Try Something New for 30 Days

Posted in Motivation

In May 2009, Google engineer Matt Cutts tried to walk 10,000 steps a day for 30 days. Happy with the results, over the many months since then has continued to challenge himself to try something new for 30 days. So far he has tried  not watching television, biking to work, reading 15 books (but only got through 12), no caffeine, taking one picture a day and many others. Matt has a blog where you can follow his 30-day challenges and vote on what he should try next. According to Matt, 30 days is enough time to build a habit. What habits would you build or break? We’re curious to hear what you would try.

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A Lost Roll of Film and Found Friendships

Posted in Kindness

Todd Bieber was skiing in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park and found an undeveloped roll of film. He developed it and reached out to people via the Internet to help him track down the photographer. Watch this video for the amazing conclusion to this inspiring story.

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Happiness is Simply About Enjoying Life

Posted in Happiness

I thought about how easily we are all brainwashed by our society and culture to stop thinking and just assume by default that more money equals more success and more happiness, when ultimately happiness is really just about enjoying life.

— Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos and bestselling author of Delivering Happiness

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Meet Patrick, the Incurable Optimist

Posted in Optimism

Patrick is truly an inspiration.  He has motor neurone disease (MND).

I’m gradually losing the ability to walk, talk, eat and breathe. I won’t see my daughter go to primary school and she won’t remember me. I am dying – MND is killing me.

I’m determined to use what’s left of my life and my diminishing artistic skill to encourage others to do something optimistic every day.

Be sure to check out his website, blog and portraits.

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Our Hearts Go Out to the People of Japan

Posted in Kindness

When we wish and seek to help others, our attitude is more positive and relationships become easier. We are less afraid and have less anxiety. Otherwise we remain shy and hesitant, and feel the need to take a thousand precautions before we approach people. When our intentions are good, we have greater self-confidence and are stronger. This is how we learn to understand how precious and valuable kindness is.

— Dalai Lama

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Just Do It, You’ll be Happier For It

Posted in Motivation

If you want to do something with your life, if you really want to do it, just do it. I promise that you can. You just have to do it. And when you do, you’ll be happier for it.

— Ben Davis

Learn more about Ben and his journey at Ben Does Life.

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We Are All Connected

Posted in Life

Tom Shadyac had it all. A successful Hollywood career, mansions, luxury cars, you name it. But after a cycling accident left him incapacitated, possibly for good, he realized that he might have it all wrong. With a new sense of clarity and purpose, he sets out to find out what’s wrong with the world. Ironically, in the process Shadyac discovered there’s more right than he ever imagined.

We are all connected – connected to each other and to everything around us.

I AM hits theaters this Friday. Will you go see it?

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Meet Alice, the Oldest Living Holocaust Survivor

Posted in Optimism

Alice is truly an optimist and an inspiration to all of us.  After everything Alice has been through, she can still see the beauty of life:

I have had such a beautiful life. And life is beautiful, love is beautiful, nature and music are beautiful. Everything we experience is a gift, a present we should cherish and pass on to those we love.

Watch the 12 minute interview with Alice after the jump.

Continue reading »

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What a Beautiful Place to Reside In

Posted in Life

As children we have the sense that anything is possible, we are not jaded. The older we get the more closed in we get, the more frightened we get, the more set in our ways we get, because we are afraid of the unknown.  Where as a child, everything is unknown.  What a beautiful place to reside in, in your own being where you still have the wonder of a child.

— Herbie Hancock, Musician
From the documentary Possibilities

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Are You Happy?

Posted in Happiness

Are you happy? Such an important question to ask yourself. This path to happiness flowchart really makes this difficult philosophical question so easy to visualize. An incredibly simple answer to one of life’s most challenging questions. If you are happy, share what you are doing, if you are not, what changes will you make.

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