When being first makes winners of us all

originally written in support of Positive News Month

In 1909, Louis Blériot made history by being the first person to fly across the English Channel in a heavier than air aircraft, meaning a craft other than a hot air balloon. The Channel has long held fascination for those attempting firsts. It's attracted swimmers, aviators, and all manner of individuals testing human-powered technologies.

At the time of Blériot's crossing, he was an inventor and engineer who created the first practical truck headlamp—an invention that earned him enough money to fund his efforts to build a working aircraft. He went on to make the first piloted monoplane and founded a successful aircraft manufacturing company.

In the intervening years, we've collectively come to take air travel for granted. We often grumble about the high price of tickets, and many were enraged when the government supplied financial bail-outs to airlines.  Frankly, we often regard those who control big business as big jerks! For decades we've been barraged by shocking reports of industrial waste and greed. Manufacturing, as a whole, as shown far more interest in profits than in preservation of our world and its resources.

That's why the latest first over the English Channel is so heartening and so important.

On Friday, 10 July 2015, test pilot Didier Esteyne flew the first electric airplane across the channel on behalf of Airbus of France.  The flight came on the heels of a similar, though unofficial, battery-operated crossing by independent French pilot Hugues Duval just the day before.

Regardless of who got their first, we all win when companies like Airbus and individuals like Duval take it upon themselves to seek out solutions to the world's sustainable power/pollution crisis. It's a power struggle that actually benefits the whole planet.

To read more about these recent fuel-free flights, visit the Associated Press site.

Fine Dining for Baltimore's Homeless

Reblogged from PositiveNewsMedia.org

Baltimore Magazine reported on the following story:

Michael Tabrizi - as seen in Baltimore Magazine

Baltimore's upheaval and drama took center stage this spring, with imposed curfews shackling citizens as well as small business owners and restaurateurs. July's Baltimore Restaurant Week should help many eateries to make up for their losses. Even so, Michael Tabrizi has a different goal for his restaurant during the July 20-25 dining celebration.

For those five days, Tabrizi's will close its doors to regular business and spend the time feeding the city's homeless.  The restaurant has teamed up with local shelters to serve elegant, balanced fine dining meals to the area's disenfranchised.

“I decided that, after all of the chaos earlier this year, it would be better to do something for the city to unite the people,” he says. “It isn’t about revenue and money right now, we’ve done restaurant week before and we know the numbers, but right now it’s more important to promote the welfare of the city and its residents rather than to promote the business.”

“These people don’t only suffer from hunger, but also from hopelessness, they feel that they don’t have any dignity anymore,” Tabrizi says. “We want them to come in and feel like they’re cared for.” 

“The main goal is just to show people that actions do matter. Baltimore has a long way to recover and we can’t just rely on other people to lead. It’s our city,” Tabrizi says. “My dad used to always say, ‘You can’t control what people do and say, but you can control how you act.’ My reaction is bringing people together and showing them that I care.”

Visit BaltimoreMagazine.net for more on this grass roots initiative to feed the homeless with dignity and grace.

Feng Shui your mind

Full Definition of FENG SHUI (from Merriam-Webster.com) 

: a Chinese geomantic practice in which a structure or site is chosen or configured so as to harmonize with the spiritual forces that inhabit it; also :  orientation, placement, or arrangement according to the precepts of feng shui

Origin of FENG SHUI: Chinese (Beijing) fēngshui geomantic omen, literally, wind-water 

First Known Use: 1797

The beginning of a new year is a time for contemplation and transformation, often accompanied by a few choice resolutions. Many of us resolve to declutter our homes and work spaces. Doing so streamlines thought, activity and workflow. It makes the things we want and need easier to find. And it affords us the opportunity to get rid of things that no longer work or are no longer used — whether a worn-out frying pan or an article of clothing that's been sitting in the back of the closet for years with its original price tag intact.

Imagine how the practice of decluttering could benefit us when applied to the thoughts that fill our minds! To make way for new healthy thoughts about ourselves and our surroundings, it's imperative that we remain vigilant in our efforts to get rid of what no longer works for us and what we've outgrown. Thoughts such as negativity, envy, self-loathing, procrastination, comparing ourselves to others, worrying about what others think should be ousted from our mental closets daily as they are never attractive on us.

It isn't enough to just get rid of uncomely thoughts, lest we go naked. No, we need to replace them with thoughts that are lovely and always in fashion — thoughts of wholeness, completeness, grace, kindness, usefulness, true success, true value and worth — these are the thoughts we can begin to clothe ourselves in immediately. And what is the result? All who see us will recognize our innate beauty and attractiveness. And we'll feel fabulous.

May 2015 bring you innumerable opportunities to declutter your mental house and fill it with thoughts of beauty and light. The truth is, you deserve nothing less.