11 Reasons to be Optimistc in 2014

The world is getting better in several important ways.

Self-Reliance

This has stuck with me since high school.

Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Where the Hell is Matt - 4

Where the Hell is Matt? - 3

Where the Hell is Matt? - 2

Where the Hell is Matt? - 1

John Lewis Christmas Commercial

Sado Sunsets

I Can't Make You Love Me

So emotive and cathartic.

Caine's Arcade

A great story.

Entrepreneurs Can Change the World

Dan Ariely on Self-Control

This is a great TED talk on self-control. My favorite line is at the 5:25 mark, "In the future we're wonderful people." Ariely says that to illustrate that it's easy to plan to change in the future (long-term), but it's hard to change now (short-term).

#FirstWorldProblems

This helps keep things in perspective.

Unconditional

Once there was a tree....
and she loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come
and he would gather her leaves
and make them into crowns
and play king of the forest.
He would climb up her trunk
and swing from her branches
and eat apples.
And they would play hide-and-go-seek.
And when he was tired,
he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree....
very much.
And the tree was happy.


But time went by.
And the boy grew older.
And the tree was often alone.
Then one day the boy came to the tree
and the tree said, "Come, Boy, come and
climb up my trunk and swing from my
branches and eat apples and play in my
shade and be happy."
"I am too big to climb and play" said
the boy.
"I want to buy things and have fun.
I want some money?"
"I'm sorry," said the tree, "but I
have no money.
I have only leaves and apples.
Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in
the city. Then you will have money and
you will be happy."
And so the boy climbed up the
tree and gathered her apples
and carried them away.
And the tree was happy.


But the boy stayed away for a long time....
and the tree was sad.
And then one day the boy came back
and the tree shook with joy
and she said, "Come, Boy, climb up my trunk
and swing from my branches and be happy."
"I am too busy to climb trees," said the boy.
"I want a house to keep me warm," he said.
"I want a wife and I want children,
and so I need a house.
Can you give me a house ?"
" I have no house," said the tree.
"The forest is my house,
but you may cut off
my branches and build a
house. Then you will be happy."

And so the boy cut off her branches
and carried them away
to build his house.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time.
And when he came back,
the tree was so happy
she could hardly speak.
"Come, Boy," she whispered,
"come and play."
"I am too old and sad to play,"
said the boy.
"I want a boat that will
take me far away from here.
Can you give me a boat?"
"Cut down my trunk
and make a boat," said the tree.
"Then you can sail away...
and be happy."
And so the boy cut down her trunk
and made a boat and sailed away.
And the tree was happy
... but not really.

And after a long time
the boy came back again.
"I am sorry, Boy,"
said the tree," but I have nothing
left to give you -
My apples are gone."
"My teeth are too weak
for apples," said the boy.
"My branches are gone,"
said the tree. " You
cannot swing on them - "
"I am too old to swing
on branches," said the boy.
"My trunk is gone, " said the tree.
"You cannot climb - "
"I am too tired to climb" said the boy.
"I am sorry," sighed the tree.
"I wish that I could give you something....
but I have nothing left.
I am just an old stump.
I am sorry...."
"I don't need very much now," said the boy.
"just a quiet place to sit and rest.
I am very tired."
"Well," said the tree, straightening
herself up as much as she could,
"well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting
Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest."
And the boy did.
And the tree was happy.

Schindler's Regret

One of the most powerful scenes in cinema that I know of comes from the last few minutes of the movie Schindler's List. Oskar Schindler runs a factory where hundreds of Jews are employed. As the war goes on, more and more Jews are abused and taken away to concentration camps. At first, Schindler feels that this is not his problem. Eventually, he starts helping the Jews a little bit, but he doesn't go out of his way to make a difference. By the end of the film, he has completely changed and regrets that he did not do more to help.

Oskar Schindler: I could have got more out. I could have got more. I don't know. If I'd just... I could have got more.

Itzhak Stern: Oskar, there are eleven hundred people who are alive because of you. Look at them.

Oskar Schindler: If I'd made more money... I threw away so much money. You have no idea. If I'd just...

Itzhak Stern: There will be generations because of what you did.

Oskar Schindler: I didn't do enough!

Itzhak Stern: You did so much.


[Schindler looks at his car]

Oskar Schindler: This car. Goeth would have bought this car. Why did I keep the car? Ten people right there. Ten people. Ten more people.


[removing Nazi pin from lapel]

Oskar Schindler: This pin. Two people. This is gold. Two more people. He would have given me two for it, at least one. One more person. A person, Stern. For this.


[sobbing]

Oskar Schindler: I could have gotten one more person... and I didn't! And I... I didn't!

Victoria Peak

One of the few places I've been where I've felt on top of the world. The view is dazzling and no picture can do it justice.

The Meaning of Christmas

One Chance

一期一会

End of Daylight

Watching the sunset from 30,000 feet above ground.

Motivation

"People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents." - Andrew Carnegie

All of My Days

Great music for making pottery.

Hokusai

Two of my favorite pieces of art.

What Question Should You Ask Yourself?

This is a really great article that talks about the right question we should be asking ourselves if we want to get ahead and make our goals happen.

Antelope Canyon

Pretty much all of Southern Utah/Northern Arizona is gorgeous. 

Cruise Like a Norweigan

I really like this ad. To be fair, cruises are fun, but not exactly like this (remember there are 4,000 other people on the boat with you). But the ad itself  is very aspirational.

A Psalm of Life

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Shackleton

"Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all."                     

- Ernest Shackleton

The ultimate example of survival and perseverance comes from the story of Ernest Shackleton and his crew aboard the Endurance. In a voyage to explore the Antarctic in 1914, the ship froze in the ice and was destroyed. Shackleton led his crew to rescue and safety after more than 18 months of desolation in the icy tundra. Miraculously, not one person was lost. I highly recommend the book, which includes stunning photography of the journey, as well as the movie starring Kenneth Branagh.

Dauðalogn - I can't pronounce it, but it's amazing

This video was Dauðalogn's winning entry for the Valtari Mystery Film Experient. Frankly, this Sigur Rós song is deeply inspiring in its own right. The breathtaking, time-lapsed footage of our amazing earth is just icing on the cake.

I want to die to this song. I'm serious.

Get Inspired Everyday

In 2008, I read a blog post by Seth Godin titled "Is Effort a Myth?" that inspired me. In the post, Godin argues that aside from the outliers (lottery winners etc.), effort is directly related to success. At the end of the post, he proposes deleting 120 minutes everyday that is spent wasting time, and instead spending it on a list of items designed to increase knowledge, productivity, and valuable skills.

In the five years since I've read this post, I've come back to it dozens of times for inspiration. But I haven't had the discipline needed to actually follow his recommended steps. Until now.

Today I am committing to following Godin's plan for at least six months. As part of that plan, I have started this blog to list one thing everyday that inspires me. This blog is mainly for me, but since you've stumbled upon it one way or another, I hope that it will serve to inspire you too.