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.