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Don’t Be a Suit
This phrase got me thinking when I heard it in a podcast a couple days ago. “Suits” aren’t getting a very good rap these days, and often for good reason. But I’m realizing there’s a difference between wearing a suit and being one. Regardless of social status, you have the opportunity daily to be human…
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Authenticity (or, Deep Thoughts from Sesame Street)
Olivia’s been into watching Sesame Street videos on youTube lately. So into it, in fact, that she’ll walk up to our closed laptop, point to it and start singing “Elmo’s Song”. So her parents have also been watching a lot of Sesame Street videos lately too :). But there’s one video that I’ve found myself…
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The Delicate Power of Stories
This beautiful talk by writer Elif Shafak has had me thinking about stories. As with any good story, Shafak’s talk is filled with humor, nuance and symbolism, as she gracefully describes her family background and experience of living as a child of a divorced mother in Turkey, going to international schools when her mother became a diplomat,…
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Shirin Neshat, Artist in Exile
Here’s an amazing talk by Shirin Neshat, an Iranian artist in exile, about the importance of art and culture in the West and in Iran. I admit I can’t begin to relate to her experience, but I’m challenged by her determination. Her courage reminds us that art is too powerful a tool to be used…
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The Spirituality of Advertising
Not the first words that come to mind when most think of advertising, but as one who spends a good chunk of his day creating advertising, I’m hoping that believing it might make it so.
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Being Yourself
“Insist on yourself; never imitate.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson During my high school days, while learning to play the guitar, I tried my hand at songwriting. I’d spend hours in my bedroom with my guitar, working out some chords, lyrics, and melodies, writing them all down in my notebook, only to realize that I’d just…
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Turning Trash Into Toys
Last week when we built a cardboard box playhouse we thought we were doing well, Arvind Gupta taking making toys from trash to a whole new level! Years ago my Grandpa gave me the grooved-stick-airplane, which still confounds most adults (especially when you make it fly in reverse). I love the gleam in Gupta’s as…
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Miss Sarajevo
Last night we had the opportunity to go U2’s show in Winnipeg. Of course, given that is was the world’s biggest rock band on the world’s biggest stage structure, in the city’s biggest concert ever, it was amazing! But, as all the greatest concerts do, this one struck a chord with me. The song that’s…
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Start With Why
“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” Check out this insightful talk by Simon Sinek.
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What Jip en Janneke Can Teach Us About Storytelling
As I mentioned before, I’ve been admiring children’s books lately. Since coming to Holland we’ve been spending a lot of time in the kids’ section of bookstores, looking for books that will help Olivia learn Dutch language and culture. Lots of fun! I’d like to introduce you to one of this country’s favourites. Jip en…