Back in June 2007 I was 29 years old, living a balanced life as a business management consultant, yoga practitioner, artist, and philanthropist in Austin, Texas. I had nothing to complain about; life was good. I could not foresee the ways that my life would change as I was simply waiting to get on the highway. My car was suddenly rear-ended, and it was while I was being treated for a concussion that I learned of my benign brain tumor.

The head injury from the accident led to frequent partial complex seizures caused by microscopic level bleeding from the newfound tumor. These episodes manifested at various levels of intensity in the forms of false visualization, altering emotion and speech and movement impairment. Fortunately, my mind, strengthened by over 10 years of daily mediation, was able to control the seizures’ activity of the brain. I learned much about this mind-brain relationship during a five-day video electroencephalograph (EEG) study. My life changed dramatically as I became dependent on friends and family to help me with basic life functions. Yet, the situation didn't stop me from living my life with energy and enthusiasm. I believe that life’s moments are often placed in a rightful way, and we only need to choose to see them for what they are.   Read more...

A husband and wife recently celebrated 21 years of marriage. Still deeply in love, the wife has been battling episodes of depression and it hasn’t been easy. For several months now, she hasn’t felt like her old self. Desperately searching for ways to feel clear, happy and healthy again, she’s tried all of the standard medical remedies.

To celebrate their anniversary, the couple met for drinks at their favorite restaurant. The conversation and the date started poorly. Saddened and slightly frustrated at what seemed to be a missed opportunity for a joyful anniversary celebration, the man was at a loss for how to save the evening and reconnect with the woman he loves. Then, in a flash of inspiration, the husband said, “Honey, I love you so much and I am so grateful and lucky to be your partner. I am going to share with you 21 things I appreciate about you to represent the 21 years we’ve been married.”   Read more...

Last week when I was in Armenian Church, the priest presented the parishioners with a quiz that he said five-year-olds had answered accurately but that graduates of Princeton couldn’t. Here’s the quiz:

What is greater than god, more evil than the devil; rich people want it, poor people have it and if you eat it you will die?   Read more...

On my morning walk, I encountered a tow-headed two-year-old caught up in unbridled enthusiasm. The garbage truck had arrived.

The sights and sounds of the hulking vehicle triggered jumping, flailing and cheering. A moment of religious ecstasy.   Read more...

Journalist and camerawoman Margaret Moth is an amazing woman. No doubt. No argument. And definitely no fear.

She stands out in a profession populated with rebels and risk takers for her devotion to her work, her complete and utter fearlessness, and her strength of character--even, maybe even especially, in the face of death. She doesn't consider herself a heroine. But many others do.   Read more...

Have you ever walked into a clock shoppe and noticed the pendulums all swinging together in perfect rhythmic harmony? It's true, when placed together clocks with pendulums will "fall together" into rhythmic unison. It's really amazing when you think about it. Here you have these mechanical instruments, and something draws their functions into harmony. But what is that something? I honestly don't know if I could really understand it if it were explained to me. Yet having seen it, I can accept it as true. Sometimes we don't necessarily have to have proof to believe something as true. We may see it written or hear it said and just have a deep inner knowing that it is so. It resonates with us.

This phenomenon of spontaneous synchronization is called entrainment, and it exists in many different schools of thought. In physics, it is described as "the tendency for two oscillating bodies to lock into phase so that they vibrate in harmony..."   Read more...

Red-green colorblindness could soon be a thing of the past for humans. In a study at the University of Washington is Seattle, recently published in Nature, scientists injected naturally red-green colorblind squirrel monkeys with a gene for a human photoreceptor, according to the MIT Review.

The monkeys were given a test before and after the gene therapy similar to tests given to humans to test color-blindness. Two years after the gene therapy the two monkeys involved in the study have much-improved color vision with no negative side effects. Because human color-blindness is nearly the same as color-blindness in squirrel monkeys, researchers are hopeful that the gene therapy can be used on humans in the future.   Read more...

Machias, New York, a town of 2,300 people, has rallied together to help meet the needs of two children. Vicki and Webb Eisenhardt are parents to sons Dalton and Wyatt, who are both in a battle with a rare genetic disorder. The community has raised money to help with medical costs and is now going one step further.

After the family was turned down by the ABC show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition because they did not own their home, the town decided to take matters into their own hands. Machias gathered support from various community organizations to build a house suited for Dalton and Wyatt. Local companies, the American Legion and religious organizations are now working together to construct a new home for the Eisenhardt's, where the family can live rent-free for as long as the boys require medical assistance.   Read more...

Don't like the look of solar panels? There is a new option on the market for people who want to save money on their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint through the use of solar panels. SRS Energy of Philadelphia has developed a solar panel in the shape of popular clay roof tiles, allowing a portion of a roof to be tiled with the solar panels while the rest is covered in regular clay tiles.

The solar tiles are dark blue, recyclable and are scheduled to be available on the west coast this fall, and nationwide in the spring of 2010. While many enjoy the look of sunlight-converting traditional solar panels, if you prefer the tiled look the Sole Power Tile has several more colors and styles planned.   Read more...

Success happens when all opposing sectors join for a common goal.

Earth Aid educates, rewards, monitors and reminds consumers of new trends in energy efficiency. Partnering with government energy offices and local businesses, Earth Aid offers tips on ways to save electricity, conserve water, save gas and the overall environmental benefit of being energy efficient. In addition, local diverse businesses have joined Earth Aid to offer discounts for members who are successful in lowering their energy use.   Read more...

My last posting was about shopping with my new found friend Okada-san. Well it was about two months since I had seen her, when I met her coming out of the dry cleaners.

"How was the meal?" I asked. "Fantastic!" she said. " In fact, it has lead to a whole new life for me." "Oh wow! Do tell me." I replied.   Read more...

Inventor and water-treatment expert Michael Pritchard watched the devastating 2004 Asian tsunami and hurricane Katrina in 2005 leave many without clean drinking water in the wake of horrific natural disasters, leading him to develop the Lifesaver bottle.   Read more...

Experience has taught me that everything happens for one of two reasons. Those reasons are that we either have something to learn or something to teach, often both. I may not know the reason or understand why things occur and I don't have to. Just trusting that there is a reason helps.

The real prize is that I or we get to decide what that reason is. It is up to us to find, create or associate a value to life's circumstances. Why did someone lose their job? Why did someone have to die? Why do I have multiple sclerosis? I can answer that last question.   Read more...

"And when one is thinking lovely, kind, beautiful thoughts of course one has no time to become lonesome."

Simple wise words for children (and adults) from a father to his daughter long ago. How similar in philosophy to spiritual teachers from around the world addressing parliaments, mass audiences, authoring countless books, or presiding over a simple gathering of families looking for just a bit of wisdom to carry into the following week. Yet, this father, Johnny Gruelle, was an author and illustrator from Arcola, Illinois in the early 1900s.   Read more...

A new renewable energy resource for the home has been developed by UK-based The Power Collective called RidgeBlade, a rooftop wind turbine. The home wind power system is designed to be visually unobtrusive and is designed to maximize energy potential even when there is little wind available, according to Springwise.

The RidgeBlade sits on the ridge line on the top of buildings where wind is forced over the surface, pushing air through the turbine to generate electricity.   Read more...

Yesterday, another Nobel Peace Prize winner was in Washington, D.C. On a slightly overcast day with rain drops sprinkling from the sky, the Dalai Lama visited Adas Israel Congregation to meet with the community.

Following the seven days of the Festival of Sukkot, it was only fitting that on this holiday of Shemini Atzeret, Rabbi Steinlauf spoke of how love is timeless and spaceless. He asked the congregation to imagine someone they love, there with them, what they looked like and what they would say. With tears, many would realize that their loved one was indeed there with them in their heart whether they lived far away or had passed away. In effect, the Rabbi was preparing the community for the visit of the Dalai Lama.   Read more...

To mark Botswana's Independence Day (30 September), and 18 months since Ian Khama came to office, Survival International has released a cartoon by an anonymous artist from Botswana depicting the President trying to sweep the Bushmen under a carpet.

President Khama (a board member of the non-governmental organization, Conservation International) has done nothing to undo his predecessor's pernicious policy of making the Bushmen's life in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve impossible. Indeed, he has called their way of life an "archaic fantasy".   Read more...

As the results of the old limited approach to business, leadership and finance become glaringly obvious, a new level of thinking, leading and conducting business is being summoned. And as we move forward in developing our new, sustainable approach to business, it is becoming clear to many that the sustainability of a company as a whole goes hand in hand with individual sustainability.

The Conscious Business Institute (CBI) is one of the pioneering businesses that has emerged out of this call to move into a new way of being and thinking around business, finance and our selves. Recognizing the current dissatisfaction amongst much of our labor force and the longing for inspiring, engaging work, CBI is helping businesses and leaders embrace conscious business practices that will ignite greater power, commitment and long-term sustainability inside and out and transform our business climate worldwide.   Read more...

Over 20 percent of methane gas, a greenhouse gas, is emitted by cows. There are about a billion cows in the world, and their methane emissions total more than the methane gas produced by all the cars, planes, ships and trucks in the world combined, according to Springwise.

UK company Mootral thinks they have found a solution to reduce methane gas emissions by cows by a minimum of 25 percent with a natural garlic-based extract that would be added to their food. Mootral is working with Welsh Neem Biotech to produce the additive, with plans to have a sample ready for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen this December.   Read more...

Here's the latest innovation to support the health and beauty of our skin, our bodies, and our planet! A new online Healthy Skin Clinic brings you the Custom Blends system, which lets you add powerfully nourishing botanical "boosters" to your choice of "Pure & Simple" base products. Specialties include sensitive skin, problem skin, and healthful "graceful aging."

Grateful Body is known for creating remarkably nurturing, joy-inspiring scent blends from impeccably pure essential oils, and when customizing you have your choice of many exquisitely nurturing scent boosters. It's simple and educational!   Read more...

Project Masiluleke is an effort designed by PopTech, a global network whose goal is to "accelerate the positive impact of world changing people, projects and ideas" to address HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis in South Africa through the power of mobile technology.   Read more...