Awesome Stories 203

/ January 3, 2015

Happy New Year!

As you may have noticed, I didn’t keep completely away from my blog and the digital world. 🙂 But I found peace, fun and an urge to keep the connections alive within our blogging community. This week Awesome Stories brings you meditation, wind trees, compassion, magic bubbles, nature to the rescue and sustainable happiness.

Meditation Magic

Many of us meditate and enjoy benefits like reduced stress, increased relaxation and mental clarity. Plus the ability to tap into our deeper potentials like creativity, intuition, and spirit. Science and traditional medicine have begun to catch on. A new study by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona, Spain, demonstrate rapid changes in gene expressions. The study showed changes that could aid in the treatment of Alzheimers and chronic inflammation.

Wind TreesWind turbines, Awesome Stories

Actually, these are New Wind turbines designed to look like trees. They have interesting features like no noise, slow moving blades and the ability to generate electricity with as little as 4.5 mph wind speeds. This would make them very attractive for use in urban centers. My only hesitation is wondering if we wouldn’t be better off with real trees in the ground areas, and use wind turbines and solar panels on roofs and buildings. What do you think?

 

 

 

Compassionate Parenting

This story touched me deeply. Chad’s father gave his son and basketball teammates a lesson that may have changed their lives. After hearing them talking poorly about a handicapped girl at school, Chad’s father decided to take action in a most compelling way. He asked his son and teammates to follow him over to talk to Jenny. Read the story to see how beautifully and compassionately he handled the situation. His great parenting and leadership dramatically changed the way they viewed and interacted with Jenny. Way to go Dad!

Nature to the Rescue

Thankfully, we continue to learn the many benefits of nature to do things better than our man-made solutions. Milkweed fibers are highly absorbent and repellent to water so they can be used to clean up oil spills. A Quebec company has created a kit with milkweed fibers in a sock to simplify the clean up process. Early testing shows the milkweed is far more absorbent than man-made materials, cheaper and has the super side effect of being a great habitat for Monarch butterflies. 🙂  I hope many more farmers decide to grow milkweed.

Magic Bubbles

If you haven’t seen Ana Yang, you are in for a treat. Watch this fun and magic bubble show!

Electrifying News!

I couldn’t resist the silly headline, but this Chevy dealership in Canada is inspiring. Over 35% of their sales are hybrid electric cars! They are so committed to selling fuel efficiency and hybrid electric cars that they do a number of unusual things. They keep large a large inventory of used Volts to supplement the small supply of new ones from Chevy. They feature only two hybrid cars on their website homepage and extensively train their staff on Volts and hybrids, resulting in the highest percentage of hybrid car sales for any dealership in North America!

Sustainable Happiness

I like this article by Sarah van Gelder. She talks about everything from compassion to embracing diversity to happiness and sustainability. Four of my favorite topics!  She writes about the need to be more inclusive in our views of happiness, justice and economy by considering the impact of our choices on community and the planet. I agree that we live in a connected world and need to consider how our life impacts others. Sustainable Happiness sounds like a good book. Have any of you read it?

Let’s start the new year with sustainable goals. For me, that means stronger action to support and anchor my goals for growing love, peace and more financial stability this year.

May our dreams be supported with courageous action!

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35 thoughts on “Awesome Stories 203”

  1. Great stories once again, Brad! I’m always glad to stop by and get a dose of inspiration… 🙂

    I’m with you on the tree turbines. They are an interesting idea, but I would think that wind levels on or near the ground in areas broken by buildings and urban obstacles are pretty low to begin with. I’d rather living beings be splashed around the spaces we occupy than mechanical ones that produce a few watts of power. Having said that, I do like the effort to create designs that are both beautiful and functional. We have too little of that I think…

    Michael

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    • Thanks Michael. And I’m always happy to have your kind and wise company. 🙂 I completely agree about bringing more life into our homes and cities, along with design that is both beautiful and functional.

      Happy New Year my friend!

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  3. Whenever I vow to complete a task (i.e. – digitial detox), I make sure not to carry through with my commitment solely for the sake of checking of a box. Instead, I think it is important to keep a close eye on the pulse of your life and choose paths accordingly. I am the first to admit that it is so very easy to travel down that oh so slippery slope of digital addiction in our daily lives. And although I can certainly do with less of it, there are certain areas of the digital world that I consider anything but digital. Case in point, the blogging world. Although the computer screen is a virtual portal through the digital world and into the lives of others, it is more than just superficial time spent reading/typing words on a page. It is a conduit to helping me live my mantra – inspire and be inspired. Whenever I am able to enter this state of mind, life is good 🙂

    I am on the fence about the wind trees. On one hand, I totally agree with you that I would love to smell the leaves, hear the breeze rustle through the trees, and see the squirrels scurrying up and down the trunk. On the other hand, I can see this sort of application being “appropriate” in a modern sculpture park, or something of the sort.

    Great stories, as always, Brad! Thanks for sharing and best wishes for an inspired day!

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  4. Thanks for your wise reflections Dave. The digital world is a multi-faceted realm with opportunities for connecting, creating and adding to our lives. And I’m ok with not living up to my ideals, especially when my choices feel right. And I’m inspired to bring more digital fasts into my routine. It was very refreshing to step back.

    Thanks for adding your love, insight and words to our community. To inspired days and lives! 🙂

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  5. You know me Brad.. while I love sustainable and renewable energy.. I much prefer Real Trees… though these sound a great idea.. I will hop over and read the article on sustainable happiness.. 🙂 I have a feeling I am going to like her views :-D.. And WOW.. to that bubble show.. amazing.. 🙂 thank you Brad.. so so enjoyed this post..
    🙂 Blessings Sue

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  7. Yes Sue, we share very similar values. I prefer nature and am glad that designers are wanting to bring more beauty to our man made creations. I’m delighted that we can share our joys, words and hearts. 🙂
    To hearts as One! ❤

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  8. I agree that real trees are better! But maybe there are some environments where trees can’t grow where something like this might be more attractive than nothing (like on an upper-story balcony).

    I didn’t really understand host plants until I went to a butterfly exhibit last year. Exotic butterflies are imported and emerge inside a greenhouse at the local botanical garden. I noticed that when I walked in a number of butterflies flew up and kind of checked me out, and they seemed to have a frantic energy about them. Later we got talking to one of the guides, and she explained that each butterfly has a host plant where she must lay her eggs. No host plant, no substitutions. She said that the exhibit butterflies lived longer than usual … because none of their host plants were present, none of them could fulfill their biological imperative. This actually seemed quite cruel to me … So milkweed is *the* host plant for monarchs, nothing else will do.

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  9. Another great series Brad ~ the compassionate parenting article was very touching. It is a beautiful thing when people step back and see how they can make the world a better place by paying attention to the small things and bringing joy. Brilliant piece. Cheers to you and wish you well.

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  10. I saw the wind turbine trees earlier today – someone shared a video! I’m *so* excited about these only because while real trees are awesome, the wind turbine blades (on the regular ones) seem to be very bad for killing birds who try to fly between them. I definitely like this idea much better. 🙂
    The magic bubbles – awesome!
    All these stories just warm my heart.
    I hope you enjoyed your tech fast. Take care!

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    • I agree Cynthia. The bird safety was one of the great features for these turbines. I”m glad you enjoyed the magic bubbles, and yes I very much enjoyed my digital break. Although I didn’t stay completely away, I reduced it enough to have a lot more time for quiet, music and other fun things. 🙂
      many blessings to you and yours for the new year.

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  11. Welcome back, Brad! Love all your stories, of course — but Chad’s father and his subsequent impact stole my heart. Imagine a world where we all put ourselves in another’s shoes and sat with them instead of callously mocking… And the bubbles made me smile! Thank you. Wishing you a magical New Year!! xo

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  12. Thanks Shauna. It’s nice to be back connecting with my online friends, and receiving kudos to warm my heart. 🙂 I’m with you on Chad’s father. What a beautiful way to teach and parent.
    A magical years sounds great, or even a pretty good one! XD To magic and kindness in the new year…

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  15. Heeee’s Baaack !!! Good to see you again and loved the bits of wonder you gifted all of us with. The tree wind turbine is amazing as is the creation of milkweed for cleanup. Such clever things. It is this out of the box thinking that is going to save us all…Lets get into ourselves and make a difference 🙂 Thanks…VK

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    • Thanks for the enthusiastic welcome VK! 🙂 Now, I feel more inspired to keep finding and sharing stories that remind us of our powers for love, creativity and helping the planet. Thank you being a voice of love.

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  24. Hey Brad even though I may have popped in to your blog infrequently, you are a VERY inspirational writer, and make a difference. Continue to share whenever and wherever you can as it is truly a gift! I too had the many challenges of 2014, yet have found a peace in this moment, where stillness rests inside. May we connect in love, even with our challenges. Much Love Robyn

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  25. Hi Robyn. I’m glad that you have found peace beyond your challenges. Thanks for your kind words. I’m delighted that my words inspire and touch you. Yes, may we find our peace and connect in love. Many blessings to you and yours, Brad

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