Often, we imagine artists as tortured souls, living alone in dark garrets wearing utterly ridiculous, foppish clothing and pouring their pain onto canvases or notebook pages or piano keys, trading sorrow for artistic genius. As an active member of a number of artistic communities, I can pretty confidently say that big sleeves or intense depression are not requirements for the creation of great art. In fact, some of the most beautiful works I’ve ever seen have come from perfectly emotionally healthy people or even groups of people.

Take, for example, the incredible glass sculpture of modern master Dale Chihuly. I was fortunate enough to attend the opening weekend of his new exhibit at the De Young museum in San Francisco, where I was immediately struck by the sheer number of beautiful pieces being shown. This was more impressive, however, because I supplemented my viewing by watching the accompanying documentary about the process of creating these masterpieces. Here’s what I find exciting about glassblowing a la Dale Chihuly- it’s a team affair. For each enormous bubble or floral creation, there is a team of men and women who take part, putting the piece in the “glory hole,” or lengthening the molten glass by whirling it around over their head, or even catching the completed piece and putting it safely in the cooler. Chihuly’s work would prove literally impossible without the help of each member of his highly-skilled team of artisans.

So if I may, the message here is two-fold:

1. Support the arts. Check out a glass exhibition, go to the symphony, attend a play- there are so many fantastic art resources across the country- who knows what you’ll find in your town. Art is always the product of its community in one way or another, and local artistic endeavors truly only survive because of the patronage of people like you. I promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how satisfying it can be.

2. Be sure to find out when the museums in your community are free. This might sound strange, but most major museums are free about once a month (often as a result of the sponsorship of a company like Target, the business that sponsored the free Chihuly opening weekend). Why not go to that art museum you’ve always wondered about? It only takes a few minutes or a quick phone call to figure this out, and the reward is enormous.

What are you waiting for? Go forth and enjoy. Actually, first check out some work by Chihuly at www.chihuly.com. But then find the Chihuly in your town, and take some time to appreciate the beauty mere humans can create.

I was really surprised when I found out the other day that my friend Luis volunteers…a LOT, in his spare time. Apparently he spends at least three afternoons a week with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program helping inner city youth. Basically, he goes and sees his little brother, and they talk about life, school, and play basketball and do other positive activities. According to the Big Brothers Big Sisters website: littles are 52% less likely to skip school, 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs, and more likely to get along with their families and peers. 

If you’re like Luis, and would like to donate some of your time to a cause you support, I just found a neat little site powered by good2gether. It is a free web services that connects people with causes and nonprofits. They have already teamed up with boston.com to provide the DoGoodChannel. There, you can choose your location and find organizations and non-profits that you support. Not only that, but it gives you information on how you can help, by either donating time or money or just participating in an event.

We normally post quotes from the Foundation for a Better Life, but this quote is brought to you by PosiPeople. This quote is about success. Enjoy!

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”

- Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965), husband, father, Prime Minister of England, Author and soldier

“The wealth of nations is no longer stuff in
the ground; the wealth of nations resides in
the human mind, in human creativity.”
– George Weigel

The Fourth Annual Tyburn Lecture, May 2004, “The Free And Virtuous Society:”

There are few messages that are more positive than the message above. It is a concept that has been said in many different ways by many people. Although Saudi Arabia and other oil rich countries are getting a “free ride” at the moment, as have many nations who have built the majority of their wealth from resource extraction, times are changing. The more and more I read and listen to experts’ words on the topic of resource scarcity, the more and more I become convinced that the central solution is productivity out pacing inflation. The solution to productivity has always been breakthrough innovation, and the source of breakthrough innovation has always been the human mind. This applies even in resource extraction.

Other than building strong individual character, the greatest cause that anybody can advocate is this:
Increase the percentage of innovative for-profit entrepreneurs. Why? because this creates a more competitive environment which results in more creative destruction which leads to higher productivity which leads to a higher quality of life for all citizens.

I have thought about whether or not I could make this claim for some time now, and have tried to “break it”, but I have found that the claim is unbreakable.

I’m sure we’ve all experienced this. Maybe it’s on our way to class, to work, getting off the subway, crossing the street, your see 3 or 4 people wearing GreenPeace shirts, education shirts, anything bright holding a clipboard, and you immediately think of a way to get out of talking to them or an alternate route to take to avoid them. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to cough up some dough for a cause or organization I stand for or support, but that doesn’t mean I want to talk to these people every time they approach me.

The Jimmy Fund found a way around this that makes people excited to give money for a cause. It is an organization that supports the fight against cancer at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The people at The Jimmy Fund hosts a series of events throughout the year in the New England region that brings families and friends together for a day (or days) of fun activities. I just participated in the Scooper Bowl this week at Boston City Hall. It is a three day event sponsored by several ice cream makers such as Ben and Jerry’s, Coldstone Creamery, Breyer’s, and more. You pay $8 and it’s all you can eat ice cream. You can also purchase a pass to go in all 3 days. This event draws many people (the day I went it was packed, and I was only there for maybe an hour and half), and it’s a good way to draw people to support a cause without having them feel like they are obligated to.

I’m sure there are other foundations and organizations that do fundraising events like The Jimmy Fund, so keep an eye out in your area on events that support a great cause you stand for.

If you live in the New England region, there are many more events to come in the rest of the year. For more information and to learn more about The Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, go to their web site. The Jimmy Fund also holds several events outside of New England, so check to see if there is one in your area soon!

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Since my last post about Randy Pausch’s battle with cancer, he hasn’t had much to share with the public. Many people have purchased his book, “The Last Lecture”, and appreciate him sharing his knowledge. Since the book’s publishing, Randy gave a commencement speech at this year’s graduation at Carnegie Mellon. His speech was the “Charge Address” and you can watch it on the video above.

The most memorable quotes from his address are:

1. “We don’t beat the [grim reaper] by living longer, we beat the reaper by living well.”
2. “It is not the things we do in life that we regret on our deathbed, but it is the things we do NOT do that we regret.”
3. “Find your passion and follow it. You will not find that passion in things or in money and you will never be happy if these things are your passion.”

Watch the video and I promise you will not regret it. And, oh yeah, it seems his cancer has spread. But, my friends, that is just a side note for Randy is truly living life well.

The last note is that Al Gore delivered the keynote speech at Carnegie Mellon and Randy shared the stage with a former vice president of the United States. I think that fits very nicely.