Do Something Different

Check out the link below to see what others are saying about creating a more peaceful community. Doing Something Different really works!

http://is.gd/eeHmR

Haiti is not lost, but we are if we don’t help. But we are helping, so according to my logic–we are not lost either. Wonderful, don’t you think? I do. As I talk to one person after another, watch the meager amount of TV that I do, and receive emails from companies and organizations, I know we’re not lost. We do care and we care deeply. I believe it’s times like these that we KNOW that we are one people–one race. It was as if something, our natural connection, simply rose up from within us and we responded, and that without thinking about the people that we seem to disdain any other day. Our humanity overtook our usual prejudices and we rushed to the rescue, not of Haiti, but of ourselves. For deep in the recesses of our mind (s), we know we are one. Our very essences, spirit, soul, cells tell us that we are connected. Finally, our earth, one that is also connected to our very being, moved us a bit closer to this inherent knowing: we are one people. We are all saved, or we are all lost; either way, we are in this together because we are one.

If you don’t know where to go to give contact your local Red Cross. If you are a NSU community member, contact tmorrow@nova.edu to give. If you know a Haitian family or have friends that you know need therapeutic help as a result of this catastrophe, contact Arlene Gordon

Brief Therapy Institute  954 262 3030.

To Give:

On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake hit Haiti causing unimaginable catastrophe.  Already, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, suffering a natural disaster of this magnitude has left Haiti in ruins. Desperate men, women and children are trapped under the rubble of thousands of collapsed buildings.  Hospitals, schools, neighborhoods, and even aid centers have been completely obliterated.  Hundreds of thousands are feared dead, and thousands more are wounded, some in critical conditions. Those who have been rescued are in desperate need of food, water, medicine, and other essentials.  Without your help, thousands more are going to perish.  We do not have to let this happen, the people of Haiti are crying for your help. Stephane.

There are many agencies available to take donations for Haiti’s releif, but if you are at NSU you may go to the Maltz Building and make your donation. You may drop your donation at the Brief Therapy Institute on the first floor, or in one of the designated boxes in the lobby near the reception’s desk.–

To Pray:

If you were a part of the spiritual vigil for our youth then you know what to do: pray, meditate, intend, sing, dance, sculpt, paint, exercise–anything you’d like to bring about the change we seek in Haiti’s situation. She is us, and we are she.

On December 17, 2009, we met at NSU to talk about our 40 day spiritual experience. Those who attended offered the following ideas for our continued connection:

1) Rape
2) President Obama
3) Health Care Initiative

We decided that we will continue to meditate and pray about youth peace (non violence) with different groups focusing on the areas of their greatest interest or heart. You may choose from the list above or you may add to the list. Let us know. Everyone will blog on the specific areas, posting significant news related to that area.

We’ll keep looking for more news about how we have created a shift in youth relations in Broward county and will post it on this blog. If you know something, blog it.

But first let me share with you guys how my world has sychonized itself to meet me at this point in time. I  have spent the last 5 days at a psychotherapy conference. The last two workshops that I attended captured the essence of  our proclamation just 36 days ago. One, very inspiring presenter encourage us that we are living at the best time of the ages in that we have the ability to be connected to others (cultures) in a way that our grandparents weren’t. She also gloried in the fact that because of this and many other enviornmnental  and spiritual factors, we have an opportunity to bring about a shift in the way we respond to each other that has the potential to usher in a world community without the divisions that we experience now. Potential, opportunity are words are key here.

We began this process in Broward county when we decided that the over 17 different faiths that were represented in our sessions Sat, November 7 would use our conjoint spiritualities to create a positive shift in how our youth respond to each other, themselves, and us. I know that the change that we have begun will be manifested on  December 17th and beyond. I’ll see you at NSU at noon.

Now, if you can not be there, take that time to put your energy towards us. Look westward as you pray, meditate, sing, rap, chant, cry and join us in the beginning of another time of peace in our land.

With High Intentions

On December 17th, in about 9 days, we will confirm the fruit of our prayers and intentions. For this momentous occasion, we will meet at NSU at 12, noon, and celebrate what we have achieved. So, if you have spent the last 40 days minding the peace of our youth, then come and share those of like-mind your experience. On this day we will share data on the difference that we’ve made, and we will discuss future joint intentions.  So, meet us at Nova Southeastern University ( Davie Campus) Carl DeSantis Building, location of the Business School, Room 2057, 12PM.

And so it is!

Twenty-three days ago we met at the NSU Diversity Summit and agreed that we wanted to instigate a significant change in the way our youth were relating to each other. We decided that we could (and would) create social change my uniting our minds, hearts, intentions, and spirits. We covenanted together that we would use our individual gifts and create songs, poems, art, and dance to add to our collective effort.  Some of us have planted gardens; others circulated flyers, and other added exercise routines as meditation. Many of us agreed to share this experience with others and invite our churches, neighbors, clubs, colleagues, students and classmates to join this spiritual endeavor. And in 17 days we will see what our intentions have generated. I have no doubt that things will be different. I also know that each of us will be different just because we shared in this very special time together

I believe that everything that happens begins with an intention. I have no science to prove this; it’s just a personal observation. So, our (joint) decision to create a shift, positive shift, in the behavior of Broward County’s youth culture is with the knowing that our 40 days of praying, meditating and intending has–yes present tense–made a difference. In our workshop (about 12 days ago), several of us shared our experiences of praying for something and it happened. One participant shared with the group how she talked to a plant and it began to grow. I talked about getting “my” car and how in the moment that dealer was telling me that they didn’t have any like the one that I wanted, a truck pulled up with “my” car on it. My thinking is that if we can intend or pray for these things and they happened, then we can pray or intend for ANYTHING–including peace and it will happen. So here we are 12 days later making it happen(ed). In my next post, I’ll going to share with you the most current index that I can find about negative juvenile behavior in Broward County. This is so that we can see the effects of our spiritual activity since November 7, 2009. Until then, let us know what you’re doing to create this shift we’re after.

Hey Everyone,

If you have logged on the help bring peace to the youth of Broward County’s youth, you’re in the right place. Let me give you some background to our project. Last Saturday (11/7/09), at NSU Diversity Summit, I presented  the topic” Social Change by Any Spiritual Means Necessary.” The over 50 participants in my section agreed that we should use the 1993 Meditation in Washington DC as our inspiration to bring peace to the youth in Broward County’s youth. What happened in DC was a group of 4000 spent about 53 days meditating and the crime rate WENT DOWN. So, we decided to pray, meditate, intend, mind, etc peace for our young people.  Click on the topic: Peaceful Youth in Broward County to the right for more information. Share this with your friends and colleagues if you’d like.  I am excited about this experience and I KNOW that we’re going to make a difference. We want to keep up with our numbers, as the DC study showed that as the number or mediators increased the crime rate decreased. Peace, peace, peace. Debra

 Stay connected

1. Debra Nixon

Open, constructive talk about “race” is new for many of us.  Many of us would rather whisper in shadows than have “outted” discussions. In my experience with teaching a graduate course that deals with a broad range of diversity issues, many are afraid to talk openly for fear of being labeled a bigot.  Students confess that they are afraid of what others will say if they acknowledged some of their thoughts on volatile topics such as race and spirituality. And, at the risk of sounding like a worn out record, I have to reiterate that “If we don’t talk about these things, we’re never going to move beyond our current blissfully ignorant circumstances. Don’t believe me? Take a look at political news. It’s scary what people are doing and saying in the name of the First Amendment. I know we like to keep things concrete, but it seems to me that the spirit of the First Amendment carries with it a responsibility to the common good or welfare. What is even more frightening is that political and media leaders dare to question that any of the front-page activities are fueled by our racist present and past.  We are being presented with another opportunity to right a nearly 400-year-old wrong, and it seems that, with all or our education and exposure, we are no more advanced in our thinking about diversity and inclusion than we were prior to the civil war. I am embarrassed and saddened by it all. Some one straighten me out. I know this is not the “truth.”