sharonksobotta

Lesson #29 Be eclectic. Be intentional about integrating different types of food, fashion, music and ideas into your life. Global musician Kush Arora spoke about the value of eclecticism in my book. Recently, I had a chance to interview a man who has been my facebook friend for years about his eclectic approach to music, work, love and life.

As lesson #19 in my book, The Journey of Life: 100 Lessons from Around the World, states: Communicate with strangers. Whether it's the person sitting next to you in a coffee shop or the person driving your cab, (or, in the case of the story you are about to hear--the people sitting on either side of you on a plane) everyone you encounter has something to teach you. On a recent flight from LA to Milwaukee, Wisconsin via Las Vegas I sat in the middle of a woman in her twenties and one in her forties. The three of us, together, comprised three, sequential generations. Listen to their stories and be inspired. :-)

MY REPORTER’S MANTRA IS THAT WHEN LIFE DOESN’T GO AS PLANNED, IT’S BEST TO EMBRACE IT AS CONTENT, BECAUSE WHATEVER WE COME UP WITH AFTER ALL OF THE CHALLENGES AND DETOURS IS ALMOST ALWAYS BETTER THAN OUR ORIGINAL PLAN ANYWAYS. IN THAT SAME VAIN, IT’S THE PEOPLE THAT I MEET BY CHANCE, OFTEN WHILE I’M COVEREING OTHER STORIES OR PURSUING OTHER PLANS, THAT HAVE THE MOST INTRIGUING, INSPIRING STORIES. RECENTLY, I TOOK A RISK. I RESPONDED TO OPRAH WINFREY’S CALL FOR PITCHES WITH A PROPOSAL FOR A SHOW CALLED OFF THE BEATEN PATH, INTENDED TO MAKE VOICES FROM PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE ACCESSIBLE TO THE MASSES. I TOOK MY IDEA ALL THE WAY TO ATLANTA, GEORGIA FOR THE FINAL IN-PERSON GROUP AUDITION. I ARRIVED AT 7AM TO GET A 5PM CALL BACK TIME. IN THE END, I LEARNED THAT THIS TOO WAS MORE ABOUT THE JOURNEY THAN THE DESTINATION, AND, JUST LIKE MY PITCH, I WAS MOST INSPIRED BY THE PEOPLE THAT I MET BY CHANCE. IN THIS SEGMENT I’M GOING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO FIVE AMAZING WOMEN THAT CROSSED MY PATH IN ATLANTA—TWO DEAF WOMEN FROM GEORGIA WHO ARE ON A MISSION TO MAKE THEIR STORIES HEARD; AN OIL PAINTER AND MOTHER OF TWO FROM NORTH CAROLINA WHO USES CANVAS TO FIND PURPOSE, A MOTHER FROM NEW YORK CITY WHO LOST HER SON TO SUICIDE AND IS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE IN HIS HONOR, AND A WOMAN WHO FROM THE HEART OF ATLANTA WHO IS DOING HER PART TO HELP HER COMMUNITY GET HEALTHY.

Hundreds of activists from across the country are at the Socailism 2010 Conference in Oakland, Califonia this weekend. I attended the morning session called 'Lessons Learned form the Puerto Rican Student Strike,' for my weekly field story for KPFA news (which can be found in the 6pm news archives for July 3, 2010) and spent time with Roberto Pastrana and Ovido Elfrain Lopez Alers after, to gain a concrete understanding of how the stike played out. They talked, not only about the positive aspects of their student movement, but also about how they could through the rough portions as well.

In my quest to give voice to people from all walks of life, I love learning the backstories, not just of the people in the forefront, but the people on the sidelines, the people who prepare the food that I enjoy when I go out for dinner. Just after returning from Bali last summer, I made my first trip to Chef Jon Lee's Asian Confusion restaurant. As the product of a Balinese mother and a Chinese father, Jon Lee has always lived an eclectic, bicultural life. Rather than trying to figure out how to compartmentalize his identity, Jon embraces his eclectic style into everything he does--working his way from the car industry to the restaurant business and discovering his passion for combining the various flavors of Asia into every dish he prepares.

I like to think of stress as optional and opt out as often as possible, but in the chaos of life that is sometimes easier said than done. Jonathan Kapalan, Ph.D. says its possible to find peace anywhere at anytime including the inside of your car during rush hour. Ever since doing this interview, I've been seriously considering cleaning out my car. It will indeed happen. Listen to Jonathan's interview to get a few tips on mindful living.

Life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we react. Might as well have a good attitude about it.

In everyday conversation, people sometimes throw around the phrase, "never judge a book by its cover." But, in real life, particularly in the world of books, we know that we absolutely judge books by their covers. Just as we are attracted to people who radiate positive energy with a warm and welcoming smiles, we notice books by their captivating covers and intriguing titles. As I walked out of the New York Book Expo 8am morning session hosted by Jon Stewart feeling disappointed that the session ended before I got called on to ask my kick a** question, I perked up with I saw a bright red book with the letters THANK YOU MR. WRONG on the front cover. The author of the book, Emily Smith, was holding it and when she noticed me starring at it, she asked, "Do you want it?" I've met Mr. Wrong a few times in life and couldn't resist the offer to meet him again. "Of course," I said. And with the exchange of every book at the Book Expo comes an interview. Listen to Emily's interview to get a sense of what she learned from Mr. Wrong and how a series of Mr. Wrongs led her to a Mr. Right!