It turns out that human being are soft-wired for compassion.  This is great news to learn that it is in our nature not be aggressive, violent and self-absorbed–but sociable, compassionate, and connected to others.

Click to watch this little clip from best-selling author Jeremy Rifkin about the evolution of empathy in humanity.  We keep hearing that we are experiencing a major shift of human consciousness.  This little clip helps frame this claim in a scientific way.  Let’s bring out our core nature.  How amazing would it be to nurture and bring out more of whatever quality there is in us that was responsible for the massive compassionate responses brought about by the likes of Hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti and in the events September 11th.

It seems the 6.8 billion people on the planet today are our extended family. How would we behave if we believed that we really are family?  What level of compassion would we then be able to muster for our kin regardless of their race, religion or government’s transgressions?

Having the opportunity to talk with Jeni Stepanek today on The Soul Salon reminded me of our responsibility–the mission that her son Mattie Stepanek put to us– to be messengers of peace.  It seems to me that compassion and empathy  are an important part of that mission

All the best from your sister,

Rena M. Reese

Founder, Soul Salon International

JOIN THE SOUL SALON on FACEBOOK AND TWITTER  TOO

Rena Reese
http://thesoulsalon.wordpress.com/

Kids are faced with ethical decisions just as adults are– and sometimes the tests are much larger than returning the miscounted change from a grocery clerk. Zach Nash’s story not only reveals his character, but high level of integrity too.

This terrific 14 year-old golfer won his age group in  the Milwaukee County Parks Tour Invitational.  You can imagine what celebrating would take place when you beat out 31 other players who would have loved to have captured the big win.  After the tournament wrapped up and he was celebrating at the Rivermoor Country Club, one of the club’s pros spotted something in the golfer’s golf bag which would nullify his win. The rigid rules are clear and this teen golfer (unknowingly) was guilty of breaking a rule which would cost him a  two-stroke penalty.  Since that stroke penalty was not indicated on his score card, the score card was wrong.  Signing a score card that is incorrect disqualifies a golfer from contention.

So what was it in his bag?  Zach Nash had an extra golf club in his bag. The rules are clear that only 14 clubs can be carted around in a golfer’s bag–and Zach’s 15 put him over by one. Realizing this all after the fact, Zach knew that he had a decision to make, but it was effortless.  This young man let the Wisconsin PGA know of what transpired and that he in-fact would be returning the medal so that they may bestow it on the tournament’s runner-up–who was really the tournament winner.

Evidence yet again that there is a lot RIGHT with KIDS today!

*NOMINATE A SPECIAL YOUTH YOU KNOW TO BE FEATURED at What’s Right With Kids Today?

All the best!

Rena M. Reese

Founder of Soul Salon International

Rena Reese
http://thesoulsalon.wordpress.com/

Click to Watch… and laugh….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xi4O1yi6b0&feature=related

While I don’t care for Elaine’s toast, her dance moves more than make up for it…

You see, Elaine dances like no one is watching.  How many weddings or special events have you been a foot-tapping-seat-groover when you  wanted to get up and full on dance to the Village People singing YMCA?  I can guarantee you that you look a little more eloquent than Elaine does in this clip… but even if you don’t– dance anyway.

All the best!

Rena M. Reese

Founder, Soul Salon International

& What’s Right With Kids Today?

Rena Reese
http://thesoulsalon.wordpress.com/

Popular show America’s Got Talent has seen some remarkable and diverse acts and entertained wildly too.  10 year-old Jackie Evancho is popping to the top of the list with her remarkable and almost “not-humanly-possible” voice.

Her tireless work ethic, practice schedule and passion to achieve her dream coupled with her natural-born gift will leave you stunned at the beauty of her voice.  This sweet young lady will certainly achieve “super-star” status in life and for all the right reasons.

*NOMINATE A SPECIAL YOUTH YOU KNOW TO BE FEATURED on What’s Right With Kids Today?

All the best!

Rena M. Reese

Founder of Soul Salon International

& What’s Right With Kids Today?

Rena Reese
http://thesoulsalon.wordpress.com/

How do we measure our happiness?

How do we measure our well-being?

How do we measure the happiness of the planet?

This Ted.com footage should be watched by Hollywood producers, government leaders, shown in schools and watched on Wall Street and the world’s financial institutions.

“The GNP measures everything except that which makes life worthwhile.”  ~Robert Kennedy

Why does that quote matter so much?  Click to watch what Nic Marks has to say about this and much more…

What are five things Nic says you can do daily to up your happy index?

1. connect

2. connect

3.  notice

4. keep learning

5. give

I loved this Ted Talk for so many reasons, thanks Nic!  Readers may connect with him further at these links below.

• Home: happyplanetindex.org
• HOWTO: fivewaystowellbeing.org
• HOWTO: well-beingatwork.net

• Home: neweconomics.org
• Home: nicmarks.org
• Twitter: @nefwellbeing

All the best!

Rena M. Reese

PS.. If you like this, you’ll probably also like this segment from Dan Gilbert also on Ted.com on what makes us happy.

Founder, Soul Salon International

Rena Reese
http://thesoulsalon.wordpress.com/

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
Schlemeel, schlemazel, Hasenfeffer Incorporated.

Ahh, good old Laverne and Shirley. Classic Television, classic characters–the good old days before Jersey Shore and reality TV. My point today is not how general audiences have set the bar pretty low in terms of what entertains in movies and on tv –but rather today’s post is about noticing.  You see, my whole tv-watching-life I didn’t know that entire second line above and what  a schlemeel or schlemazel even was. I would sing it as a kid, but didn’t actually notice what I was saying.

Until today. This morning I flipped though a book (The Ultimate Book of Words You Should Know) I have laying around in the hopes that our tenth-grade twins will pick it up now and then– to absorb a word or two that may be on the looming SAT’s.  I randomly turned to a page where the first 2 words were schlemeel and schlemazel.  I was incredulous because they are not only words, but according to this book they are words that some publisher thinks I should know–and use!

My mind traveled to an evening with some friends where we generated a very impressive list of yiddish words.  (Not sure how that idea even came up.)  I believe the list could have rivaled one generated by a group of Yiddish yentas. (See Yenteh) We were pretty amazed at how many we came up, used in everyday conversations.

Words like… schmuck, klutz, kosher, mentsh, shtik, shlep, shmendrek, nosh, farklempt, maven, kakameyme, bupkes, hutzbah, glitch, schlock, shmooze, tchatchke, tuches, shmaltzy…

Okay, so today’s post is not one of my most cerebral musings, but my short little message is notice.  Notice what you have saying, doing, being–what is as plain as day to those around you–but muted in your world.  Things become “what is” like the schlemeel and schlemazel were for me until one day you actually notice and ask, “What am I saying?”

Click to watch… I know it will make you smile, I know it!

All the best!

Rena M. Reese

Founder, Soul Salon International

And if you care, here are some more sights to check out Yiddish sayings and words.

Brief Yiddish/English Glossary
Bubby’s Yiddish/Yinglish Glossary
Everyday Yiddish-English-Yiddish Dictionary
Learn Yiddish Sayings
List of Yiddish Words and Expressions
Yiddish words found in English

Rena Reese
http://thesoulsalon.wordpress.com/