Archive for the ‘Hope’ Category

The value in finding a common enemy

Sunday, January 29th, 2017

To me… it appears that there have been differences of opinion and party differences, from the first establishment of government to the present day, and on the same question which now divides our own country; that these will continue through all future time; that every one takes his side in favor of the many, or of the few, according to his constitution, and the circumstances in which he is placed. – Thomas Jefferson

Action

This is a call to action to move from divisiveness to finding common ground, which can be achieved by addressing common societal enemies.

Background

A few disparate events in my life highlight the challenges we have listening to each other.

  • My six-month old grandson Matthew was ‘talking’ to me in baby babble. I had no way to understand what he was saying but nevertheless I listened because it was obvious what he had to say was quite important.
  • My daughter Noelle’s wedding was exactly one month before the Presidential election. We strongly discouraged political conversation.
  • We had a Thanksgiving rule at our house. At the dinner table, phones and politics were not allowed. It was a lovely dinner!
  • I have good friends that attended the Inauguration on January 20th, and I have good friends that attended marches on January 21st.

We are not able to communicate with each other because we have vastly differing points of view and refuse to listen to each other. We gravitate to those with the same point of view, but don’t engage in conversation with those who don’t see things the same way. With a few notable exceptions, such as Hitler and Osama bin Laden, people are rarely pure evil.

Yet when there is a crisis, such as a multi vehicle car wreck, we don’t ask about political affiliation, but immediately jump in to help. People are amazed at their strength and ability to work together.

It is that thinking that we need now to creatively solve distinct and different problems to demonstrate how we can work together by starting with things we agree on. By engaging in real conversation, you know the kind where one person is talking and the other is really listening…we can create persuasive arguments.

Here is one to get us started; there is a crisis in quality childcare for many working parents, isolation for many elders, and college costs so high that it is impossible for students to even consider college.

What if we combined the challenges of those groups, and found solutions so they could help each other?

Closing

If you’ve got a better idea how to fix this, I’m listening.

 

Tina Nocera, Founder

Parental Wisdom®

  

As Nike says…just do it!

Tuesday, December 31st, 2013

Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book.  Write a good one.  -Brad Paisley

December 1st I promised to perform 24 Random Acts of Kindness, and post tweets each day – see #randomactsofkindness2013 .

  • I suspected at first it would be a challenge to find ways to be kind.
  • I hoped that as I started down this path, it would feel natural.
  • I learned you feel better doing RAOK thus creating a positive momentum.

This is a good tie into the first day of the New Year, and the hopes that come along with a new beginning.  There are hundreds of motivational quotes that we all read.  Want to know a secret?  Reading them isn’t enough – you actually have to act!

  • Buying a workout DVD is great, but you have to open it & exercise daily.
  • Resolving to spend more time with your kids is meaningful, but you have to put down the phone and be present.
  • Deciding to reach out to people that you’ve meant to connect with is nice, but you have to (get the irony here) pick up the phone and call them.
  • If you want to improve things in your life, then don’t waste your life.  Start doing things that you love to do.
  • If you are happy with the status quo, then keep on doing what you’re doing.

I will be posting motivational tweets each day; please feel free to follow me.

Happy New Year, and 2014 – please be good to us!

Tina Nocera, Founder

Parental Wisdom®

 

 

 

How disasters help us to achieve the impossible

Sunday, October 17th, 2010


Hope is a waking dream.

– Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC)

The world watched as the Chilean miners were pulled up one by one.  For the first time, in a long time, we were united in hope.

But we also learned to:

  1. Understand the real problem
  2. Create a sense of urgency to resolve it
  3. Gather experts if needed to help
  4. Spare no expense; take no shortcuts
  5. Keep everyone informed
  6. Test the solution
  7. Pay it forward – President Pinera has offered to help China with their mining disaster

The miners’ survival of the ordeal provided a worldwide lesson on the strength of human resilience as 33 men were trapped 2,000 feet underground for more than two months. Chilean President Sebastian Pinera demonstrated remarkable leadership skills in a crisis.

Hopefully, an additional lesson is to improve the dangerous conditions existing in mines.

Have a great week!

Tina Nocera, Founder

Parental Wisdom®