This morning, I was in the depths of planning my next travel adventure. And then something interesting happened.

My Daily Om horoscope came into my inbox.

Before I get into the details, I’ll give a bit of background. I religiously read my Daily Om, an inspirational newsletter that gives some wise insights you can apply to your every day life and perspective. It comes to my inbox at about 12:46 each day, usually when I’m eating lunch, which is great, because then I have time to read it in between the non-Om-ish nature of business life.

It always has some wise words about how we relate to others, deal with anxiety, cope with change – topics that you think you might not relate to, but then again, you might be in denial.

Learning about how to achieve balance is something we can all strive for.

We all have stuff to learn. I signed up for this because I always knew I needed a bit of Daily Om. Some balance. Most of the time, I’m a talker, happy, dramatic in a positive way, seldom quiet. One of those people who likes to fill the noise, fill the time. I want to live in the present moment but always want to choose the next adventure.

The lesson I’ve learned from Daily Om? That silence can be a good, calming, positive thing. I’ve started to enjoy silence. (Unless it’s me talking to myself, which happens occasionally, and then it admittedly gets a bit strange.)

In 1994, I attended a silent retreat – 5 days without talking to anyone. The first few days, there was a buzz in my head with thoughts about everything pouring out. I thought I was going to poke my eyes out. I thought I was going to lose my mind, run away from the retreat center and find the closest Papa Gino’s to hide out. And, there was no Diet Coke.

And then, on Day 3, the buzz stopped. I slept for 15 hours a day. We sat in silence, ate in silence, walked in silence. And it was wonderful. My creative writing skyrocketed and my appreciation for the basics (without any electronics) was amplified.

Don’t worry – Daily Om is not dorky.

Check out my Daily Horoscope Om from today below, and interestingly, while not about silence, it was about travel, exploration, culture – my biggest passion, the reason I started this site, the “thing” that makes me happiest. The exact encouragement and perspective I needed as I map out my next adventure.

Coincidence of timing? I think not.

If you’re so inclined – go check out Daily Om and see what it has to offer you. It’s not for everyone and that’s totally OK. Might spur some ideas you’ve not yet had. Or come to your inbox with a message right when you need it. It’s not only for meditators and spiritual gurus. It’s for us regular people. It might be helpful after your boss asks you to work overnight on a presentation. You can then read your Daily Om and type away. In silence.

How do you get your dose of Daily Om – even if you aren’t a subscriber? Dig deep, think about what keeps you balanced.  How has it changed you? Have you shared your lessons to help change others?

Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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April 24, 2010
Shaped by Exploration
Scorpio Daily Horoscope

An intense curiosity may manifest itself within you today, leaving you feeling elated as well as eager to discover how people in other parts of the world live, work, and play. You may be in an expansive mood that is compelling you to embark upon journeys of discovery involving travel, books, and interpersonal relations. This can be a wonderful time to begin planning an expedition to a locale you find intriguing or to set off on a spontaneous voyage of inner and outer growth. If traveling is not feasible at this time, however, consider studying the cuisine, art, and social etiquette of other countries. As you push the boundaries of your life experience while learning about the world today, you may find that there are foreign customs you wish to adopt into your daily routine.

Spending time immersed in another culture is a wonderful way to discover all that the world has to offer. Many of us spend our lives locked into the systems of thinking and being imposed upon us by the culture into which we were born. Exploring the mores and nuances of an unfamiliar culture through travel, study, or conversation can be an eye-opening experience and one that helps us better understand our own lives. Knowing definitively that there are many different ways of approaching the same issue enables us to consciously shape our lives based on our preferences and beliefs rather than the dictates of our heritage or the social standards of our localities. The more you learn about other cultures today, the more you will find to love about the world.

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Many of us have heard of the organizations that are working tirelessly to make change happen. The ones that often make the headlines are global nonprofit organizations that are breaking down barriers across cultures to promote social justice and human rights.

But we often forget that right next door – in our neighborhoods – is where change can happen and is happening right this minute. Through a close friend,  I recently had the wonderful opportunity to connect to Colin Smith, CEO of NYC-based nonprofit Change for Kids.

Change for Kids partners with New York City public schools to empower underprivileged children by providing them with a broad range of innovative literacy, arts, and music programs. I was eager to find out from Colin’s perspective about his perspectives the most invigorating parts of running – and seeing results – from making cultural change happen.

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Laura: Amazing work that you’re doing at Change for Kids. What’s the most exciting part of it for you?

Colin: The kids are obviously amazing – it never gets old seeing a child who otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity for music education stand up in front of their school and their parents, play fantastically well, and walk from the stage beaming.

Really, though, the entire experience of helping to build a growing organization has been rewarding. Our current leadership team began working together in the fall of 2008. We had thousands of children depending on us for many of their educational opportunities, and we had to ensure funding in some of the most difficult macroeconomic circumstances in recent history.

However, over the past year our team has been able to launch a flourishing volunteer program, quadruple the programming we provide, build a broad community of supporters, upgrade our website and refine our evaluation techniques. It’s been tremendously exciting, and I can’t thank our Board and community enough.

Laura: You’ve created so many fabulous and unique programs – which one is your favorite and why?

Colin: Ha, I don’t think I can answer that question. You’ll have a long conversation on your hands if you get our partner principals started on the music programs. Mr. Majid and Ms. Ai, our violin and piano instructors, truly change their students’ lives.

The Story Pirates are some of the best guys you’ll ever work with, and it’s exciting to see how rapidly the program is growing – they’re in over 70 schools now and are expanding to Los Angeles. The artwork coming out of our Bronx Museum collaboration is incredible. I saw a replica sculpture of Yankee Stadium from a 9-year-old that would have put anything I’ve ever produced to shame.

But the program that’s growing most quickly and that I think best connects our community members is the literacy tutoring. We started the mentor program a year ago by partnering with Fordham and Baruch Universities, enabling 10-20 of their students to provide individual mentoring to elementary school students at our partner schools. It’s inspiring to see the difference the mentors are already making in engaging their mentees and acting as role models.

The other day our Program Director, Mike Quinzio, was in one of our classes when a student raised his hand, asked a question, and wrote notes on the teacher’s answer. The teacher stopped Mike after the class with tremendous excitement to say: “that was so amazing: he’s never asked a question and I’ve never seen him as engaged as he is now.”

Over the next year, we should be working with nearly all of the major universities in New York and targeting high school and corporate partnerships, as well. The response has been overwhelming.

Laura: What’s some of the feedback you’ve received from parents and the community about the impact of the program?

Colin: We recently sat down with our partner principal at P.S. 73 in the Bronx, and one thing he said really struck me: “I hear all the time from happy parents, ‘only in a private school do you get these kinds of services.’” Despite the great efforts being made, there is a real gap in the opportunities available at different schools in our city. To the extent CFK can change that for one school, then four schools, then more, equal opportunity goes from being a goal to a tangible change.

Laura: What’s next for Change for Kids?

Colin: For over a decade, we’ve provided art, music and literacy enrichment so that our students receive the same opportunities as those in more affluent neighborhoods. In fall 2010, fund raising willing, we’re planning to add a fitness and nutrition component to our programming. We’ve seen that at our partner schools, students can go an entire semester without receiving any fitness education.

In some cases, budget gaps and overcrowding are even leading to fitness facilities instead being used for storage. Given the health and wellness problems facing our broader community, that’s just not something we should accept.

We’re holding an event specifically supporting health and fitness programs for our schools: Run for Kids on the evening of May 6^th, a 5k in Riverside Park. Runners who are interested in participating can register or get more information on our website: www.changeforkids.org or follow us on Twitter.

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Just a few short weeks ago, I connected with Neil Pasricha, author of the soon-to-be-released The Book of Awesome. And, I was lucky enough to get an advance copy to peruse.

Interestingly, my first e-mail exchange with Neil actually happened the day after I was chatting with a co-worker about a company that actually hired a “Director of Awesome.” (Neil, can we add that to the book?)

The Book of Awesome is like no other. Its magical insights are not revolutionary – which is why I love it. It focuses on the every day and special moments that we might not regularly think about / take for granted and/or secretly love. Each page reminds us that these are what make up the awesomeness of life. It’s a book you can read straight through or pick up every day and open to a page – and almost each time, I’ll guarantee you’ll find something to which you can relate.

While I could list out my favorites – and will in the comments below – I thought it would be interesting to talk to the brains behind the awesomeness. Neil graciously agreed to do an interview about The Book of Awesome and I’m thrilled to share it with you here.

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Laura: So…The Book of Awesome. How did you come up with the title? The idea?

Neil: Well, I started 1000awesomethings.com on a chilly spring night in 2008 and never thought much would amount of it. But honestly, it was just dark days outside – ice caps melting, wars raging, forests burning, hurricanes swirling – and I wanted to remind myself of the simple things like bubble wrap, snow days, and the cold side of the pillow.

Laura: There are so many fab ones in there (I love the Scrabble one). What’s your favorite? I know you must have one!

Okay — my five babies of the moment are:

1. When cashiers open up new lanes at the grocery store
2. A long hug when you really need it
3. Getting called up to the dinner buffet first at a wedding
4. The smell of gasoline
5. The last day of school

I’ve had preachers write to tell me they recite these awesome things in their sermons and I’ve had teachers tell me they read them to their third grade class every morning. I’ve had heavier things — suicidal teens, cancer patients — tell me that focusing on things like hitting a string of green lights in a row and the smell of bakeries has reminded them of all the small, simple things we’re lucky to live with every day. And then I’ve got people saying “Hey man, thanks for the smile!”

It’s been absolutely incredibly and I’m pretty much always overwhelmed!

Laura: You have a fantastic acknowledgments section – really love how you called out all of the people who directly and indirectly influenced you. What’s the best advice you received from some of your mentors and inspirations?

The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating — in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. - Anne Morriss (from a Starbucks coffee cup)

It’s not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or when the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worth cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat. -Theodore Roosevelt

Those two thoughts always keep me grounded and convince me that it’s better to push forward and push on anytime you hit a wall. After all — through all the fears and tears, chills and spills, we’re all basically the same, with the same insecurities, trying to do our best and live our days as full as we can.

Laura: In that same way, what’s your advice to aspiring writers – of any genre?

Number 1 - Follow your heart. I mean, in the beginning I just wanted to write about the thrill of finding money in your coat pocket or stabbing a spoon in a fresh jar of peanut butter. I never expected to start an awesome movement with 10 million people around the world visiting the site and talking about The Book of Awesome. I never expected to have a guy write a song about the site!

And now there’s this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_HkH8huuzA

Number 2 - Never stop. You’ll get better even if no one’s reading. You’ll learn about yourself. You’ll figure things out. It’s just…. don’t stop. Don’t quit. Keep going, keep pushing, keep powering. You can do it. You can do it. We all want you to do it and you can.

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Neil – I’m psyched, we’re psyched! Thanks for chatting with us.

Head on over to Neil’s site: 1000awesomethings.com and grab a copy of the book here for more genuine awesomeness.

Share something in your life – whether it’s an every day thing or a major event – that you would qualify as “awesome?” I’m sure you can come up with one – feel free to add it in the comments below!

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