From Money to Self-Respect via Education

Only when it's about gain, profit and financial profit, do we judge as important a humanity - humanistic change to the better?

I happened to read an article in NY Times today about a study showing that wheh kindergarten education is well provided, with excellent teachers, children tend to be significantly more successful in the adulthood, in every aspect of it (professional, family, savings etc...).
And that means gain and less trouble for the society.

So, in the aftermath of this study there are educational committees deciding to change their teacher-casting strategies. They (finally!) fire the worse of them, and hire and (hopefully?) pay more and support the best of them.
And this is good.

But, do we always have to make humanistic choices by financial gain?
When are we really going to choose the best for us humans simply by showing the self-respect and self-value that we possess de facto in our lives?
I really hope that this day is not far away.

Check the NY Times article on the link.

the ''loneliness'' bet

The other day I've been to a concert. I was supposed to meet some friends inside the concert hall, but that didn't happen.
At first I felt quite uncomfortable, looking all around me that everyone was there with some company, big or small, it doesn't matter.
So, one "easy" choice, after my vane research to find my disappeared friends, was to leave the place.
But I really wanted to attend this concert. And, besides, I couldn't understand, why on earth a person alone has to be considered as lonely and miserable. I mention that, cause I've heard that a lot.
"We"(undefined quantity or quality this "we") are supposed to be happier when we dine with company, when we drink our coffee with company, when we travel with company, or even when we go to concerts with company.
To make myself clear: company is GOOD, but should it always be obligatory? If we don't dare to be on our own, and spend good time on our own -that is to feel good and loving for ourselves- how can we ever be in a company, and share real moments with other people?

Loneliness is merely the way we treat ourselves...

After this internal questioning.... I finally decided that it was a great opportunity for me to enjoy my concert and keep great company to myself.

When one feels great, this feeling radiates all around to others. During the concert I've met another company,we introduced ourselves, spent a wonderful time together and had fun. 

I didn't find my own friends until the end of the evening, but that was ok!

Being alone, being with other people, everything is wonderful as long as it feels natural and sincere. 

Human vs. Human : I didn't know that my fear hurts you, oh brother....

The idea that a human being has to fight about his / her right to declare his / her "humaness'' still remains for me the craziest crime of self-destructive humanity...

Getting knowing Samantha Reed Smith

I was very young, still in primary school, when the book of Samantha Smith came to me. I started reading it and realized that a young child had once the "magic" recipe to change the world to the better. Just a young child asking the right questions, with no fear, with acceptance of the other, with love, enthusiasm, happiness and SMILE.
I wondered if all children could speak the truth that they mostly know the better, how intolerable that would be to the big fat lies that we've put around us. Those lies that sometimes are even greater in number than the air we breathe, so that we sometimes,ever more often everyday that passes, feel suffocating in this lack of real air.
Samantha lives in another world since 1985, after her airplane crashed. Today, she would be 38, but that's not important anymore. In the wholesome of 13 years that she lived, she managed to shake rotten beliefs of human "status", of rigid human societies that are not so human.
Her ideas are still working. She left us a legacy that now finds its major application in the modern world.
We remember her and honor her contribution.
But most importantly, we are aware about the new kids of this world. They also know the same innate human truth, and if we let them, even more if we help them, they can show us the next steps of the path Samantha traced first.

PS: the title links you to Samantha Smith's official site

the "love" factor: choice beyond bonds and guilts

The other day, a friend of mine told me how she described to her parents the way she was dealing with their relation. She merely told them that she loved them both dearly, but she didn't like hanging out with them. She was acknowledging the fact that they were her parents and that wouldn't change, but she was feeling that they had nothing in common as far as choices in personal life, art, food, politics, dreaming, goals-setup were concerned.
She put a lot of effort to describe to me the awe and the astounding silence that dashed into that living-room, the moment she spelled the words! After all these years of "civilized" discussions and not-so civilized ones; after all the times she tried to explain to them that she could not lead her life the way they wanted; after all these years she was accusing herself of feeling profoundly ashamed of them; now she finally said the very few but decisive and sincere words.

I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart for sharing with me this precious episode of her life. These few magical words liberated me from my own family-bonds confinement. This magic spell gave me the possibility to observe the dimension in my life that was always there, but my eyes -full of remorses, well educated guilts and social ''musts''- were untrained to see.

It can be so true, you know, to love one's parents profoundly for they've given one's gift of life. But that does not mean one has to mimic one's parents choices, points of view, lives. If that were the case, imagine what would happen (and it had happened plenty of times in the human past). It means no boldness to new adventures and new life pathways. No boldness equals no creation that is needed order to bring progress and evolution to humanity. No creation equals no pleasure, no joy, no laughter, no reasons for true life.

Now, in my early thirties, I know I love both of my parents, but they are so different from me. I cannot be (or worse, become) what they wish me to; or better become that lost and unrealized ambition they keep on their minds, which they project on me. I knew ever since the beginning of my life that I was different from them. I guess most children do. I cannot blame them for not sharing this opinion with me.
Right now I'm happy to admit that my priority is to consciously give my unconditioned love to the person that is always around me, following me so devotedly, with a lot of support and precious consulting. Myself.

I cannot help it, if they are angry with me. It's their choice, and I fully respect it. But the most important this "magic spell" offered to my life was that I'm not afraid any more of the "oneness" effect, because, even this one is a mere illusion. We are never alone or abandoned. It 's always up to our personal choice the way we feel.