Welcome
May this find you well and Kindly treated.This is a special edition Grabs for challenging times.
Adopting, Holding and Embodying the view that this is universal year of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Click for most recent Consolidated Fast Facts
Topics
- Guest Sings
- Street Jives
- Wisdom Reconciles
- Media Writes
- Challenge Reflects
- TED Talks
Guest Sings
Approx 5 min presentationABC Australia’s Virtual Everyday Choir - I Am Australian
Street Jives
Approx 2 min presentationSesame Street: Cheer!
Wisdom Reconciles
Master Shi Heng Yi: 5 hindrances to self-mastery (19 mins)Media Writes
Approx 5 min readsIntro
Samantha Selinger-Morris explores quality time with household occupants and balancing priorities, citing reasons how "'I just feel free': Is isolation improving your general health?” via the Age
Evelyn Lewin explores a time-proven contemplation on meditative problem-solving and interconnectedness, asking "Are puzzles the perfect isolation activity?” Via WA Today
Wendy Squires explores bridging divides between generations and tips for cultivating contentment, revealing how her "Searching for the small wins is getting me through this pandemic” via The Brisbane Times
Intra
Gary Nunn explores rapid vocation deceleration, citing innovative examples of "Cabin crew one moment, drag performer the next: How to nail the career pivot” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Sophie Aubrey explores tying the knot, overcoming distance and self-isolation barriers, revealing "It was meant to be their big day. Four hours later, they married on Zoom” via The Age
Jenna Price explores different views to household isolation: domestic bliss, servitude or incarceration? A strategy for overcoming when "Family member or housemate getting on your nerves? Read this” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Inter
Jennifer Duke and Nick Bonyhady explore Federal Government life-support to a wide range of recipients, reporting "Who gets what from COVID-19 stimulus packages? What is JobKeeper?” via WA Today
Melissa Heagney shares Victorian Government announcements of "Rental relief: $500 million package announced to assist tenants and landlords in Victoria” via Domain.com.au
Bianca Hall updates Victoria’s efforts to care, fund and sustainably support out of kinship care, reporting "Multimillion-dollar package to support kids through COVID-19 crisis” via The Age
Multi
Nick Miller explores how home, workplace, art, repurpose and fun collide, revealing what can happen with "An egg, a Pringle, some Lego: Aussies attempt DIY art masterpieces” via WA Today
Anthony Colangelo explores how responding to presenting symptoms informs education, citing how Victorian "School's in: Families tackle learning in a time of COVID-19” via The Age
Jordan Baker explores disadvantage, remote access and how national broadcaster leverages its strengths as "ABC to broadcast educational shows, mini lessons on kids channel” via The Age
All
Susie Burrell explores time-proven ingredients make nourishing meals, short-listing "Eight fruit and vegetables that deliver a nutritional hit” via Goodfood.com.au
Evelyn Lewin explores the five stages of grieving, just add meaning "'We’re grieving, collectively': Finding calm in a pandemic” via The Brisbane Times
Byron Smith explores sustainable home gardens, sharing his collected wisdom from commonly observed "5 ways you are killing your veggie patch” via Domain.com.au
Togather
Jill Dupleix shares the meditative, transformative and nurturing affects of sustainable kitchen practice, reasoning why "Ready, steady yourself, cook: How cooking can help you stay calm” via Goodgood.com.au
Sarah Berry explores some simple isolation-hacks, revealing strategies to overcome "Feeling down? Here are five tricks that will instantly boost your mood” the Brisbane Times
Kate Bartels how connecting with local neighbourhoods can be a teddy bear’s picnic on a real or virtual walk to the park, shortlisting five "Creative ways people are staying connected during isolation” via Domain.com.au
Nobly
Tom Cowie and Nicole Precel explore grassroots initiatives to "'Give a bit': the people championing a little touch of kindness” via WA Today
Wendy Tuohy explores how a personal connection led to an collective responsibility with a wider benefit, citing how "First a humble lasagne, then 'loaves and fishes' to feed healthcare heroes” via The Age
Aisha Dow explores what is possible with correct identification of a need, timely calling for skilful assistance and using what’s on hand, citing reasons why an "Army of volunteer sewers could be the solution to gown shortages” via WA Today
Challenge Reflects
Approx 30 min presentation + reflection timesIf desired, a short selection of publicly available material on a chosen theme for personal reflection.
For best results, sit comfortably with a straight back, have headphones in a shared space, after each clicked link, allow a little reflection with your personally-held view before clicking on the next link.
Get ready to Reflect!
Choose your playing level:
Be introduced at 1.
Be soothed at 2-4.
Be shocked at 5.
Be inspired at 6.
Fuller illumination 1-6.
You be the judge. Or not.
Cryptic Clue:
What is the time-limit on unconditional love?
1. Inspire
2. Perspire
3. Collaborate
4. Engage: Test for personal circumstances, if useful keep, if unuseful discard, if exceeds needs, share mindfully
5. Endure: Adapt for present times without sacrificing intent
6. Endear: (Inspiring Others To Tend the Flame) live/ demonstrate/ inspire/ teach experience with others
reciprocate
[re’ci’pro'kate]
Late 16th century English; from Latin reciprocat- = moved backwards and forwards, from the verb reciprocare, from reciprocus .
1. respond to (a gesture or action) by making a corresponding one. Ie, the favour was reciprocated. Ie, It came to mind afterwards that perhaps I was expected to reciprocate with some remark of my own?
2. a feeling (of affection or love) for someone in the same way that they feel it for oneself. Ie, my passion for him was reciprocated.
3. (of a part of a machine) move backwards and forwards in a straight line. Ie, a reciprocating blade.
requite
[re'kwite]
Early 16th century English; from re- = back + obsolete quite, variant of the verb quit.
1. Make appropriate return for (a favour, service, or wrongdoing). Ie, we should be fair to requite a kindness.
2. to show gratitude to (someone). Ie, the win allowed enough to requite friends.
3. respond in a favourable way to (love or affection). Ie, she wanted to requite her love.
favour
[fay'ver]
Middle English = liking, preference; via Old French from Latin favor, from favere = show kindness to; related to fovere = cherish.
1. approval, support, or liking for someone or something. Ie, training is looked upon with favour by many employers. Ie, slashing public spending is a policy that few politicians favour
2. overgenerous preferential treatment. Ie, the parent was accused of showing favour to one of the siblings. Ie, critics argued that the policy favoured the private sector
3. (archaic) a thing such as a badge or knot of ribbons that is given or worn as a mark of liking or support.
4. an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual. Ie, I've come to ask you a favour. Ie, please favour me with an answer
5. (dated) used with reference to an individual allowing another to have sexual intercourse. Ie, my brother had granted favours to the newcomer.
6. a small inexpensive gift given to attending guests at a party.
7. work to the advantage of. Ie, natural selection has favoured bats.
8. dated or North American informal resembles or has likeness of (a parent or other relative) in facial features. Ie, she's pretty, and favours the Mother.
9. treat (an injured limb) gently, not putting one's full weight on it. Ie, the patient favours their sore leg.
[Practice]
Optional
-- Chant Mantrastyle
The depth and breadth of feeling to reciprocate or requite another's kindness is very often tied to passing favour. The trick in giving generously is to make it within the bounds of affordability and without expectation of reward or attachment to outcome. Repeat as often as required. Being alive means every moment is precious and easily lost.
Why? Why not?
Start today. Or not.
As the case may be.
TED Talks
5-20 min presentations- Karen McCrocklin: The gift of living gay (17 mins)
- Susan Cottrell: Why I chose my LGBTQ daughter over the Evangelical Church (16 mins)
- Benjamin Carlton: I’m black, I’m a minister and I’m gay, who are you to judge? (12 mins)
- Mx. Anunnaki Ray Marquez: Born Intersex: we are human! (14 mins)
- Michael Lolis: A gay police officer defying the walls of prejudice For English, turn subtitles on. (18 mins)
- Cameron Sithole-Modisane: I'm an African and I'm gay (13 mins)
This is universal basis of re:lig:ion (again:uniting:energy). Here in this email, we'll hear it as countless sounds: of thoughts, words and actions wishing, causing and receiving less Suffering and more Happiness. For benefit initially of the individual increasing in beneficiaries until it includes all across all times and directions.
It is not personal, it just the way things are.