Episodes
Tuesday Dec 29, 2015
Resolutions
Tuesday Dec 29, 2015
Tuesday Dec 29, 2015
This is the last Humanist Thought of the Week podcast.
I am moving on to other projects designed to teach people about Humanism.
Which brings me to the concept of resolutions.
Resolutions are goals.
The reason I am ending this podcast is because I have other goals.
We all need goals. We need something to work towards.
Sometimes we have to let go of one dream to pursue another.
Don’t be afraid to chase your dreams.
Just do so realistically, compassionately and ethically.
Make me proud of you.
And please don’t lose touch.
Join me at the Happiness Thru Humanism blog if you haven’t already and join my mailing list so that you can get my latest essays via email (there is a link to the newsletter on this page).
Thanks for your support!
Bye.
Tuesday Sep 22, 2015
People Power
Tuesday Sep 22, 2015
Tuesday Sep 22, 2015
Humanism puts humans front and center.
Our concern is for the welfare of humans and humanity.
We want a world where all people are able to thrive.
This means we want all people to have access to education, health care, housing, employment and the means of enjoyment.
Too many people are locked out of the economy and their ability to thrive is limited as a result.
Discrimination denies people access to basic means of survival.
Whether it is red lining neighborhoods so people can’t get loans.
Laws that prohibit the hiring of certain people.
Or health care providers who seek the right to refuse to care for patients because of religious beliefs.
When one person is prohibited from full participation in society, all of society suffers.
We are all in this together. We need all hands on deck and yet, we refuse to let some of those hands help.
It’s insanity.
If we want to harness the full potential of humanity, we must empower all people to fully participate in society.
It is clear that the changes required aren’t going to happen on their own.
If we want society to change, we are going to need to do the hard work to make it change.
Power to the people, means people using their power to create change!
Tuesday Jul 28, 2015
Planning for Personal Success
Tuesday Jul 28, 2015
Tuesday Jul 28, 2015
Eudaimonia is a big word that is hard to pronounce. It will never catch on.
Regardless, eudaimonia is the goal of the humanist.
Aristotle says that eudaimonia means 'doing and living well'.
There are two parts of this. The first is the doing.
The 2nd is the living well.
You can’t have one without the other.
And that’s where things get tricky.
Knowing what you should do to create wellbeing is rarely straightforward.
Most people need some sort of plan or strategy to be successful.
Understanding that your goal is to live well and thrive is the first step.
Learn more with my new course – Planning for Personal Success at Humanist Learning Systems.
Tuesday Feb 24, 2015
Poor Old Jack
Tuesday Feb 24, 2015
Tuesday Feb 24, 2015
My son has been going through a Nightmare before Christmas phase.
He has been asking to listen to the soundtrack over and over and over.
And I’ve decided that the song “Poor Jack,” the song he sings in the cemetery after ruining Christmas has got to be one of the best humanistic songs ever written.
I’m including a link to a youtube video of a live performance of it from the composer Danny Elfman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw6r1OnIZ5A
This song is a perfect encapsulation of a healthy response to reaching for the sky and failing and having to come to terms with that failure.
He feels sorry for himself. “Why does nothing every turn out like it should?”
He gets angry – “no one really understood, well how could they?
He congratulates himself for at least trying “What the heck I went and did my best.”
He accepts himself for who he is “That’s right I am the Pumpkin King!!”
He moves on “I just can’t wait until next Halloween.”
And then, he commits to fixing his mistakes. “I wonder if there’s still time to set things right.”
Everytime I hear this I am motivated to move past my own failings.
It’s no wonder everyone yells along to “that’s right – I am the Pumpkin King!” every time we hear it. It’s really life affirming.
And ... dare I say - humanistic
Tuesday Feb 10, 2015
Playing Hookey
Tuesday Feb 10, 2015
Tuesday Feb 10, 2015
Have you ever woken up on a cold day and thought, I don’t want to get out of bed.
I feel that way all the time.
The problem is that I am a parent.
I can’t play hookey.
I have responsibilities.
My son has to get ready for school, and I have to take him places and make sure he is fed and his homework done.
Sure I’m cold and my bed is nice and warm.
But I’m a mom. And I love being a mom.
So I get out of bed and do my duty.
And I find that being responsible feels a lot like love.
And that’s a good thing.
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