Try these powerful life principles to tap into your unlimited potential: The author of ‘Passion Struck’ champions proactive living—cultivating a focused, intentional engagement in every aspect of our lives.
This 106-Year-Old Psychological Rule Is Still the Secret to Peak Performance. A Harvard Behavior Scientist Just Explained How to Use It Today: If you want to perform at your peak, you want your stress levels to be not too high, not too low, but just right
Drivin the Bus at Mission Fed ArtWalk in Little Italy in the Piazza della Famiglia on the Main Stage, on West Date Street- Saturday April 27th from 12:30 to 1:30 Free, + you can explore the amazing annual art scene either before or after!
Strange Crew (Clapton Tribute Night) Saturday April 27th from 6 to 10pm at Duck Foot in Miramar at 8920 Kenamar Drive. No Cover and it’s Phil’s birthday so will be wild!
Ten photographs that made the world wake up to climate change: Award-winning photographers Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier choose 10 powerful photos that have changed our attitudes to climate change.
Calling Our Times the ‘Anthropocene Epoch’ Matters Dearly to You: The name means human activity is profoundly changing our environment, and you’ll have to plan for those changes
The Foods the World Will Lose to Climate Change: Droughts, heat, and extreme weather are pushing crops to their limits. The race is on to innovate faster than the Earth warms.
These five species may vanish. If they do, we’re all in trouble. One animal purifies our water. Another provides a vital food source for three other species. This photo essay from Joel Sartore shows how saving one animal saves so many more.
Everyone says trees are good for us. This scientist wants to prove it. An ongoing science experiment involves nearly 8,000 trees and shrubs in southern Louisville and health data from nearly 500 residents.
Drivin the Bus at Mission Fed ArtWalk in Little Italy in the Piazza della Famiglia on the Main Stage, on West Date Street- Saturday April 27th from 12:30 to 1:30 Free, + you can explore the amazing annual art scene either before or after!
Join me for a free virtual conversation, on establishing and nurturing a thriving, inclusive workplace culture that enhances employee engagement and drives positive business outcomes:
The vorfreude secret: 30 zero-effort ways to fill your life with joy How can you change your life for the better today? Learn not just to appreciate happiness – but to anticipate it
If you missed the Solar Eclipse and still believe in Awe-
The Neuroscience of the Total Solar Eclipse Makes Us All Happier and More United An eclipse is the ultimate awe-inspiring event, and a mountain of science shows awe makes us less stressed and more connected.
Solar eclipse: The 20 best photos from 2024’s celestial spectacle The most stunning images from the cosmic event of the century. April 09, 2024 Eclipse fever has gripped large parts of Mexico, USA and Canada. Millions of people flocked to areas in the path of totality to experience this rare total solar eclipse, and festivals have been held in many towns and cities to celebrate this amazing natural wonder. The excitement has been compounded by the fact that this total solar eclipse coincides with the Sun reaching its peak in activity during its 11-year cycle.
Sometimes things don’t go, after all, from bad to worse.
Some years, muscadel faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don’t fail.
Sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.
A people sometimes will step back from war, elect an honest man, decide they care, enough, that they can’t leave some stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.
Sometimes our best intentions do not go, amiss; sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow, that seemed hard frozen; may it happen for you.
Awe!
Scientists Have Identified ‘8 Wonders Of Life’ — And Their Health Effects Are Powerful Studies conducted in 26 different countries offer intriguing data on the surprising benefits of experiencing awe.
Jane Goodall Reflects On How A Childhood Dog Changed The Way She Saw Animals “Rusty, I’ve never known a dog like him,” the famed primatologist said, remembering her beloved canine companion.
Suddenly aware that you have been paying attention to the wrong body and mind all your life!
Drilling down through layers of delusion, confusion, personal strategies and karmic tangles to arrive at an experience of a stunningly simple and fundamental truth:
Spending time in nature makes you a more authentic person – a new study shows how: Why simply going outside can make you more honest with yourself and others.
If you are local, come join us as Drivin the Bus will be playing at Mr. Peabody’s Bar and Grill on Friday April 5th from 8:30 to 12:30pm, with your favorite classic jams!
Believe it or not, I turn 64 on 3/29 (today) so I am considering the 3/30 show my “birthday show”, whether the band likes it or not, and for my birthday I want to make memories, doing what I love with those I love. 😊
If you are free, swing by for some classic jams with some spring frivolity and camaraderie!
You can reserve tables at Coomber’s if you are so inclined, call (760) 231-8022 for more info…
More gigs later in the month with both
Drivin the Bus and Strange Crew– (Phil’s birthday bash) and deets to follow.
No Speciesism-
Crows Perform Yet Another Skill Once Thought Distinctively Human Crows are some of the smartest creatures in the animal kingdom. They are capable of making rule-guided decisions and of creating and using tools. They also appear to show an innate sense of what numbers are. Researchers now report that these clever birds are able to understand recursion—the process of embedding structures in other, similar structures—which was long thought to be a uniquely human ability.
These mega-smart crows are cleaning cigarette butts off city streets — and saving millions of dollars in the process: Cigarette butts alone make up a whopping 62% of all street litter in Sweden. You’ve heard of cleanup crews, but what about … cleanup crows? As part of a new anti-litter initiative, the Swedish city of Södertälje is using some fine-feathered friends to help clean cigarette butts off of its streets. The startup behind the mass crow-bilization is called Corvid Cleaning, in honor of the crow family’s scientific name, Corvidae.
Aloha Friends, The spring equinox is on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 8:06 pm PDT. This moment begins the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere. Translated literally, equinox means “equal night”. On the equinox, the length of day and night is nearly equal in all parts of the world. Twelve hours of each, because the sun is positioned above the equator. It is also known as the vernal equinox, “vernal” means fresh or new, and is from the Latin word for spring, which is “ver.”
On this day, the sun rises precisely due east and sets due west. The spring equinox signifies a rebirth. The duration of light is about to overtake the darkness. After the spring equinox, the days become longer and the air warmer. The soil becomes fertile, and all hibernating life is re-animated. It is a time to plant seeds of growth.
The spring equinox is a time of renewal – in nature, the home, and in us. More than just physical activity, “spring cleaning” removes any negative energy accumulated over the dark winter months and resonates with the positive growing energy of spring and summer. The spring equinox is a time where there is a special quality of energy – to plant, grow and renew our lives. Energy is emerging from the ground where it has been dormant in the earth since the winter solstice. Wishing you a special day, symbolic of balance in our life and with the environment. Stay in tune with nature and wellness.
Confront the Brutal Facts but Always Stay Hopeful-
We need to take our post-pandemic mental health crisis seriously: We are a nation in psychological turmoil. Two juveniles were charged recently in the 48th mass shooting in 2024 at the Kansas City Chiefs parade. This is a wakeup call to address the mental health of the nation.
The U.S. is no longer among the world’s 20 happiest countries: The World Happiness Report is out, and once again the Nordic countries are humming along with the highest scores. Finland ranks first.
California just formed a happiness committee. Here’s why. A new committee in the Legislature holds its first hearing to figure out how to make residents happier. Chairperson Anthony Rendon says he’s wanted to take on the topic since watching the documentary “Happy” 14 times in two days.
Want To Feel Happier? Try Out These 7 ‘Micro-Acts’ Of Joy Experts explain the science behind how these little positive habits can make a big difference.
Tai Chi Beat Moderate Exercise at Lowering Blood Pressure in Study: A year after the study began, those who performed tai chi saw greater reduction in their blood pressure than those who followed an aerobic exercise program.
I completed a 7-day posture challenge and honestly. I’m shocked at what it’s taught me about my body: Plus, some tips on how to permanently improve your posture.
We finally know why live music makes us so emotional: Hearing live music tugs at our heartstrings more than a recording, probably because it increases activity in an emotion-processing region in our brain
Filmmaker Bao Nguyen on His Triumphant ‘The Greatest Night in Pop’ We asked, “The Greatest Night in Pop” director Bao Nguyen everything you would want to know about “We are the World.”
Classical musicians got stuck in traffic with their instruments, and there was only one thing to do: A blocked motorway becomes a concert hall, as a classical violinist and musician friends take out their instruments to help entertain stationary drivers.
From sleep hygiene to boosting energy naturally, here are the big 2024 health trend predictions: Nutritionist and author Clemence Cleave shares how to improve gut health through lifestyle and diet.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award winner A stunning image of a young polar bear drifting to sleep wins a wildlife-photographer competition
Over the next couple of weeks, I am going to try a digital detox, so I will catch you on the flip side.
Meanwhile do know you are enough, beware of compassion fatigue, enjoy the poem and humor, and consider unsubscribing from everything that doesn’t feed your soul.
Joy is non-negotiable!
Love,
Neville
“Enough” by Andrea Gibson:
Last night I painted a purple tree on my bedroom wall
I woke up this morning in a pile of leaves
The color of a million different faces
Thinking of that hand
That planted the seed
Of the family tree
That grew us all
And how each one of us
Will one day fall back to the ground
This morning
I was listening to my heart pound
Knowing with every single beat
That a thousand other hearts
Were falling asleep forever
On a day they never thought they would
And I know there are tribes of aborigines
That decide how and when they’ll die
After a hundred years or so
They walk into the desert alone
Offer up their breath
And within two minutes
Soar into a death
As beautiful as their life
And I was thinking I
Will probably never be enlightened enough
To decide how I want to die
So this morning
I decided how I want to live
What I want to give
What kind of song I want to sing
Now I’m no longer
Looking at my days like they’re a cup
Calling them half empty or half full
When they’ve always been enough
They’ll always be enough
To fill me up
If I stop thinking so much
And start drinking them up
Until I get so drunk and high on my days
I’ll be walking up to strangers and saying things like
“Hey, I know Jesus was born in a manger
But I woke at dawn today
To watch the earth’s horizon
Give birth to true rising sun of God
And I can’t stop singing hallelujah”
Can you believe we’re here?
Can you believe there are gods somewhere praying to us?
I want to be that nut on a bus
Who’s really a prophet
Telling everybody
“Smoking is bad
Stop it
You might be an opera singer some day
And how are you gonna hit the high notes?”
I wanna live like those high notes
That rise from the throats of old ladies
When they see little babies
Riding in shopping carts
I wanna start somebody’s heart like that
Taking ninety years back
So you’ll have sworn
You weren’t born
Until you saw me
Planting roses
In all the sidewalk cracks
So when you trip
You’ll fall in love
With someone you thought you hated
And now look at what that love has created
Look
There’s a sky
On her faded blue jeans
With a flock of birds
About to fly to my words
And my next line’s
Gonna rhyme with her eyes
And she’ll wink
And I’ll think I’m as beautiful as him
I wanna live my life
Like it’s a little league game
I don’t care if I win
Just wanna watch some little girl
Get her very first hit
Watch her father cheer so hard
He spills his beer
And decides to quit
I wanna split some woman’s
Tired eyes open
Wake her with her own sunrise
So she knows
There’s reason to be hoping
She’ll say
“There are stingers in my heart
But I’m sure that I’m a queen”
And that night
She’ll vow to swarm
Until every angry car horn
Is reborn a song
Of let there be light
Every angry war cry reborn
A song of let there be life
I wanna build the timid teenage boy
A microphone that will
Echo his rhymes
The same way
They echo in his shower
When he’s home alone
I wanna write poems
In the tone
Of your mother’s eyes
When she whispered your name
For the very first time
Poems that will make you go home
Pick up the phone
And call her
While I call mine to say
“You know those lines
On the kitchen wall
Where I grew
Taller and taller and taller
Put a couple more there won’t you?
Cause I’m growing up here”
No longer looking at my days
Like they’re a cup
Calling them enough
From now on
They’ll be overflowing
Since now I’m knowing
It’s up to me
To fill them up
The big idea: is compassion fatigue real? Can we really maintain our levels of empathy in the face of an increasingly brutal news cycle?
Unsubcribe from everything to start controlling the tech in your life:
Does the number of unread messages in your inbox leave you lightheaded? Do your thumbs ache from tiny-keyboard typing? Have you forgotten what your real-life friends look like without an Instagram filter? It’s time for an intervention:
Happy Soul Food Friday! 