By Jim Selman | BioYesterday
I was coaching a friend of mine. I was sharing a bit of how important
it is to ‘come from’ your vision for your life. Our future is always a
product of our actions, and our actions are always a correlate of how
we relate to the future. When we act as if the future has already
happened, then it is only a matter of time before that future is
realized or we learn what we need to learn to achieve it. Her response
was, “Well, you make it sound so simple, but it is too abstract and I
need to know ‘how’ to have what I want in the future.” This was my
response.[Read More]
By Kevin Brown | BioIn my previous post, I discussed showing
up in conversation without pre-formed conclusions about the person we
are entering into conversation with. While the post was directed to
conversations with those we provide care for, the article applies to
any conversation that we find ourselves in. Whether at home, work, in
not-for-profit organizations, at Church, or just in casual conversation
with friends; how we show up in conversation has a profound impact on
our relationships.[Read More]
The Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers to be aware of
charity fraud. Legitimate charities use direct mail, telemarketing and
email campaigns to raise funds; unfortunately, scam artists do too. If
someone asks you for money on behalf of a charity, take time to:[Read More]
By Jim Selman | BioIn 1976, I was working with some government
employees in Virginia trying to implement a new system for integrating
human services—a kind of one-stop shop for all the various services
offered at that time. I had just finished the est training the previous
July and was overwhelmed with my own experience and the idea that a
person could transform themselves and their relationship to everything.
Until then, I had bought into the belief that people don’t really
change in fundamental ways, that personalities are fairly fixed, and
that it requires a major crisis to shift our perceptions of reality. It
was during that period that I formulated the idea that[Read More]
By Jim Selman | BioI
listened to both President Obama and Ex-Vice President Cheney deliver
their remarks on National Security. The President’s speech gave me
goosebumps and Mr. Cheney’s gave me pause to consider the other view.
It seems to me there were three basic issues and points of
disagreement. The first has to do with what philosophy/approach is
appropriate to maintain ‘National Security’. The second is whether
‘enhanced interrogation’ is torture and was it or should it ever be
justified. The third is whether ‘American Values’ are a source of power
and strength or are they potentially a source of real or perceived
weakness. I believe these two men were[Read More]
By Jim Selman | BioCBS Sunday Morning,
one of my favorite shows, is a TV magazine filled with interesting and
uplifting stories of American life. The brainchild of Charles Kuralt
(who loved offbeat stories that were shared in his bestselling
travelogue “Off the Road” in the 1970s), the show has been running now
for 30 years. Kuralt’s vision continues to entertain and inspire with
current host Charles Osgood. Recently, there was a story about a
project of the University of North Carolina in Ashland called the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement.[Read More]
By Kevin Brown | BioThere was a time when ‘showing up’ for a
meeting, an appointment, or a family event left me thinking about being
on time, what I must remember to bring, or what I should wear.
Increasingly though, I have been thinking about how I ‘show up’ in
conversation with the people I interact with. I am talking about
conversations with my work colleagues, fellow churchgoers, friends,
extended family members, my son, my wife, and even with my God. When I
began to consider how I show up for others in conversation, I realized
just how little attention I was giving to being responsible in my
conversations.[Read More]
Well, Dove's pro-age advertising campaign may have been banned in the US. But the conversation continues. Here's a new video about the thinking behind the campaign. What do YOU think?
By Jim Selman | BioThere are increasing numbers of theories and
formulas for aging well. As far as I can tell, these fall into a number
of categories that pretty much all revolve around the central question
of “What do you want to do?” This is not a question that my
grandparents spent much time thinking about. Even my father’s
generation is more focused on the question of what needs to be done.
The question of “What do you want to do?” is a modern question that
comes with the fact that we have so many choices coupled with a
somewhat self-centered fixation on ourselves as individuals—the ‘me’
generation. I know very few people who aren’t working on this question.[Read More]
Now that the Serve America Act has been passed by Congress and signed
by President Obama, the Corporation for National and Community Service
is looking for public input on how to attract people of all ages to serve, promote more service programs focused on [Read More]
By Kevin Brown | 
By Jim Selman | 
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