Generous Success
For our own success to be real, it must contribute to the success of others. — Eleanor Roosevelt In Invisible Acts of Power, Caroline Myss, Ph.D. says there is a fundamental aspect of human nature that needs to reach out to others. Documentaries on BBC’s Planet Earth and National Geographic Wild show that other mammals have the same capacity. [Perhaps some aves, feathered creatures, and aquatic vertebrates too.] The ways humans choose to be generous [now that we’re building skyscrapers and space ships] sets us apart. We can give for many reasons, which could — let’s face the truth — be selfish, ego boosting acts. We achieve magnificence when, as Myss wrote, “The warm glow we get from helping others is not just a good physical feeling – it is the energy of a healing grace that moves between the giver and the receiver and blesses both.” Bless means to ‘invoke divine favor.’ Bless involves a mutually and spiritually elevating sharing. In the success realm, Forbes offers “10 Ways to Help Others That Will Lead to Your Success,” including: Share knowledge [while advancing your personal education] Introductions [providing beneficial connections and contacts] Read more Succeed and Soar’s “Your Heroic Heart” post suggested: Imagine a world where gradually, one-by-one, more people become heroes? The process is simple: Random acts of kindness qualify. I think the fear-driven stinginess and meanness that has surfaced lately opens opportunities to see those niggardly behaviors for what they are. [Did you know there’s a movement to declare Greed a mental disorder?] That understood, we can choose healthier, more magnificent and noble ways of being. DivineSparks, a blog that collects, “words, pictures and other forms of media that remind me I’m a spiritual being having a human experience,” offered this Invisible Acts of Power insight, Anything you do for others, as well as the support you receive in your own life, has healing consequences for the whole human community. Succeed and Soar! Support Succeed and Soar this Month. Keep these inspirations glowing and growing. Shopping at Sandra’s Gifts and/or Sandra’s Galleries also helps. Invest Here. Thanks! Mark your calendar Let’s chat first Thursday, 7pm Pittsburgh [Eastern US] time. Succeed and Soar‘s first Zoom Chat touched on the Big Bang, Critical Race Theory, how thought becomes physical matter and more. Goal: Build community by sharing uplifting, enlightening conversations. See you December 2nd when we can also discuss Ivan Doig’s uplifting and fun novel, Last Bus to Wisdom. Eleanor’s Insights Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here
The Princess of Wands
A stumbling block to the pessimist is a stepping stone to the optimist. — Eleanor Roosevelt A story about the Tarot’s Princess of Wands suggests she had to learn to become so courageous, she could fly naked against all opposition. As the Princess crumbled all barriers to her goals, she dragged by the tail the giant tiger, the fears she’d slain. See Princess of Wands Stepping Stones are large, flat rocks that allow crossings of streams or rivers. They can also be turning points, highlights and moments of truth. If ‘Stepping Stone’ were a crossword clue, Wordplay’s Crossword Solver suggests ‘isle,’ a stepping stone for a giant. [Imagine being big enough to need an island-sized footpath.] If ‘Stumbling Block’ were a crossword clue, Wordplay’s Crossword Solver provides 30 solutions, including: roadblock, hurdle, snag, barrier and fly in the ointment. I hunted for some wisdoms about obstacles and found: Take a limitation and turn it into an opportunity. Take an opportunity and turn it into an adventure. – Jo Franz A new challenge keeps the brain kicking and the heart ticking. – E. A. Bucchianeri You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice. – Bob Marley Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle. – Christian Larson More quotes about obstacles. So, how can obstacles be overcome? Psychology Today offers eleven ways, including: STOP: Stop. Take a Step Back Observe. Proceed Mindfully. Find Meaning. Ask: What lesson can be learned? Set Small Goals that can add up to a big achievement. Read more. While in his mid 40s, knowing he had six months of health left, CMU Professor Randy Pausch presented his last lecture. He said many fun and uplifting things. One inspiring reminder was: Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls aren’t there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show us how badly we want things. View Highlights of “The Last Lecture” [39:57] Succeed and Soar! Let’s ZOOM chat for 40 minutes, First THURSDAY, November 4th, 7pm Lots to discuss, including thoughts about “Eleanor’s Insights” and this month’s book, Caroline Myss’ Invisible Acts of Power, Channeling Grace in Everyday Life. Zoom Link will be sent day before Chat. See you soon! Image © Can Stock Photo / vectomart Celebrate Saturday, October 16: National Dictionary Day Noah Webster was born on this date. Did you know that this teacher created the first dictionary in order to define the differences between American and British English? Beyond that purpose, learning words empowers. As the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein said, “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” [More words, bigger world.] Sunday, October 17: National Pay Back A Friend Day Bank of America created this day to remind that no matter how long it’s been or how much or little is owed, friendships are greater than any debt, especially since research shows money can be a key stressor in friendships. Monday, October 18: National Chocolate Cupcake Day Now, this is an event worth celebrating! Fabulous recipes. Sandra’s Gifts, my online shop at RedBubble.com, shares my art as mouse pads, phone cases and shower curtains, as mugs, dresses, journals, greeting cards and more. Everything is great quality and well priced. What beautiful and inspiring fun! Shop Here Eleanor’s Insights Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Of this post’s featured image, My daughters, grandson and I were exploring a remote part of the Lake Erie shore when I spotted this feather, left on the rocks after a bird took flight. My art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here Thanks!
True
True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth, universal brotherhood and good will. — Eleanor Roosevelt Here’s a fascinating fact: Homo sapiens are too new a species and lack enough genetic diversity to have races. Science has proven: There is not one gene, trait, or characteristic that distinguishes all members of one race from all members of another. We can map any number of traits and none would match our idea of race. This is because modern humans haven’t been around long enough to evolve into different subspecies and we’ve always moved, mated, and mixed our genes. Beneath the skin, we are one of the most genetically similar of all species. Research also shows: Penguins, for example, have twice as much genetic diversity as humans. Fruit flies have 10 times as much. Even our closest living relative, the chimpanzee, has been around at least several million years. There’s more genetic diversity within a group of chimps on a single hillside in Gomba than in the entire human species. Somewhere along the line, in primitive times, the notion of ‘race’ arose. In less educated days, some decided certain tribes, genders, religions, etc. were superior, and everyone else was not only inferior, but should be subjugated. Those archaic attitudes are great ways to offend folks while causing tension, animosities and various forms of hell on Earth. Of our country, the ‘Leader of the Free World,’ Eleanor Roosevelt said, “A number of people still think of the United States as being overwhelmingly English, Protestant, and white. This erroneous idea influences their whole outlook.” As begun in California, such misleading ideas can be fixed. One by one, individual by family by community, by town and commonwealth, we can MEGA [Make Everyone Great Always] instead of MAGA, opening space for the real Maga [Latin and Sanskrit for magic] as achieved by two Olympians in this post’s video [see below]. BTW, as elections approach, I like another lady, Gracie Allen’s recommendation: We favor putting Congress on a commission basis. Pay them for results. If they do a good job and the country prospers, they get 10% of the extra take. If you’d like to Zoom Chat about this post, Let me know. A marvelous story of these two Olympians’ determination to win the top prize. An uplifting, joyful, yup, inspiring conclusion. Click on image to view how Qatar’s Barshim and Italy’s Timberi achieve resolution, or watch here [05:11]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjSCT97GSsA Here, Barshim and Timberi explain their choice for “humanity, solidarity, unity..” [3:11]: View. ***** Special Dates ***** Monday, October 11: Indigenous Peoples Day As some prepare to celebrate Columbus Day on October 11, we’ve got to get real about who really found the continents he thought were India [later named for the Italian mapmaker Amerigo Vespucci]. After all, people had been walking here from Asia, across the Bering Land Bridge [where they lived and farmed and hunted] for over fifteen thousand years. This explains why Columbus met what he called Indians settled here when he arrived. According to Ivan van Sertima’s They Came Before Columbus, centuries before the slave trade, Africans sailed to and influenced Meso-American cultures. Further, Lief Erikson’s Vikings reached Greenland [part of North American continent] five centuries before Columbus. Scandinavians then continued west and settled along the Canadian coast. Read more. Ah well, would be nice to know what the people who really discovered these lands called them. And Columbus Day can be a time to discover Italian culture, history and cuisine [yum]. Map Sources: Pansepol.it & Quizziz.com Celebrate! Tuesday, October 12: National Farmer’s Day and National Savings Day . Visit a pumpkin patch and pick your Jack O’Lantern then add to your savings account. Wednesday, October 13: National M&M Day Did you know 340 million M&Ms are produced daily and the first blue M&M’s appeared in 1995? Let’s ZOOM chat for 40 minutes, First THURSDAY, November 4th, 7pm Lots to discuss, including thoughts about “Eleanor’s Insights” and this month’s book, Caroline Myss’ Invisible Acts of Power, Channeling Grace in Everyday Life. Zoom Link will be sent day before Chat. See you soon! Image © Can Stock Photo / vectomart Eleanor’s Insights Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. This post’s featured image is also presented without text in the SkyScapes collection. Shop Here
Your Youngest and Oldest Self
Today is the oldest you’ve ever been, and the youngest you’ll ever be again. — Eleanor Roosevelt This 15th post in Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series prompted three thoughts [let me know what you think]: First: Because, as long as we live, we, um, mature, why not honor the inevitable? As David Bowie said, “Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.” In Japan, China, India and throughout Africa, those who’ve accumulated more years are expected to have gained more wisdom and resources. Greece is a Western country that highly respects its elders, which is instilled in children and displayed through philotimo, “doing good.” Read more. Second: I wondered what advantages come with getting older. Listverse lists ten, which include: Fewer colds Less stress and worry Better sex Read more Third: How can we be happy about getting older? According to Forbes, the answer is: Grow Older. Their research shows that “happiness dips steadily until you hit age 45 or so. Then the happiness curve moves back up.” The reasons can include the perspective gained through age and better coping skills. Read more. Next week, Succeed and Soar moves to a different topic that interested Eleanor Roosevelt. This theme ends her secret to aging happily: Remain interested in life, as active as possible, useful to others, busy, and forward looking. Succeed and Soar! Let’s ZOOM chat for 40 minutes, First THURSDAY, November 4th, 7pm Lots to discuss, including thoughts about “Eleanor’s Insights” and this month’s book, Caroline Myss’ Invisible Acts of Power, Channeling Grace in Everyday Life. Zoom Link will be sent day before Chat. See you soon! Image © Can Stock Photo / vectomart Celebrate! Did you know that October is: Photographer Appreciation Month National Book Month Bully Prevention Month In addition, Wednesday, October 6 offers three fun things to celebrate: Mad Hatter Day National Noodle Day and, yum, National Frappe Day [here are 103 recipes, including a strawberry frappucino and a detox frappe made with clover honey, chia seeds, cinnamon and apples] Eleanor’s Insights Collection Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here