This week Awesome Stories brings you coral art, social capital, and sharing stories.
Coralium
French artist Mlle Hipolyte has created a stunning 3D paper sculpture representing a coral reef. The sculpture, called Coralium, highlights the variety of colors, sizes, and shapes of the ocean’s coral in one vibrant piece. It also gives a dramatic sense of the diversity and delicate nature of ocean coral. Currently, the ocean’s coral are in decline due to pollution, CO2, acidification, overfishing and more. If you click through to the article, you will see the stunning level of detail. Enjoy!
Building Social Capital
The true value of our social capital may lie less in what we gain personally and more in what it allows us to build and create in collaboration with others. ~ Juliana Breines
Admittedly, this is a challenging area for me. I enjoy people but have never been great at building strong personal relationships. This has accelerated in the last few years, as I’ve turned inward more and reached out to people less, especially in person. Thankfully, I still maintain a few friendships and many online connections as with this blog. Thank you for being a big part of my social ties and hopefully, social capital. You can read Juliana’s article on social ties to better understand the many nuances of relationships. It’s not as simple as saying in-person connections are better or we have to pick one or the other. As the author Juliana Breines sums up, we each have to blend our in-person and online social ties in ways that best serve us. The real key is to keep nurturing our relationships and finding ways to connect, collaborate, and serve others.
Respectful Relationships
Respectful relationships are a prior condition for persuasion—a point that is lost in much current political campaigning. ~ Simon Hodges
This is a great article on sharing stories as a way to build rapport and unity. As Simon Hodges reminds us, the emotional limbic system serves as a gatekeeper to process information and won’t allow new information in unless we have a connection first. This means most of us are going about things backward in our conversations and pleas to bring about social change (whether in politics, business, or relationship). In our desire to be heard, make our point, and persuade others, we forget that we must first show respect and build an emotional connection. Another challenge is that we see our worldview as truth rather than our perspective. It’s clear that in our divisive and polarized world, we need better ways of communicating. We must learn to be open, listen, and share respectful dialog if we have any chance of repairing our broken and fragmented culture. Open dialog and storytelling might just be the magic keys for building new inclusive stories that unite rather than divide us.
May your week be full of beauty, nurturing relationships, and inclusive stories.
How beautiful the coral seems… I still have to find it in real life! You’re delving deep into connecting with others Brad… great stories to keep us all thoughtful about relationships. Much love to you x barbara
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Thank you Barbara. I appreciate your support and encouragement.
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Loved that coral sculpture, too! Amazing. Also I liked the recognition in that article that we need a mix of social bonds. That rang true to me. Thanks for being here and doing this work, Brad. It is appreciated!
Peace
Michael
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You are most welcome Michael. Yes the blending of social bonds really resonated for me too. Thanks for being part of my online community. Hugs and blessings, Brad
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l love your awesome stories – I need some awesomeness in my life right about now. Hugs, Harlon
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Thank you Harlon. I’m sorry you’re having a tough time right now. I hope you find a harmonious way forward. Hugs and blessings, Brad
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Reblogged this on Anything is Possible! and commented:
I’m happy to share this week’s Awesome Stories from Writing to Freedom and feel particularly hopeful about the article on respectful relationships using storytelling to make a connection. Listening with an open mind is powerful, and it’s much easier to listen to a story than a speech.
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Thanks JoAnna. I’m glad that you resonate with the storytelling article and appreciate your sharing so many of my posts. blessings, Brad
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Blessings to you. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend. 🙂
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Thanks!
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Friendship is a fun adventure filled with meaningful connection, and who knows how the flow will go? There’s something endearing to me about the juxtaposition of the coral art with a reflection on social relationships. My online behaviors are inconsistent, but I do enjoy my friendships anywhere (as well as solid alone time) and I appreciate fluid connections that inspire! Another enjoyable read, Brad
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Thanks Ka. It sounds like you are true to yourself and are fluid with your relationships. Kudos!
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Thanks Brad – I think I’m still a work in progress no matter how my relationships are! Your post inspired a bit of an exuberant response from me. I agree that all kinds of relationships matter, both weak and strong connections as well as online or with my spouse, family, and close friends.
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Thanks for the clarification Ka. We’re all a work in progress. 🙂
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Good bunch of stories tonight Brad! 🙂 ❤
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Thanks Natalie. I’m glad you enjoyed them. Hugs, Brad
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😊❤️xoxo
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Great stories this week Brad. 🙂 And I LOVE that coral sculpture, just wow!
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Thanks Julie. I was blown away by the colors and detail of the coral sculpture too! Have an awesome week. 🙂
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Loved these – the coral reef piece is breathtaking. As for reaching out: I think that often happens as we get older, and we introverts love our sparkling inner worlds. The trick is finding that balance between being in our own world and the big world out there…and that can be difficult. Oh how I understand this struggle…
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Agreed Cynthia, the coral reef piece is amazing! When you figure out the balance, please let me know. 🙂
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Wow, Brad, that coral artwork is incredible. The articles you have included here are excellent and very worthwhile reads.
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Thanks Robbie. I’m glad you enjoyed this week’s stories and yes the coral is wonderful! 🙂
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😘😘You’re doing fine.
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Thanks Julie! You too. 🙂
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