Awesome Stories 247

/ November 7, 2015

This week Awesome Stories brings you better urban design, mindfulness in schools, Wendell Berry, the Love Kitchen and sustainable homes.

Paris Gets a Makeoverurban design, Awesome Stories

This grand square in Paris received an enlightened design makeover. Despite being a very busy traffic area, the architects proposed turning the main focus for Place de la République square to pedestrians. Cities are realizing the many benefits to creating car-free urban areas. In their new design, TVK converted 2 hectares to public space for connecting with the statue of Marianne, a reflecting pool, rows of trees and a pavilion. Auto traffic was re-routed and this area is now for pedestrians and cyclists only. The minimalist design for the pavilion offers fluid integration with the square, outdoors and connections to transportation. Kudos to TVK and Paris.

 

Sustainable Homes in Texas

off grid home, net-zeroStudents from UT Austin and Technische Universitat Munchen, Germany plan to create a very sustainable home as a demonstration of good design. Their home will run entirely off the grid powered by solar energy, passive design and water collection. I love the idea of a house that is so efficient it can run strictly on the sun and water collected on site! Their home has many modular features like a canvas canopies that collect water and create shade in summer and become open terraces in winter. Rooms can also be easily added or changed with modular wall features. Rainwater is collected, filtered and used for both inside and outside needs. The outside water will feed hydroponic gardens. I would love to see the home in person.

Mindful Schools

I love the idea of teaching children mindfulness as a way to both learn and live better. Mindfulness studies show that teaching mindfulness in classes can improve concentration, reduce stress, increase awareness, embrace emotions and reduce conflict. That’s a lot of goodness from simply teaching mindfulness! I’d love to see mindfulness and life skills as standard curriculum for all children in schools. Meena Srinivasan has helped pioneer mindfulness in her Oakland classroom and contributed to a children’s book called Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children. To avoid conflict or association with religion, she teaches mindfulness from a science perspective, although her foundation is Buddhism.

How to Be a PoetWendell Berry, Awesome Stories

Wendell Berry is one of my favorite writers, especially for his rootedness in nature. This self-read poem called “How to Be a Poet” by Wendell Berry speaks to the skills and challenges in being a poet. He reminds us what is required to craft poems, art or maybe our lives. The last line is my favorite; “Make a poem which does not disturb the silence from which it came.”

The Love Kitchen

Twin sisters, Helen and Ellen, have been cooking up love for over 25 years. They make me feel lazy. Their Love Kitchen is only the latest in lives filled with loving service. They started as children of sharecroppers, moved to Knoxville for better opportunities, started a food stand, became nurses and only after retiring, finally started their dream to help feed the poor and indigent. From humble beginnings in a church basement, they have grown, faltered, and come out stronger. Today, the Love Kitchen serves about 2,200 meals every week, with three-quarters of them delivered to homebound recipients. Read the rest of their remarkable story in this article called Cooking with Love.

What’s cooking in your life? Hopefully, lots of love, creativity and mindfulness! Blessings, Brad 

Related posts

23 thoughts on “Awesome Stories 247”

  2. Great post, Brad. I particularly enjoyed the share about mindfulness in schools. It could do so much for the focus, concentration and emotional well being of our children.

    I also was delighted to read about Wendell Berry…one of my favorites. I love that poem of his, especially the lines that read
    There are no unsacred places;
    there are only sacred places
    and desecrated places.
    Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Oh my goodness, dear Brad, this one is just chocked full of delicious little stories and I loved everyone of them. When you start off with anything about Paris, you know you have me engaged in reading on. I loved the solar modules that are coming to Texas and the idea of including teaching skills about mindfulness in schools, and Wendell Berry is one of my favorite writers too. And the story about the ladies that cook for others was just the “icing on the cake,” as it were!
    Great job, my dancin’ friend. Love and hugs, N 🙂 ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      • Indeed it was. You hit this one out of the ballpark, Sir B. I am a tad better today thank you very much, and I hope that upward and onward trend hangs in there. I actually worked a little in my yard today so you know I was feeling better. And you’re so welcome for the chuckles and support my friend especially since you are always quick to send the same my way. Have a blessed week, Brad, AKA Gene Kelley or Fred Astaire. I’ll be your Ginger Rogers any time. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      • I’m glad you’re feeling better. We’ll have that turn around the dance floor yet! The warmer fall has kept my garden blooming longer than I’ve ever seen. So I’m enjoying it while I can before moving. Goodnight Ginger. XD

        Like

  4. Another great series of stories to begin the weekend with ~ I think this is a perfect way to start two days of “your time” versus work hours in getting inspired and to read/watch/listen to new ideas and people who think out of the box. It kind of opens the mind and it is a good feeling heading into the weekend with such thoughts as “everything is possible”. This time you have brought us such a diverse set…people with vision and drive. Cheers to a great weekend Brad.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Lovely stuff, Brad 🙂 I breathe a sigh of relief each time I read these excellent collections of inspiring stories of yours 🙂 So uplifting. Warm wishes, Sam 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Amazing, awesome stories! I love the transformation in Paris, giving little bit of the city back to pedestrians. And mindfulness in schools is a great thing, I had read about it before, but now the results are there! It’s even taking root in some schools here in our area now. I wish you peace in the midst of your transition 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Thanks. I’d love to see more cities dedicate spaces to pedestrian only. I loved that aspect of downtown Boulder CO and the wonderful outdoors and biking. Yes, it’s good to see mindfulness gaining traction in schools. I need to keep reminding myself to breath and center. 🙂

    Like

    Reply

Your turn!