You are not so 'special' after all

Having grown up in a world in which Mr. Rodgers told me how special I was five days a week and anxiety ridden parents demand and command that their children be played more in Little League and soccer practice—a world where everyone gets a trophy for just showing up to play, the following speech is the refreshing drink of water some of us have been waiting for for the past 20 years.

Watch as a veteran high school English teacher tells his students so proudly graduating high school that they are not as special as they are so often told. In fact he says, one in a million means that there are around 7,000 people just like them. Instead, he suggests to find a way to make an impact regardless of what numbers of people might be feeling every bit as special as you on any given day.

Roll on!

George Carlin solves homelessness in ten minutes

George Carlin, master of comedic cacophony and effortless alliteration waxes poetic about solutions to homelessness. Among these: changing the name to "houselessness" and foregoing what he calls a useless elitist sport of golf (and until the Tiger Woods era according to Ol' Georgie, a racist sport that takes up entirely too much time and land—hundreds of acres of which, says Carlin, could be used to house the homeless). 'Tis a novel idea if I've ever heard one in my near-32 years on this spinning orb we call Earth.





Roll on!

Focus on what you DO want

Motivational Thought: Never focus on what you lack, what you fear or what you don't want in hopes to get rid of it. You won't. Rather, stay on course to thinking about what you're grateful for and what you would most love to have, to be, etc. The mind doesn't understand otherwise. It hones in on what you put into it.

Roll on!

Where do ideas really come from?

For sure, the idea is not singular, it is networked. Rather, the first idea is ill-formed and the complete idea is fully formed by the network. But the temporary ownership of the idea is essential for the idea to take hold in the world. This reinforces the idea of the narrators: people who can connect and explain the idea and communicate more or less exactly the idea as far as it can be understood by those taking an interest. In this way, the idea can take hold. -Tim Greenhalgh, YouTube user comment 

Steve Johnson takes some time in this TED talk to analyze, scrutinize and utterly break apart the notion of an idea as a single moment in time: a "eureka," a "lightbulb" or any number of terms used to suggest a singularity in concept of any particular idea. Rather Johnson argues for networked creativity wherein one idea might be borrowing from another and groups in the same way, might be cross-pollinating, if you will, with other groups.

This blog, while sometimes strong in its advocacy and championing of those with disabilities, is ultimately about championing difference as a form of unique contribution to the world and its various cultures. This video exemplifies that particular aim.

Roll on!

50 Things I'm Going to Do Today

This free lecture by free-thinking intellectual "shakerupper" Brian Johnson lists 50 of the most comprehensively motivating things for us, abled however we are, to do today. I agree with most of the things on this list except the whole "Stop milking the cow" part -- for I doth love me a milkshake now and again.

Listen here.

Roll on with yo' 50 things!

The Bucket List Series: The Bucket List Book by Angie Webb

Paulo Coelho is the author of one of my favorite books, The Alchemist

Here is some boisterous and beautiful inspiration from an inspiring person whom my fiancee had the pleasure to meet  and befriend while working at a youth summer camp recently:

The Bucket List Series: The Bucket List Book:   THE BUCKET LIST FOR EVERYONE: 100 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU KICK THE BUCKET

Roll on!

Henry Rollins INSPIRES YOU LIKE CRAZY in under five minutes!

No matter how hard life has been to you, you have been given tomorrow as a sign to NOT give up!



Roll on!

My writing, editing and creative services are now available!

Writing, editing, marketing, ad copy, comedy writing, help with novels, screenplays... and even greeting cards and poems for that special person in your life; it's all a part of the Michael LaPenna creative service guarantee!

I'll work within your budget to ensure you get the best value for your dollar!

For rates, questions and general inquiries, contact me here or call (845) 313-4714.

Thanks so much for your business!


Sincerely,
Mike


Learn more about my service and book me at Thumbtack.com 

Reblog - Let me tell you a story about moving past limitations

Check out this reblog and as always... roll on!

The Wheelchair Philosopher: Let me tell you a story about moving past limitati...:   This image of rapper-singer Drake is taken from an anonymous source on Facebook. Copyright is granted in full to the original owner of ...

Photosophical: Your life is yours to live

Roll on!

State.com calls out ESPN on its lack of Paralympics coverage

The Paralympic Games of 2012 have been going on in London since August 29, but judging from the media coverage or more precisely, the lack of it, no one in the US would know that. While this kind of omission is not uncommon for unpopular topics in news, it is however a little glaring. Yet, honestly, I can't say I'm surprised any more than I would be at America's lack of interest in UK cricket. There's no reference point and no public outcry amid the home runs from early September Major League Baseball and touchdowns of the first few weeks of NFL football.

The following piece from Slate.com takes a stance of inexcusablity toward ESPN, its affiliates and subsequent sponsor relationships therein.  The piece points to the usual inspirational go-tos: indomitable spirit, the triumph of the will over the hardships of the flesh and body, etc. But  as someone who has competed in similar games and as your wheelchair philosopher, I ask that you reserve your judgment until after you read the article below.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/five_ring_circus/2012/09/07/paralympics_2012_espn_s_lack_of_coverage_is_totally_indefensible_.html

Like the Paralympics' wheelchair events... roll on!