves… let’s listen to each other.”

Shashanna is advising us that the course of future is not out of our hands. And in her words she proposes a challenge. “Do we perpetuate the snowball of fear, or are we burying ourselves with blind eye in hording what we can.”

“We are in a bubble…” She summarizes, “…and that should concern people.

I know I may sound extreme. But we need to question.”

Shashanna smiles, “I know, I sound crazy… don’t I?”

Shashanna, you are as sane as any of us, and your words are all inspiring. And in supporting the wishes of your patient friend, Damian, your voice has been music to our ears.