I like this band for a very long time - I hope a few zaadsters, too. They have made me happy in many ways and brought untold joys. Cosmic forces collide!
Happy New Year!

Originally posted on my out of Zaadz blog - some edits -

Learning about blogging as a communication tool - and adding it to my toolbox - is part of the "why I do it". But I got a friendly kick in the tail today. Really, this blog is about you, dear reader and blogger in community. Just like I depend on others blogging - as I like to comment - some of you may visit for the same reason. Though with 50 million or so blogs, you'd think there would be more commenting going on :) So I resolve to think first of others in these posts. No guarantee of value but you will always have an opportunity to comment!

The inspiration for this post comes from over at ProBlogger. I saw it a couple days ago and it's been rattling around ever since. Be sure to view the video posted - its less than a minute long. And the thoughts at Presentation Zen are worthwhile - but a little long <------judgment call (like I should pass judgment on length of posts - HA!).

Three years ago, I began working toward becoming more healthy. It was a lifestyle change and resulted in significant weight loss. In addition to making better choices in what I ingest there was an increase in movement and exercise. I walk. I walk a lot. Most days I walk twice for a total 5-10 miles. I LOVE to walk. (can somebody help me with kilometers?)

Here's where the solitude comes in. For the first year of my walking, I was alone. Over 1500 miles of being alone in thought. Gets downright personal. Its easy to center on the activity of walking. It also gives a chance to massage an idea ot thought into an action. This is a critical point in blogging. Its not a post until its written :)

About 18 months ago, I started walking with a friend during my lunchtime. I really enjoy Lynn's company and conversation. Still had my morning walk to gather my thoughts....until a year ago.

It was then I gained a morning walking partner. My morning partner's wife died a year ago last Monday - 1.15.2006 - and the funeral was a year ago today. This is a time of reflection for both of us. I barely knew Bob when a few days after the funeral I said -

"If there is anything you want to talk about or anything you need, please let me know". He asked if I was still walking in the morning could he join me. "Of course!" It's lonley on those dark streets :)

There I suddenly found myself with walking comrades twice a day.I wouldn't trade any of the times with Lynn or Bob. Some of my happiest moments are with them. We talk, we laugh, we cry, we discover our humanity. It is really my joy of 2006.

Until the last few days, I wouldn't have given lost solitude a second thought. But Wednesday and Thursday - at lunch - I walked alone. It was nice. The snow crunched beneath my boots - ever notice how loud snow is? - the 14 degree weather iced my mustache. And I came up with the idea of this post. I came to the realization that blogging is for others. Solitude will do that - won't you try it?

Be good to yourself by taking time to remember others.

Once again I post here and on Zaadz

The post at Church of the Customer blends nicely with another item. You need subscription to WSJ online to view the story they link. Seems lawyers - the partners anyway - need some training in common courtesy. Simple phrases like "thank you" and "nice job" must to be added to training? Huh?!?! The associates have been turning over(30%) in a job that pays $160,000 per year. Who says basic human dignity is passe'.

Matt Asay gives a real life example on his blog AC/OS - My comment suggests it tells a great deal about our deep desire as humans to prefer "thank you" over "have another dollar". Appreciation trumps more $.

I've been holding this item in draft for a couple days. Link over to Harris Interactive (Harris Interactive Inc. All rights reserved, of course) and reference the top article - Trends & Tudes (Jan. 2007) "A New Approach to Tempering Materialism" in pdf form. I don't have any kids but lord knows I love 'em. Please don't tell them that - I have a reputation to uphold. For the most part, I think they get a bum rap about being more materialistic than adults. Lets face it - this 21st century of abundance has made many of us materialistic. Ipods, Blackberrys, faster machines, digital cameras, coffee at 2 bucks a cup. Luxury! We got STUFF!...and lawyers have even nicer stuff :). One could argue that our time of abundance is quickly ending - global warming - but that is for another day. Admit it - each of you, dear reader, has some degree of materialism. I know I do.

The Harris research suggests the problem isn't materialism itself but how the teens and tweens view the things they possess. Feel free to insert "adult" anyplace you read "kids". Materialistic kids without gratitude are not very generous - sort of like the law partner who neglects "thank you". Less materialistic kids - you know some - are generous and often grateful for what they have. When kids with lots of things have a sense of gratitude they are no less likely to be generous than kids without lots of stuff.

This creates an opportunity to focus efforts on encouraging children to be thankful and grateful for things they have rather than keeping things out of there hands. It is possible that being appreciative may increase children's ability to take the perspective of others and thus increase their level of empathy and pro-social behavior. Teaching thankfulness can alleviate some of the harmful social effects of materialism.

Let's say this extends to adults, too. And not just lawyers. Let's say that thankfulness IS a learned behavior and it can be taught. Law can be a ruthless calling but look at Lincoln for an example of how great a person can be - with a little gratitude. And then lets imagine a community of gratitude. All of this ties into huge ethical questions on happiness. Perhaps a little Aristotelian.

Soon as I can find the papers I wrote on Aristotle and his virtues/ethics I will begin posting them. This simplifies it but near as I determined Aristotle dug pursuing the mean between the extremes of good virtue and bad virtue. His belief was that with practice - and role models - at hitting the target (mean) humans would be happier. It's a fascinating  concept. Gratitude and thankfulness are part of it and they are learned behaviour. I think one could argue they are with us at birth - but I'm not qualified :)

For inspiration about our future as human, read the Harris Interactive editorial view in the left rail of the study.