“Every man is a creature of the age in which he lives, and few are able to raise themselves above the ideas of the time.” ~ Voltaire
Exercise part 1: Please take 5 – 10 minutes now (before reading the rest of the Rise) to consider the following questions:
Exercise part 2: Read the rest of the Rise, check out the links and then spend another 5 – 10 minutes to reconsider the above questions and take note of how your answers may have changed:
"Too much and too long, we seem to have surrendered community excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things. Our gross national product...if we should judge American by that - counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for those who break them. It counts the destruction of our redwoods and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm and the cost of a nuclear warhead, and armored cars for police who fight riots in our streets. It counts Whitman's rifle and Speck's knife, and the television programs which glorify
violence in order to sell toys to our children. Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages; the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile. And it tells us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans." ~ Bobby Kennedy, March 18, 1968
Were you aware that the nation of Bhutan measures its progress not by how much they produce & consume, but instead by their happiness? Happy Planet Index
What if this was how every nation measured progress? We’d potentially be less
technologically advanced and would definitely own less, but I doubt that I’m the only one who would definitely trade that for more happiness, which my guess would likely mean ridding us of being overworked and would lead to better health, and more community. For one possible civilization advancement, check out 21 Hour Work Week
Movie recommendation: Who's Counting? Marilyn Waring on Sex, Lies and Global Economics, while this can be difficult to find, this is a must see!!!
Book recommendation: Switch – How to change things when change is hard
Now that you’ve thought about how you’d like the world to be, consider how you’ll help be part of the change.
“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” ~ Robert Byrne
Laugh, learn & live!
Exercise part 1: Please take 5 – 10 minutes now (before reading the rest of the Rise) to consider the following questions:
- Have you ever attempted to think beyond our current civilization?
- If you could recreate our world, what changes would you make?
- In comparison to our civilization would people cherish money / family / friends / knowledge / technology more or less?
- How would the content of school textbooks be different?
Exercise part 2: Read the rest of the Rise, check out the links and then spend another 5 – 10 minutes to reconsider the above questions and take note of how your answers may have changed:
"Too much and too long, we seem to have surrendered community excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things. Our gross national product...if we should judge American by that - counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for those who break them. It counts the destruction of our redwoods and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm and the cost of a nuclear warhead, and armored cars for police who fight riots in our streets. It counts Whitman's rifle and Speck's knife, and the television programs which glorify
violence in order to sell toys to our children. Yet the gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages; the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile. And it tells us everything about America except why we are proud that we are Americans." ~ Bobby Kennedy, March 18, 1968Were you aware that the nation of Bhutan measures its progress not by how much they produce & consume, but instead by their happiness? Happy Planet Index
What if this was how every nation measured progress? We’d potentially be less
technologically advanced and would definitely own less, but I doubt that I’m the only one who would definitely trade that for more happiness, which my guess would likely mean ridding us of being overworked and would lead to better health, and more community. For one possible civilization advancement, check out 21 Hour Work Week Movie recommendation: Who's Counting? Marilyn Waring on Sex, Lies and Global Economics, while this can be difficult to find, this is a must see!!!
Book recommendation: Switch – How to change things when change is hard
Now that you’ve thought about how you’d like the world to be, consider how you’ll help be part of the change.
“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” ~ Robert Byrne
Laugh, learn & live!
