Some hard truths about service trips and voluntourism…”My least favorite but most common response when asking someone about their micro-trip abroad goes something like this: ‘I was heartbroken to see how life is there. It really makes me realize just how good we have it. My life will never be the same.’ (*Rolls eyes*) If you truly want this experience — to change your world perspective, etc. — then at least call it like it is and admit you’re going on a self-fulfillment trip. Don’t call it humanitarian work when the only human benefiting from this experience is you. If you took away more than you gave, you’re doing it wrong.”
THE FUNNIEST PARENTS ON TWITTER TALK THE SPECIAL JOY OF KIDS’ SPORTS | scarrymommy.com
‘Nuf said:
A lesson in love: “If you pour a handful of salt into a cup of water, the water becomes undrinkable. But if you pour the salt into a river, people can continue to draw the water to cook, wash, and drink. The river is immense, and it has the capacity to receive, embrace, and transform. When our hearts are small, our understanding and compassion are limited, and we suffer. We can’t accept or tolerate others and their shortcomings, and we demand that they change. But when our hearts expand, these same things don’t make us suffer anymore. We have a lot of understanding and compassion and can embrace others. We accept others as they are, and then they have a chance to transform.”
THE WISDOM OF SHATTERING | onbeing.org
A former gymnast recalls the day she decided to quit her passion after her coach catches her from a fall that would have most likely caused paralysis. What is the value in quitting?… “Quitting something and developing new imaginations is not a skill we often give much credit. But I wonder if, at some point, letting ourselves shatter could be our bravest act. Can a moment of giving up be that sacred turning point if we infuse it with faith? When we acknowledge that we have feelings, that we have limits, that we don’t have to be superhuman, that sometimes we experience things that do, indeed, for the time being, gut our capacity to go on — can these moments of recognizing our pain and limits be our most courageous ones?”
 |
| Found on TheyAllHateUs |
WHEN YOU’RE ACCUSTOMED TO PRIVILEGE, EQUALITY FEELS LIKE OPPRESSION | huffingtonpost.com
In light of the violence at recent Trump rallies, Chris Boeskool explains the thinking behind “All Lives Matter…“When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression…All this anger we see from people screaming “All Lives Matter” in response to black protesters at rallies. All this anger we see from people insisting that their “religious freedom” is being infringed because a gay couple wants to get married. All these people angry about immigrants, angry about Muslims, angry about “Happy Holidays,” angry about not being able to say bigoted things without being called a bigot…They all basically boil down to people who have grown accustomed to walking straight at other folks, and expecting them to move. So when “those people” in their path don’t move – when those people start wondering, “Why am I always moving out of this guy’s way?”; when those people start asking themselves, “What if I didn’t move? What if I just kept walking too?”; when those people start believing that they have every bit as much right to that aisle as anyone else – it can seem like their rights are being taken away. Equality can feel like oppression. But it’s not. What you’re feeling is just the discomfort of losing a little bit of your privilege – the same discomfort that an only child feels when she goes to preschool and discovers that there are other kids who want to play with the same toys as she does.”
TRUMP SLAMMED BY FOUNDER OF HUMANS OF NEW YORK | washingtonpost.com
The typically unpolitical journalist and documentarian breaks character and pens a letter to the GOP front-runner out of what he feels is a moral obligation…“I try my hardest not to be political,” Stanton wrote. “I’ve refused to interview several of your fellow candidates. I didn’t want to risk any personal goodwill by appearing to take sides in a contentious election. But I realize now that there is no correct time to oppose violence and prejudice. The time is always now. Because along with millions of Americans, I’ve come to realize that opposing you is no longer a political decision. It is a moral one.”
DONALD TRUMP IS SUCCESSFULLY CONNING THE ENTIRE COUNTRY | huffingronpost.com
Donald Trump’s lies and avoidance of talking about any policies for this country have been documented throughout his campaign, but what hasn’t been discussed is how he is getting away with it…“As Nicole Hemmer eloquently argued in a piece for U.S. News And World Report, Trump is a classic gaslighter — and his target is all of us. She writes: Trump is a toxic blend of Barnum and bully. If you’re a good mark, he’s your best friend. But if you catch on to the con, then he starts to gaslight. Ask him a question and he’ll lie without batting an eye. Call him a liar and he’ll declare himself “truthful to a fault.” Confront him with contradictory evidence and he’ll shrug and repeat the fib. Maybe he’ll change the subject. But he’ll never change the lie.”
 |
| Found on Quotations Quotes |
THINGS TO DO & THEATRE TO SEE
LA families looking for an outdoor weekend activity, check out Descanso Gardens’ cherry blossoms. For cinema, Cinepolis USA presents their Handpicked Kids movie series and mark your calendars for IMAX’s new documentary A Beautiful Planet, narrated by Jennifer Lawrence, on April 29th. Theatre-seekers be sure to also check out The Witches, adapted by David Wood from Roald Dahl’s novel, presented by South Coast Rep’s Junior Players March 12 – 20. Physical Theate Ensemble in Santa Monica presents The SuperHero and His Charming Wife and the Echo Theatre Company presents Dry Land by Ruby Rae Spiegel. Interested in dance? The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre will be returning to Segerstrom Center for the Arts April 6- 10 and Pennington Dance Group will celebrate its 15th anniversary with two concerts at the State Playhouse and Cal State LA the last weekend in March.
In New York, catch some fun musicals like crowd favorite Disaster!, iconic classic Fiddler on the Roof , or a 95 year-old musical’s triumphant return: Shuffle Along. New York Theatre Ballet presents Cinderella Florence Gould Hall April 17th. Also check out The Secret Inside You at the American Museum of Natural History. Be sure to get your tickets now for David Harrower’s new play Blackbird and also go see The Humans on Broadway!
