Best wishes for less Suffering, more Happiness with Good Health and Time to Enjoy it. Welcome to Assyrian Calendar Year 6771.
Sharing a timely aspiration:
“Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.”
Gyalwa Rinpoche,14th and current Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader of Tibet, and a retired political leader in exile of Tibet. (1935 CE - )
If having no reason to celebrate this month, here are 3 prepared earlier:
- 7 August: Aged Care Employee Day (Australia)
- 9 August: UN International Day of the World's Indigenous People (International)
- 12 August: UN International Youth Day (International)
The following monthly curation from publicly available information is offered below for consideration.
Topics
Guest Sings
Approx 5 min presentationStreet Jives
Approx 2 min presentationWisdom Reconciles
- Spill It: Singapore singer-songwriters Charlie Lim & Joie Tan on being "non-essential” (14 mins)
- One Plus One: Mitch Tambo on making music and sharing language with Courtney Act (28 mins)
- Origin Of Everything: Why Do So Many Religions Have Headwear? (12 mins)
- ABC: Little Kids Big Talk: Christine Anu answers kids' questions about NAIDOC Week (8 mins)
- Australian Story: ‘I know I’ve made myself a target’: Treating Australia’s trans kids with Paediatrician Dr Michelle Telfer (30 mins)
Media Writes
Approx 5 min readsIntro
Jane Caro on familiars, aging and resilience, sharing "The life lesson I’m taking away from the COVID-19 pandemic” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Nick Miller explores identity, culture and transmission of knowledge on a level playing field with "The self-confessed nerd on a mission to make comics more deadly” via The Age
Michael Koziol explores lost freedom, growing responsibility and new found maturing, when "‘I was used to doing whatever the hell I wanted’: Tim Freedman on life and freedom” via The Brisbane Times
Intra
Danielle Norton explores land, farming and sustainable living, shining a light on "The women who are forging a new path as first-generation farmers” via WA Today
Nicole Abadee explores qualities required for a friendship to last over time, writing how "‘That’s a person I want to talk to’: the friendship that went to London and back” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Rachelle Unreich on death, grieving and cherishing of a loved one when "Keeping Mum: ‘The apartment stayed fixed, a time capsule of our past’” via The Age
Inter
Samantha Selinger-Morris explores how valuing good faith in productive communication overcomes problems, revealing "‘One of the greatest predictors of divorce’: How to argue better” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Carolyn Webb explores the enduring value of increasing creativity, diversity, and visibility, calling out reasons why "‘You can succeed at anything’: CEO’s message to Indigenous youth” via WA Today
Jake Wilson explores exposing lies, seeking truth and justice is a universal work in progress, shining a light on "Who would you trust to tell your story? Real lives are in focus at MIFF” via The Brisbane Times
Multi
Judy Batalion explores inhumanity of war and its enduring legacy, explains why "As a third-generation survivor, this was hardest topic to explain to my child” via The Age
Debi Enker explores ethnicity, religious persecution and surviving violence with "‘Compelling, joyful, heartbreaking’: the story of the three brothers behind Bangarra” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Sumeyya Ilanbey explores self, fitting in and a place "‘I can be my whole self’: Australia’s only LGBTIQ Pride Centre opens” via The Age
All
Ray Edgar explores designing for place, building with sustainability and reflecting a shared vision, revealing how "Our sustainable future began 60,000 years ago: finally, we’re catching up” via WA Today
Konrad Marshall explores self, camaraderie and overcoming obstacles, revealing "How tragedy cemented these high-flyers’ friendship” via WA Today
Tegan Evans explores the ongoing efforts to reduce worker exploitation, increase reporting of offenders, and other perils to earning a living, as "Victoria’s wage theft laws a stride forward, but young workers still at risk” via The Age
Togather
Adam Carey explores key ingredients for a learning setting with high aspirations, shining a spotlight on how "Schools that Excel: Diversity and discipline pay off for Reservoir High” via The Age
Sue Williams explores how majority vaccination is key for returning freedom, travel and hospitality as "Life for Australians in Seattle, America's most vaccinated city, is getting back to normal” via traveller.com.au
Stephanie Dowrick explores dadirri, belonging, reconciliating and renewal, listening to "What our Senior Australian of the Year told me when I visited” via The Sydney Morning Herald
Nobly
Julie Power and Rhett Wyman explores enduring legacy of entrenched punitive disadvantage in the outback and a collective making a beneficial difference, "Meet the grandmas of the Central Desert, saving one child at a time” via The Age
Anna Patty explores the value of personal dedication, perseverance and the long battle to overcome otherness and worker exploitation, "Meet Sheryn Omeri, the Australian lawyer who took on Uber and won” via The Age
Grant Wyeth explores addressing basic needs in a time of crisis, growing community and servicing a public need, "What We Can Learn From Australia’s Sikh Community” via The Diplomat
TED Talks
5-20 min presentations- Erick Wilberding: This tool will help improve your critical thinking (6 mins)
- Laurence Lewars: Questions Every Teenager Needs to Be Asked (19 mins)
- Eunice Hii: Don't Just Follow Your Passion: A Talk for Generation Y (18 mins)
- Ralph Nader: What it takes to create social change against all odds (20 mins)
- Shu An Oon: The Rant and Thinker (13 mins)
Music Challenges
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 a way to make relationships nurturing, over come obstacles, last over time, and beneficial to a greater number?
- Inspire
- Perspire
- Collaborate
- Engage: Test for personal circumstances, if useful keep, if unuseful discard, if exceeds needs, share mindfully
- Endure: Adapt for present times without sacrificing intent
- Endear: (Inspiring Others To Tend the Flame) live/ demonstrate/ inspire/ teach experience with others
standard
[stand’ard]
From Middle English (denoting a flag raised on a pole as a rallying point, the authorized exemplar of a unit of measurement, or an upright timber): shortening of Old French estendart, from estendre = extend
- a level of quality or attainment. Ie, their restaurant offers a high standard of service. Ie, the government's ambition to raise standards in schools.
- a required or agreed level of quality or attainment. Ie, half of the beaches fail to comply with European standards. Ie, their tap water was not up to standard.
- (British historical in elementary schools) a grade of proficiency tested by examination or the form or class preparing pupils for such a grade. Ie, the student was still in boarding school and had twice repeated the same standard.
- something used as a measure, norm, or model in comparative evaluations. Ie, the wages are low by today's standards. Ie, the system had become an industry standard.
- principles of conduct informed by notions of honour and decency. Ie, a decline in moral standards.
- a form of language that is widely accepted as the usual form. Ie, the idea of the standard is projected backwards on to states of language.
- the prescribed weight of fine metal in gold or silver coins. Ie, the sterling standard for silver.
- a system by which the value of a currency is defined in terms of gold or silver or both.
- a measure for timber, equivalent to 165 cu. ft (4.67 cubic metres).
- (Music especially with reference to jazz or blues) a tune or song of established reputation and popularity.
- (Military) a military or ceremonial flag carried on a pole or hoisted on a rope.
- (Journalism) used in names of newspapers. Ie, a report in the Evening Standard.
- (Botany) a tree or shrub that grows on an erect stem of full height.
- (Botany) a shrub grafted on an erect stem and trained in tree form. Ie, a standard rose.
- (Botany) the large, frequently erect uppermost petal of a papilionaceous flower. Also called vexillum.
- (Botany) one of the inner petals of an iris flower, frequently erect.
- (Plumbing) an upright water or gas pipe.
distinguish
[dis’tin’gwish]
From late 16th century: formed irregularly from French distinguer or Latin distinguere, from dis- = apart + stinguere = put out (from a base meaning ‘prick’).
- recognize or treat (someone or something) as different. Ie, the child is perfectly capable of distinguishing reality from fantasy.
- recognize or point out a difference. Ie, we must distinguish between two kinds of holiday.
- be an identifying characteristic or mark of. Ie, what distinguishes sport from games?
- manage to discern (something barely perceptible). Ie, it was too dark to distinguish anything more than their vague shapes.
- (distinguish oneself) make oneself worthy of respect by one's behaviour or achievements. Ie, many distinguished themselves in the fight against a dictator.
righteousness
[rite’tih’us’ness]
From Old English rihtwīs, from riht = right + wīs = manner, state, condition + ness = holding or having the qualities of
- morally right or justifiable. Ie, feelings of righteous indignation about pay and conditions.
- (of a person) morally good; virtuous. Ie, the student stood up for what they knew was right and died a righteous person. Ie, the victory in battle was conferred on the righteous.
- (US informal) very good; excellent. Ie, righteous eggs, dude!
- correctly so called; genuine. Ie, this speech is righteous trash.
[Practice]
Optional
-- Chant Mantrastyle
Starting with a Chinese proverb: “As distance tests a horse’s strength, time reveals a person’s heart.” The standard determines a starting line, distinguishing defines the handicap and righteousness is when that which crosses the finish line first did so by earning it through training, effort and merit.
Why? Why not?
Start today.
As the case may be.
Or not.
Acknowledgments
Reconciliation
Acknowledging traditional inhabitants of Cities of Port Phillip and Glen Eira are the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation. Respect is offered to past, present and future elders of all spiritual traditions. May we find together a generous way to accommodate those in need of refuge. Let us be cool, strive individually and together to overcome inequality, violence, disengagement, tragedy and injustice wherever it may be. Let us honour, savor and enjoy results of mindful effort so more thrive peacefully with less effort in our place called home.Invitation to Support Content Creators
The music/stories/videos have been sourced from public domain. If you like any of the content, please consider buying directly from online marketplaces to support creators and truth telling in the public interest.Caretaker Disclosure
Words and concepts are conditional things that point to a 'reflection of experience'. They are limited and do not adequately describe the 'full lived experience'. Like the moon's reflection on a lake's surface, it is not the moon, nor the experience of gazing up at the darkened sky transformed by the presence of a full moon. It is in the eyes/ears/nose/mouth/touch/cognisance of the beholder.This curation is an interpretation of the universal basis of re:lig:ion (Latin = again:uniting:energy). This email invites a sharing of countless 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 the 3 times and 10 directions. As each case may be. Or not.
It is not personal, it just the way things are.
