New Years Resolutions

This will quite likely be my last post of the year. I would like to thank all of you who read this blog and provide your feedback - while I try to inspire people it is you who inspire me. It has been a busy few weeks in my life, even though I am on holidays. I will have a few things to announce in the new year which I am rather excited about, and I will try to post my Davos video before too long. I just have to figure out how to put it on video and post it to here and to Youtube.

This year brought many exciting changes in my life, and just a few things I wish I could have done differently. I think that is the case for most everyone, and the few who wouldn't change a thing can count themselves extremely lucky. Life has many ups a downs but I try to remember that with out the downs the ups just wouldn't exist. As we approach the new year I think everyone should think about a resolution. It is a goal for the next year of your life and the carrot at the end of the stick.

This year think about telling people your resolution. Write it down and put it on your bathroom mirror. Make it a solid goal - not just something you are thinking about and can easily forget about or let go - force yourself to make it real. Put yourself in a position to succeed and don't just create a resolution for the sake of having one.

We all have dreams, some of us over the years have been let down when we don't achieve our dreams, or feel scared to attempt accomplishing our dreams, and we are all conditioned to believe that dreams can never be reality. It is just not true - none of it. As the old saying goes, "If you believe then you will succeed" (or something like that). Dreams are not made to be broken, they are made to be accomplished. Failure to attempt is where real failure happens. If you try and it doesn't work then that is just a lesson on how you should try again next. Check out this video and get a taste of just what can happen when you dream.


My new years resolution is simple. Change the world little by little. I want to get my Ideal World book project up and running (which I will talk about in the new year), I want to graduate from International Project Management and get out into the field, I want to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, I want to lose some weight (preferably a lot of weight haha) and I want to write blog posts more frequently. Scratch that - I will accomplish all these things. I dream big and I won't settle for anything less than my dreams. Anything in life is possible, we just need to dream it first and then go out and do it. As Nelson Mandela said, "It always seems impossible until it is done."

A Lesson on Values

My mom cut this story out of a newsletter she received and passed it along to me so that I could share it. The story is titled "A Lovely Story with a True Moral" by Sean Mackay, and it goes like this:
A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" the mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning: "There's a mousetrap in the house! There's a mousetrap in the house!"
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."
The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There's a mousetrap in the house! There's a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."
The mouse turned to the cow and said, "There's a mousetrap in the house! There's a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse, I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."
So the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected to face the farmer's mousetrap... alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house - like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever.
Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came to her funeral; the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.
So the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember - when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

This story gives us all a chance to think about our values. For me it is a reminder of the value of friends and family. We get caught up in our own lives sometimes and neglect to recognize that those around us are sometimes dealing with their own problems. It is a wakeup call for me to be more observant and make sure that no problem is too petty or small to lend a hand or a shoulder for. Take this opportunity to think of what this story makes you think about and if you are there enough for your family and friends to reach out to.

Happy holidays to all.

B Corporation

For those of you who know me, you know that I am a proponent of business being a tool in the process of change. I do not believe it is a dirty word that insinuates capitalist, environmental destroying, corporate thug companies. I believe that is the people that run them and that if we hope to change the world we need to change the character of the people who run business.

This shift has certainly begun to take place with the rise in popularity for Corporate Social Responsibility guidelines for most every corporation, the rise in Social Enterprises entering the market place and making a real go of it, and the rise in MBA programs integrating environmental ethics, CSR, and non-profit management courses into the core program.

The next step may be in the works. I came across this great new website called the B Corporation . It is an association of businesses that stand for social change. They have to go through a grading process in order to join the association which then markets the businesses as being good and doing well. The tag line reads, "Setting the new corporate standard for social and environmental performance."

The founding members are companies like Seventh Generation, a household and personal care product brand, Better World Books, a book business with a triple bottom line, and Moka Joe Coffee, a wholesaler of 100% fair trade, organic coffee, amongst other things.

All the businesses associated with B Corporation are seeking a shift, and to create change within the business world. While none of these businesses may become the next Ikea, or Apple, they represent possibility. I have said it before but I will say it again, we are approaching a tipping point - one that I am not sure yet which way it will tip. We could move towards a world where the existence of B Corporation is unnecessary because every company will approach business with a double or triple bottom line approach, OR companies could continue to degrade the environment, and break every moral and ethical code we can design in the pursuit of the almighty dollar.

It is up to us, the consumer, to push this one way or the other. We can choose to support the 'B Corporation' or we can choose to support the 'Corporation'. I for one am glad to see the choice and distinction. The world we dream of does not have to be a dream and I hope that everyone wakes up to a new, better, reality.

Your Ideas in Davos

I came across this great new program on Youtube that lets anyone upload a video that has the chance to be seen by world leaders, global economists and some of the most influential people around the world at the Davos meetings in 2008. Just film your answer to the following question and then upload it to Youtube. The question is:

"What one thing do you think that countries, companies, or individuals must do to make the world a better place in 2008?"

Watch the following quick video for more information


You can also check out the website outlining the project with a little more detail here

Videos will be voted on starting January 1st and the winners will be screened January 23-27 at the World Economic Forum.

This is one spectacular way to have your idea and opinion shared and heard. If anyone has any ideas now is the time to voice them. I am going to be thinking about this one for the next few days and maybe I will post my filmed idea before January 1st. I would be really excited to see some of your ideas though so if you decided to participate then send me the link to your videos so I can bask in your great ideas!

Cards that Care

It came to the end of the semester in my International Project Management Program and we decided, as a group, to rejoice and celebrate the occasion by throwing a holiday party. On Thursday I participated in acts 2 and 3 of my 12 acts of holiday kindness.

As a group we decided that it would be nice if instead of doing the usual Secret Santa gift trading that we would take the $10 or so dollars that each of us would have spent and pooled it to give as one big donation to our chosen charity, the Girl Child Network. As a group we are making a $475 donation! While none of us needed another small gimmicky gift, we knew that if we pooled our money together that whatever organization received the donation would use it towards some amazing project that was sure to make a much bigger difference in someone else's life.

Act number 3 was something I had though of long ago, and is something that is so simple and yet, I think, impactful. I decided to write each of my classmates a Holiday card with a personalized message (I used Hallmark's Product(REd) holiday cards). I told each of them what I liked most about them and why I thought each of them was an amazing person. Many people write Holiday cards this time of the season but they are always so generic. They say "Happy Holidays" and the card givers name(s). This year how about writing something more. Something that is sure to make the recipients day. Tell them something positive that you think about them, tell them how much you really care, tell them they mean a lot to you. We rarely take these opportunities to say what we feel and then live to regret not having done so.

Acts of kindness around the holidays don't need to be big and fancy. To many people it is the small things, the details, that they really notice around the holidays. As the old saying goes, "love thy neighbor". Show someone you care, someone who wouldn't normally receive such gifts and love. If you are the member of a holiday gathering this year, take the chance to gather funds for a donation. If you are sending out cards make them personal. Let us, together, make the holidays MORE than just an opportunity to give and receive gifts. Let us put the THOUGHT back into the holidays.

Heroes

Last night I watched the CNN special/awards show on Heroes. While I had not heard of all the heroes profiled there were a couple that I had read about at other times and was happy to see them receive some recognition for their work. We, as a society, rarely give praise or awards to those who really deserve it. Regular people who do extraordinary things. We have numerous awards for actors, and singers but this is the first time, that I have seen anyways, that a show on everyday heroes has been broadcast on a major television network. It makes you think about what it is we really value.

My first holiday act of kindness is to write a letter to my everyday hero. I want to let them know how big a difference they have made in my life because they need to be recognized. They may not have all the paparazzi following them around, or be on the front page of a magazine, but they certainly deserve all the praise in the world. While I will not share with you this letter because I am not sure they would want me to, I will say this:

A long time ago they gave me a book to read for class. They took the time to get to know me, even though I didn't know who I was, and they recommended a book they thought that I would enjoy based on who they saw within me. The book changed my life. Not directly, or immediately, but the seed was planted then. I left for university later that year and that experience stuck with me. I found myself because this person took the time to pay attention. It was insignificant at the time because I am sure, knowing their character, that they did this with everyone they met. Sometimes, like was the case with me though, that insignificant act turned out to be a very significant turning point in my life. I am who I am because of many factors but the journey and path I found in life was based on a kind persons taking time to care. They are my everyday hero, deservedly so.

I don't want to tell anyone what to do, or to take the time to do this. However, I want you to think about what it would be like if someone told you that you were their everyday hero and why. Would that be a big pick-me-up? put a smile on your face? We need to tell the people in our lives how much they mean to us. We need to recognize the good and real instead of fawning over people who star in movies or sell millions of records. The people in the world who need our praise are too often the people we overlook. Take the time this holiday season to make notice.

A Role Model For Us All

Age means nothing. I was reminded of this today when I came across this truly remarkable young girl, Laura, who has started a spirited project by the name '25 Days to Make a Difference Campaign'. She is a role model to us all at a very ripe young age. She is doing small deeds over the course of 25 days that will make a small but meaningful difference in the lives of some. More importantly though, the project is a pass it on project that will involves many other individuals that will affect even more lives.

While I had planned to do a few activities over my holiday break to do my part this holiday season, in light of Laura's project I am going to make it my 12 acts of holiday kindness. Over the course of the next 3 weeks I am going to do 12 things that will hopefully make someones holidays a bit easier and a bit more jolly. I encourage everyone else to follow Laura's lead and attempt to do a few small things this holiday season. While you are at it email Laura with your acts and let her know that what she is doing is truly making a difference.

If you are wondering what you could possibly do and coming up blank, I encourage you to check out Laura's list of activities for inspiration. You can also feel free to post ideas to this blog and give me some ideas on what my 12 acts should be.

Remember, the holidays while extremely enjoyable for some can be extremely difficult for others. It is the season for helping our neighbors, our family, even complete strangers.

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Holiday Party Ideas

A quick thought. As we get into the holiday party season many of us will be thinking of host gifts. Why not make a donation to a charity in their name? Not going to work? How about buying a bottle of wine where a portion of the proceeds go to a charity (ask your local wine retailer if they carry any). Hallmark has a new line of product(red) items that will let you package whatever you do buy and make it 'Good'. Christmas cards? Hallmark has them covered. Challenge yourself to find something that not only will people want to receive as a gift but that will provide a greater good in the process. Most importantly though, remember it is the THOUGHT that counts!

I Have a Dream

I have always loved the words Martin Luther King used in his historical speech "I Have a Dream". His grasp and use of the English language is absolutely remarkable. The passion and conviction with which he expresses his ideas is awe inspiring. While M.L.K was speaking about equality of race, his words ring true for just about anything. You could replace race with any other problem of equality, wealth, geography, etc. and his words would be no less true. I share with him that dream. A world in which we can all live together, holding hands together, and love together. I have my own dream but I share it with everyone who believes we can achieve this world. Let us DREAM together.

More Change

I have been doing a lot of research about change lately. How can I create change. On a small scale, on a large scale, on any scale. I came across some great websites and ideas and I want to share them with you guys.

Michael Norton has a great blog called 365 Ways, which is a take on the book he wrote called 365 Ways to Change the World, an activity for each day of the year. He provides some great information and case studies, books, and ideas to inspire people to make a difference. Kind of like my blog only he has been at it much longer and is a little better at it :).

A book that I came across entitled 'How To Change The World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas' by David Bornstein, which also seems to have a lot of interesting stories. I have added this to my Christmas reading list (as if it isn't so long that I will be reading for the next 50 Christmas). Give it a look and if anyone has actually read it I would love a synopsis.

Another great blogger, Desiree, has created a blog by the name of 'Lets Change the World'. This blog is more of an inspiration and she has packed a lot into her blog that I haven't even begun to comb through.

For those of you who know the band Five for Fighting you may or may not have come across an initiative they created called 'What Kind of World Do You Want'. You can post a video about your idea of a perfect world for others to see and a donation will be made to a charity depending on which videos you view. Check it out to see some interesting ideas on a better, or at least different, world.

Last, but certainly not least, is a truly awesome idea, and one I wish I could say I came up with. A new website called Change.org is a social website, sort of like Facebook, only for people who are interested in charity, development, and creating change. Members have the ability to make donations to organizations of their choice, and meet others who are interested in similar organizations or ideas. It is a great idea and one I am more than positive will grown into something special.

If anyone has other resources that they want to share I would love to hear about them. I have a hankering for some CHANGE and the only cure is more information.

World AIDS Day

Tomorrow happens to be World AIDS Day. A day of awareness on the health emergency that threatens to take the lives of millions around the world. It is interesting that the day receives so very little attention. Over at the ONE campaign they recently posted on their blog the up-to-date figures on the AIDS pandemic. According to the statistics 33.2 million people are living with HIV/AIDS globally; 2.5 million new infections occurred in 2007; and 2.1 million people died, or 5 700 people per day from HIV/AIDS in 2007. The sheer scale of these figures is enough to make a grown man cry.

I have now wrote a couple of posts on AIDS and a couple of books I have found that really create some perspective on this problem. In our increasingly interdependent state on one another it is entirely surprising that we don't have more dialogue and conversation going. Where are the news stories? Where are the public service announcements? It needs to be talked about, it needs to be HEARD. Our silence only increases the stigma placed upon the disease.

Just this past week an article in the Toronto Star broke the news that the Canadian government was diverting funds from community AIDS programs to help boost its AIDS medication program announced earlier in the year in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. How about they just increase funding altogether instead of shuffling it around? Of all the surplus that has been announced why can't we afford to spend a little extra on AIDS programs? As one of the G8, or wealthiest nations in the world, it is our responsibility to take this emergency seriously!

While it isn't all bad, and we have certainly made strides over the last few years, we have to realize this isn't going away. The current campaign circuit for the Democratic nominations down in the U.S. has yet to address where the candidates stand on AIDS research, poverty reduction, global debt relief. This requires a grassroots conversation. It requires that we force it onto the agenda. We need more than a few celebrities to take notice and create groundswell action. It requires that you and I participate. It starts with a few and the few bring with them many. Instead of waiting to join the fray how about we start the fray? Ask your teacher if you can start the conversation in your class, bring it up at the water cooler at work, send an email to your friends and family, not to ask for money but to ask for comments, to ask for actions.

We have the snowball rolling, but it needs to pick up speed. Give it a push.

Passion's Purpose

Here is another great post by Brad Williamson over at Small Business Branding. Check it out here.

Passion’s Purpose

Listen to the Soul, let it guide you towards the highest vision you have for yourself, and live a Life you can Love. You know who you are and who you want to be, so let your spirit be shown through the progress of your purpose. This energy that drives your dream’s desires, to turn being-ness into experience, is called passion.

The Soul presents you with its purpose through feelings of passion. It is an energy that drives you to push aside that which does not reflect your being, in favor of pursuits that mirror your inner-motivations. The experience of passion is so profound that you Lovingly cry years of dedication into crafts that represent who you are; and when your creations consume you, know that the Soul is living its dream.

The pulse of passion feels like pure Peace. Pure Peace that provides unconditional comfort without corruption, because conflict cannot possibly cross the Love of your Life. Every breath is beautiful as your spirit shouts the energy of affectionate addiction. …Your Love is alive.

Passion has no expectations. Its desires are fulfilled with or without awards or accomplishment, and simply strives for the Soul to see them survive. Passion must be given creative freedom if it wants to truly experience itself; and the distractions expectations inflict can restrict the liberty that is needed to transform dreams into Life.

Passion is purpose; and without passion, Life has no purpose. Thanks to Love, your passions are made obvious to you in every moment. All you must do to find your guiding light is hear the sincere shouts of the Soul that serve to remind you of who you are. Every moment reveals reasons to pursue the progress of passion, so never push away its promises.

Your passion can fashion a Life of Love; so embrace your motivations, both modest and magnificent. Present every moment with your purpose and prepare to be amazed by the presents you persuade Life to shower upon you.

How to Live Your Dream

I came across this great post on a blog and I wanted to share it with all of you. The author is Sean M Kelly and the link to the post is here

Is living your dream only for a select few or can we all realise our dreams? Here’s six tips to help you live yours.

1. Create a Great Purpose - The greater the reason you have to live your dream the greater your motivation. Think of those who have achieved greatly in their lives. Their purpose wasn’t limited by a personal agenda but by a purpose which was far greater than themselves. A few years ago I had the honour to musically lead Sir Bob Geldof into a conference. During his keynote speech he spoke about how “Live Aid” began. He said, “…our goal was to raise $75,000 to help feed people in Africa. Now millions and millions of dollars later we’re still doing it.” Create a great purpose for your dream - world abundance, world peace, feed the world, make poverty history or whatever resonates deep within you, almost as if you were born for this purpose to be realised.

2. Explore Your Dreams - What are your talents and gifts? What are you deeply passionate about? What do you love? Everyone has talents and gifts. Everyone has unique contributions to make to our world. However if we just follow everyone elses lead hoping to be liked and approved of, we may miss our calling. Ask yourself - what do you truly love doing? Do you lose track of time when you’re doing this? Would you do it even if you never got paid?

3. Create a Vision - Get a blank sheet of paper and markers. Now imagine anything is possible. Then draw a vision for your ultimate dream, one that feels absolutely fantastic! It’s the feelings that will energise your vision into reality, so let them soar! Put the vision somewhere you will see it daily and reconnect with those feelings as if your dream is already true.

4. Take guided action - There is an intelligence within the universe that keeps the planets in their orbits, ensures the sun rises daily and can also manifest your dreams. What do you need to do? Let go of the need to figure “how” your dream will happen, trust the infinite intelligence of the universe and watch for opportunites that arise. These opportunities may come to you, or your intuition may urge you to take guided action. Whichever way they arise, gently seize these opportunies!

5. Give Thanks - A thirteenth century philosopher, Meister Eckhart once said - if the only prayer we ever said in our lives was “thankyou” it would be enough. Never cease to feel gratitude for the manifestion of your dreams. Your feelings of gratitude is the energy which fuels the magical manifestation of your dreams. No matter how slow or fast the progress, celebrate every step of the way!

6. Your Greatest Gift - Finally and most importantly remember even if your dream doesn’t come true, be forever grateful for the greatest gift of all - the gift of your precious and unique life. And know that this world is a better place because … You have dared to live your dream!

World Changing

I received a book last year for Christmas and because I have let them stack up I have not had a chance to read it. The book sounded quite interesting but I have a book addiction and I think too many books sound good. The title for this particular book though was World Changing: A User's Guide For The 21st Century. Profound. Well lately as I have scoured the internet I keep linking back to this one particular website; World Changing. What is even more odd is that a friend of mine has been working with this new organization called REBEARTH and they just happened to be a headline article on the website today. Well my curiosity had me and so I started poking around the REBEARTH website. The tag line for the website "Growing a world 6.6 billion people would want to live in". It is exactly the kind of tag line I have been batting around in my head. It makes you day dream of the possibilities. So I ask this question: What would this world look like? What would the world look like if all 6.6 billion of us could be proud of it? What do you dream of? If REBEARTH can't make it happen then I want to try so please share.

Canadian Conference on Student Leadership

What a weekend! After co-founding the Canadian Conference on Student Leadership last year I was extremely excited to be able to partake in the event again this year in a minor capacity. This time around I was able to take in the experience and absorb so much more because I was able to be in the moment. Last year I was always worried about what I was going to have to do next, what problem I was going to have to help solve, and especially when I was going to get my next wink of sleep. This year was the exact opposite. I was able to attend sessions and listen to both the speakers and the participants as they conversed on the gamut of ideas and information. I found myself lost in their words and being touched at my core. The reasons we had started the conference, namely to network with our fellow peers, to gain experience from professionals, and to learn from our peers, was exactly what was occurring on both a micro and a macro level here this year and I was able to witness it without clouded eyes.

This year saw about 175 delegates attend and last year saw 150. That is about 325 leaders that have walked into the conference with open eyes and minds and left with an abundance of new ideas, inspirations and friends. Watching participants who, before the first day had never met, were now able to hug and cry, share their dreams and aspirations, and laugh with complete strangers, was one of the most memorable experiences I could have hoped to experience.

The conference came from an experience that me and 4 other fellow students when we had the privilege, as leadership mentors at Wilfrid Laurier University, to be sent down to Florida to attend the American National Conference on Student Leadership. The last speaker at this conference was Troy Stende, with his wife Karen. It was a dream come true to have Troy come to our conference and present both a keynote and workshop this year. It was at his keynote to close the American conference that our delegation left so utterly inspired that I think that momentum was exactly why we were moved to create our version here in Canada. It is a truly remarkable character that is able to have people laughing, crying, and sharing and believing in complete strangers, and more importantly with themselves. Just an absolutely genuine person, and someone I am very proud to call a friend. 4 years ago I left a conference by telling Troy you made a difference for me. His vision is to send a ripple of difference throughout the world and I don’t know that he will ever understand just how much he has done to accomplish this goal. 325 amazing young leaders have his inspiration to thank for their individual experiences these past two years and he can feel comfortable knowing that the conference will continue on into the future to affect many more young adults.

I want to thank Pat Alain and Melissa Steadman for continuing Kathryn and my legacy and for stepping it up and making it even better. The two of them did a truly remarkable job with the conference and it is due to their diligence and hard work that the conference ran so smoothly and was such a success. Congratulations to the both of them on what they have achieved as I know that it is a long and difficult task to accomplish with many barriers to overcome, but you did it while making it look easy.

I would also like to thank Melanie Will, Leanne Holland-Brown and Drew Piticco for their continued help in making the conference happen. Without their strong passion for student involvement and hard work the conference simply would not be possible. They are remarkable people and I am constantly blown away by their kindness and sincerity. The world is a better place with them in it.

I am not sure I can even remotely describe how amazing the weekend really was. It is one of those experiences where you leave with this feeling in your stomach like things have changed but your not sure just how yet. I saw innumerable instances where students were obviously affected by what they were experiencing. The thanks that students passed along to me (as I happened to be around) for having started the conference was extremely moving. It made me feel proud that I had even an iota of reason for their learning and growing. I would like to say one thing about this, however. I had very little to do with any of their experience. The conference is what it is and participants take what they do because of the people they are and the character they possess. The conference is nothing if not for their passion and involvement. I am thankful for the praise but certainly not deserving of it.

The leaders of both tomorrow and today are people just like the students who attend conferences such as the CCSL. If we have any chance of seeing a significant positive change within this lifetime, it will come from people such as these, who gather to grow and learn from one another how best to make it happen. We need more people in the world to be leaders. We need more people to stand up for what they believe in and help to influence and pass along the leader disposition to other open minded people.

Freedom Writers and a Rant to boot

I was watching the movie Freedom Writers this morning and a few things hit me.
1. There are some incredible quotes/excerpts in the movie that really hit me (I will share those in a second)
2. Real life is good enough to be made into a movie
and, 3. I have a lot of growing to do.

There are a couple of scenes in the movie that made me get a little teary eyed, moved, etc. I have watched it twice now and both times it really impacted me, but for different reasons. My favorite scene is the 'Toast for Change' scene where Hillary Swanks character asks the students to say what they are going to change over the upcoming semester. The passage goes like this:

HS: "Make a toast...We are each going to make a toast for change...and what that means is from this moment on every voice that told you you can't is silenced...every reason that tells you things will never change disappears...and the person you were before this moment - that persons time is over."

The second scene I was struck by was the one where the class brings in the woman who hid Anne Frank during the holocaust. Her character speaks to the class about her experience and then one of the students calls her his hero. This is her reply:

"I am not a hero... I did what I had to do because it was the right thing to do...that is all...we are all ordinary people....even an ordinary secretary or housewife or teenager can within their own small ways turn on a small light in a dark room."

This is the stuff a life of value is created with; Empowered with change, and the realization that it is the ordinary people in this world that are everyday heroes, we can all accomplish the goal of leaving a lasting, positive impact on the world. I decided after watching the movie that I was going to do two things tomorrow. 1. When I have my daily glass of OJ in the morning I am going to make a toast to change (most likely not out loud) to what I want to change about myself and my surrounding environment for the day, and I am going to repeat this every day for the next month and, 2. I am going to try and recognize my everyday heroes in my own little way.

The third thing I learned today during the movie, namely that I have a lot of growing to do, is not just because of something I saw in the movie but as a result of days of thinking about some of the things in my life that I have hated, and which I have taken for granted, but that truly make me me (that was totally a run on sentence).

You wouldn't know it to talk to me, or at least not likely, but I am a fairly emotional person - eternally optimistic, yet, and this is my gemini personality, I am constantly feeling beaten down. I know I am not alone on this, as I have heard from others time and time again how the world gets them down and that realistically an everyday person can't change the world. Back to the emotional thing for a second. I am a hopeless romantic, I keep trying to fight it and hide it, because I feel as though it isn't well received. But, like my optimism, it makes me me. I can fight it all I want but it is my heart, which certainly gets me into trouble, which allows me to say no to all the naysayers and the pessimists, and beat back the negatives and rejections, and push on.

This isn't unrelated and I am going to try and tie this all together.

Like the Freedom Writers, who were in the worst of situations, when we learn to accept that the outside world can be as nasty as it wants, and that we - those optimistic, romantic, heart following individuals - can find it within ourselves to continue on and push through the hurt and the pain and find that place deep down inside where we know, without hesitation, that we are good enough, that we are strong enough, and that we will become who we wish to be and leave this world better than when we came.

So while I don't expect everyone to like me, listen to what I say, or even believe me, I do believe enough in myself enough to not care about all the reasons I can't, and know that for all the cants there is an equal amount of cans.

So let us take a toast to change. Open your hearts, look within, and see that you CAN be an everyday hero.

A lot on my mind

2 Posts in one day, but I have a lot I would like to talk about. I have received a few emails and facebook messages from you wonderful readers and I really appreciate your thoughts and ideas. Some of you are doing some truly remarkable things and should be very proud of yourselves. I hope that in some way my writing is able to help you in any way.

Ally Pintucci, who recently messaged me about her ambitious project of raising $10 000 for Free the Childrens Brick by Brick campaign is looking for some help. While she has certainly got the ambition to attain her goals, working with some of you other remarkable people out there is sure to make doing so a lot easier. If anyone out there would like to help out with this initiative or has some fundraising ideas, please either email me or look her up on facebook and send her the ideas directly. I think this would be a wonderful discussion for everyone who, like Ally, would like to do some fundraising but need some fresh ideas on how to, so please do not hesitate to post your comments and ideas here on my blog. To learn more about the Brick by Brick campaign through Free the Children click here.

This weekend I will be traveling back to my former university, where I will be helping out with an initiative I co-founded last year. The Canadian Conference on Student Leadership was a dream of mine and another former students, Kathryn McIntosh. We had the privilege of traveling down to Disney World about 3 years ago to attend the US equivalent conference and were inspired to start our own here in Canada. It took us a year to plan and get the funding but last year was the inaugural conference which had 150 students from across Canada attend. It was an incredible weekend where we were all inspired by fellow students and professionals. I am truly excited to see this years conference and see some people from last year as well as some new faces. To see this conference grow is a dream of mine and I can't wait to see where it goes from here. Please check out the website, and if you get a chance I highly recommend you try and attend next years event.

One last thought. I find all your ideas, comments, and emails extremely inspiring. I hope that you continue to update me on what you are up to. Even I, the eternal optimist, needs a little pick-me-up, and your actions provide just that.

Ambition: One Laptop Per Child

A lot has been said about the One Laptor Per Child program that has been in development for seemingly years. The founder, Nicholas Negroponte, thought up the idea while teaching at MIT. The program went live as of today. Right now you can log on and purchase a computer, the XO as it has been affectionately called, for yourself while simultaneously purchasing one for a child in the developing world. The idea originally was to design a computer that could be used by a child in the developing world at a cost of $100 per computer. While they didn't quite make it for a $100 they did manage to create one for about $188. The goal, according to their website at ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD is:
"To provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment, and express themselves."

Now, while their are many flaws with this idea - one major one being instead of spending a $188 on a laptop how about giving them food, water, and sending them to school - the idea is still quite remarkable. A child with a computer, unlike any other way possible, will be able to connect with the outside world and explore their abilities to grow. A computer can provide education, which will help their ability to get a well paying job, which will hopefully help them break the continuing cycle of poverty within their families.

The computer itself is a master of both form and function. A child in the developing world is able to charge the computer by hand. The screen is able to reduce glare and work even in the most auspicious circumstances. The user interface allows each recipient of a laptop to instantly connect with others and share information, and even an internet connection. It is truly a remarkable piece of machinery that is sure to make learning both easier and fun for a deserving group of young people.

The laptop project is ambitious and it has yet to really catch on with governments, who the product is meant to be sold to en mass. However, mark my words: The XO will revolutionize the practice of development. It is a step towards using our collective abilities to create a product that reaches a root problem, instead of just a band-aid fix. We need more Nicholas Negropontes in the world who are willing to look past profit and see that their talents can do so much more good in the world. We need ambitious people with hearts of gold to take it upon themselves to level the status quo. You can be that person. I hope you will think about what you can offer the world and then go out and give it.

Millennium Development Tracker

I came across this great new website about the Millennium Development Goals. You can look at specific countries or the entire world to track the progress being made on the specific goals. Check it out and play around with it.
MDG Tracker

Shall We Wake Up?

I have largely avoided speaking out about some recent global events, not because I am afraid to, but because I have trouble gathering my thoughts into a coherent paragraph not laced with profanity. Why you might ask? Because I just can't get over how lackadaisical we have been in addressing them.
My frustration grows daily about the crisis in Darfur. This area in Sudan has been labeled a genocide, crimes against humanity, the worlds worst current crisis, and many other horrible descriptors. What I find frustrating, however, is that I have not seen nor heard a single moment of news on the issue in mainstream media. What I know of the crisis is what I have gone looking for. This to me is absolutely despicable. This isn't an event that we are far removed from, and in fact we could be considered a catalyst for the problems. It is our ignorance that allows the conflict to continue. While there are many factors involved in this complex crisis, a large factor is about securing natural resources which bring in a great deal of money to those who control it. These same natural resources are the ones we pine for here in the Western world, and will allow anything to happen in order to receive them at a cost effective rate.
The conflict has been occurring for many years now and we have turned the blind cheek too long. These women, children and innocent people are forced to flea their homes, to bury their loved ones, or watch them needlessly whither away due to the lack of nutrition, all because we wish to remain ignorant. We deny any wrong doing in order to make ourselves feel better and comfortable with ourselves and what is happening, and we deny any part in perpetuating it.
This is why I am not only angry with the media, but also myself. I have not spoken up about the problems and have allowed my incoherent thoughts to fester in the back of my mind.
I remain positive that we can do something and that that something is not difficult, nor out of the realm of our abilities. It simply requires that we no longer claim ignorance and begin asking questions. It means we mail our local/provincial/regional politicians asking that we do something to stop this conflict from continuing. These are not difficult things, they are just things that up until now most, including myself, have been unwilling to attempt.
I urge each and every person, whether you feel apart of the crisis or not, to speak up, because it is a life or death matter. You speak up means saving lives - its as simple as that. I know that in every persons heart they care about life, whether it is their own or someone else, so prove you cherish life and use your own to make a difference for someone else.

Agent of Change

"A change agent, or agent of change, is someone who intentionally or indirectly causes or accelerates social, cultural, or behavioral change."
Wikipedia

I aspire to be an agent of change.

The Question

The question that I have heard numerous times lately is "where, or who deserves my donation? How do I know that the charity is a worthy cause?" The answer: Like any investment it requires some research. You wouldn't put your money just anywhere would you? Not long ago one of the most respected and successful investors of all time, Warren Buffet, donated a rather large sum of money to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. When quized as to why, he replied: they would spend it better than he ever could. There is no magical answer to where/who you should donate. Like any investment it must meet you personal values, beliefs, and vision for how you want your money to be used. The good news is that it is getting a lot easier by the day to find out more about where your money is going.
The micro-credit craze has caught on to unprecedented levels, to the point that you or I could log onto the internet and immediately loan an entrepreneur millions of km away the necessary funding to get their business going. You can read about the business, the entrepreneur, and find our just what your money will be doing. The best part? When the entrepreneur is capable of paying you back, they will so that you can then turn around and loan it to another worthy entrepreneur. All from a seat at your desk. Check out Kiva.org in my links section to find out more about this exciting new system.
It is important for you not to feel compelled to donate based on the name of the organization, the cause to which it 'says' that it is trying to fix, or to the initial sales pitch. Making a donation should be done with care and due diligence. Take your time and make sure that you know exactly who and what your money will be going towards and doing. Unfortunately, there are a lot of organizations that claim to be something they are not, and do things that they don't. It is up to us as donors to weed out these malicious organizations and place our money where we know it will accomplish the greatest amount of good.

What Have We Done?

Smaller World, Bigger Community

It is a small world. It sounds like a cliche but it really is not. More and more we are seeing the impact of actions around the world having reverberating implications geographically far away. Some of the largest threats that face us now and in the future are global threats.
It is about time we start thinking of the world as just one big community. If everyone felt like a child in Africa, or a grandparent in India, or a farmer in China, were in fact our neighbors, then it would be a heck of a lot more difficult to ignore their needs.
Despite how much smaller the world has become with our myriad of means for communication; the internet, television, phone, etc. we have yet to warm to the idea that we are all in fact now one big community.
Social websites have become a place to congregate, Facebook is the next big open source hit, MySpace, if it were a country, would be the 8th largest in the world. We are all neighbors. Collaboration in the workplace, where an MBA grad in China starts work on a project when a co-worker in Canada goes to sleep, has become the next big wave in workplace productivity. The world is shrinking, which is both a good and bad thing. It is up to us, however, to start spreading the word - we will not stand by and watch our neighbor suffer and die.
This idea is somewhat difficult to wrap your head around but Bono's organization ONE sums it up best by simply saying we are all One. I also like Desmond Tutu's description of the word Ubuntu, which means 'I am because you are'. We are more than ever interconnected, which means like never before we are able to work together in harmony. Lets just embrace our small world with our large community. It is here to stay.

Me to We

Last week marked the beginning of the Year of Me to We. The kickoff event was held here in Toronto and broadcast all across the country. A day filled with incredible singers and speakers, it was incredibly inspirational. The energy that filled the building was like nothing you can imagine. 7500 students sharing one vision, for a better world, with the tag line "Be the Change You Wish to See in the World." This timeless quote comes from none other than Mahatma Ghandi, a truly remarkable facilitator of change. This student gathering was the beginning, of what I am not entirely sure, but it will be profound. I had the opportunity to see the many wide eyed students enter the building, and then also see these same students as they left. What happened inside that building will stay with these youths long after this week, month, year. It was life altering in some cases. Romeo Dallaire spoke with such conviction about looking a child in the eyes when he was in Rwanda during the genocide and seeing the same look in those eyes as he saw in his sons before leaving for Africa. Eyes can tell a story without saying a word. The eyes of these young adults as they left spoke volumes. I challenge those 7500 students, along with everyone else who wants to see change, to do one thing in the next year, whether small or big, to make a difference in their community. There is no measuring stick, no one to tell you it hasn't made a difference, because I guarantee you that by just doing something, anything, it will send a ripple throughout the world. Be the Change, Be the Difference.

Madiba

I went to see a screening of the Nelson Mandela documentary last night at the Ryerson Theatre. What a fascinating person. I have been attracted to Mr. Mandela's persona for some time now, as the myth is certainly grand. There were many things I did not know about the man before seeing this film and I am glad I had the opportunity to see it. I have found Madiba, the name he is known for throughout South Africa and much of the world, to be the perfect example of a leader who was able to use his skill to make a difference in the world. I truly believe that apathy is the deadliest disease our world faces and the best cure is great leadership. We need more leaders to stand up and speak out. We need more leaders who are not afraid to speak up about what they believe in. We lack role models in this world because while many want to be seen they don't want to be noticed. If you believe in something, like Mandela believed in peace and reconcilliation, and one man one vote, then make it known. Write it down or say it out loud, just do something. If you let apathy take a hold of you, if we all allow apathy to take hold then we are certain to face many unscalable obstacles in the future. Lets break free of our metaphorical shackles just like Mandela broke free of his real shackles. Lets make it happen!

To learn more about the Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund and how you can help click on the link

28 Stories of AIDS in Africa

I just finished reading the book "28 Stories of AIDS in Africa" by Stephanie Nolan and I was thoroughly impressed. What a writer! I wish I had half as much talent as her in writing - then I might actually be good at this blogging thing. The 28 stories are meant to represent the 28 million people with the disease in Africa. AIDS is a disease that has affected so many people around the world and yet continues to be an afterthought in discussions. Stephanie so magically makes such an inhuman disease human by interviewing and writing about 28 real life people whose lives have been forever changed. The last story in the book is about Stephanie's friend TK whom through chance contracted the disease by a freak accident. Like so many other people in the book, and who didn't make it into the book, TK held, and still does hold, a great deal of potential. While the disease is not the death sentence it once was, necessary ARV's are not readily available to all those that need them. TK is one of the lucky ones who has access to the life saving drugs. Around the world, however, millions lack access, or cannot afford these drugs and will needlessly die. If you have the chance to read this book you will not be disappointed. There are many ways you can help out in the battle against AIDS and I strongly urge that you find out more about the disease, talk about it with whoever will listen, and lend a hand in any way you can. Lets not wait for the 29th story.

Life is a Journey

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." - Henry David Thoreau

I have always loved this quote. Making sense of the world and my place within it seems to take up a good portion of my time these days. In September I began taking International Project Management, with the idea of working in the Development/Relief sector upon my graduation. I chose the program because it magically confronted me. I was reading the paper one day, while contemplating my next move after University, and I was instantly sure that it was an omen/fate/destiny that I had come across it. I am a big fan of books that highlight the journey that is life, and have been on a seemingly endless high since reading 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho, and 'The Way of the Peaceful Warrior' by Dan Millman. I am a dreamer - although I also consider myself a realist - and these books got me lost in my own thoughts. I think in life that we often get lost and fail to recognize what is right in front of us. We end up going through the motions just living from Friday at 5 until Monday at 9. I think its about time we reclaimed those missing 5 days and start chasing those dreams that we so often neglect. Life is a Journey - so take it.

CIBC Run for the Cure

I ran my first 5km race today. While I certainly didn't set any world records I was able to set my own best time by nearly 2 minutes. I set a goal for myself to finish in 30min or less. I finished it at 30:01. I knew I shouldn't have taken that extra break haha. The run I participated in was for an amazing cause. I chose the Run for the Cure because the proceeds of the event went towards an extremely worthy cause. Breast Cancer will affect more than 22 thousand women this year, and nearly 5000 will die from the disease. Over 170 000 runners took place in this years run from across Canada raising 26.5 million dollars. Participants were as young as infants to the elderly, all doing it at their own pace of walking or running. I even saw a hand full of men from the army running with their equipment on. Everyone was there to support one another and support the cause. Participating in change is as simple as showing up with your pink gear on and volunteering your time. Maybe breast cancer isn't your choice cause, but there are plenty of other runs, events, and ways you can support a cause. So get out there, participate, and make a difference. For more information on the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation click on the following link
Breast Cancer Foundation

One X One Gala

I had the opportunity at the beginning of September to attend the One X One Gala here in Toronto hosted by Matt Damon. It was an incredible gathering of some of the worlds greatest advocates for global change. The event showcased some of the amazing things going on all around the world to improve the lives of those with the greatest needs. OneXOne, the organization, was started by Joelle Berdugo Adler. What a heart. After going through her own experience with her husband she decided there was a need and that she could help to fill it. Her inner drive and will to see change has developed into an annual gathering in which millions are donated to worthy causes around the globe. All that is needed is a spark, and as the saying goes, by lighting a flame you unconsciously allow others to do the same, or something along those lines. So next time you think to yourself, 'I am only one person', the next thought that comes to mind should be, 'I, as an individual, can change the world'. It might not be simple, and it might take a lot of determination but I believe in you. To learn more about One X One click on the link
OneXOne

Giving

I started reading Bill Clinton's new book entitled Giving: How each of us can change the world. Although I am only 3 chapters in it really gets my mind wandering. I mean this in nothing but the best of ways. Every story, anecdote, and tid bit of information gets me thinking of the possibilities and ideas that I have for creating some good. I particularly liked the idea that Bill and his wife Hillary decided to do within their family. They gave a book about how to donate to younger members of their family along with a bit of money under the idea that at least 25% of it had to be donated and that at the end of each month they would check in and expect a report on how they had done. They did this to breed a culture of giving in their family in hopes that it would become a life-long commitment. I think this is a great gift for any family member not just those of a younger age. If you want to check out the book - which I highly recommend you do the link is
Bill Clinton - Giving: How Each of Us Can Change The World

My First Blog

I wanted to start this blog because I know there are many people out there who, like me, want the world to change. I by no means am an expert on doing so, but hopefully with my ambition I can do just a little that others can either replicate or support in their neck of the woods. I want to talk about what I have done, what I am doing, and what I will do. I want to share people that I find inspiring, videos that spark the imagination, and quotes that will move you to action. I want to converse on global issues, current events, and the possibilities. Oh the possibilities. We are all in this together and this has never been more real than it is today. Lets start the ball rolling together. It will be a long and difficult journey filled with trials and tribulations but making a difference in this world is within all our grasps. For those of you who happen to stumble on this blog and want to discuss with me please feel free to check out my Facebook account or email me. I love to hear others exploits and adventures in making a difference.