Trying to Wrap My Head Around Philippines Typhoon
This has been a tough week for me personally, but far more importantly for millions of people in the Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan has left a path of destruction so devastating that I think it may be impossible to totally comprehend from afar. Amidst the overwhelming sounds, images and reports, I think it’s important that we give ourselves some time and space to feel and respond to this disaster. As my work at Oxfam America this past week has been almost entirely focused on communicating about the impact of this storm, it has been important for me to give myself that time and space. Read more of my thoughts on this subject on Oxfam America’s First Person...
What Millennials Want – 7 Things That Set Their Generation Apart
Because there is unquestionably a lack of resources on the web concerning Millennial (aka Generation Y) interests and behavior, and as a person of Millennial DNA – born between (roughly) 1980 and 2000 – I feel the need to share my findings based on over 27 years of ethnographic research, in-depth observation and qualitative experience. This is the comprehensive, official, no-holds-barred, GIF-infused list of what makes Millennials tick. As you’ll see these 7 things distinguish the mysterious Millennial from Homo sapiens of any other generation. 1. Food Survey after survey, administered by and to the author, has shown that Millennials love ice cream. From double-fudge-moose-track-mint-cookie-dough to simple vanilla, ice cream has the power to attract and sell a millennial on almost anything, especially on a summer day (see item #6). 2. Happiness Millennials tend to desire improvements or ‘upgrades’ to their life and the world. They want things to be better, and their generation is known to pursue people, experiences, and material objects that will improve happiness, joy and fun. 3. Technology Technology that improves quality of life, gives greater access to information and allows humans to connect more deeply, weighs favorably in the life of a Millennial. They generally prefer newer technology over older technology. Example #1: A cell phone is preferable to a portable phone. Example #2: A smart phone is preferable to a flip phone. 4. Stories Millennials much prefer the structured medium of a story rather than the haphazard stringing together of information. A good story is a sure-fire way to convey your point, sell your product, or generally please a Millennial. 5. Music The Millennial enjoys rhythmic beats. Music reaches deep into the limbic system within the brain of a Millennial, responsible for emotions, and will likely generate a significant response. In particular they are endeared by music released after the year 1980 (see item #7). 6. Sunlight It turns out, Millennials require vitamin D, sometimes referred to as sunnyDlite, which improves their health and happiness when it’s sunny outside. Note: there are upper limits to this rule; Millennials will overheat if left in hot sun for long periods of time. Add water and ice cream (see item #1) for best results. 7. Good things As a general rule, Millennials have a special interest in things that are good and that were invented or released during their lifetime, after 1980. Certainly there are exceptions, but this rule of thumb will aid your efforts to give the Millennial in your life the optimal gift or experience. Bonus Millennials love being referred to as Millennials. When talked about, they much prefer being grouped together as a...
How small is the world?
In twenty-four hours, I’m in Ethiopia. Thirty hours and i’m sitting on the floor in an orphanage in the capital city of Addis Ababa with my friend Kelly. How to feel? My heart is liquid. I’m meeting Kelly’s soon-to-be-daughter along with ten or so other babies between the ages of one and two years-old, sitting or standing in cribs that create a perimeter along the room, eyes locked on we visitors. One girl bounces back and forth from one leg to the other and as soon as a set of eyes meets hers, a smile overwhelms her face, the room and me. I’m convinced her smile provides sustainable electricity to the whole orphanage. Seven thousand miles away, as I write this now, I smile at the memory of her smile. Back in the baby-filled room, my camera is capturing the beautiful moments between Kelly and her daughter. I can’t help but give attention to the other babies too. I connect with another pair of eyes. I’d guess he’s two years old. Remembering how my nephew responded at two years old, I go for the classic peek-a-boo. His eyes see not only through my hands, but right through me. In my mind, I’m saying, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry you’re here and all I’m giving you is a silly game that I’m sure you’ve outgrown.” I’m certain that he’s been forced to grow quicker than the sheltered little people where I come from. I’ve got nothing. But then, his two arms go up and out. Universal for, “pick me up!” I look around to get an okay from one of the women who take care of these babies. Lift off. Yup, he feels like any other baby I’ve held. I put him down on the ground and we start playing with a ball that I will later discover is the holy grail of this place. The baby who holds the ball, holds might in her or his hands. This is fun. But I feel bad for not playing with the others too. And I feel sad for all of them, born at a time and into a place in which parents could not adequately care for them. It is the same time and planet where many babies have more attention and possessions than they could ever need, with a toy to baby ratio not less than 100:1. In this orphanage, the ratio is closer to 2:1. Injustice. An incoming crowd interrupts that thought. It becomes apparent that these are more adoptive parents flooding the room. Babies are lifted from their cribs and wrapped in attention. The center is now a play...
Why Do I Practice Christianity (Even When the Church Makes it Difficult)?
I’ve broken the religion and politics rule quite a bit through this blog. This post may be pushing it too far. Let’s be clear, nobody is asking me the title question. Nobody, but me. And though I think about it often, I rarely articulate an answer. Until now. Maybe. It does seem an especially appropriate question to explore as a Catholic during holy week and just after the election of a new pope. So here goes… Just as we each have unique experiences, I believe we also have unique paradigms through which we make sense of those experiences and by which we live our lives. Religion is an important paradigm in my life. It helps me connect the dots and see a world that is much bigger than what’s directly in front of me. Whether labeled as a religion or simply as a set of values and beliefs, I don’t think it’s one size fits all. Different paradigms work for different people. The paradigm of Christianity works for me. Why? At the center of Christianity is this very human being, Jesus Christ, who 2,013 years ago gave his life because he believed so wholly and preached so ardently one revolutionary, overriding virtue: love. He challenged the existing paradigms; the worldviews that guided the way people lived their lives and acted towards one another. He gave special attention to those on the fringes of society; the sick, the poor, the criminals, the forgotten. He called out the glaring inequalities among the human race. For that, he was crucified. At every chance he had to escape such a brutal death, he chose not to. because he would not sell out on humanity. As if that weren’t enough – as if a fellow human being nailed to a cross for preaching radical love wasn’t momentous enough of an event in history from which we could create a role model, we are told that this human being in particular is God’s only son. Pause. What does this say about the paradigm of Christianity? Think about it: rather than go Liam Neeson on everyone and just obliterate every person who persecuted His son (along with all of humanity for allowing it to happen), this God allows his son to be tortured and horrifically nailed to a cross. What sort of supreme being (father) would allow such a thing to happen? Personally, I turn to the image of God that Archbishop Desmond Tutu so beautifully paints with this story he often references: “One day a man was traveling through the countryside and he came upon a farmer who was surveying his fields of lush corn swaying in the breeze. And the traveler...
Millennium Campus Conference 2012 Opening Speech
I’m still riding the high of this weekend, as I participated in my 4th Millennium Campus Conference. It was a truly inspirational weekend filled with incredible people that I hope to write more about. For the sake of capturing a slice, I hesitantly thought I’d share what approximates the words that I spoke during the opening night. Of course this blog already features more sharing than anyone probably hoped to read, but I hesitated on this one in particular because, well, there is something special about being in the moment when it comes to public speaking. With as much humility as I can possibly convey here, I think this was the best speech I’ve ever given. Many thanks to Sam Vaghar and the amazing MCN team for giving me the space to share it – as well as the MCC attendees who energized it and me! — MCC 2012 Opening Night September 14, 2012 Have you ever thought about your story? I don’t mean like your Facebook timeline story, I mean your real story. Not to get all philosophical on the first date, but I think it can be useful to just step back and reflect on why you’re here; the road that led you to this point and where it’s headed. We all have a story and I think we have these chapters in our lives. I’d like to share a few from my life; what led me here today. 2005, first year at Curry College. I’m chugging along doing my thing, which was a film concentration. Couple months in, I’m at a U2 concert – which as a die hard U2 fan, was one of the greatest moments in my life. But I heard Bono talk about global poverty that night in a way that – well I had never heard anything like it. He said it’s not about charity, it’s about justice. He said we could be the generation to end extreme poverty. And I’m supposed to tell you that was my lightbulb, right? Bam. That was it, the rest is history. Well, I like to think of it as more of a flicker of light and as is so often the case, it dimmed down pretty fast. But I did start investigating this “global poverty” some more. As I learned more, I felt this pull, as I’m sure many of you have felt…like it wasn’t enough to just learn. I had to do something – just wasn’t sure what. I met this student on campus, Peter. He was a so called “lost boy” of Sudan. He shared his story with me, his journey, and what...
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