At a meditation retreat several years ago, my teacher reminded us of the legend of Sisyphus. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was the King of Corinth who was punished for chronic deceitfulness by being compelled to roll an immense boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, and to repeat this action for eternity.
Editor’s Note: Heard this on my iTunes the other day while running and realize what depth of thought there is in this one. No surprise for Ms. Mitchell who woke so many of my age group up early in their lives. This is the tale of the first twenty years (perhaps that’s what she was when she wrote it) and her perception of where she was headed is stunning. Wonder what she thinks now?
Editor's note: I wish I would have read this book before I wrote Empty Abundance. While my version of both philanthropy and book writing pales in comparison to billionaires and brilliant writers like Green and Bishop, their work would have given me so much more to ponder. The stories are enlightening and the style is easy to read. Their point that philanthropic bursts such as the one we're going through is cyclical was revealing to me and I was pleased to see the authors cover the "cons" of such a movement as well. All in all, lots of interesting insights for those following this path.
Editor's note: Living Cities' CEO, Ben Hecht, writes about Black Rock Impact, a social investing platform from mutual fund giant, Black Rock Funds. It makes me nervous and hopeful at the same time. Nervous because I've never been a "bottom of the pyramid" kind of guy. That's the theory that good money can be made off the world's poor. But the points Hecht specifically makes about urban USA areas taking advantage of these new funds to build micro-lending and such things makes me hopeful. Enjoy.
I’m one of those guys who would like to go to heaven but I’m not willing to die to get there. So reading Atul Gawande’s “Being Mortal” was not easy for me.
Editor's comment: Seems to fit the theme of this month's website update and like so many of Steven's songs, it begs good thoughts.
Editors Note: This great article from Gallup talked about something I agree with wholeheartedly. It is not enough for a great wellness program to focus solely on one part of the human condition...physical. A great wholistic approach to wellness deals with 5 parts; Purpose: liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals; Social: having supportive relationships and love in your life; Financial: managing your economic life to reduce stress and increase security; Community: liking where you live, feeling safe, and having pride in your community; Physical: having good health and enough energy to get things done daily.
Editor's note: As stated in the blog its a tough but fascinating read. Gawande shares his experience as a surgeon with a human, personal touch and his growing skill as a writer. My high regard for him began with his "Checklist Manifesto" but here he goes ever deeper. He must be a helluva man.
Note: This is an article I was asked to write for Foster Families Today recently. I thought it was applicable and interesting enough to all parents, families and people in general. Thank you for reading.
Editor’s comment: Supposedly an article about investing and the economy, this turns out to be a great commentary on sociology. I will now subscribe to Morgan Housel or Motley Fool, whatever’s necessary because this cat has a point of view on human nature. Best article I’ve read in months, I hope you enjoy it too.
