Random Thoughts: On #JFK , #Thanksgiving & Staying Hopeful.......

Although the team @Daily Outsider was "dark" (at least we all tried), the journey of service is never ending to try and live up to the notion of Intelligent Engagement!!!  

The team continued to work away throughout Thanksgiving Week!!!  I had the pleasure ot be supportive as I also helped with curation of Twitter Feeds throughout the last few days. For me, the one that was so moving was remembering and reflecting upon the challenging times America faced in the aftermath of President Kennedy's Assassination in 1963 as exemplified by this courtesy of the #JFKLibrary as President Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson walked the funeral procession in spite of what the Secret Service told them not to:

It was also quite a week for me as it began with a day of service at Camp Pendelton serving our fabulous Marines leading a contingent of Scouts: 

Some 800 Marine Families were able to enjoy a thanksgiving meal that otherwise would not have been able to.   It was also quite a day as I joined the Annual "No Lunch Lunch" Event sponsored by the Second Harvest Food Bank to underscore the fabulous work they are doing to eliminate hunger in Orange County.   Some 315,000 people continue to be food insecure in Orange County and Second Harvest has a Bold Goal to eliminate it.   I look forward to writing about it and help feature some of the great work and stories in the @Daily Outsider Ordinary Faces Property over the course of the ensuing weeks and months.

A day is not a day without featuring what is a must read for me and the team:  The Thoughts complied by Jonathan Lockwood Huie that I am always grateful for:

There are all kinds of futures.

There is a hoped-for future,

there is a feared future,

there is a predictable future,

and there is an unimagined future.

- Werner Erhard

 

There is a great future in front of you,

you can leave your past behind.

- Joel Osteen

Vision stands on the shoulders of what is actual

to get a better view of what is possible.

- Mary Anne Radmacher

Onward to December with all its' possibilities.....

As It is Thanksgiving...

I wanted to be a bit "funny" I suppose to underscore how thankful I am for all my blessings despite all what at times have admittedly been profound challenges.  I could not help but share this courtesy of the team at the Mission (one of the leading publishers on Medium that I also contribute to) as I helped with some final "tweaking" of the Daily Outsider properties (and it has been quite a week):

 

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. 

-Melody Beattie

I could not agree more with what Melody Beattie noted as I wish all a happy Thanksgiving.   

Random Thoughts On the Eve of Thanksgiving Week.....

This day of reflection for me began picking this image on a contest ran as I attended the District Round-table earlier this month--It was too cute not to reflect upon it even though I had noted that I was going to "kind of" take it easy and as the team at Daily Outsider was going to be "dark" although the Twitter Channel will continue to be curated daily.

My Week-End Began with me being at St. Timothy's Parish here in Laguna Niguel yesterday as we geared up to distribute Thanksgiving Meals to 150 Families who had signed up for.   It was a beautiful scene as selfless souls (including the Youth) joined this day of service to make a difference in the lives of those who would otherwise not be able to have a Thanksgiving Meal: 

Today is also kind of a watershed day for me.    As I have been doing the daily reviews, I  am seeing reports in Zimbabwe that Robert Mugabe is slated to resign as President and is slated to address the People of Zimbabwe within the next few hours.    It was quite a scene as I saw ZANU-PF Delegates dancing after they fired him as party leader and expelled his Wife from the Party: 

 

I began first writing as I took over editing for my first blog, OutsiderViews,   with a focus on Zimbabwe and Africa and I can't help but be happy for the People of Zimbabwe tonight  (Update:  Well who I called the Butcher Mugabe Did not Resign--it will be interesting to see how things go...) 

It is being witness to such selfless acts of service that continues to sustain my sense of purpose and hope.      As I was reflecting upon the day and reflected upon the trials and tribulations, I picked up this from the Great Steve Jobs:

Almost everything: all external expectations, all pride all fear of embarrassment or failure. These tings just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. 

As I was getting ready to go "dark", I ran across this from the great Peter DIamandis that is a must-read for me at the team at the Daily Outsider which does also underscore a sense of hope and optimism:

The world is getting better at a *stunning rate*, and as we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the U.S., I wanted to offer you some convincing details and data. My amazing team (for whom I am very grateful) has put together an Evidence of Abundance ebook with those charts and data. Consider it “conversational capital” for your dinner table conversations or some inspirational reading for your travels.  Download it here. This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for the opportunity to inspire abundance-minded leaders like you... and that I get to spend every day coaching exponential entrepreneurs tirelessly working to solve the world’s greatest challenges. Abundantly yours, Peter

I conclude with this simple wish:

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!

Random Thoughts As Thanksgiving Week is Before Us....

Orange County Civic Center 

I was at the Orange County Civic Center earlier this week as I spoke at the County Board of Supervisors in support of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.   I captured the image above on the mosaic that is Orange County which is beautiful As I write this, I will be leaving shortly to be at my local Catholic Parish, St.Timothy's Church, as we will be working away processing the latest receipts for our Pantry.  This is as selfless souls will also be working to gear up for the distribution of Thanksgiving Meal later on this morning.  Some 150 Families will receive a full Thanksgiving Dinner.

Wednesday was also another day in Laguna Niguel as I reflected upon the Quarter, business issues and assessing how to end the last quarter of the year strong in light of the challenging year at hand.  I had worked on a Business Project that I decided to terminate.   But what was so gratifying, though,w as to see the Aliso Niguel High School Orchestra perform:

Aliso Viejo High School, Aliso Viejo California 

One of the most beautiful things I was witness to was change in Zimbabwe.    I reflected upon how what got me on the blogging bandwagon was Zimbabwe and how Robert Mugabe drove Zimbabwe to the ground.    I just went back to the Internet Archive "throwback" to check on my first site, Outsider Views, which was then taken on by someone else.   Although I have not seen any updates, I am very happy for the people of Zimbabwe as I hope it can be a new beginning.      The distressing images from Iran and Iraq, though, was profound in the aftermath of the 7.3 Earthquake that has seen hundreds dead and thousands injured.  

As I was getting ready to be "dark", I picked this from the team at MoveOn:  

MoveOn reminded us all about the plight of the Dreamers as it is bound to be a very busy December.   There is an Election in Alabama which has been a major focus as there is also a focus on Tax Cuts which all indications are will favor the top 1% in the Country.      The need to remain hopeful and thankful is absolutely paramount as I saw these compilation of thoughts that I hope all embrace:

Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often.
- Anonymous

Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued,
is always just beyond your grasp,
but which, if you will sit down quietly,
may alight upon you.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne





Laugh at yourself and at life.
Not in the spirit of derision or whining self-pity,
but as a remedy, a miracle drug, that will ease your pain,
cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective
that seemingly terrible defeat and worry
with laughter at your predicaments,
thus freeing your mind to think clearly toward the solution
that is certain to come. Never take yourself too seriously.
- Og Mandino


Do what you can, and do it well.
Accept the rest with equanimity, and trust in God.
No one can ever do more than that.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie


I'll have once again the privilege to be at Camp Pendelton this coming Monday before Thanksgiving to help with distribution of Thanksgiving Meals to Marines.  It is a nice way to begin Thanksgiving Way as I wish all and your families a fabulous Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!  

Random Thoughts: On #VeteransDay; #FreeNazanin & Being Thankful.....

I have been on the prowl over the course of the weekend.    I had the pleasure to join my parents for dinner over the weekend as we reflected family matters.   It was also a weekend whereby I had the pleasure to be at the Laguna Niguel Remembrance Ceremony.  I could not believe that the first formal ceremony I joined along with my Son was over 5 years ago.    I produced a Visual Essay on it over the weekend:



I also worked on being supportive of the work of the Daily Outsider as I hope the "Notations will be of use.  The team wanted to be more focused as there was a decision to be "dark" during Thanksgiving Week.    I'll be helping with periodic updates, though, on the Daily Outsider Channel though as I usually do as I also did some work on my own Social "Grid" throughout the Weekend.

Sunday, though, was also remembrance day in the UK.   Remembrance Day ceremonies were overlooked by the plight of Nazanin Radcliffe-a British-Iranian Woman detained in Iran over the past 18 months.  I have been periodically tweeting about it and now I am seeing reports of her impending nervous breakdown and now there are reports of lumps in her breast--at the age of 38.    All of this is in the aftermath of what I view as stupidity by Boris Johnson and his colleague, Michael Gove.    I hope that reason prevails in this very tragic case so that Richard Radcliffe is successful in bringing his family home.   

As I personally go dark through after Thanksgiving here and be "taking it kind of easy" on the Social Grid, I am taking stock of all that I am thankful for despite what have been at times profound challenges.   One has to be always ever so optimistic and hopeful as I pray I can live up to the admonitions outlined by Vala Afshar that I have the privilege to follow on Twitter and always gives me a moment of pause:

12 habits of lucky people:

1 hard working
2 highly optimistic
3 passionately teach others
4 consistently generous
5 show up on time
6 love to volunteer
7 stay teachable
8 show gratitude
9 unselfishly promote others
10 seek random collisions
11 welcoming and kind
12 trustworthy

— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) November 12, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving to alll!!!

On This #VeteransDay2017.....

The Team at the Daily Outsider decided to be dark in honor of Veterans Day W-End.   As I have been assessing overnight developments, what struck me especially was President Eisehnower's admonition on War as Saudi Arabia continues to bomb Yemen, the Taliban wreck havoc in Afghanistan and other parts of the World continue to be consumed by Conflict--truly challenging times.

I salute all Veterans for their selfless sacrifice as it is my honor to share this compilation of Thoughts Thanks to +Jonathan Huie  that is a must read for us all here at the Daily Outsider.

Happy Veterans Day....

Duty, Honor, Country.

Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be,
what you can be, what you will be.
- Douglas MacArthur

Pessimism never won any battle.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

If we take the generally accepted definition of bravery
as a quality which knows no fear, I have never seen a brave man.
All men are frightened. The more intelligent they are,
the more they are frightened.
- George S. Patton

Disarmament, with mutual honor and confidence,
is a continuing imperative.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers,
who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt
to offer a solution everybody can understand.
- Colin Powell

The soldier above all others prays for peace,
for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the
deepest wounds and scars of war.
- Douglas MacArthur

War settles nothing.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Random Thoughts: On the VIrtual Prowl w/ @JerryBrownGov & Other Thoughts....

I decided to be "different" for this mid-week edition f "Random Thoughts" to be the prowl for "thoughts' that inspires--because more of it is needed ever more!!

Governor Brown has been traveling in Europe and while at the European Parliament signed the guest book yesterday quoting Virgil.     The translation is this as noted by the Politico's David Siders on his Twitter Feed yesterday "....- to the stars through difficulties, @JerryBrownGov signing #EU welcome book

I could not help but wonder what might have been as I saw these which was poignant especially in light of what happened in Virginia and New Jersey last night that is apparently now starting to "sink in" throughout the Country:

“Anything that annoys you
is teaching you patience.Anyone who abandons you is teaching you how 
to stand up on your own two feet.
Anything that angers you
is teaching you forgiveness and compassion.
Anything that has power over you
is teaching you how to take your power back.
Anything you hate
is teaching you unconditional love.
Anything you fear
is teaching you courage to overcome your fear.
Anything you can’t control
is teaching you, how to let go”~ Author Unknown

it is also, in the end, about believing...

BELIEVE(An aria from the Woody Guthrie Opera, Woody for the People) I believe in redemption  I believe in the Truth  I believe there’s a moment when all that is good  comes shining through I believe in transition  I believe change is good  It’s the steady confusion of life that transforms  us from old into new And I believe … nothing could be so fine  As Love and Forgiveness … and Mercy Devine I believe in remorse  that forgiveness is Truth  And that nothing else matters as much as the  love between me and you And I believe … nothing could be so fine  As Love and Forgiveness … and Mercy Devine~  Michael Johnathon

..and lastly, from one of the guys behind Twitter:

“My dictionary defines opportunity
as a set of circumstances
that makes it possible to do something.
The world has conditioned us to wait for opportunity,
have the good sense to spot it
and hope to strike at the appropriate time.
But if opportunity is just a set of circumstances,
why are we waiting around for the stars to align?
Rather than waiting and pouncing
with a high degree of failure,
you might as well go ahead
and create a set of circumstances on your own.
If you make the opportunity,
you will be first in position to take advantage of it.
We don’t have to wait for it.
We create it.”~ Biz Stone

Onward to the rest of the week as I also wanted to extend an early Happy Veterans Day!!

On the Prowl....

It has been quite a few days as I worked on commitments for the Daily Outsider, worked on a Community Project in support of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.    I was also in LA yesterday at a meeting as I was witness to the challenge of homelessness first hand--and did this grid earlier on my personal twitter feed in support of Donate a Photo of the images I captured in LA and Culver City:   

I visited the St. Timothy's Catholic Parish Campus this morning to drop off some residual food from the Scouting For Food Campaign and I saw at least 9 clients of the Pantry who were waiting before 7:00 AM.   It was not even my shift--but I decided to get things going as the team arrived.   One of the clients was gracious enough to keep asking me how I was doing--the idea that people show up before 7 AM to line up for food is tragic--Maybe it was why when I had my blood pressure taken, it was a bit on the high side.

I took comfort, though, while on the "Grid" as I picked up the following two thoughts and as I updated my Twitter Profile with this admonition from Asop:  

8 habits of lucky people:

1 work hard
2 stay optimistic
3 teach others
4 be generous
5 be on time
6 be kind
7 be teachable
8 show gratitude

— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) November 6, 2017

Remaining hopeful....

Random Thoughts.....

On the Road at the Mission Viejo Library.....

Around Town in Aliso Viejo, California 

I was on the road for most of the week on business commitments as I also continued on-going support for the Daily Outsider helping with curating the Twitter Channel as I was also blown away by the continued beauty of Southern California.   I captured these images when visiting Mission Viejo Library and as I was on the road in Aliso Viejo.

It has been quite a week around our World as President Trump has been quite busy yet again slamming the Justice Department and the Justice System and as a Tax Bill that it appears would in fact stymie Economic Growth was introduced.    This is not me noting this--but Mark Zandi who served as the Chief Economic Advisor to John McCain during his Presidency.    Ozy had a column about how the Tax Plan was about to Annoy "coastal elites"--which I took issue with simply because the plan itself will steal from us in California to help the so-called Red States (terms I personally despise).

As I was reflecting upon the week, What blew me away was reporting by the US Federal Government underscoring how Climate Change has been caused by Human activites--despite everything that President Trump and his EPA Adminstrator, his Interior Secretary and Energy Secretary have said.     The Daily Caller (a Virtual Rag founded by Tucker Carlson who now is at Fox News--The President's Favorite News Channel) dismissed it.  I found this quote noted in this mornings Daily New York Times Snapshot I review quite striking:

"It begs the question, where are members of the administration getting their information from? They're obviously not getting it from their own scientists." PHILIP B. DUFFY, president of the Woods Hole Research Center, on the release of a report from 13 federal agencies that says humans are the main cause of global warming, a stance contradicting much of the Trump administration's position. As this occurred, The President gave another interview to Fox News and basically threw the entire Department of State under the bus as he has said he will not fill top State Department positions by noting this, "I am the one that matters".    I found the reporting on President Trump wanting to talk on the phone with Hassan Rouhani to be especially amusing because to me it was simply this:  Obama talked with Rouhani--so then Trump had to do it too especially as Trump has been so busy simply destroying whatever Obama Built.  This is as I also picked up the Hariri resignation in Lebanon.    I shared observations on it in my WordPress corner as I saw Eli Fares' column on it--he's as good as it gets writing about the realities in Lebanon.  I'm "off" the grid for the weekend as I gear up for Scouting For Food 2017 here in South Orange County.  I look forward to reflecting upon it during my mid-week "Random Thoughts".   It is being witness to such that continues to sustain my sense of hope not withstanding the very challenging week at hand: