Episode 32 – An Imaginative (naive?) Glimpse into a Post-Covid-19, 2030 World Featuring Janus and Sparky

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-brhzv-d6eaf7

In this episode, I share an imaginative glimpse I had looking forward to the early years of 2030 when the 8, 9 and 10 (Generation Alpha) years old of today get ready to be “Alphas at the Helm” of tomorrow.  I am building on the “In-the-Clouds/Nebulous” novel of episode 31.  As a prelude to that moment, let me again turn our attention to the unnamed “Man in the Mirror” from Danielson’s novel first sentence of episode 29.  It is March 22, 2020, and his partner asks him, “Will the world ever be ‘normal’ again?”  Bill, who just turned 50 on March 10, 2020, replies, “It will, but we will forget about it and we won’t learn our lessons.”  This episode features an interaction between Janus and Sparky who offer a rebuttal to such cynicism. 

With that fictional background in place, my goal for this episode is to provide some helpful resources to stand up to the covid-19 pandemic, some new and some a reminder about things we already know. 

T-shirt Idea for the episode: “Remember, don’t forget what you know.”

Mantras for the day: “Cooperative Synergy,” “This is hard, but we can do hard things,” and … (what says you?)          

Janus’ twitterature novel first sentence tweet: Remember everyone, borders don’t stop the spread of viruses.  Welcome to the new global community. Let’’s be proactive in a community-minded way and make good decisions!  

Words of the moment: Toilet paper, masks, pandemic, self-isolating, social distancing, Rubbing alcohol, covid-19, corona virus, planking the curve, quarantine

Showcase Resources

About the Coronavirus:

1) For a coronavirus guide explainer, go to CBC News and click on this article:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/coronavirus-guide-explainer-1.5497009

2) Who would have thought the “off-script” idea of home school would be a current reality necessity?  Go to this CBC news link to learn how to talk to your kids about why schools are being closed at:

https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/watch-why-are-schools-being-closed

3) Experts are encouraging us to flatten the curve.  For more click on this article:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/coronavirus-simulation-toronto-1.5497184

4) To explore the dangers of panic buying during an outbreak, again, check out this CBC News link:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/the-trouble-with-panic-buying-during-an-outbreak-1.5498028

5) Here I am including an interview accessible on YouTube by Joe Rogan with Dr. Michael Osterholm that was sent to me by a very close friend at the start of the pandemic.  Attached to the video was his personal sentiment that the corona virus is a “Game Changer.”  As events continue to play themselves out, I think there is lots of evidence to support this claim.  Click here for the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZFhjMQrVts

Three “Remember, don’t forget what you know” resources:

1) Action for Happiness provides daily tweets of inspiration on Twitter.  Go to the following website to follow or revisit the keys to happiness.  This is a time that we need to use our strengths to get through overwhelming time.  Click here for hyperlink: https://www.actionforhappiness.org/

2) Don’t forget the Greater Good Magazine by UC Berkley where you can access a guide to well-being at https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/

3) Last, but not least, visit the Good News Network to laugh by clicking this link https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/jimmy-fallon-hashtags-myquarantineinsixwords/ or listen to a new, inspiring podcast that captures daily news stories about people caring for people during the covid-19 outbreak.  This last link offers thoughts for cabin fever projects – 

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/tips-for-making-your-time-at-home-pandemic-positive/

Together, we can not only get through this but also learn some incredible lessons to make the world a better place for one and all — Steve, The Hopeful Humanist

Episode 31 – Skunks, “Soliloquizing” and “In-the Clouds/Nebulous” Novels

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-rjxjf-d5ea36

Welcome to another episode of The Hopeful Humanist Cafe, a “Just Some Guy” production by me, Steve, The Hopeful Humanist.  In this episode, after a humourous introductory segment by Woodrow II featuring two silly clips from Captain Jack, I attempt to weave together a novel first sentence from Danielson in Episode 29 and a novel first sentence I shared in Episode 26 (the sentences will be noted below).  With that goal in mind, I would like to invite interested listeners to construct “one’s own” novel first sentence to bring to this episode as we will attempt to start the beginning discussion of an “In-the-Clouds/Nebulous” novel.         

Quote for the day: ¨I believe the very purpose of life is to seek happiness. That is clear.¨ The Dalai Lama

T-shirt Idea – “Mad Thinker”

Creativity Challenge:

After constructing your own novel first sentence, attempt to weave it together with the novel first sentences below –

1) Novel First Sentence by Danielson from Episode 29: “The mirror conjured a new testimony of age: evidence of a deeper parenthesized mouth that launched a regret-flavoured reverie as he scrutinized his disturbingly unrecognizable face.” 

2) Novel First Sentence by Steve, The Hopeful Humanist from Episode 26: “Janus was a psychonaut who decided to put down his flight plans after a bad trip that woke him up to the dream he had been living.  He realized the real business in life was the spiritual journey and he had been living in bad faith.” 

Novel first paragraph:

.… Janus decided he was going to mindfully co-author the story of his lived experience.  Thirty seconds earlier, he made the life altering choice to change his name to Janus to mark this new beginning. Ironically, from the perspective of any “Other,” the mere passage of 30 seconds would naturally of led anyone to conclude that nothing in fact had changed – he still occupied the same physical space; he was still 25, white; male; 5’6”; Canadian; university educated; homeless; single, and spiritually rudderless.  Still, back then when he was – him, he had everything but nothing; now, he had nothing but everything. His transformation while total but not complete was from the inside out. The exercise of this inherent life-altering agency left Janus feeling content and satisfied. With a Mona Lisa smile, he found himself inclined to just sit in the moment, be, breath, and get out of his head and into the world to open up to the surrounding sounds, sights, smells, tastes, and textures while he waited for Sparky and the others to arrive for open-mike reading night. 

Showcase Resources:

  1. To explore more fully the quote of the day from the Dalai Lama, listen click here to listen to the audio version of the book called “The Art of Happiness Part 1: The inner light mastering mind series” at this link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2akxJSndjA0

About Skunks:

  1. Click this YouTube link if you are struggling to get skunks off your property –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DheQbj8_JUQ
  2. How to get skunks off your property.  This one does not mention the orange peel strategy above so  I thought I should offer at least two more alternatives to experiment with ways to get skunks off your property. Click here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQwFuKj9I9
  3. Another one here at – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGGw2vpea94
  4. For some general information about skunks, checkout this YouTube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVlqcrEuGmw&t=70s

As always, this tip of the iceberg conversation is ongoing and continuous.  As Blazing Phoenix shared, “Peace and Take Care Everybody!” 

Episode 30 – Sleep is a Gift You Give Yourself

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-fi7w8-d55e62

Salutations!!! Join me, Steve, The Hopeful Humanist, Woodrow II, and Danielson along with all the background sounds of life (I may have gone a little overboard with the sounds of life in this episode?!) as we initiate a tip-of-the-iceberg discussion about some resources accessible on YouTube that might help you get a sweet, slumbering sleep.  The musical intro played by Woodrow II is called “Jazz Blast,” by Nancy and Randall Faber. 

T-shirt Idea: “Sleep is a gift you give yourself”

Showcase Resources:

  1. Calm Sleep Stories for Adults:
    1. The Nordland Night Train by Erik Braa at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcrcXtjRTTE&t=1204s
    2. Blue Gold by Stephen Fry at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mGifCwig8I
    3. Sacred New Zealand by Jerome Flynn at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4x9ssJ0jfM
  2. Sleep Meditation for Kids:
    1. Magic Sleep Tent at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2bQ850rylI
    2. The Sleepy Sloth at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsPo4T3v6dA&t=1566s
    3. The Sleep Train: Destination Dreamland at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BvddFyiLVI
  3. Some concussion friendly audio books to help with sleep:
    1. Making Space: Creating a Home Meditation Practice.  Click here to access a link to Amazon – https://www.amazon.ca/Making-Space-Creating-Meditation-Practice/dp/193700600X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=making+space+by+Thich+Nhat+Hanh&qid=1583078708&sr=8-1
    2. Self Hypnosis by Lynda Hudson. Click here to access a link to Amazon – https://www.amazon.ca/Learn-Self-Hypnosis-Discover-power-within/dp/B071DWNPVL/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Self+hypnosis%3A+Discover+the+power+within+by+Lynda+Hudson&qid=1583078886&sr=8-2
    3. What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam. Click here to access link to Amazon – https://www.amazon.ca/What-Successful-People-Before-Breakfast/dp/B072Q1VVB2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2A0QXYN2KE4C7&keywords=what+the+most+successful+people+do+before+breakfast&qid=1583078985&s=books&sprefix=What+the+most+succe%2Caudible%2C187&sr=1-1
  4. For some ideas about why we sleep, check out this TED Talk by Russell Foster at this link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWULB9Aoopc&t=477s

A special thanks to Woodrow II and Danielson for their contributions to this episode. Thank-you for listening.  It is my hope tonight you might have the gift of a restorative, “sweet, slumbering, sleep” (cool, an alliteration!).  Until next time, peace and take care. 

For more on alliterations click here – https://ca.video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&p=alliteration#id=3&vid=dddf32db477bbfbc798c850cfe7bbc77&action=click

The Hopeful Humanist