http://www.worthwhileliving.com/blog Personal Development Ideas to Make What You Do More Worthwhile Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:29:44 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en If this doesn't make you want to strap on a backpack and grab a round-the-world plane ticket, I don't know what will. "Matthew Harding spent 14 months visiting 42 countries in order to produce "Where the Hell is Matt?", a four-and-a-half minute video featuring Harding (and anyone else he could rope ... http://www.worthwhileliving.com/blog/2008/07/04/around-the-world-dancing/ In a real-life example of the biblical admonition, "If someone takes your shirt give him your coat" (Matthew 5:40), here is a story of a man who befriended his mugger. Julio Diaz, a social worker, was robbed at knifepoint by a teenaged mugger in the Bronx. Instead of getting angry or ... http://www.worthwhileliving.com/blog/2008/03/29/if-someone-takes-your-shirt-give-him-your-coat/ Jack LaLanne hits the nail on the head with his tips for being happy. Eat right and burst out into song every once in a while. Seriously, this would definitely make you happier. What are you waiting for? On On YouTube Does anyone else think Jack Lalanne looks and ... http://www.worthwhileliving.com/blog/2008/03/21/the-key-to-happiness/ "Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." -- Hamilton Wright Mabie http://www.worthwhileliving.com/blog/2007/12/18/merry-christmas/ I came across this on boingboing today. It's an amazingly compelling description of the ludicrous cycle of consumption we're in as a culture. It's hard not to want to change your habits after watching it. Do I really need that new watch? new phone? new car? Take a ... http://www.worthwhileliving.com/blog/2007/12/05/the-story-of-stuff/ I came across Kevin Kelly's post on his "countdown to dead" and found it intriguing to have a daily reminder of my impermanence. Contemplating one's own death is part of the Buddhist tradition (among others), and seeks to heighten one's awareness of the present moment and (one hopes) leads ... http://www.worthwhileliving.com/blog/2007/09/28/countdown-to-dead/ I came across this excerpt from a poem by Walt Whitman. This is the way to live. From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines, Going where I list, my own master, total and absolute, Listening to others, and considering well what they say, Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating, Gently, but ... http://www.worthwhileliving.com/blog/2007/06/09/walt-whitman/ Today is Pi day in the US. That is, the date is 3-14, just like the number Pi (3.1415...). We celebrated with quiche for dinner and a blueberry pie for dessert. ;) http://www.worthwhileliving.com/blog/2007/03/14/pi-day/ The other day my daughter was looking up at the sky and said, "Stupid birds!" I asked what she meant, and she said that the birds were flying the wrong way. I chuckled and mentioned that if she based her happiness on the direction that birds fly, she is in ... http://www.worthwhileliving.com/blog/2007/01/22/stupid-birds/ It's so easy not to blog. But I had such high hopes when I started this blog about a year ago, so I don't want to just let it go. Blogging is a great way to increase mindfulness, as I'm compelled to really think about what I'm doing ... http://www.worthwhileliving.com/blog/2006/11/01/re-blogging/