lend a little. change a lot. January 31, 2008

Last week I visited the Philadelphia Free Library-Central Branch to hear an amazing person speak-Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

Brief info about Dr. Yunus:
“One of the ”Greatest Entrepreneurs of All Time” (BusinessWeek), economist Muhammad Yunus received the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize with Grameen Bank, which he founded to provide microloans to poor entrepreneurs otherwise unable to qualify for traditional bank loans. Contrary to the assertions of skeptical critics, 98% of these microloans are repaid, higher than any other banking system, and similar projects now operate in much of the world, including the United States.”

I had read articles about the work of Dr. Yunus and was truly amazed and excited to actually hear what he had to say in person. After arriving almost an hour early for the lecture, I headed downstairs to the auditorium and claimed a seat three rows from the stage. Slowly the room began to fill up and everyone was buzzing.

When Dr. Yunus finally made his way onto the stage he was greeted with a hearty anticipatory applause that would be well deserved. He spoke about how he started Grameen Bank and the journey he took to get it where it is. He made simple statements that were so powerful and inspirational, that they seemed to be hitting everyone in the soul.

His initial desire to help others came about when he saw poverty around him and felt “useless as a human being”, which pushed him to lend money to help others change their lives. This concept of “lending” is so important. If we lend time and money we are essentially investing in a better future.

Yunus also proposed that we have Social MBAs to teach prospective business owners how lead businesses that are socially conscious. He also spoke of a social stock market, where we would invest in companies that we knew were doing something good for the world. It’s about having “social business dollars [that] have an endless life and can recycle.” As he neared the end of his lecture, he asked us to imagine the day that we would need a poverty museum to show the horrors and injustices that we evolved from. Think about that for a second.

I left feeling enlightened and invigorated. During my walk home I started thinking about how important it is to transform the world from the inside out. It all comes down to our souls, hearts and our genuine care for the people in our world. We need to stop worrying about the exterior–the landscapes, the plastic surgery, and the clothes–and start looking inward. Dr. Yunus has created a bank that will change the world-he has done the hard work-now all we need to do is invest in mankind.

I could write pages about my experience-but instead I’ll just recommend that you listen the mp3 of his lecture. Huge thanks to the Free Library for the mp3 and for bringing life changing speakers like Dr. Yunus to Philadelphia!

where books live January 28, 2008

I have a very sad confession to make: The last time I was in a library was back in college (almost three years ago this June). Since graduating and moving into Philadelphia Barnes & Noble and Borders have become my city libraries (gasp!).

Anyway, last week I made my way over to the Central Library for an amazing lecture (more on that in another post).

As I neared the historic stone building I was overwhelmed by it’s beauty and mass. I stepped inside and felt a sudden excitement from being surrounded by information. I had time to explore before the lecture and found myself climbing stairs to the art section, climbing back down to see photo exhibit, then back up again for literature, and back down again for music. I probably looked overly caffeinated to those around me, as I buzzed about with a smile frozen on my face. 

I couldn’t believe that for almost three years I was using chain bookstores as a substitute. Grabbing a book about Jazz from the shelf, I was delighted to see a gorgeous green leather cover aged with use, which was a nice contrast to the “25% off” sticker that covers many books at Borders, etc. I walked in several rooms delighted that I wasn’t being confronted with a table telling me what the best sellers were or a large aisle of bargain books. My mind switched from consumer to reader. It was fabulous.

I was so absorbed with exploring, that I almost missed the lecture. Unfortunately I had to leave shortly after the lecture, but left revitalized and excited to return very soon!

Did I say that? January 21, 2008

The other day I became very aware of a horrific issue I was having with the English language while speaking to a friend on the phone.  The problem was that while speaking I heard myself say “um”  “you know” and “like” in excess.  I was almost stunned listening to myself use words that I only heard overused in teen “drama” TV shows. The more I consciously tried to stop and speak in full sentences, the more I kept using those “words”.  It was the weirdest sensation–feeling uncomfortable with the meaningless “words” that were taking control of my sentencnes-tangling my tongue. As the conversation ended I was somewhat relieved and vowed to be silent until the next day, hoping that it was a 24hour verbal virus. For the rest of the night I devoured several short stories and newspaper articles-hoping to perform a literary transplant in my word bank. Luckily the night ended on a good note, since I came across a fabulous short story: “Beginners” by Raymond Carver . If you are ever in need of a good dose of reading-this is great literary medicine. Enjoy!

history in your hands January 19, 2008

Yesterday I purchased a vintage teal blue hinge wallet from Vintage Connection (a fabulous vintage store on the corner of 9th and Bainbridge). Seconds before seeing the wallet, I held a soft, yellow, leather clutch in my hand but had suddenly been drawn to the teal leather that strongly contrasted the dark deep wood table it rested on. I quickly placed the clutch back and purchased the wallet.

Later that evening I transferred all the contents from my old wallet into the new one. I sorted through business cards, old receipts, folded fortunes from my favorite Chinese restaurant, etc.

You really do carry a lot of personality in your wallet.

As I placed my license under the clear plastic (the final step of wallet transfer), I wondered who the last owner of the wallet was? And what pictures, business cards, scraps of paper it held? That’s the beauty of vintage pieces-each one has a history-a previous owner-and true character. Since I am new to the vintage world, I am very excited to continue to collect bits of history and character with each purchase.

finding my place January 17, 2008

Last night I finally took down the Christmas tree that has been sitting in my living room undressed for the past two weeks. I have to admit, it was nice having a large bit of nature in my apartment and also something to fill the empty corner. So as I stared at the empty spot while sitting on my couch in a leg numbing Indian style position, I realized that it might be nice to have a desk in that corner. The center cushion on the couch and the kitchen table (that is oh so close to the fridge of goodies) are not really suitable spots to be productive.

I started visualizing the desk (the permanent home for my transient laptop) and the decorator in me started to surface. While looking at some home décor blogs, I found some really nice styles and décor options-vases with pretty flowers on top of stacked books next to the laptop followed by a gorgeous table lamp. I realized it wasn’t just about being productive and sitting at an actual desk-but having my own space to associate with writing. It’s so hard for me to focus on the couch that I normally lounge on while watching food network programs (not productive-but appetizing) or even sitting at my kitchen table (not productive-because I think of meals I prepare and eat). Hmm I guess food really is the underlying problem here-but that’s another blog post.

I’m really looking forward to searching for a corner desk over the next couple weeks and creating a new space where my writing can live.

read and go January 16, 2008

Some people find themselves in unexpected yet highly excitable moments when watching their underdog team win a game, when they find a dollar on the street, or run into a long lost friend. I feel that sudden rush of joy when I come across a passage in an article or story that stops me and really makes me think. I’m talking about the few sentences that you read over and over and call to share with a friend (maybe that’s just me).

So today I was lucky enough to experience one of those moments while reading an article in The New Yorker that made reference to the fact that as a society we are not reading as much as we used to:

“Perhaps readers venture so readily outside because what they experience in solitude gives them confidence. Perhaps reading is a prototype of independence. No matter how much one worships an author, Proust wrote ‘all he can do is give us desires.’ Reading somehow gives us the boldness to act on them. Such a habit might be quite dangerous for a democracy to lose.”

I can’t pinpoint every detail or idea that this passage provoked-however-my first thought was praise the reader. In many films and stories, the girl with the book sitting under the tree is the outcast, the loner, the inactive page scanner — when, in fact, she is the one shaping our world. We need to look at reading as an “activity,” not a passive “pastime”. Maybe if as a society we get back to thinking of reading as an active adventure, then this decline in reading will experience a new jolt of energy. Some of you may already think this way — cheers to you. Here’s to the readers — who sit for a couple of hours and take in the words of others but then go change the world.

write it in ink. January 8, 2008

Every new year I mentally make a list of a few things that I’d like to accomplish over the next 12 months-and then my mind seems to store it in the part of my brain where all of my math skills are (I use a calculator a lot). This year I will not only be writing the list in my notebook, but also posting it here. Maybe if a friend comes across this post he or she will remind me of my pact with myself-push me a little and get me going. Sure-some of the goals are rather lofty and others are truly random-but I want to move beyond “getting in shape.” So here is goes:

In 2008 I would like to:

• publish poems
• learn Italian
• sing the national anthem in some major sporting arena (I have been lucky enough to sing in the Rivershark’s stadium-minor league baseball-but this year I want to challenge myself).
• donate my time to the community
• redecorate my apartment
• collect a lot of beautiful antique tea cups
• read more books
• buy lots of plants and keep them alive

I’m sure I’ll add to this list over the year-but this is a start.

new year. new mindset. January 7, 2008

I realize that I truly slacked off with my blog over the past couple of months. Maybe it was the pressure of finding clients as a freelance writer or maybe it was just anxiety about writing a post that was meaningful and incredibly thoughtful–BUT–no more excuses now. It’s a new year and I’m really looking forward to starting fresh and writing as often as possible about whatever is on my mind (which for those of you who know me well-could be anything and everything). So I’m raising my cup of tea and toasting my new year of blogging. cheers.