In February 2012, a North Carolina dad named Tommy Jordan discovered a Facebook post by his 15-year-old daughter that trashed him and complained about chores in a manner that most would agree was disrespectful and profane. He videotaped his response and ended his 8-minute rant by literally shooting her laptop. He posted the video on her Facebook profile and it went viral …
WORTH READING: “If I Had My Child to Raise All Over Again” by Diane Loomans
If I had my child to raise all over again, I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later. I’d finger-paint more, and point the finger less. I would do less correcting and more connecting. I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes. I’d take
WORTH READING: “When You Thought I Wasn’t Looking” — a poem about parenting
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang up my first painting on the refrigerator, and I wanted to paint another one. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you feed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be kind to animals. When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake …
WORTH SEEING: Poster – Don’t Chase Love
DON’T CHASE LOVE. Love cannot be caught like an unwilling butterfly. Nobody loves you just because you want them to. Nobody loves you just because you ask them to. When love comes , it comes on its own wings . Be patient.
COMMENTARY 767.3: Improve the World — Be Nice!
Marta was a hard-working single mother. Last week, at church, her minister urged the congregation to improve the world by doing more to help others. He’s got to be kidding, she thought, I can barely make ends meet and provide my children with basic necessities. Still, she felt guilty – “maybe I should be doing more.” So, on the bus to work …
QUOTE: If you want to be happy, learn to be alone without being lonely. Learn that being alone does not mean being unhappy. The world is full of plenty of interesting and enjoyable things to do and people who can enrich your life. — Michael Josephson
See more words and images on love and relationships here.
WORTH SEEING AND READING: Happy Together or Alone: Words and Images About Love and Relationships
click to see images (new images added March 23, 2012)
OBSERVATION: “The love of sports is deeply embedded in our national consciousness. The values of millions of participants and spectators are directly and dramatically influenced by the values conveyed by organized sports.” — Josephson Institute, Arizona Sports Summit Accord.
In 1999, the Josephson Institute of Ethics convened a 3-day summit in Arizona with 40 of the most influential leaders in sports including John Wooden, Bob Costas and many of the countries most successful athletic directors, coaches and university presidents. The result was a document referred to as the Arizona Sports Summit Accord which
COMMENTARY 767.1a (Bonus): Is Pro Basketball “Just” a Business? Dumping Derek Fisher Is Lawful but Awful
It’s just a business. Virtually all my friends and fellow fans of the Los Angeles Lakers were content with this justification in response to my protest of the Lakers’ surprising decision to trade a much-loved 16-year-veteran player who had made a huge contribution to the team’s unity and success over the 13 years he’d been a member. When I …
WORTH READING: Dealing With Grief: 17 Deep Thoughts for Dark Times
There are no magic potions or secret strategies to deal with grief but here is a selection of special quotations and poems that might provide some perspective, if not comfort. 1. Sorrow makes us all children again — destroys all differences of intellect. The wisest know nothing. — Ralph Waldo Emerson 2. Time is a physician that heals every grief. …
WORTH READING: For those who are grieving — I Carry Your Heart With Me, a lovely poem by e.e. cummings
I Carry Your Heart With Me i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling) I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want no world
WORTH WATCHING: “I Hate Religion but Love Jesus” — See the video that got 20 million views and some of the responses
See the original video that started it all. See an interview with Mr. Bethke on ABC. See Jefferson Bethke’s Facebook Page. Just three of the better response raps: One response Catholic response Another response
QUOTE: We each decide whether to make ourselves learned or ignorant, compassionate or cruel, generous or miserly. No one forces us. No one decides for us, no one drags us along one path or the other. We are responsible for what we are. — Moses Maimonides (adapted)
See more than 100 quotes and images about ethics and virtue from a spiritual or religious perspective here.
WORTH SEEING: A Spiritual or Religious Perspective on Character and Ethics – More than 100 Great Poster Images and Quotes
The Josephson Institute and CHARACTER COUNTS! are based on a secular perspective of character and ethics. We believe the Six Pillars of Character — trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship — transcend social, economic, ethnic, and religious differences. We believe that people of character may or may not be committed to a religious or spiritual perspective.
COMMENTARY 765.5: Controversy – Young Christian Says He Hates Religion but Loves Jesus
I recently posted a commentary about religion in America and additional data based on a massive study by the Pew Foundation. Today I want to seek your opinion on a passionate controversy ignited by a You Tube video posted by a 22 year-old named Jefferson Bethke.
GUEST POST: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes by Anne Josephson
Anne Josephson, the wife of Michael Josephson, founded The Josephson Academy of Gymnastics (JAG Gym), one of the largest and most successful gymnastics schools for children in Los Angeles. She is a prominent member of the gymnastics community and an expert on youth sports. She writes a regular blog posted on her website. This post originally appeared on her blog …
WORTH SEEING: Poster – Don’t Make Things Worse
When bad things happen to you, DON”T MAKE THINGS WORSE by starting to see yourself as a victim, or someone who doesn’t deserve
OBSERVATION: You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present. — Jan Glidewell.
Bad things happen to us and around us. Often the best we can do is to limit the harm with a resolve to move forward with open arms.