Murmuration from Islands & Rivers on Vimeo.

This video fills me with awe for the natural world, and all that we do not know.

When this flock of Starlings turns in unison, it’s called a phase transition. Scientists have studied this phenomenon, and they relate it more to physics than biology. However, they don’t yet fully understand why or how this “murmeration” occurs. Learn more about this here.

A Friday Inspiration Thanksgiving Double Header!

In honor of my gratitude for all of you, my readers, here’s TWO inspiring videos.

I’m totally in awe of Taraneisha, and how she reminds us to care, even in the most hopeless seeming situations.

“I can’t stop the war
Shelter homeless, feed the poor
Can’t walk on water
I can’t save your sons and daughters…
…The least that I can do is care.”

–from “Care,” written by Herschel Boone, Robert Ritchie, Ray Young, & Clifford Harris

Sometimes you just need a little laugh — this one did it for me. I especially like the first comment:

Physics: “Sorry, cat. You can’t do that. There is not enough volume inside of the box.”
Maru: “You misunderstand. I am a cat and a box is involved. Physics no longer apply.”
Physics: “But…”
Maru: “Save your breath, as I am already inside of the box.”
Physics: “But…!”

A film by Beth Murphy. More at Principle Pictures. More at KarmaTube.

I am so inspired by Razia, and so filled with gratitude for my daughters and their life circumstances. I know “what tomorrow brings” for my daughters: a great school, piano lessons, my insistence that they empty the dishwasher and clean their rooms. Literally a world away from girls in Deh Subz, Afghanistan, for whom school attendance is a radical and possibly dangerous act–and is something that they do on top of securing water and food for their families, not to mention housekeeping and homework by the light of one small lamp.

Razia Jan was nominated for “Hero of the Year” on CNN — you can vote for her here.

Are you a good enough parent?

Do you sometimes feel like you are faking it at work or at home? I can’t tell you how many parents I coach that feel like they are not good enough as a parent, or that they are are just “getting by” at work. If so, I think you’ll find this instructional video from business maven Marie Forleo inspiring. Marie offers a different approach–and a quick practice–for when we feel like we aren’t enough.

“In order for kids to learn and be creative, they need to feel happy and safe.” And in a world where we so often hear about schools that are failing and things that aren’t working, solutions like this one are inspiring. May this idea spread!

This short poem was posted in the comments of one of my Happiness Tips, and I know I’m not the only one who wept watching it.

This Friday Inspiration is dedicated to my own mom, Sylvia Carter, aka Nonie. Thanks for everything, mom.

Oops! The original video I posted was removed, but I like this one too. This short film is a moving illustration of how powerful our words can be — and why we should sometimes change them.

Rarely do I admit when an advertisement makes me cry – I hate being manipulated by corporations who want to sell me something. I feel okay about this one, though.

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