21 May 2013

TEDxHayward Applied Peace Innovation: Overview

(iphone photo from the morning before it started)

I love TED talks. Do you? They're so varied and full of information! It's like a lecture with my favorite professor every time I hear one! (favorite professor included in this post, yay!)

Recently I found out that my alma mater hosts TEDxHayward. TEDx=independently organized TED event. And I found out just in time to actually attend the day event of TEDxHayward, which I was absolutely thrilled with! I kinda talked my friend into going (and she said she ended up enjoying it, win-win!) and we both really enjoyed the day. For me, it brought me back to alot of my favorite classes in college, like the history teacher  (Khal Schneider) who got so fired up in CA history that he would go overtime, or the Economics teacher (blanked on his name) who was more like a History teacher with a specialization in Economics (talk about awesome!) and finally the Business Communications teacher who I credit with my OCD tendencies in my personal and professional written communications with people, Steve Ugbah.

Applied Peace Innovation is defined by TEDxHayward as " the application of social capital and technology used to decrease hostility, increase the existence of healthy interpersonal and international relationships, promote safety in matters of social or economic welfare, and further the acknowledgement of equality and fairness in political relationships." The day itself consisted of talks centering around compassion (for self and others), happiness through compassion, inner peace, sustainability as a peaceful transtion into preserving the world for the next generation.

The operative, or active, 'ingredient' for the day was CCARE: The Center for Compasion and Altruistic Research and Education based at The Stanford School of Medicine (Stanford University). Dr. James Doty, Director & Founder was present as well Emma Seppala, Associate Director and many others who are involved directly or through research with CCARE. Discovering CCARE and it's mission in itself was absolutely amazing and astounding. It also has the distinction of being funded by the Dalai Lama.

So. I've struggled with how to appropriately sum up the day and I'm really not sure how to do that! I filled up a mini-moleskine notebook on just that day alone by taking notes from each of the speakers. It's absolutely amazing how much they can cram into fifteen minutes! I decided to create a photo for each of my favorite speakers, including their photos and the quotes that impacted me the most. I may follow-up with a short paragraph describing their talk, or maybe not! Here goes!
 Dr. Doty was on my top five list of the day because of his frank and open manner. His delivery style for the day was very down-to-earth and he emphasized the importance of possibilities for people to succeed. He is quite a successful man himself, and in his talk he spoke of the power of kindness and compassion and its transformative ability. (Obviously, he used much more sophisticated language as well but some of my notes are unclear in those areas.) 
 I saved only this one quote from Eve Ekman's talk simply because it encompassed much of what she was saying. She shared her research on chronic burnout, stress and empathy within the juvenile system in her studies with officers of the juvenile system of San Mateo. Her talk was very technically based on her research however she had tidbits (like the above) that are applicable to other areas. One of the things she mentioned that stuck with me was how people previously experienced burnout on their jobs and left and now people are experiencing burnout and staying: what are the effects on the people they are serving? She mentioned when we burnout from experiencing others suffering we can no longer help them in the most beneficial way. 
 This lady started the day and she started it off on the right foot. She was my second favorite teacher of the day: hands-down amazing. Emma Seppala  spoke on compassion in a very personal way, using photos as her slides (with no words) of people, hands and interactions between people that expressed emotions such as compassion, kindness and happiness. She spoke about loneliness and how it is not something we only experience when we are alone but often in a group. When we don't offer compassion to ourselves we become unable to offer it to others. We must develop the ability to resonate with others so that we can share with others and live more fulfilling lives as a product of that ability. I can't wait to read more of her work!
I have to say, I was so surprised at how interested I was in Shannon Lucas' talk. Honestly? When I read Vodafone as her title I kinda spaced out when looking at the schedule. However, her talk totally fired me up due to its topic on sustainability and compassion in business. She spoke about the role of compassion in business and one of the most powerful things she spoke of was the selfishness of compassion, both in business and personally. She said "Compassion can be selfish. Is that bad?" When businesses show compassion they often get greater press or more positive press coverage due to their willingness to show compassion whether through sustainable environmental ways or through philanthropic paths. So, it is self-serving as well as serving a greater-good. In the same way, showing compassion can make us feel better as a human. Are those necessarily bad things? That showing compassion serves us as well as others? No. It's a benefit of doing good. Shannon also spoke about the need to create a measurable scale of compassion in businesses.

These, I think are ideas worth spreading! 

(I'll be back tomorrow with part II) 


20 May 2013

Scripture of the Week: John 13:35


Isn't that what the Scriptures are all about? Christ's love for us? And how we should show that love to others? Sometimes I think we forget. At least I know I do. This past weekend was my uncle's wedding at his home up in Sonora. Seeing natural and untouched beauty like the Sequoia Redwoods and the other mountain nature reminds me of God's pure, untainted love for us. Oftentimes at the fast pace of life that we set and live I think we forget to offer untainted love to others. I know that's my new project for the week! Who can I love that I've been looking over or taking for granted?

I'm so proud of my sister and the work that she is doing. I don't post often of her personal business because, obviously, that's personal. However, I do want to take this opportunity to let you in on a little bit of her wonderful brain. The Scripture I used today is taken from her post over on Anafalz blog, written by her friend Greg. I've never actually checked out the blog itself until now but it is awesome. Even more awesome is her post on the Church and Mental Illness within the church. (And her bio in the post can explain more of her work and heart.)

10 May 2013

Quote Junkie

(I really love this one! 
Finding what you're 'called' to do and pleasing those who matter: 
God foremost and the others who want God's best for you is what's important!)
ending on a good note! 
I am a self-proclaimed quote junkie. Thus this crazy Friday collection of my picks of my web collection. 

Happy Friday! 

09 May 2013

Go West Young {Lady}

Hello there! I couldn't be more excited when I opened up my inbox Tuesday morning and saw Rue Magazine's special Pacific Northwest issue. While California doesn't exactly qualify (okay, not at all) I'll take what I can get! My 21st birthday trip to Seattle a few years ago was amazing and I absolutely love the city and area! I want to go again and soon! 

Here are a few of my favorite pages of this issue just in case you hadn't checked it out yet! 
The top photo is my favorite from Kirsten Grove's home (Simply Grove blog). I'm not a huge fan of the dark wall in the bedroom but I absolutely love that cowhide rug!! Also love her very earthy design (love that wall with the flower art) in her home. It's just beautiful and very peaceful! I fully agree with this quote "I want to upholster the inside lining of my nostrils with leather, to have that "new car smell" all the time." Jarod Kintz  Leather is a lovely smell! 

The editor picks inspired by  The Postal Service lead singer Ben Gibbard are some of my favorites because of the natural & neutral colors! They also fuel my weird from-a-distance obsession with messenger bags with that lovely white satchel. (I can't wear them because my body type just doesn't work out well. They end up banging against me and others all. day. long.)

One of the first 'favorites' I followed on Instagram was @amerrymishap (Jennifer Hagler). I love the cool black and white tones of her photos as well as the neat crisp lines of her studio. Isn't it awesome (and clutter-free)?

Do you love Rue like I do? 
xo, Charity

08 May 2013

Gina Zeidler site launch & giveaway


One of the key players in Making Things Happen is an amazing lady named Gina Zeidler. I love her big big heart, silliness and ability to reach into someone and see what they offer. She is very direct and clear and I loved that about her (as well as her honesty) at MTH. And she has an amazing new site launch today! All of these photos are from her site. Aren't they amazing?


I love her images, her style as a photographer. Clean, natural and totally down to earth. That's who she is.

(Those bath photos. I die.) 

Anyway, you should go check out her site! I'm totally inspired by it, especially because I'm working on my own site and blog right now. I can't wait! 

We all love giveaways right? Well, here's a doozy of a giveaway!

Check out the following list!

1. The amazing Lara Casey Powersheets! 2. A beautiful gold comb; perfect for beachy waves or a mermaid made by Carlee Sizemore. 3. The Power of Starting Something Stupid by Richie Norton. 4. $100 gift card to JCrew (um I want to win my own giveaway?) 5. Emily Ley’s Great Day Notes and a NEW surprise print from her shop. 6. $50 Etsy Gift Card. 7. $50 Amazon Gift Card 8. 2 $20 Starbucks Gift Cards

Want to win? Head over to www.GinaZeidler.com to enter and view her gorgeous new site! 
(Seriously, it's amazing! Be sure to check out the Bananas page)

Ventura Pier



The first beach I visited as a child was Ventura Beach. I don't love it as much now, probably because it seems so much more crowded and I like a little 'thinking room' when I go to the beach. But the Pier itself is still really fun to walk and observe.


Do you have a favorite beach or childhood memory? 
It seems like nature-linked memories from my childhood are my favorites! 
Something about being in nature that is a balm to the soul. 

Or as John Muir put it: 
"Keep close to nature's heart...and break clear away,
 once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. 
Wash your spirit clean." 

I love John Muir (and I love that quote!) 

06 May 2013

Scripture of the Week: Hosea 12:6


I've been doing the She Reads Truth studies one by one via YouVersion on my phone. The current study on Hosea is the best one yet! I absolutely love the book of Hosea, because of the shocking power of love and reality of God's love (sometimes tough love) for us. It is astounding and ever deepening.

I realize my blog has become more a reflection of my faith over the past year, especially with the inclusion of the Scripture of the Week. It's not something I regret, rather it's something that has been a goal for me. To be comfortable sharing my deep belief and faith in God with others, in a way that is non-offensive, but also in a way that speaks of my ability to be a Christian who loves and gives rather than one who reflects hate and judgement. Jesus Himself called us to be lovers of men, not to pass judgment, and the word Christian means to be Christ-like. I am daily trying to do more that: become Christ-like.

Hope your week and Monday is blessed and filled with love! 
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