Commencement Address

A note from the Author: Below, since we will finally publish on October 27th, is the final excerpt from my book, Empty Abundance; Finding Meaning through Mindful Giving. Appropriately for you, dear reader, it is the last two pages of the book. Thanks for hanging in with me; it’s been a shockingly long process from concept to actual printing. Note: I’ve yet to see the final sample book! The book itself can now be pre-ordered on our site and on www.emptyabundance.org. Next month, I will return to original blogging each month. As always, I’m grateful that you care to read because believe me, it is an honor and a privilege to be read.

Editor’s comment: Some forget that this mid-1980’s album and song were “way out there” for the time. It was experimental, really and the collection of songs on the album would be understatedly called “eclectic”. I loved it then and loved it again the other day when it came up on my ITunes shuffle. Only a few people are as deeply moved by music as Simon, in my view.  

Editor’s comment: It seems appropriate that since my book of the month is one that departs from traditional economic theory, this article of the month should be of similar ilk. Thanks to my good friend, Carl Falb, for passing this along to me. Warsh’s writing is a bit rangy but absolutely fascinating to me in that he incorporates social as well as economic theory into his work.  Just the challenging of our measures and the implications of same makes this excerpt a fascinating read. For the entire text of this September 14th article, and much more, go to www.EconomicPrinciples.com.  

Editor’s Note: This is an easy reading book considering it is written by an economist. It’s also one that I find myself saying “that’s simply not true” when absorbing certain of Galbraith’s theories. But I recommend it highly for anyone trying (as I am) to figure out exactly what is going on in the American and world economy as it gives real clarity to a less-publicized view of what we are experiencing. That is that our most accepted economic premise – that growth is inevitable and eternal – is flawed. Galbraith attempts to underpin his thoughts with history before going onto recommending four actions that could help stabilize our future. But more than anything, I agree and appreciate his premise: that the American economy simply is not on an eternal growth trajectory, as most economists and politicians would like us to believe and that until we accept and address that fact, we are inviting further disaster.  

I know in my soul, as Bogle does, that I have more than enough. And so I spend most of my days working to serve those who serve the poor, but I also enjoy every reasonable perquisite provided me by forty years of discipline and hard work.

Editor’s note: I heard this the other day at the café and it made me think of so many things. One, I’ve a very close friend who is really struggling right now with his partner. As always, the number one issue is communication, which this song is all about.  Two, I loved when Joni wrote and sang stuff like this one and Chelsea Morning both of which uniquely combine lilt and meaning. And finally, it reminded me that Mitchell is a music game-changer. I re-read her career highlights on Wikipedia and am reminded that her classics such as Both Sides Now, Clouds and Woodstock are only part of her story. Mitchell is so revered musically that all-time jazz greats Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock and Charles Mingus sought her out and collaborated with her over time. And her album, Blue, I found is rated 30th all-time by Rolling Stone magazine. Enjoy a listen and maybe look up and get more of her music back onto your playlist. I am.

Editor’s Note: I know little about the non-profit "Search for Common Ground" but I'm sure going to find out more soon. This article of the month is a goodbye newsletter from the group's founder, John Marks. While self-congratulatory in parts, it seems a wonderful summary of learning about international social needs and change over the last 32 years. I'm grateful for the perspective Mr. Marks brings.

Editor's Note: I'm not much for parables and the story in this book is no exception. But the learning, the very idea of Question Thinking is very powerful for me. When my friend gave me this book I thought, "I'm a curious guy, do I really need this?." I did and I do. Most people do. Ms. Adams' most important teachings for me were A.) every thought is a question, B.) each question invites me to "choose" or "react" and C.) when I react, I become a "judger" which is not healthy for me or anyone I'm engaged with.

The “Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey” included thirty thousand interviews completed in two waves by researchers at the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University. Among other findings, the study states, “Those who gave contributions of time or money were 42 percent more likely to be happy than those who didn’t give.”