Misadventures at Target

Check out my teaching blog, Real World OB, for a story about my misadventures while recently shopping at Target!

Target Bingo Blog Entry

Compassion Games

A string of links led me to the Compassion Games, a friendly rivalry between cities to promote kindness within communities. (I am hoping Ithaca will participate one day, maybe even Ardmore!) The organizers of the event outlined four principles of compassion to inspire participants:

• To cultivate a disposition of loving-kindness and respect in ourselves. 
• To exhibit that in how we approach each human we interact with. 
• To commit to the service of others -- in our neighborhood, in our country, even across the world. 
• To adopt an open-mindedness -- and generative, generous spirit - that leads to creativity in solving the world’s challenges. 

I would never have stumbled upon the Compassion Games if I hadn't been playing SuperBetter and saw mention of the Compassion Games on the app's facebook page. And I started playing SuperBetter because I watched Jane McGonigal's Ted Talk, "The Game That Can Give You Ten Extra Years of Life." (My secret identity is Violet Springs, by the way.)

Watch the talk - you'll be inspired! After you watch the video, be sure to adopt the principles of compassion in your daily life. Undoubtedly, you yourself will gain the benefits!

Meaningless

Some words or phrases are so overused, they become meaningless and/or have lost their connection to their true definition or intention. I really dislike these words and terms, and try to avoid them in speech and writing. (George likes to irritate me by using them more.)

Here are some of my entries in the TOO MEANINGLESS TO USE list:

• Blindside (perhaps unique to reality TV)
• Bucket list
• Just saying
• Literally
• No offense/with all due respect 
• Outside the box
• Perfect storm
• Spoilers/spoiler alert
• Win-win

Much better to be precise, interesting, and individual in your communication! 

What words or phrases would you add to the list?

Quotation of the Day

"Compassion involves both the heartfelt wish that others be free from suffering and the readiness to act on their behalf. It arises from a deep sense of affection for others, coupled with a sensitivity to their pain and the recognition that their suffering can be transformed."

~Brooke Dodson-Lavelle, Training Kids for Kindness

Clues to Our Morality

A fascinating story from 60 Minutes on research coming out of Yale's Baby Lab. The studies have also been discussed in the New York Times Magazine. I don't know whether to feel despondent or hopeful for humanity after this!