Respect – Page 3 – Richard Radstone

Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 437: “2 is better than 1, 3 is better than 2…”

January 1, 2023April 12, 2014 by richard radstone

“Everybody has to be connected to each other and helping each other. Not just thinking about themselves and acting selfish… The Karma is coming back to you.” —Arian

Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 436: “Respect Has Such Deep Meaning”

January 1, 2023April 11, 2014 by richard radstone

“Everyone’s always faced issues. Human rights, poverty, anything that you can count…” —Aria

Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 435: “A Good War…? I Haven’t Come Up With One Yet”

January 4, 2023April 10, 2014 by richard radstone

“There is a better way to do things other than killing people…” —Gary

Sidewalk Ghosts / Interview 434: “Learn From Everybody And Be Yourself”

January 4, 2023April 9, 2014 by richard radstone

“Here we are with our friend Ursula…”

Often I’m asked, “How do you know who to approach?” Well, sorry to say that I am clueless for a standard answer. It just happens. Sometimes I walk up to people; sometimes they walk up to me. Yes, I am Mr. Vicarious in life. I’m that guy with the “hello” or “good day.” You know, that stranger who for whatever reason finds a way to get into your space or acknowledges you into his. Not in an annoying way mind you. More like the dude from a 40s sitcom, sans the “howdy neighbor” (and know that I’ve been rejected many a time in my quest). You bet, I’ve been dismissed by silent eyes and outright verbal attacks. But I’m down with that, no harm, no foul—but it does knock the wind out of my sails when someone profiles me the wrong way. I won’t lie about that.
On the other hand, the better part of the equation is the 1,000s (yes,1,000s), of strangers I’ve been blessed with sharing meaningful conversation (not everyone wants to be formally interviewed). Moments that have not only proved enlightening, but more profoundly, bonding. I’ve shared hugs, been fed and have been trusted with heartfelt feeling on the most intimate of private thoughts. The experience of 365 is has been, and continues to be, nothing less than life enhancing.
Selfishly, that is one of the motivators that drives me to find the 4 to 6 hours a day I dedicate to our mission of unity. Hours that are in addition to my career and family responsibilities. In this weighing of time, please know that I am not complaining at all. There is lucid (I hope) reasoning backing this seemingly self-proclaiming exposition. In opening my heart, grandstanding as my words may seem at times (I hope not), please know that I assume the humbler side of the above statements. I consider myself an active source as a case study. For the best trials are the ones we individually experience.
I’ve done my best to be honest over the years we’ve been together in 365. Days that (other than the occasional vent on the frustrated day) I pray have brought us a little closer together in this cause and helped us to breath freely as we wade deeper into the water of our initiatives and outreach.
So how do I know who to approach? Does it really matter? For in every heart, in every brain and in every spirit there is a truth to be shared, and ultimately that truth leads us back to our own reflection. That is why I do what I do. Yes, it is selfish to a small degree. Yet in my mirror reflection I ask myself, are you putting your actions where you mouth is?
Sure, a mirrored image that has landed me the target of criticism from time to time. Well worth the hits. Knocks that I gladly take if they are in the path of the awakening happening before our very eyes. Absolutely, it is an extremely slow process and I won’t hide the fact that I’ve dreamed of a viral phenomenon for Operation-365. A vision I admit I’m still holding onto.
So I remain optimistic, assured by your subscriptions, comments and likes. We are here because of you. In this compliment to you, I won’t martyr in taking no claim to my position. Respectfully, I won’t be passive in denying my contributions to 365. I will always roll up my sleeves in reaching out to the world around me and in providing content for 365. It’s a win/win from my perspective. But more importantly, and as we grow, I look forward to my growing role into an expanded set of shoes, that of a facilitator. Doing my part in inviting your efforts to be active as we grow our community of sharing.
As Ursula has inspired us, “Absorb as much knowledge as you can and learn from everybody.”
In a way, each of us are teachers. In a formal sense…? Maybe not. But as life ambassadors of what’s right, Ursula sums it up well, “Learn from everybody.”
Shameless Plug
You can check out Ursula’s fundraising outreach at http://www.blackboxexchange.org

A Four Letter Word

January 1, 2023April 8, 2014 by richard radstone

I sit here writing, contemplative, examining… I sit here, looking at my wife and daughter across the room, wondering about the example I am setting for them? I sit here thinking about the sum whole of why Operation-365 even exists and the blood, sweat and tears put into building it. I sit here in analysis—self-debating as I decide to recommit to my essays in adding a different spin on our daily entries.

For almost three years Operation-365 has allowed us to meet and get to know 100s of absolute strangers, and it will continue to do so. To read about, and now with the video entries, to literally hear the words shared by these hundreds of brave people. All walks of life have we met. All manner of attitudes have we approached, and to be open, the big take away is still being developed.

However, I can faithfully say this: each and every day we are getting closer to our end goal of building our globally connected and diverse community. A place where we can eventually do more than simply listen to each other (not a bad thing at all), but to eventually activate our efforts in doing something to better each other’s lives. We have many ideas as to how to do this, and over the next months and years (yes, we are here to stay) we will continue to promote our challenges, create more interactivity and start a path toward our greatest of goals—to generate revenue that can be invested back into helping those in our community.

We are a virtual city in the making. A place where the silent majority truly matters. Our boarders are unlimited and our populous is made up of everyday people living everyday lives—you and I… the mothers, the fathers, the lonely, the popular, the weak, the strong, the wealthy, the poor, the young and the old.

Technology has allowed 365 to bring us together in a cause that is ever evolving. Our culture is forming and it is wonderfully composed of all faiths, races, situations and outlooks. We are a people who embrace diversity and are real in our opinions. Opinions that for almost 36 months have been able to find common ground, even when we have differences in our personal point of view. That is the beauty of 365.

100s of strangers have been asked one basic question. From those who have intimidated us, to those who have invited us in, we have asked this query. It is not a radical survey or a long form in any degree. It’s actually quite an innate request. Simply this, “What single word would you like to share with the world?”

We’ve heard them all. From “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” to “Freedom.” Streams of creative to thoughtful insights have flowed in, yet in all we have interviewed, added to the many who I have personally spoken to on the streets, one expression has risen to the surface. It emerges from both those who have, to be honest, frightened us at first, to those who have hugged us as friends. This magical word resonates; a word that is so easy to roll off our tongues, but one that is so very difficult to act upon in this modern world of hidden hurt and doubt.

In revealing the word, know that I am not asking us to have a Kumbaya moment. Nor am I directing us to overcompensate in reproving ourselves (or others) for the past, and I am certainly not asking us to to overindulge in a sense of “do good.” What I am proposing is a basic consideration. A consideration that we might take pause to reflect upon as we navigate in this fast paced world. Think of it as a rest of heart and mind that perhaps can transform our individual reasoning as to how we view our fellow man.

“That word is?” you ask. You might even be guessing already, and I bet many of you are correct in your assumptions: LOVE.

Call me a sentimental fool, but I’m even tearing up as I reveal it. Its four letters have the power to reach deep into our soul as they conjure up an endless list of pains and joys. Feelings that, if used for the right purposes, can facilitate the grandest of healing and action.

Yes, we all know the word. However, the depth of understanding it is an ever-eluding puzzle, one that if assembled correctly has the potential to move us towards the light; or, if left in the box, can isolate us into the shadows.

I could go on and on about the word, but I choose not to. I’ve said enough. It is time for me to step off the soapbox and put myself at the back of the room to partake of your wisdom. Wisdom that we have been so graced with over the years. Wisdom that has come to us by people we don’t even know. Wisdom that is timeless. Wisdom that has the bandwidth to bind us in unity. That is, if we are together and active in sharing it.

Friends of Operation-365, we salute you. It is you who are the true spirit of what we are doing. Every day of every year we have the ability to evoke universal good. The secret to our mission is pure and sweet. To do what we can in our own circle of influence, for that is where the real change begins.

Talk soon my good friends,

Richard