I wish I could just start digging...

It seems like every few years we are reminded that nature will somehow always be in control. As destructive and catastrophic as these disasters are, from Katrina to the Tsunami we are also reminded of the good in the world. People are donating from around the world even when they barely are able to feed themselves, you wouldn't know there was a troubled economy watching the help and donations pour in. Within 24 hours a former teacher of mine from graduate school had enabled over 50 people to gather in a meeting hall in New Orleans to plan.

"What we want to do is to be ready in three or four weeks to send a contingency of people to Haiti to build an emergency village, as a New Orleans Gives Back to Haiti, that can be used as a model for recovery from the earthquake and its aftermath. We want to establish a definitive timeline to get in and get out, with a definitive set of objectives."

I am so impressed by so many people's ability to act swiftly and so altruistically.

I wish I could just digging... for warm hands in the rubble, for more money in my pocket, for the mothers and fathers, for the children.

photo courtesy of http://www.redcross.org/

The Happiest People ON EARTH!

I know my last post was thanks to Oprah, but she really does highlight interesting and important topics. One of which I caught this morning, going through my DVR I saw a title from a show a week or so ago on the ‘Happiest People on Earth”. She profiled women in Copenhagen, Istanbul, Tokyo, Rio De Janeiro and finally in Dubai. She discussed their tax structure, health care and most importantly the woman’s role in her family and how she balances that with a career. Copenhagen won as the “Happiest of happy” but clearly many other places around the world are equally as blissful. The main take away point? With the exception of Dubai, they have all managed this happiness on much less “stuff” than your typical American. From small refrigerators to sharing bathrooms, kids learn responsibility and family’s learn that joy doesn’t always come from something you can purchase. I have to remind myself of this every time I go through my closet, “purging” to create space for the upcoming season.

Just gets me thinking as I start to register for the wedding, what do "we" really “need”?

I know I will never achieve “minimalist” status, but it never hurts to be reminded that as infinite as one’s backyard may seem now, space on this planet is limited and you can’t take “stuff” with you when you die.

Thanks again Oprah...

Click here to watch pieces of the show:
http://www.oprah.com/dated/oprahshow/oprahshow-20091021-happiest-people