On Living in a Life-Filled Setting
It can be difficult to live “wild and free.” Writer Heidi Oran challenges us, no matter our circumstances, to make our world a life-filled setting.
From Frustration to Friend: How Building Common Ground Made Us Better
Is it really possible for two people to go from constantly frustrating each other to becoming friends? That’s the power of building common ground.
How Louis Armstrong Influenced Activate World
Launching a new project, like Activate World, can leave us feeling vulnerable or uncertain. Small moments of clarity can be all we need to push forward.
Tips for Taking Action from Claire Mahon
Most mornings in my home go something like this: wake up too early to the sound of smartphone alarm clock, rub eyes and check social media feeds and email, crawl back under covers due to overwhelming feelings of despair and frustration, get out of bed and push away the helplessness to work/mom/live. The words HUMAN…
The Need for a Culture of Belonging
Belonging is an essential human expectation. More than an expectation, belonging is community. We need to develop a culture of belonging.
Drawing Your Own Circle of Gratitude
A vicious cycle is a series of events that continues to round themselves back to one another, making a bad situation worse, usually ending up with no resolve. I recently got caught up in a circle, but it wasn’t vicious at all. In fact, I’m calling it a circle of gratitude. It’s been proven there…
We Are in a Trust Depression
Are you ready to create a trust recovery? Are you ready to be a Trust Activist?
Less Talk, More Action: Where Do You Fall?
Pick a social channel and individuals are offering advice and commentary. Within the mix is humor, seriousness, and heartfelt life events. Turn on a cable news channel, and more talk happens. Some give the blazing glimpse of the obvious while others fill time with frivolity. More than ever, there is a lot of talking…
That Time I Was Forced to Unplug
I’ve never been all that good at unplugging. Last week, thanks to a faulty battery in my phone and some holiday traffic on Michigan Avenue, I was forced to spend a bit of time disconnected and without an electronic fix. This time though, the minor inconvenience turned out to be majorly beneficial. It was one…
Experiences: The Best Gift of All
Experiences are gifts. While experiences have tangible elements, the intangibles last longer. What lasts are the memories relived, relationships developed, and insights gained. We spend time finding the perfect gift, only to give up and buy a gift card. What people remember more is the lunch to a unique place with an engaging, full-attention conversation….
Why Is Peace So Hard in Our Weekly Work?
Cheer is out this year, and peace is in. With our season preparation, more people are choosing the word “peace” in their holiday cards than “cheer.” According to Minted, a San Francisco-based company that sells paper cards online, orders for cards with “peace” in the message rose 14 percent. “Previous to this year, I couldn’t…
Join One20: A Day to Do Good
Our character is being tested. Discontentment reigns. As citizens, how we respond now reflects on us. Will our character strengthen? Will we undertake good works with and for others? Our answers cast a reflection on our neighborhoods and communities. Our answer can spring forward with One20. How We Arrived Here The past U.S. Presidential election…