Mixology

My passions in life are like ingredients for edgy cocktails: a mix of creativity and education, collaboration and innovation, anthropology and leadership, design and entrepreneurship, blended together in varying amounts to reach a desired flavor with maximum impact...and always rimmed with a global perspective.

A recent life cocktail was the annual meeting of the Horasis global visioning community in Zurich. 100 business, government and academic leaders from around the world connected in an intimate, action-oriented meeting to address our world's current economic and sustainable growth challenges.

The meeting's theme was "Thriving on Risk." In the end the general consensus is that we, as global citizens, consistently operate in a risky environment - which this group perhaps not surprisingly views instead as opportunity in the making. From capitalizing on the complementary roles of males and females in leadership to a focus on creating disruptive solutions to our worlds various crises by tapping into our spiritual barometer, inclusiveness and collaboration in this risky environment will define our approach to the many challenges of 2012.

Themes aside, the expertise and connections of this group (a cocktail of its own!) are beyond impressive. But what makes Horasis fundamentally different from other organizations is how these powerful, successful folks leave their posturing at the door and let their true personalities shine through. Founder Frank-Jurgen Richter sets the tone for collegial interaction, showing what is possible when you place trust in others and take care to build honest, lasting personal and professional relationships.

Horasis is a community of global visionaries committed to making our world a better place. For everyone. The topics addressed are complicated and challenging, and the people addressing them are warm and inviting. For an innovative anthropologist like me it is an intriguing culture where new ideas and differing viewpoints are not only helpful, they are encouraged and embraced.

For these reasons, as Horasis continues to evolve, I will proactively support our own mix of inclusive growth - advocating for an even broader sweep in backgrounds, interests and experience to add depth in perspective and brilliance in ideas…crafting a vibrant cocktail of inspired, sustainable human-centered solutions.

I AM

Not too long ago, I had the pleasure of visiting a design class to give feedback to students on their final projects. One of the students had created a short video to advertise his idea for improving students’ experience on campus. He called his idea I AM.

It’s simple really. He suggested that the campus community don a button (think a quirky campaign badge from the 1970s) that reads “I AM _______.” Each of us fills in the blank, sharing something about ourselves that our students and colleagues probably don’t know, sparking conversation with people and around issues on which we may never otherwise connect.

Some of the video “I AMs” included “I AM Colorful,” “I AM 40,” and I AM Alone,” and “I AM Creative.” The descriptions were diverse and real. The video was well done. It was a refreshing approach to learning about our community, one member at a time. And it was already having an effect: each of the mentors and nearly all the students present remarked on how moved they were by this student’s simple, inspiring idea.

Moved as we were, our reactions varied. Some easily identified a word, wrote it on their button, and casually pinned it to their backpack. Others fingered their button, looking at it, looking into space, clearly contemplating what word would describe them concretely enough to write on a button. Others simply stuck the button in their packs or left them quietly on the desk as they left class that final day.

My button has remained thoughtfully attached to my bag while I consider how I wish to fill that flirty little blank; that space that exists to share something special about me; to create Opportunity. Adventure. Success.

At last I have decided what to do: I shall simply leave it blank. For you see, for me, the button as is serves its purpose. That beautifully simple open space has started more conversations than I can count, and it allows me the latitude to define myself in the moment – which, in the end, is most authentic for me.


Now I wonder, what might your button say?

Tegla

If you have never heard of Tegla Loroupe, your inspiration arsenal is not complete. If you have, you will perhaps understand the intense honor it was for me to meet her in person yesterday.

Tegla was born in Kenya and began running - barefoot - during her 10km trek each day to and from school. For all of us non-metric folks, that is over 12 miles! She has gone on to become one of the most celebrated female runners of all time and a global ambassador for peace.

Her panel's topic at the Horasis Annual Meeting in Zurich was titled "Thriving on Risk - Ensuring Inclusive Growth." Tegla was the only non-business person on the panel, yet she embodies perhaps better than anyone both of these ideals in a very real, very practical way. I felt, from the moment I met her and shook her hand, that she is a warm, passionate, compassionate, and incredibly intelligent woman. As I absorbed her story and her thoughts on Risk in Sport, I learned she is also courageous, strong, collaborative, humble and diplomatic. She saw a very risky opportunity to use something she loves, and is beyond good at - running - as a catalyst for peace. And she is succeeding.

For me, Tegla's panel was the highlight of this meeting, and meeting her personally was a truly inspiring gift. Of the many things she talked about there was one that especially caught my attention: her choice to leave her job in 1994 to move to another country and pursue a career as a professional runner. She stated that this decision opened more doors for her [personally, as well as for the global peace effort] than staying to earn money ever could have. She believed in herself, put her passion front and center, and transformed it into a global tool for good.

I hope we can all find, and seize, Tegla in each of us. If we do, the possibilities are endless.

Happy 2012! Shape Away!

Happy New Year, Inspiring Girls!

Turns out we all seemed to need a couple of months off during the holidays to recharge. Traveling back and forth between a new home and an old job poses some interesting challenges - and more importantly, many very sweet family moments. And the holidays this year were a firm reminder to spend my precious time and energy with the ones, doing the things, that really matter.

I'm in Salt Lake tonight. My husband and daughter are at home in a different city. It's my third night away from them. As much as I appreciate being able to focus on my work, and spending time with my colleagues and friends here, Friday can't come soon enough. During our bed time phone call tonight, Luji told me, in her most sincerely loving voice, "I miss you soooo much, Mom, from my heart." We talked for quite a while, my four-year-old and I. Guess a little long distance love is what matters most just now.

So here is to a 2012 full of moments that matter. To spending our time and energy on the stuff that means the most to each of us. To making a difference on our terms, in our own special, unique, glorious ways. And to not wasting our precious resources on crap that drags us down, makes us worry, feel inferior or question our own place in this world.

After all, as some guy named Gary Lew apparently said (which I recently read on a goofy coffee mug), "This is your world. Shape it or someone else will."

It's up to us. Let's get to shaping, shall we?

Women Over 40

Thanks to Inspiring Girl Amanda for sharing this. Cheers to us!

From the blog Divine Caroline: Life in Your Words

Andy Rooney on Women Over Forty

By: Veronica Kavanagh (View Profile)

Andy Rooney says:

As I grow in age, I value women who are over forty most of all. Here are just a few reasons why: A woman over forty will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, “What are you thinking?” She doesn’t care what you think.

If a woman over forty doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it’s usually something more interesting.

A woman over forty knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of forty give a hoot what you might think about her or what she’s doing.

Women over forty are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it’s like to be unappreciated.

A woman over forty has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn’t trust the guy with other women. Women over forty couldn’t care less if you’re attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won’t betray her.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over forty. They always know.

A woman over forty looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over forty is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They’ll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one! You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over forty for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it’s not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of forty-plus, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some twenty-two-year-old waitress.

Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say, “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free,” here’s an update for you. Now 80 percent of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire pig, just to get a little sausage.

First published September 2007

Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22323/34969-andy-rooney-forty#ixzz1dVI8e7pJ

New Light

“Love of beauty is Taste. Creation of beauty is Art.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

To the artist in each of us. My journey continues. May the new moon help you create more beauty in your life as well.

Sugar

OK. So: Luji’s scootin’ around inspired us to expand our family’s adventurous 2011 transition to include a shift from our practical much-loved-and-good-looking-but-disappointing-gas-mileage, been-a-good-family-car-but-just-doesn’t-inspire-us-anymore Subaru Forester XT for a…(drum roll please)...Chili Pepper Red Mini Cooper Clubman.

Oh yeah.

Cruising through the Utah mountains, enjoying the beautiful fall colors and just hanging out as a family is the kind of stuff that gets to me. This car is the perfect symbol of our fun, adventurous spirit and a fantastic way to embrace it every day. Just walking up to our little red manx makes me smile. Watching Luji climb in through the side door makes me smile wider. So Cool.

From her first day with us, Sugar (as we have affectionately named our peppy little party girl) has given our family this delightful gift of shared time to just be. It is simply delightful.

What little gift do you have hanging around that can add a little delight to your every day?