photojournalism

It’s a perfect, California Beach day — and although we are driving down Highway 1, commonly known as PCH (Pacific Coast Highway), overlooking a very inviting beach, we are on our way to a job in the city.  I’m acting as scribe for my husband, Richard, who is driving (lucky for us, reading or typing while driving has never been a problem for me).  It’s another good, but crazy day, just trying to hold down all the bases, including getting day 276 posted before day’s end.

As the Stepford-esque woman’s voice on the GPS gives us directions to our destination, I have carefully typed in the digital transcripts of Richard’s interview with our new friend, Daniel.  Daniel, a twenty-year-old film student from Germany has been in the U.S. since September.  His thoughts are welcomed because they are so fresh from Europe and give us a perspective that is as close as we can get to Germany for the time being.

Richard asks Daniel what advice he would like to share.

“I would tell everybody to be thankful everyday and see the opportunities in life because if you are thankful then you can’t be angry or you can’t be fearful. If you see what your are gifted (with), like the gifts you have, (you can) always look at the positive side of things — because no matter what bad things happen in life you can always choose where to focus, the good things you have or the bad things that happen to you. The outside world does have some control over you, but you always have control over yourself, like how that affects you. That is something I’m learning… and I’m really trying to apply every day.”

What do you see for the future?

“I’m pretty optimistic about the future. Hopefully the world is going to become more united. For example, the European Union has lots of problems and that’s really scary right now. Hopefully, in the future, the European Union will become the Untied States of Europe; if they reassemble and come together stronger, like with a centralized parliament, that would strengthen the whole union.

“It’s really important for people to go to other countries and see what other people are like because if people stay always in one country they have these stereotypes… they make assumptions and that’s really dangerous. It’s really important that, as much as possible, we visit other countries and learn something about other people… see themselves and their country in another view. We need more global understanding.”

Richard asks Daniel if his feelings are typical of his peers back home.

“Yes. Generally most of the young people are very optimistic about the future, because now we have so much knowledge and there are so many opportunities, everybody has some dream about it, and it seems really significant to achieve.  I would say most of my colleagues in Germany are pretty optimistic.”

By this point, Richard is very curious — things in Germany sound pretty good, so he has to ask:  “Why did you come to the U.S. to study, and what do you think about this whole “global community” idea?”

“I dreamed about America since I was in 5^th grade… and what I would see on television – like how New York or Los Angeles were portrayed. It was like this big dream, this magical land where I wanted to go. Now that I’m here I see it in a different view, but I still like it. You see that there are some troubles and some problems what are completely different from the movies, but still, it’s a very nice view.

“The American mentality is very nice. Just “Do It,” like Nike says! Which is really awesome if you think about it.

“Some of the people are very hectic and their lifestyle can be really funny. I don’t mind it. Here in Los Angeles it’s crazy — they are really funny and open-minded. It’s crazy, all diverse. For example, on Friday I saw a gay couple walking down the street, which still blows my mind because in Germany it’s not all that diverse… like it is here in Los Angeles.  Los Angeles, probably because it’s such a big city, is probably most different than the whole United States. It is nice because Los Angeles has a nice hope about it for society, and that is pretty interesting.  It gives you a broader understanding and keeps your mind more open – interesting because you see so many people, and they still can all be friends and work together and live together.”

Thank you Daniel, for sharing your thoughts. May we all hope for an optimistic future if we do as you say, “Unleash the power within!”

“Try to take pleasure in at least one thing during the day; and appreciate the little things in life.

“If you have things that you want to do, make a list; my goals for this week… the next week… a month… a year… three years… and look back on them. You always think, oh yeah! I want to do that someday, or that would be cool… I want to do that… and I want to do that; and you never do it and your life passes you by. Writing a list can really help us to accomplish things.

Do just one little thing each day. And at the end of the day, review the list and also say what did I accomplish today;” Life coaching from today’s stranger, now friend, artist Lisa.

Lisa’s energy is beaming and in her is revealed a person who is on this Earth to share her happiness with the world around her.

I consider her a giver of peace. A suitable title for where I run into her today, under the peaceful shade of little secluded art exposition; a little slice of artistic seclusion at a side area in the middle of Topanga Canyon. And standing beside the sound of a naturally fed waterfall… I realize that I have stumbled upon a retreat from the haste of the world.

A magical mini community of sorts, and one that is free of the pressures of religious segregation or any form of class distinction.

It does not take long for me to understand that Lisa is all about doing good… Good for the sake of doing good.

“There is no God and we are all going to die, one day the earth is going to cease to exist and the sun is going to cease to exist. So who cares,” she suggests with the greatest sense of light heartedness.

We talk about her view for a few minutes. And in examining her statement we come to a conclusion as to it meaning. Per Lisa, “’You can view ‘who cares’ as either annalistic or empowering. You have one life and you are going to die one day,’” she vibrantly explains as she responds to her own council, “I know… I’m very dark …”

The last thing I see Lisa as is dark. What I see is a young woman who is passionate about life and embracing every second of it in not wanting to waist a breath of life on meaningless pursuits.

“I just do my thing… Lisa expresses, “…and I am passionate by my thing. I like to paint… It makes people happy, and that makes me happy. People always respond positively to me and that makes me respond positively towards them. If everyone around acted negatively towards me, or looked at me weird, or thought I was a freak, I probably would not be as nice.”

But nice Lisa is, even so much that I cannot stop myself from complimenting her. “Lisa, you are a light to the world!”

Without becoming overwhelmed by my compliment, Lisa remains unpretentious in her composure, “All I do is just smile… We all need to smile… Just that… Smile every day. You smile and people respond to it.

I try to look nice. If you are wearing spikes in your nose and spikes everywhere… in your ears and wherever… Looking freaky… and with negative feelings towards the world. You will receive what you project.

You create your own experiences in life. You can change the world around you. You have that power. And People don’t realize the power that they have. You can blame it on everyone else. It’s easy to blame stuff on other people.

We have to just keep moving, but we have to put out the good energy.

Have I given you enough good nuggets to put in your blog?” Lisa asks.

“Your words are perfect…” I confirm, “…but I have one last question.”

“How would you explain yourself as an artist?”

Lisa thinks for a moment, “I am someone who paints color. That is very important to me. But what is most important in what I do is the how, not the what.

A lot of people are suffering, especially now, so I want to give them some love in their space.”

And after spending half an hour with Lisa, I understand her how.

Lisa is all about love… love for her life… love for her family… love for her craft… and best of all… love for the world and people around her.

Lisa, It’s been a pleasure spending time with your today. Stay who you are. and please keep giving what you give. I think we all need more Lisa’s in our lives.

Shameless Plug:
Pet lovers perk up. Lisa paints pet portraits. If you are interested here is her website: lisagoldfarb.com

My family awaits me today, and in all fairness, to jump into a one hour writing session would be a self-indulgent use of the small window of time I find myself privately encapsulated in. And the fact that this is the anniversary day of my marriage, I feel it a tad insensitive to look away from the importance of this day in burying myself too deeply in my blogging.

That said, and before I introduce you to today’s new friend, you need to know that they put no pressure on us (myself and you – my readers). The truth is that they are as committed to this project as I. Even leaving me at home in full privacy to honor you and what we are doing through 365.

So if there is ever a time that I need your feedback… it is today, and please forgive me for what I admit is the first wholly selfish agenda I have put forth since the inception of 365.

I’d like to thank our new friend, Randy for putting me on path to making a request: May my wife get the limelight today!

I catch Randy at a father/sons campout, and even though his words resonate strong with those shared by many of our 365 friends, they have obviously hit me deeply today.

Randy says, “Treat others as you would want to be treated…” as he keeps sight of his youngest son.

“… If everybody showed each other respect and love, and expected that in return, then the world would be a better place.

I’m and optimist. When you see youth and the children of today, how can you not have hope for the future of the world? I think it’s going to continue to be a good place. I don’t anticipate any big changes, hopefully everybody will be happy and at peace.”

Randy takes a second look at his son, “I’m not full of too much wisdom or advice tonight.”

Randy is not being dismissive. Frankly he is very engaged with me and into 365. But as we chat, it is apparent via his wandering eyes that his greatest priority is in watch guarding his youngest. And in this subtle body language, his actions speak louder than words, “Family First!”

And now with that said, I must focus my actions based on Randy’s example.

I love my family. Could not ask for a more supportive wife and daughter. And even though they have given me this uninterrupted window for authoring. The right thing to do is to honor them for their sacrifice of my time in being so supportive of what we are trying to do with 365. That being to learn to look at each other with welcoming hearts and minds.

So here is where I need your help. I’m hoping we can engage our numbers to give credit to the backbone of 365… My lovely wife.

Who know? Maybe you are about to take part in a romantic notion, maybe you choose not to. But whatever you decide, my hope is through my opening up, and with the help of Randy’s example of priority, that we can all focus our attention on those little gentle life gestures toward family, friends and community. Namely a kind “Thank You.”

So here is the help I ask for. I want to surprise my wife with a “Thank You” attack. Funny, my eyes are welling a little as I write this. “Holly heck Richard…! Pull yourself together… or all of us… your 365 readers are going to come over there and slap you back to manhood!”

“OK! Thanks… I’m back.”

What I ask is this, for the countless hours my wife has sacrificed, and the many meals she has brought me as I type, I ask you this, Can you send her a simple “Thank You.”

I ask not for paragraphs… I ask not for praises… I ask not for your opening of any personal windows… Just a simple “Thank You” in the subject line. If you want to write more, that’s up to you. But again I am not asking for any deep dig of your time.

I consider you all friends and I appreciate you readership. Tomorrow I’ll pick myself up from my romantic notions and dig back into finding our next 365 friend.

You have been a great audience, and I must again thank you for your continued support. Our numbers are growing and I have hope that eventually we can all spread some good will, or perhaps works, within our communities.

And for those of you who are helping me in my romantic venture this day, I give you my wife’s email. ttrad@mac.com.

Talk tomorrow my friends.

Randy, thanks for your inspiration.

It’s movie night under the stars at California State University, Northridge and I’m here with close family friend Kris (not pictured). I’ve known Kris for many years, and with her being a lifetime friend of my wife, to hang out with her is like spending time with a family member. Plus, she is one of the most avid readers of 365. And for this reason, I am conducting an experiment by submitting to the both of them for the  direction of my 365 path this evening. Kris has agreed to drive and facilitate our travels and Terri has stepped up in suggesting our destination, the above mentioned movie night and one of Kris’s favorite flicks of all time, “The Wizard Of Oz.”

The crowd is thin and with the 2012 graduation ceremonies over, the grounds are open. Still, the diversity is rich and the temptation to profile for the wisdom of youth pulls hard. Although Kris and I share our hellos with every passer-by, I purposefully hold my 365 introduction, waiting of Kris’ inspiration. We talk to a couple of people, stand, talk to a few more, stand again, and repeat the same motions several times. Yet in doing so, neither of us feel any strong impressions about who to ask to join us in sharing their council.

We simply find ourselves standing, blind-minded zombie, staring into the slowly expanding audience, when Kris turns to me with what I view as a spark of enlightenment.  “What about the Lemonade stand?” she gestures.

Funny how it’s so easy to get sidetracked by the motion of people that we can find ourselves overlooking those sitting in plain view.

Over to the lemonade stand we stroll and on approach we are welcomed by Dan, cold beverage superstar and proprietor of DC Lemonade.

Dan, hailing from Israel (relocated to the United States in 1984) speaks to us with a combination of warmth and subdued wisdom.

“We all need to get along… it is one world for all of us, and with less fighting we are all going to get better. And coming from a country where we always fought for our land, I know it is important to forget about the little stuff and think about the future for our kids. They are going to live in a free world. Where there is no war or stuff like that.”

Dan speaks with optimism about the ability of our children to evoke positive change as they mature. With this he directs us to do what we can to instill whatever seeds we can in the way we teach, parent and advise them.

“I just wish that we are going to work on all the problems that we have now and eliminate all the extremists all over the world. That they are not going to put so much in religion and just let everyone do what they feel like as long as we all get together.”

Respect, tolerance and forgiveness are the key attributes I take away from speaking with Dan.

He is just another hard-working man, doing his best to support his family and in passing along whatever good words and works he can.

He does speak radically of eliminating the extremists. But in his verbal tone it is apparent that he is not referring to a killing spree. I am certain that would be against his value system. What I hear is a man focused on acceptance.

“Just let everyone do what they feel like as long as we all get together.” Dan platforms.

His voice does not ring with the color of a drug induced 60s festival (no harm meant with the reference). Nor does it sting with overly zealous or radical religious reform. It just settles as a heart’s hope from a caring father.

I’m with you Dan – It is important to forget about the little stuff, and to think about the future for our kids.

And I share in your dream my friend. I hope, too, that as you say, “They are going to live in a free world, where there is no war or stuff like that.”

A dream that can start in our hearts, as per referencing a line from tonight’s film.

“If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own back yard…”

Shall that backyard be our communities and our view of the diversity of the world?

Back to Dan, “We all need to get along… it is one world for all of us.”

I’m still in the middle of the pre-production storm in readying for a short film that I am producing and directing. No promoting here, just letting you know that my priorities are still deep in 365. So now with my pickled scented keyboard under familiar hand, I must give thank to my wife, Terri, for introducing our friends of the day cyclists and men of wisdom, Brian and Michael.

Terri already set the scene for today’s entry, and with one hour to spare in my working day, I grabbed a coffee-house chair with our new friends.

We sit and talk cycling in breaking the walls, but soon after that the topics turn towards society. Both Brian and Michael are very intellectual and realistically creative in their outlook towards both the now and the world ahead.

Brian, now retired, is about to check out of the America grind in favor of a projected five years traveling through Europe with his wife. Yet, Brian in no escapist, “We want to experience a different culture than that of Los Angeles,” he opens up.

“It’s really cool what you are doing with 365. It reminds me of a book a read by a British professor (he can’t recall their name, and once I Goggled for it, the list of authors on the topic prove to be overwhelming). In this book the author studied modern perspectives on luck. And in it the first thing that was disproved was superstition. What it did prove was that luck is not by chance, it often fell more on people who regularly engaged in with people. Showing that people who were not myopic in looking at the broader world, had a greater percentage of good fortune fall upon them. Not necessarily from the people who they engaged with, but from unknown and unfamiliar sources.”

And in this discussion of questioning where the fountain of good fortune flows forth, Brian verbalizes his charge of wisdom to us. Humbly this, “Love one another.”

“Make love not war! I say it not just tongue in cheek. The problem is real. We have so much world conflict going on now… and there doesn’t seem to be any resolution and I see no end to it. There are more wars now than any other time in world history. And a lot of the reasons are frivolous.

There are so many innocent people dying for it… so much strife.

We have to find a way of resolving our differences without killing each other. I don’t know what it will take.

And the problem is getting bigger. We are going to become a more populated world. As we do there is going to be a lot more competition for resources. Whether it be water, food, fuel, whatever it is, etc.

There is a lot of real estate out there to occupy, but there is only a limited amount of natural resources. We are depleting those resources while we are also polluting our world. Unless we have some kind of a major overhaul in the way we think and look for ways to use resources, and to regenerate what we have already used up, we’re heading toward a pretty touch future.

We insulate ourselves with money, and the more people have, the less crap they have to take from the world. That is not a healthy way to think.

My fear is that twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years from now we are going to end up with these enclaves of the wealthy… world communities?! We have them now, but for the future the risk is even more so. I fear it is going to be the lessor’s outside of the wall and the moat is going to be there with the Alligators. That is no way to live as human beings.”

We’ve spoken now and then of the problems of modern education and of the brainwashing of institutionalized education and of the numbing of the senses due to our ever-evolving technology.

Michael addresses these issues head on; you see… Michael is an educator and has dedicated a bulk of his academic career taking in the pros and cons of the academic system. But more than that, he is a realist in looking at the way we are learning, and through this, has created a new platform in reforming the sit down, shut up, take notes and raise your hand if you want to contribute method of learning. An approach that has long since seen its demise in a system of learning that is in terrible need of major redesign. “Opps… have I revealed one of my Achilles heals?”

Oh well…! It’s out there now, so I’ll turn the floor over the Michael for his perspective.

“People should text less and listen more. They are losing the art of conversation through texting and their interpersonal skills are being lost. They don’t know how to problem solve or collaborate, so we have to force them to work on the interpersonal skills.” Michael observes of the many students that he has taught, both on a high school and higher education level.

He defines further; “Since I’m in education I’m trying to change the whole process of teaching from lecturing to hands on learning. Learning by doing, a theatrical approach. Which is an umbrella term for all the different theatrical devices that can be used to teach a course: From story telling, to role-playing, to pantomime, to set design, etc. You can teach any subject through theater games, and that is what I am trying to do. To make learning more interactive and to use students real life experiences as spring boards in lesson plans… To make teaching more personal!

Michael calls it “Improv Classroom.”

Brian, Michael, you have given us a lot to reflect on. See you on the hills my peddling friends.

Today Richard and our daughter have been out most of the day, along with a trusted colleague, doing some location scouting for an upcoming project. Whatever he is doing, wherever it takes him, he always takes along his photo gear and keeps his eyes open for new 365 friends.

Today is day 272 and Richard’s track record for meeting someone new and blogging about the experience is stellar — I believe he has only missed a time stamp for a specific day once (by 1 minute), and he has only asked me to write his blog entry for him twice. I’m very proud of him.

So this afternoon I am a little surprised when he called me from the road and asked me for a  favor – “I’m trying to get home,” he pleads, “but I cannot make it back in time to get my story written before the time stamp turns over for the day. Could you please let everyone know that I have photographed and interviewed our new friends for today, I’ve even got the photos ready to go, but I cannot get their story written for a few more hours?”

I am so happy he called when he did — my friend and I have been canning pickles all day. I was just cleaning up the last traces of pickling brine when the call came, and I have to admit, I’m tired — and the floor still needs to be mopped (salty, sugar splatters on the floor – argh!).  But now I get to take a break, sit down in a cool room and write. I’m good with that!

Meet Brian and Michael, our new friends for day 272! Check back in a few hours and Richard will tell you all about them and what they have to tell us!

I’m still trying to run into a corporate friend. So today I take a stroll through the glass jungle of executive buildings, committing myself to interview the first person who I can engage with.

Up the street, are two girls singing, and although obviously not the corporate type, something about them draws me in. We talk for a while, but due to an under age issues, I pass on photographing them without guardian permission. We exchange cards and they promise to get back to us with parental consent. Hope they do.

Back to my walk I go, when I bump into a car as it exits a parking structure. “Opps, hello,” I greet in covering up my clumsiness.

The driver smile back at me, “Hello.”

I promised myself that I would approach the first person that speak with me, so despite the awkwardness of car exiting parking structure, I reach out with a 365 invitation.

“Why not,” Megan replies, and right there, right then, we talk.

Through the window I ask Megan for her words of advise.

“Be happy… Put out love and positivity as much as you can… Because that’s what makes us do as well and we do.” Megan responds without a flinch in her smiling attitude.

A life view that was immediately apparent to me via her accepting demeanor.

Here we are two strangers, brought together by coincidental geography. Or maybe by my unfocused walk in front of her car. But whatever the cause of our intersection, a message is unveiled.

Megan clarifies, “We need to steer towards being more tolerant and being more accepting of each other and the other beings on this planet, whether it be animals or plants or whatever.

I’m not sure as humans we will ever learn to be completely tolerant, but once we are more than we are now, that’s when we will get into a better place and we will be able to live together more harmoniously.”

Megan speaks of living together in harmony, probably the core to her pleasant personality and excitement to speak with us.

“I think in the near future I definitely see us gong down the wrong path. We’re not heading in a good direction at the moment, but I have faith in us, and I believe come thirty, forty, fifty years down, we will recognize the errors of our ways and hopefully take steps to correct it… To live as one on this planet that is so precious to us.

We may not all be able to see it the same way. But we need to be able to at least agree to disagree. If we have differing opinions, that’s fine; it does not make us enemies. I think that’s what more people need to understand.”

Megan, thanks for stopping.

And readers, I promise I will not give up on finding our executives.

Last night we all me Senita, an amazing person with a wonderful spirit, a woman who possesses the courage and power to influence change. We met her at a coffee-house on the corner of Wilshire and Detroit, a trendy little area that we locals refer to as the Miracle Mile District.

We finished or chat at 9:00pm and as we said our farewells I was grabbed by the architecture, the stormy sky and the starkness of the cityscape. My artistic mind pulled, and for whatever reason I found myself doing a study of the corner traffic signal.

I framed my shot and started shooting when a voice peeked over my shoulder. “That’s a really nice camera.”

Now, I’m not oblivious to the fact that I was a walking target for a mugging or solicitation, so I turned, not so much in a defensive posture, but more with a horizon scanning awareness, prepped to make a quick move if needed.

“What are you shooting?” my street side stranger inquired.

His name is Tim and at first handshake I knew he had something to say. I tell him about 365 and invite him to interview another time (I’ve already conducted an interview in speaking with Senita).

We chat for a while, but due to a commitment that he is heading to, we mutually agree to meet up today at the same corner of Wilshire and Detroit.

So here we are… 9:00pm… same place… different night… changed wardrobe.

I bring with me my friend Omar (Not pictured), who has kept me company for the forty-five minute drive needed to get here. And it is so worth the commute.

With the permission of Tim, he allows us to know of his fight for sanity. Tim is a diagnosed Paranoid Schizophrenic. But crazy he is not. Rather he is remarkably sane and well-balanced. He holds a long-standing and well-respected job, talks with the greatest of awareness and looks his disease square in the face with his acceptance of the medications and treatments that he is so disciplined in holding to.

Tim tells us of times where he has heard voices in his head and of how he recognizes them for what they are: Symptoms of his disease.

At first, and in protection of Tim, I was not going to tell you about his condition.

But with courage Tim has asked me to be open in speaking with you about him. “If you don’t talk honestly about me, then what good is your article. People need to know that this disease it manageable, and that they can’t give up on life or let it overcome them. You can have a great life as a Schizophrenic.”

Like I said, “I knew Tim had something to say.”

Tim, Omar and I grab a seat in front of a sandwich shop and talk for about an hour.

We talk of spirituality, family, health and conspiracy theories, something Tim openly admits is a common thought trap for many a Paranoid Schizophrenic. “I follow the stuff and believe a lot of it. But I am really careful to not get too sucked into it. I’m careful because it is so addictive.” Tim stands strong in his focus on the real and tangible.

In talking with Tim, It is apparent that much of what he believes is well sounded and rife with reason.

Tim makes no standing on table orations, tells of no imaginary friends, and is as articulate as a seasoned research scientist. His enthusiasm and intellect is infectious and his sense of respect for others is radiant.

Tim greatest wish for the world, “People need to show true love and tolerance… regardless…

…Because you never know what someone has been through that makes them tick the way that they do. And I mean everything and everyone…except the government.”

Tim has the bragging right to make his claim of tolerance. His condition has led to great turmoil and trial, but his countenance gleams of victory and of hope for a better world. If that is crazy, them I must be a Paranoid Schizophrenic too.

And per the notion of conspiracy, I’ll admit, (and Tim has accepted my perspective), the depths of my theories do not rum as deep as Tim’s. But what is really revealing is that he does not persecute me for my lessor stance on his theories of conspiracy. He even talks with the most impressive of acceptance.

“I’m not discrediting E.T.’s, but if they’re out there… maybe their just like us.”

What I do see eye to eye with Tim is his general opinion of society becoming too complacent, and his theories of the world’s majority being manipulated by the money mongers and political hidden agendas.

“Too many people blindly follow the media…” Tim advises… “’That in addition to the world becoming more greedy, lustful, envious and gluttonous is what is leading to people getting lazy, prideful and malicious. It’s sad to see, and though it is what it is, one doesn’t have to beat them, nor join them (the masses).

Anyone who cares enough to not to be a victim would hopefully consider things like MK Ultra and not get distracted by everything that glitters.

If I could suggest anything… it would be to not throw in the towel… to not give in! But instead, to take a stand in self-educating themselves in considering the sources of what they see and hear…

…That we learn not to ever say, ‘Some guy told me.’

I encourage people to find out for themselves. To not believe much of anything the media says. Much of it is masked with halve-truths.

People need to ultimately strive to be a good, regardless of the law of what goes around comes back full circle. They just need to do the right thing and not be indifferent.

I often think about the concept of good vs. evil. If it really does exist, which one is more powerful? If one can breed life… Then possibilities can be infinite. If one only causes destruction… Then I guess there is not much room for anything, and then there is only nothingness. But that’s just my opinion, or perhaps just my perception.

Personally, I refuse to be led blindly. And thanks to movies like ‘Inside Job,’ websites like ‘Wikileaks’ and documentaries like ‘Loosechange,’ people’s eyes may hopefully be opened to take a stand before it’s too late.

The government is doing everything it can to take the power away from the people, and its tragic that we’re letting it. In short, I’d suggest that people practice love and tolerance, except toward the government. To educate themselves and to wake up in smelling the roses before we fall asleep.’”

Tim wraps up with a personal disclosure. “’I don’t want anyone the think they have to believe what I believe. I may be wrong… I may be right. But it’s what I believe. In the end all I ask is that everyone does they’re research… basically, ‘To just go and find out for themselves.’”

Tim, you are a sane man, and I am proud to call you my friend.

 “It’s about education, about understanding the worldly cultures that are out there. The world is so small and we are not educated enough.”

Now a day there is no reason to say that you are ignorant, you do not know what is going on or can’t get a different side of the information. The information is out there. It just a matter of how much you really want to know. People have to take the responsibility to find out,” Says Senita and she has the credentials to make the claim.

I could write thousands of word to describe the works of good Senita does. But is making it easy on all of us, here is the link to her non-profit Bosana Foundation; a foundation that provided a much overlooked need of the orphans of a homeland of she so loves. That need: Education for the orphans of Bosnia.

“I do this for free is because I want to…” Senita glows… “My reward is seeing the kids achieving something out of themselves.”

Again I find myself glued in listening to another woman of greatness in absorbing the depth of effort Senita is giving of her life to a cause that is close to her heart.

“Education and information is key for all of us, if we really don’t know much about the other, or if you really want to learn and expose yourself to things… you need to. That’s the only way of moving this world forward. It’s through understanding the other. Luckily we have all that accessible to us… the everyday person. Most everybody nowadays has access to email, Facebook or something. I think education is the focus of the world of building tolerance, peace and understanding.”

“There was this really interesting video of regular people on the street,” Senita references IRANIANS WE LOVE U: a message to Iran from Israel

“’When you think of the politicians of the world, everything is about us against them, and they proclaim ‘They are evil!’ They never speak for the people. You know…? That dead child who had nothing to do with the decisions of the people. The message is straight forward: The regular people of Iran or Israel have nothing to do with the it.’”

I talk with my wife for a while, and yet we agree that politics have a tremendous part of the problems in the Middle East that credit also has to be given to the hate based on timeless traditions. The good though is seeing that there is an emerging generation that is opening their eyes in looking beyond the sins of their fathers and changing the way the love their neighbors. Might we label it the movement of reversing the pain of “Hatred based on tradition?”

We look towards the future.

Senita breaks down her predictions in her outlook of the people of the generations to come.

“’Where I see society and where I would like to see society are two separate answers.

I do see a shift happening. More and more people are becoming aware of what is happening, and that they can make a difference in a small community if not the world. It’s always been present, but I think now more so than ever.

Information is helping people to get ideas, to connect faster and find communities that they can link to far away from their little communities. In that sense, I’d like to say that I am hopeful that in twenty years or so, maybe our generation, or maybe the generation after me will be much different.

I would like to see that, but I think we are still driven so much by money and greed and the other that I don’t see any real change happening realistically and drastically.

But there is a shift in the way we think, the younger generation is more aware and well-informed. Because of that, they are going to be different. They have more access to information. That is for my generation too. It’s the hopeful generation.

I’m still a minority, that’s the problem.

Why I am not as hopeful about the future?

Whenever when I talk to people about Bosnia… my community. When I tell people how I would like to see Bosnia, or how I think Bosnia can be, the majority of people… I would say eighty percent or so, are saying, ‘You are such an optimist… I would love to see it like that…. but I don’t think so.’

As long as people cannot see it… you have to be able to see it in order for you to realize it… your never going to realize it… I see it.

I’m not living in lala land, dreaming for something different in Bosnia than what it is now. But I really can generally visualize it, I almost feel like I can touch it.

There is a ground of people who say, ‘That would be wonderful, but can visualize it.’ And that is the problem. Everybody is hopeful… But nobody can really work toward it.

People tell me what I do is amazing. I don’t feel that what I do is amazing. It is just something small that I think everyone can do…

…It’s so small! Really it takes some of my time but it is worth it. I think everyone should give some of their time to their community.

Everybody just says that’s great, but they’re not doing anything about it. That’s why I feel we are a hopeful generation.

We are not yet there yet. To where we can really stand up and do something about it. And I hope that the next generation will be more reactive and not just sitting around hoping for something… but not doing anything about it.

We really can make a difference in the global community.’”

Difference we can make. Senita has proven that to us with her work in Bosnia. She is not asking us to create a non-profit cause. She is asking us to be aware and to contribute an hour here, or and hour there. Many a dollar or two given per occasion, anything other that sitting in silent observation.

Every year Senita produces a big fundraising concert and silent auction – Click here are the details. Even tonight she is off to a meeting with the event producers and has graciously given of her time to interview with us.

“We raise most of our scholarship money at the event,” Senita tells me.

Funds (One hundred percent of the moneys raised) are given to assist in the education the Bosana Foundation Programs.

“We provide what no one else thinks about. Governments provide orphanages the basic needs: Clothing, food and shelter. But they have no decent education or medical. Everyone thinks they need clothes and toys. So I asked the orphans what they needed, Most of them said education.

So we started an afterschool program. Helping with homework, helping pass their exams, getting them to think about what they want to do with their future or what subjects they enjoy. We did this for about two years. Then I realized that even if they had good grades there was no chance for them to go to college. They were kicked out of the orphanages at eighteen years of age.

So we started a scholarship program, internships and are working towards establishing employment programs.’”

We can make a difference is the charge Senita has given us today. Even pointing us at another example of the reach of Social media used responsibly – Kony 2012, check it out.

“It is powerful… Regular people… us… can really do something,” She comments of the film.

Senita is living the dream. Not the dream of fortune, nor a desire for self-glory, not even looking for a grand title.

“This is not for me to make money. I have another job that pays me. I do this because it is the right thing to do.” Senita explains her motives.

Senita’s dream is for a better future world. She quotes, “The only way we are going to have peace is if we can learn to coexist with each other.”

May we all be of the generation that Senita is hopeful for.