Doing what you must is DUTY Doing what you should is VIRTUE Doing what you can is SERVICE Doing what you are afraid of is COURAGE Doing what you like is FREEDOM Liking what you do is HAPPINESS
MEMO From Michael: Violence and Mass Killings: Our New Reality?
What a sad irony that right after re-living the tragedies of the 9/11 terrorist attacks we are confronted with another senseless mass shooting, resulting in 12 deaths and eight injuries at the Washington Navy Yard. And while we are digesting that, 13 people were shot in a Chicago, apparently the result of a random shooting by a roving gang. Do …
WORTH SEEING: Poster. I have decided to be happy because it is good for my health. — Voltaire
I have decided to be happy because it is good for my health. — Voltaire A person is generally about as happy as he’s willing to be. — Abraham Lincoln CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY.
Five Birds on a Wire
WORTH SEEING: Poster. There are five birds on a wire. Two decide to fly south. How many are left? The answer: five. Deciding to do something is not the same as actually doing it. Your future is determined by actions, not good intentions.
WORTH SEEING: Poster. Don’t be limited by what you see from where you are. Climb to a higher place and you will see a …
Don’t be limited by what you see from where you are. Climb to a higher place and you will see a future with unlimited opportunities. Travel. Read. Try new things. Make new friends. There is no end to what you can achieve once you see the possibilities.
WORTH SEEING: Poster. There is a big difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do. — Justice Potter Stewart, U.S. Supreme Court
There is a big difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do. — Justice Potter Stewart, U.S. Supreme Court People of character often do more than they are required to do and less than they are allowed to do.
You Can’t Go Anywhere with a Bad Attitude
Poster. A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can’t get anywhere you want to go until you change it. – Michael Josephson
WORTH SEEING: Watch your thoughts . . .
Watch your THOUGHTS; they lead to attitudes. Watch your ATTITUDES; they lead to words. Watch your WORDS; they lead to actions. Watch your ACTIONS; they lead to habits. Watch your HABITS; they form your character. Watch your CHARACTER CHARACTER DETERMINES YOUR DESTINY
MEMO From Michael: 9/11, Colombia, New Survey on Education
Thoughts on September 11 Re-experiencing the 9/11 attacks is always a traumatic experience for me. I’ve posted several videos I think you will find worth your time. One cannot think about this shocking proof of our vulnerability without some anxiety and deep sorrow for the loss of life and of our innocent naiveté about our safety. Two images are etched …
NEW SURVEY: The State of Education in America
The Josephson Institute has just launched a new comprehensive survey for educators (school board members, superintendents, principals and other administrators, teachers and school staff) and parents of children in school. It is designed to be one of the most comprehensive and influential studies of the trends, opinions and actions of administrators, teachers, students and parents. We hope to have at …
WORTH SEEING: One of the Best Full-Length Documentaries on the 9/11 Attacks
It’s well over an hour but if you want to truly relive and review the events it is worth it.
WORTH SEEING: National Anthem Played at Buckingham Palace in Tribute to Friendship
This video first aired in 2006.
WORTH SEEING: Clydesdale Horses 9/11 Tribute
This video advertisement first aired in 2006. It is still moving and poignant.
WORTH SEEING: How Would You React to Blatant Anti-Muslim Prejudice?
http://youtu.be/ueT79ZPY9IM Wait for the last interaction with an active-duty soldier. It’s worth it. Do you think there is widespread anti-Muslim prejudice? Do you think it is a problem? How do you feel about it?
WORTH SEEING: Rebuilding at Ground Zero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4yfivS8SWs
COMMENTARY: Making the Best of Family Relationships
For most of us, there’s something both wonderful and worrisome about large family gatherings. On the good side, we often can experience real pleasure in spending time with relatives with whom we have so many common memories. What’s more, being with parents, siblings, and cousins who have known us since childhood often helps us see ourselves
OBSERVATION: The only kind of lies entitled to the protection of the label “white lie” are those that will not diminish trust if and when discovered.
Why is it that the shade of a lie looks so different to the person lied to than the liar? People who lie, sometimes for personal advantage (including avoiding an unpleasant confrontation) and other times to protect the feelings of the person lied to, tend to see their falsehood in shades of white. People lied to tend to see the …
QUOTE: How many times do you get to lie before you are a liar? How many times can someone lie to you before you start asking yourself: What else has he/she lied to me about?
The moral significance and real life impact of lies embedded in the concept of trust. Your ability to generate and sustain trust is not dependent on the frequency of lying but the capacity of the lie to damage or destroy trust. The best liars hardly ever lie, not because they are more honest but because they are more clever. They …
MEMO From Michael: Bound for Bogota — and Medellin!
As mentioned in last week’s updates, I’ll be in Colombia next week. I will post dispatches on the What Will Matter Facebook page, so be sure to Like that page so you can stay in the loop. Much of this week has been spent collaborating with Dr. Gary Smit, the de facto dean of our national CHARACTER COUNTS! training faculty, and two of …
OPTIMISTS’ CREED. Did you know there is a club devoted to the promotion of optimism? Here is their creed:
Promise Yourself To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only …