Feel Good Friday...The Good Life

Feel Good Friday…The Good Life

In this short film we come face to face with our ideas about money and accomplishment. And how are we going to define what success really is. It really isn’t the number of years in your life; it is the amount of life in your years. So what about 2012? How much life are you planning on putting in this year. Or will you be reading this story again 365 days from now wondering where the year went and what you did with all of it?

See it here:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=1328

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...I'm Being Santa

Feel Good Friday…I’m Being Santa

Ahh…Santa Claus…the mythical fat man flying around delivering toys and gifts throughout the world…Santa maybe the best example of random acts of kindness out there. Think about it…you don’t know him; he drops in from the sky, puts some gifts out for you and leaves without a word. Pretty cool. Acts of kindness are you being Santa to someone else. As small children we believe in Santa, or rather we believe in the myth of Santa…red coat, reindeer, elves that whole schtick. Then we stop believing in the myth. BUT what if Santa as a concept is real and working today? I read a story recently of people paying off other people’s layaways at Kmart stores. Pretty cool and very Santa-like.
Do acts of kindness…Be Santa…see the video here:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2715

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Change for a Dollar

Feel Good Friday…Change for a Dollar

This extremely poignant and award winning short film explores what an impact a small act can have on a life. We can “pay it forward” and never know what will become of our act. Maybe that change you just gave away changed somebody’s life. Maybe that kind word shifted an attitude that in turn went on to the next person who really needed some change. Often the change we need isn’t money it’s human connection and compassion and understanding.
“If you think you are too small to have an impact, try going to sleep with a mosquito in the room.”
There is no kindness too small that it doesn’t count. They all count. Do it because its kind.

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2809

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...A Caring Teacher

Feel Good Friday…Caring Teachers

For those of you who are teachers…this video (an advertisement, really) should remind you that you have no idea of the impact you may have on someone’s life. The reach of your influence goes far beyond the work you do in a class room. For those of you who are not teachers…think back to the teachers who really expected more of you than you did yourself. And what are you doing about those expectations? Didn’t you have bigger dreams?

See the video here:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2604

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...I Give Thanks

Feel Good Friday…I Give Thanks

Here is one for you to just sit back and enjoy. Gratitude is a grace in our lives. And it is sitting there waiting for us to access it. All you have to do is be grateful.

Enjoy it here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=188


Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Youth Leads

Feel Good Friday…Youth Leads

We take for granted the simplest things…clean running water, a modern toilet, an education system. Yet, in many parts of the world, these things are luxuries. Here is the story of one person, who gave up her corporate life (big paycheck, modern amenities, and big city life) for one of simpler pursuits. She returned to her village and she is now making a difference in the lives of everyone in the village. Clean water and toilets are now available. Girls are inspired to get educated…because of the example one young woman set. See it here:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2340

Namaste
John
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Feel good Friday...The Sounds of Kindness

Feel Good Friday…The Sounds of Kindness

“Every Little Act is Part of the Whole”
Kindness may the most important thing we can do in the world. Those little things that we do for other people without expectation of reward or even Thanks can be life altering for someone. And we will never know the effect that those things have on them. And that is OK. You see we do them because we must, because we are compelled by something greater than reward. Acts of kindness are universal, they are felt and appreciated throughout the world. The kindness I do here today ripples across the world, throughout the universe and may be part of the storm of kindness that creates the new world.
See the video here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2227

“My religion is simple. It is kindness”
--His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Plastic Debris Art

Feel Good Friday…Plastic Debris Art

It has always been said that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. The Langs have been “curating” about a kilometer of Kehoe beach in the Point Reyes National seashore for years. It is amazing the things they have found. What is ever more amazing is the works of art they have created. These wo4rks of art are not only beautiful and creative but they highlight the problem of plastics in our oceans. It has been said that there is over 46,000 pieces of plastic in every square mile of ocean in the world. This is an incredible number. Stop using single use plastic things people!

See the video here:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2303

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...The Gift of Kindness

Feel Good Friday…The Gift of Kindness

Imagine a world of abundance rather than scarcity, one of contribution rather than consumption, one of connection rather than transaction. When we do kindness for someone, an act that expects no return, no thanks, no reciprocity we are building a circle, an arc of goodness that will bring those things back to us.

Over the last 3 or 4 years, in 3 cities for over 25,000 people the gift economy is real at the Karma Kitchen. When you eat here your bill has already been paid. It was paid “forward” by someone before you. You have been served by a volunteer. The dishes have been washed by volunteers; the rent was paid through someone’s gift. Now it is your turn to pay it forward…and it isn’t just about the bill, the transaction it becomes about the community, the experience, the contribution you are making to all of those things.

Where can you make a gift? Too often we reduce our lives to transactions; what do I have to give to get what I want? How about we just give and stop worrying about what it is we are going to get? Watch this video here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2667

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John
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Feel Good Friday...I Will Be the Hummingbird

Feel Good Friday…I Will Be the Hummingbird

Sometimes life looks impossible. It looks like the odds are stacked against you and there is nothing to do but roll over and let events just roll over you. Or you can be like the hummingbird in this story and do what you can, the best you can. Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai stood up to seemingly insurmountable challenges all her life, and won. Her spirit lives on in the millions of trees she helped plant.

See it there:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2663

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...The Calm Within

Feel Good Friday…The Calm Within

Locked up for 26 years for a crime you didn’t commit. 26 years of living in a box, living with a stain you didn’t earn. 26 years of maintaining your innocence. Dewey Bozella spent almost 3 decades living that nightmare. Jailed for a crime he did not commit, he lived a life in Prison that exemplified a simple maxim…Never Give Up. He could have gotten out earlier if he had admitted his guilt for something he didn’t do but he refused. As well he should. His story is here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2568

The human spirit is an amazing and resilient thing.

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...The Power of One

Feel Good Friday…The Power of One

Your Power. You have it. You can do something. Anything. Right now we are seeing the world caught in the chains of change. It is happening all over, even right in here. People are mad as hell and we are not going to take it anymore. Here is a short and sweet video about the Power of One:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=14

Get out and do something. Anything. Show your support for something someone else is doing. Get on board or start building your own ship and find your own crew. But something is better than nothing. The opposite of love is not hate…it is indifference and apathy. Go. Now.

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...R.I.P. Mr. Jobs

Feel Good Friday…R.I.P. Mr. Jobs

A lot has been said and written about the passing of Steve Jobs. I am not going to add to any of it.

Here he is in his own words from a commencement speech at Stanford University:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=1651

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Remembrance

Feel Good Friday…Remembrance

The other day someone (Thanks Kristie B) sent me this video of a performance artist doing and amazing painting. Michael Israel is the man’s name and what he does is simply amazing. I am in awe of this sort of creativity in general but this is exceptional. He has done some other portraits and tributes but this particular piece was especially moving.

See it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1NFlCG4yOA&feature=related

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Bottle to Bulb

Feel Good Friday…Bottle to Bulb

Single use plastic bottles are the bane of our modern existence. They are everywhere these days…in the landfills, floating in the ocean, laying about just about everywhere. Here is a guy who saw a need…light…and a tool and put them together to create something brand new. Necessity is the mother of invention! Solar Demi from the Philippines has invented a way for 643 people to get light into their homes. And he used 643 single use plastic bottles to get it done! These were bottles that would end up in the trash, littering the landscape, or floating in the ocean. Now they have been put to a splendid use! Check it out here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2617

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Say Something Nice

Feel Good Friday…Say Something Nice

New York City…Public Square…a bullhorn on a pulpit with a sign that says “Say something nice”…and guess what? People do exactly that…Say something nice! Pretty cool experiment.

Enjoy it here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2579

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
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Feel Good Friday...Farmin' in the Hood

Feel Good Friday…Farmin’ in the Hood

Who knew? This may be some of the most important work being done in the world today. It is impossible to have peace in the world when people are hungry, worried about shelter, safety or security. Peace is a bit far up the hierarchy of needs. If we can feed and shelter people and better yet instill in them the hope and the ability to feed and care for themselves peace will follow. Check out this video here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2415
My community garden project pales in comparison to this…But this does give me hope and ideas that we can create a better, more sustainable world.
Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
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Feel Good Friday...You're Perfect

Feel Good Friday…You’re Perfect

Here is a little video about a guy who is doing something about how you feel about yourself. Like Free Hugs, or Just Smile we often need to be reminded about the what’s good about ourselves. Take a look here:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2240

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Random Acts of Pizza

Feel Good Friday…Random Acts of Pizza

As most of you know I am very big on random acts of kindness. As a matter of fact each of my students is required to perform and write down certain # of acts of kindness for each belt level they attain. This is really good for the world but it is really good for the student. It teaches them to be conscious of kindness and the effects kindness has on the world as well as bring forward the fact that they are kind people. It helps build self esteem and the knowledge of intrinsic rewards…doing things because they need to be done or that you just want to do them rather than only doing them for the external rewards.
This video takes the idea a little further and into a more tangible arena. Random acts of pizza…gotta love it here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2484
Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Sister Cyril of Calcutta

Feel Good Friday…Sister Cyril of Calcutta

The amount of good people are doing in the world never ceases to amaze me. I have to admit I have never heard of Sister Cyril. Yet she has changed 100s of thousands of lives. She has taught young people, she has taught teachers who go out and teach, she has influenced an entire city of over 50 million people. Yet we have never heard of her.

Here is her story:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2551

Education will solve poverty much faster than money. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for the rest of his life.”

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Becoming SomeOne

Feel Good Friday…Becoming SomeOne

This short film by Nick Askew asks some very pointed questions in whimsical and fun way. You are looking for answers but you don’t know the questions! Gee I’ve never been there! You know you have to be someone but you don’t who or how to get there. Great music and a simple message:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2545

And watch out! You may become someone while watching!

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...What is HIP?

Feel Good Friday…What is HIP?

HIP stands for the Heroic Imagination Project. This project, begun and designed by Stanford psychology professor Philip Zimbrado, intends to create a process to identify and foster heroes in the world. The bad guys have ways to creat and foster suicide bombers, torture specialists, and murderers maybe we should start a process to do just the opposite. Let’s seed the world with heroes…people who won’t stand for injustice, inequality, and dehumanization.
Here is the TED talk on his project. This is a great idea. Check it out here:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2243

What are you going to do today heroic?

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
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Feel Good Friday...Millionaire Janitor

Feel Good Friday…Millionaire Janitor

How many times have we heard of someone winning the lottery only to have all the money gone and their lives in shambles in short order? It seems that winning money far too often creates more problems than it solves. Here is a horse of a different color. Tyrone Curry won almost 4 million dollars a few years ago. He still works as a custodian at the school where we coaches the Track and Field team. And he just donated $40,000.00 for a new track.
See the video here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2333

This is a great example for all of us…with or without the money!

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
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Feel Good Friday ...graFEETi

Feel Good Friday…GraFEETi

This particularly poignant message really moved me. Imagine picking up your shoes after class and finding an inspirational message in them! What a very cool concept. Or buying a pair of shoes and finding the gift of an uplifting thought. Check it out here:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2160

Feel inspired? You could do this too!


Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
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Feel Good Friday...Food Crusader

Feel Good Friday…Food Crusader

Food is a big one with me. I love to eat. I love to prepare it for friends. I love to grow. In this video a very unlikely crusader for food ties it all together. From the introduction of foreign proteins into the food chain to the incidence of cancer (USA is the highest in the world) to the cost of health care (we spend more than any other country) and a few other loose ends Robyn O’Brien creates a compelling, logical and rational discussion for an overhaul of how we eat, produce and market food. This problem is not going away and it is not going to get any better until we start insisting that is does. In the meantime, grow a garden! I picked the first ripe tomato this morning! Go here for the video:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2343
Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Wind Art

Feel Good Friday…Wind Art

Imagine coming upon one of these creatures while walking along the beach one day. This is some very cool stuff. For myself I can’t imagine the imagination and resourcefulness it takes to create such a critter. See it here:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=1488

Create something today out of stuff you have lying around. It will be cool and it’s good for your brain to stretch in this way!
Namaste
John
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Feel good Friday...The Time Bank

Feel Good Friday…The Time Bank

We all want to save time right? Wouldn’t it be nice to have some in a bank somewhere? Here is an great idea whose time has come. Imagine doing something for someone…some chore, something you can do that they can’t do for themselves. And by paying it forward you get credit. When you need something done you can draw from the time bank to get something done in your life you can’t do for yourself. Pretty cool, yes? Check out this video:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2378

Maybe you can start one of these where you are!

Remember…something good is going to happen to you today!!!

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Hope is an Action

Feel Good Friday…Hope is an Action

We have all felt loss. Nyla Rodgers lost her mother to cancer and since her mother had raised her alone it was the equivalent of losing your entire family all at once. She has transformed that loss, that grief into love and hope. Far too often we think of things like hope as concepts. Here is a concrete example of hope as an action, a doing, a concept in the real world performing real deeds. There are many of these stories. I encourage you to find one that really lights you up and get involved. Everyone needs heartfelt support and help. It will be welcomed with open arms.

Here is the link:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2384

Have a great day!

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
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Feel Good Friday...Be the Remedy

Feel Good Friday…Be the Remedy

I have to admit that this is one of the most innovative uses of twitter I have ever seen. In this video we see how one man’s imagination has led him to connect people’s needs. It is both giving and receiving. It is the direct application of the rule of one. One person can make a difference. Especially one person can make a diference to one other person. It’s simple and elegant all at once.

See the video here:
http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=4638

Life is about connection. Where can you be more connected…to life, to people, to the world?

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Amo La Vida

Feel Good Friday…Amo La Vida --- Love Life

“Without gratitude nothing is enough.” Julio Olalla

I think that sentence just about sums up the whole thing. This interview is about the nature of gratitude and how important it really is. There is some pretty tasty food for thought in here:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2414

And Thank You. I am grateful you are here.

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Of Forests and Men

Feel Good Friday…Of Forests and Men

In this stunning video the question is asked:
Is the essential being destroyed to make room for the superfluous?
This is a question we should be asking or ourselves every day. I am doing superfluous things instead of essential ones? Maybe the question should be…What is essential? What is essential in your life? What are you prioritizing to be important above other things?
Watch the video here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2387

Answer the questions soon.

Namaste
John
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Feel Good Friday...Paraklesis

Feel Good Friday…Paraklesis

Whose side are you called to stand beside? In this video:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2123

A father stands beside his son, lifts him up after he falls, and allows him to finish what he has started.
It brought tears to my eyes. This is what life is about…the struggle, the journey, the effort...win, lose or draw. It isn’t about the awards, the applause or the accolades; it is about the heart, soul, and spirit you bring to your effort.

Enjoy

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...Birdman

Feel Good Friday…Birdman

This remarkable video can be summed up in one sentence:
Its work that needs to be done and somebody has to do it
Here is a guy who saw something that needed to be done and he did it.
Lots of people and creatures benefitted from his labors. The world is a better place because of the work he did. Work he did without being asked, without being paid, without expectation of reward. Where is the work that needs to be done in your world? Check out the Birdman here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2346

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel good friday...Make the Difference

Feel Good Friday…Make the Difference

I love stories like this. When someone or some group of people decides to just get something done in spite of the obstacles or challenges in front of them. This is the story of a football team in the south of Thailand. And how a group of kids figure out how to play football in a place where there is no dirt and no park, and no real space whatsoever.
If you want to do something you can do it. Human ingenuity, will and desire will always win out.
Check it out here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2298

What could you do today if you couldn’t fail?

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...the 3 A's of Awesome

Feel Good Friday…the 3 A’s of Awesome

We take so many things for granted. In this video Neil Pasricha gives us a TED talk about awesome. And how to be appreciative of all the little things that make this life awesome. You could even start your own list…1000 awesome things. Your list is going to be different than my list but I am sure it will be amazing!

Take a look here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2233

And have an awesome day!

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...the Milky Way

Feel Good Friday…the Milky Way

If you have ever been way way far out in the wilderness you know how amazing the sky becomes. This video shares a 10 day photo essay of the skies in Spain. The photography is beautiful as is the musical accompaniment. See the video here:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2326

And try to get away from the city lights and see some of the wonders of the world soon!

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...The Orangutan and the Hound

Feel Good Friday…The Orangutan and the Hound

Have you ever met someone and felt like you have known them before? And when you meet them you know you have a history or a purpose together? Here is the story of 2 souls reunited:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2311

The hitch is that they are both animals! An orangutan and a blue tick hound found each other and are now inseparable. The video is an amazing tale of love and affection that will leave you smiling.

Enjoy!

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...It's in Your Hands

Feel Good Friday…It’s in your hands

I’m not sure which is more amazing…the facts in this video or the creation of the simple wash basin. We take hand washing for granted but in many parts of the world hand washing is not happening. The message is clear…wash your hands…it is good for your health and the health of others…and its simple and easy! Go here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2309

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...Small Pleasures

Feel Good Friday…Small Pleasures

I have to admit this video made me smile. And at the end I smiled even wider. We take so much for granted, it’s like we expect some big banner to race across the sky telling us we are happy. When, in fact, happiness is an attitude; finding an appreciation for the little things that are happening around us every day. As I write this it is brisk and chilly after a day of shirt sleeve weather, yet that crisp morning air was a joy and will be soon forgotten for the warmth of summer.
Happiness is not something found, not something that happens to you; happiness is something you are, something you can be. Watch the video here:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2254

And like Bobbie McFerrin says…”Don’t worry, be happy.”

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday…Feed the Hunger

As many of you know food is a “thing” with me. I love growing it, eating it, sharing it, cooking it. I hate the fact that some 38 million Americans are food “insecure” these days. That means they do not have enough food to eat 7 days a week or 4 weeks out of the month. If they are receiving food stamps there is only enough to eat 3 weeks out of 4. The person most likely to go hungry…a single mother of two. She will feed her children and then not eat herself. Then layer that sort of information on top of the fact that we throw away tons of edible food every day. The seeming contradiction is maddening.

Here is one man’s answer:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=1318

We are working on this problem locally…with our community garden to feed people and the hands of hope food program. If you want more information I how you can participate drop me a line!

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...Can Art Change the World

Feel Good Friday…Can Art Change the World?

In this TED talk French street artist JR talks about his art projects. Its 24 minutes but very revealing in terms of who we are as human beings…the project becomes useful, the photos were used as roofs for shacks. At about the 17 minute mark there is a brief video that is very revealing.
What we see changes who we are. This project is part of a bigger vision…and his statement is here:
I wish for you to stand up for what you care about by participating in a global art project, and together we’ll turn the world…INSIDE OUT.
When we act together it becomes bigger than the sum of the parts. There is a way for you to participate if you go to www.insideoutproject.net
Watch the video, it is very good.
Remember…something good is going to happen to you today!
Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...Nourishing with Love

Feel Good Friday…Nourishing with Love

Every small act of kindness makes a difference, says Magnus McFarlane-Barro in this short video about his project. The project began as a simple delivery of supplies to Bosnia. Today his “project” feeds over 400,000 kids everyday in 15 countries. What! Do you think those meals are making a difference to the people who are eating them? You bet they are.

Here at home, Patricia Glover started a branch of Hands of Hope in Fernley. Yesterday 49 families received fruits and vegetables, milk, and bread from quality grocery stores. No candy, no junk food, and very little “commodity” food in the boxes. The project started with 2 or 3 families driving to Reno to pick up their food at hands of hope. We expect to serve 100 families soon. My landlord, Bal and Lucky Gosal generously allow us to use an empty unit to stage the project every Thursday. The work is done by volunteers (mostly Patricia).

The point is that every act of kindness makes a difference. And you never know how much until much much later.

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...the Dark Side of the Lens

Feel Good Friday…the Dark Side of the Lens

Have you ever seen a photograph and wondered how in the world the person behind the camera ever got that shot? Did they use telephoto lenses, or were they right on top of the action? In this video we get to see how some of those pictures got snapped. Now the question becomes where was the shooter who shot the pictures of the guy shooting the picture? There are some absolutely amazing and amazingly beautiful pictures in this video. Enjoy it here:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2220

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...People Are Awesome

Feel Good Friday…People are Awesome

People do amazing things. There are some things on this video that are downright scary. And some others that are staggering. And a bunch of them that had me wondering how anyone thought of that?
Anyway its fun and it will bring a smile to your face and might even make your jaw drop a bit!
Go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Vo0Cazxj_yc

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...Chewing Gum Art

Feel Good Friday…Chewing Gum Art

“Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it.” Confucius
I have to admit I never thought of discarded chewing gum as beautiful, especially gum thrown on the sidewalk. But here it is:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2165
I find people fascinating. How did someone decide to start painting chewing gum on the sidewalk? After watching the video and the painstaking work the artist puts into his art you really have to wonder what possessed him to do that the first time. And then why would you continue to do it? There is no money in it. As a matter of fact the man even got arrested once. You have to figure it is for the sake of doing the art. But lying on the sidewalk and painting gum? How very fascinating.

Where do you do your art? Why do you do it? Why do you keep doing it? Why aren’t you doing more of it? Interesting questions.

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...The Power of Vulnerability

Feel Good Friday…The Power of Vulnerability

This video has come to me twice now so I must share it with you! As many of you know, I am a huge believer in the power of kind acts. They are good for you because those acts create a feeling in you that you are a kind and worthy person. It turns out they are also good for you because they connect you to others in an open and vulnerable way. I require all of my students to do acts of kindness to be eligible for their next belt test. For far too many of them this is the hardest component of their curriculum. I guess learning to punch and kick and hurt is easier than doing nice, kind and healing things. Such is the world we live in, I suppose.

Here are 2 links to the same video:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2212
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0

It is about 20 minutes long but very well worth it!
Enjoy!

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...One Arm? No Problem

Feel Good Friday…One Arm? No Problem

You don’t often see a one armed foot ball player…especially one who is a receiver. Here is a young man who leads his team in receptions using only one hand. And to listen to him talk it really is no big deal. He has been doing things like this all his life. It is amazing to think of living your life missing one hand…here is the story of a young man who really lives with out limitation. See it here:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2191
Oh and by the way…he can bench press 235 pounds!
Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...The Story of Electronics

Feel Good Friday…The Story of Electronics

I really don’t know what the answer is to this problem. I wish I did. This short video explores where our electronic stuff comes from and where it goes. Here is a hint...it isn’t good. And the real problem is that it is intentional…the electronic stuff is built to be thrown away. Think about it…how old is your computer? Your phone? Your TV? Your VCR? And what did you do with the old ones? Let’s see if we can’t find a solution that works for everyone. Here is the video:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2170

Enjoy!

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Feel Good Friday…Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King was and is an inspiration to many people. His life, his words, his actions helped motivate a nation to change. Was he perfect? Of course not. But what he said and what he did was to serve as a signpost for each and every one of us. Here is a singer/song writer inspired by Dr. King:

http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2236

Enjoy.

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com

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Feel Good Friday...I Still Have a soul

Feel Good Friday...I Still have a Soul

What will you do to fulfill your dream? Live on the street? Sell your most prized possession? Are you willing to do whatever it takes? The difference between living your dream and dreaming your dream is action...doing what you must do to get what want. Take a look here:


http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=2226

Live your dream

Namaste
John
“Teaching Focus, Inspiring Transformation”
www.martialartsnevada.com
 
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