Category Archives: Blog

Take Time for You

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Today as a wait for someone to arrive at a meeting, I have time for myself. I can’t remember the last time that I actually had enough energy to do something for me that wasn’t on my “errand” or “must do today list.”

This time is precious because I didn’t used to receive it before when I ran late from one meeting to the next. You can’t help others, let alone yourself if you’re always running around trying to get things done. You become just a person going through the motions and even when you do finally get to the person/organization you were going to help, you’re not present. Physically yes, but mentally no.

It’s sad actually because in a Harvard Business Review article in September of 2012, numerous studies were conducted by Cassie Mogilner, and found that in each experiment the people who lent a hand to others felt as if they had more time than the people who did not.

I can only guess but I would think it helps to be fully present to gain satisfaction and time when volunteering.

So next time you’re in between activities, take time for you. Whether it be to clear your mind, to rest, to pray, etc… Take time. You only get so much of it.

Gut Reaction On: Born Into Brothels

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Poster for Born Into Brothels, a THINKFilm release. Photo from Imdb.com

Poster for Born Into Brothels, a THINKFilm release. Photo from Imdb.com

Falling in love with children is easy. Falling in love with children that you have a very limited capacity to help is quite another. I sincerely admired the strength of the protagonist photographer Zana Briski, who held on a strong face for the children and did her absolute to not only give them something to smile but also give them an education as a way out of the red light district.

IMDb: Born Into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids (2004)
Two documentary filmmakers chronicle their time in Sonagchi, Calcutta and the relationships they developed with children of prostitutes who work the city’s notorious red light district.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388789/?ref_=ttco_co_tt
http://kids-with-cameras.org/bornintobrothels

Gut Reaction on: Page One Documentary

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A scene from "PAGE ONE"

A scene from PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

I still believe in the New York Times. I still believe that there is, not just room, but a necessity for diligent reporting. The Times still delivers it. It’s intriguing to how the newspaper company adapts and continues to have “The Times Effect” even on the digital media platform.

IMDb: Page One: Inside the New York Times (2011)
Unprecedented access to the New York Times newsroom yields a complex view of the transformation of a media landscape fraught with both peril and opportunity.
http://www.imdb.com/rg/em_share/title_web/title/tt1787777
http://www.takepart.com/pageone

The World Deserves to Have Writers with a Passion and Readers with Curiosity

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The NEWS industry is going down in flames. But not because of lack writers, editors, researchers or funding. It is because of lack of Curious READERS. Readers who care to take the time to understand and digest the world around. The real world. Not social media, not pop-culture, not Reality TV, not YOUR-30-Mile-Radius-World.   I leave you with a GREAT description of what true news is.

I started in this business because this is what I wanted to do. I knew I wasn’t going to write the Great American Novel, but I also knew there was more to life than buying something for a dollar and selling it for two.  I wanted to give the news to the world, and I wanted to give it unvarnished… Reporting the news is a privilege and a responsibility and it is not exploitable.
– William Parrish, Meet Joe Black, 1998

 

Write. Write everyday.

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I have this rare but honorable privilege to be told personal stories from different people all over the world. They share these amazing stories. Some may be amazing because they are filled with joy and laughter; others because I can’t believe this sad story is real. Regardless, I am committing myself today to write one paragraph each day. One story written down in paper so that it may not be forgotten. So that great times could be shared and injustices not ignored. If you would like to share with me, I’m hear to listen.

What’s the end goal? To publish and leave a legacy. That each person never be forgotten.

Retail Has Humbled Me

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You can go to two different eating establishments in the same block and each one will have a different policy on whether or not an employee can tell you, “Excuse me; we’re closed.”

Knowing that I had a coffee meeting at 8 P.M., I called ahead to P coffee place and asked what time they would closed tonight. 9 P.M. Sounded reasonable. One hour and twenty-one minutes into the conversation, and I notice an employee starting to mop. I keep that in the back of my mine. As she gets closer towards my area, I ask “Excuse me, what time to you close?” “9.” Looking down at my phone, “Oh, I’m sorry to keep you waiting.” My coffee friend and I exit and look for another open location to continue our conversation. We find a fast food establishment just a couple feet away. We walk in and order at W fast food.

We are asked to stay on one side of the place, the area that has been cleaned. We have approximately thirty minutes before they close and we take advantage of it but quickly reengaging in our conversation. So much so that we again, don’t notice time and now we have over stayed by seventeen minutes. “Excuse, the dine in area is now closed.” “Oh, we’ll thank you anyway. Don’t worry, we work retail, we completely understand.”

And it is in that last sentence that I see how my paradigm, my frame of reference through which I view the world, has changed from three years ago. Before, I would have been insulted. How dare they kick me out, I’m a paying customer. How dare they interrupt my conversation and time.

Now, I can see it from [retail/food service] perspective. How dare overstay their time, I service them with a strong work ethic. How dare they hold me back on my closing duties, affect my payroll and keep me from my tasks.

And it is only after working retail that I realize: Wow. You have to have patience when you want to go home but you can’t tell someone to leave. My respects to all that or currently work in any kind of serving role. And if you have never experienced this, I encourage you to make it a goal; whether through a part-time/seasonal paid or volunteer position.