Community-building is a passion of mine–which makes sense, seeing as how it is one of two major concepts addressed in so many of the various features on this blog! As a writer, I have been puzzled for quite some time at the perceived dichotomy between the very personal business of writing and leading a social… Read More Author Spotlight: Lee Murray’s Return
As the world becomes smaller, be it with the help of intercontinental traveling or the Internet, it is becoming more and more evident that an easily definable identity is a thing of the past. If music is a good reflection of an individual’s identity, the increasing number of crossover musical genres testifies to this coming… Read More Book Review: Post Black: How a New Generation is Redefining African American Identity by Ytasha L. Womack
About the Author After years in senior communication roles crafting content for executives, Jae collapsed from stress-related adrenal fatigue. This life-altering experience propelled her to research human behavior, neuroscience, mindfulness, and organizational relationship systems. In 2008, Jae founded Simple Intentions and developed the Mindful Life™ Program, which includes four group coaching workshops to generate reflection,… Read More Book Review: ‘The Five Truths About Work-Life Balance’, by Jae Ellard
I love most of the designs I have up to now spotted, over the last few years, on the Kate Spade website. Alongside the ‘This Just In’ sticky note set, which I recently I reviewed, I purchased a ‘Le Pavillion’ white polka dot on black background insulated tumbler, which comes with a bright pink straw. … Read More Product Review: ‘Le Pavillion’ Tumbler by Kate Spade
Someone recently mentioned that there is no institution older than that of marriage, which really got me thinking. If this institution has been part of human society for millennia, why are we still so terrible at maintaining it, with divorce rates in North America so high? No wonder, then, that so many conversations revolve on… Read More From Governing One’s Family to Governing the World: Learning to Use the Vital Instrument of Consultation
I have had the amazing opportunity, in the last year or so, to both see and be a part of decision-making processes that were very different from what I had experienced previously. Those processes were based on one person convincing the others that his or her opinion was the best. It felt more like a… Read More Why Compete? Building on Strength as an Approach to Seek Truth
Living on different continents allows for the immersion into different types of cultures. The way these differ is a great way of gaining insight into patterns of behaviour that affect our personal development and our contribution to building vibrant communities. A really interesting surprise was the difference between conversation styles in different cultures. In some,… Read More Conversing to Consult or Conversing to Convince: Implications for Community Building
Have you ever had mango? Then surely you have your own experiences with its seed. When I think of a mango seed, I see myself holding one after having eaten the delicious flesh around it. It’s both a sad sight – the mango is finished! – as well as one filled with the promise of… Read More Music Review: Mangoseed – ‘Basquiat’
From Singapore and currently living in Austin (Texas), Ras Xix released his self-titled full length albumon May 1 of this year. When listening to the album’s multidimensional and complex sounds, it is sometimes hard to believe that all 11 songs were written, arranged, sung, and produced by Ras Xix, and that he played most of… Read More Music Review: Ras Xix – ‘Ras Xix’
Monks give me the urge to confess, so here goes. When I first saw the name of the band and that of their debut album, Turn the People, I thought it was going I was going to be listening to an album of sermons by monks from the Monastery of Mellonwah meant to turn people… Read More Music Review: Monks of Mellonwah – ‘Turn The People’
