10. This little Bear’s a Survivor
8. Touched by a Wild Mountain Gorilla
6. This Dragon will mess with you
4. Good Vibrations and The Art of Sound
3. Japanese Crystal Ball Performer
And the number 1 video of the week is…..
1. Rapture, Unreal Use of Time Lapse Photogaphy
TimeScapes: Rapture from Tom Lowe on Vimeo.
Let us know what you think and post in the comments videos you think are worth sharing !
Stay Stoked, Stay Inspired!
Here’s this weeks top videos, enjoy!
10. Dope Zebra
9. Bird joins Folk Band in an Old-Fashoined Song-Along
8. Ball Girl at Australian Open 2012 faces her fear of Giant Bugs
7. Amazing Audition- Never Judge a Book by its Cover
6. Lessons in Humanity for Captain Jean Luc
5. Marshall Soulful Jones performs “Touchscreen”
4. It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood
3. Homeless Boy Steals the show on Korea’s Got Talent
2. Sometimes All We Need is a Hug
1.Homeless Man with a Golden Voice gets a Second chance
These are the ones I found worth your attention, but if you’ve come across anything worth sharing, post it in the comments!
Stay Stoked, Stay Inspired !
This is an amazing article from Bronnie Ware, a nurse who learned amazing lessons about life from an unlikely source, Death. Here’s her article posted from her site:
“For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.
People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.
When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:
1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.
2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.
By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.
It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.
Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.”
By Bronnie Ware, Check out her site and the article here
This year has seen a lot of upheaval and change on a global scale, and though the media has a tendency to only report the bad or insignificant stuff, there has been some tremendous victories for human rights this year, ones that should be acknowledged and celebrated. Here’s our top 10.
10. South Sudan Wins its Freedom
Two decades of civil war and South Sudan has finally won its freedom from the North. July 9th, 2011 was its official independence day and the newly formed countries hopes for the future remain high, even though there is still plenty of unrest between the two countries. To read more and get involved look at the The Enough Project.
9. New York Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage
New York becomes the sixth and perhaps most prestigious state to legalize gay marriage, and this is the first couple to get married. Not exactly what I expected either, but some believe now with New York’s support, its not a matter of ” if ” but “when” for marriage equality across the whole country.
8. Arab Spring Inspires Hope
This last year has seen a wave of democratic uprisings across the Middle East and Africa. It’s amazing to think it was all sparked by a young man in Tunisia who was willing to set himself on fire to protest the repressive regime that had ruled for 23 years. This sparked Tunisians coming out in huge numbers and voting in their countries first free election. This movement has spread across the Arab world to Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain and several other countries.
7. American Hikers are Finally Released from Iran Prison
I can’t imagine spending two years in an Iran prison just for hiking. But thats exactly what these two Americans, who were charged with espionage and trespassing, did. Supporters across the country rallied together with the hiker’s families and fought tirelessly for their release, which finally came on Sept. 21/ 2011.
6. The Occupy Wall Street Movement
It all began in New York’s Zuccotti Park where a group of frustrated people pitched some tents and were determined to Occupy this space until the 1%, the wealthy, took accountability for the part they have played in the current state of the economy. This Occupy movement has spread like wildfire across the globe, and has sparked a world-wide conversation about unemployment, greed, income and economic inequality. The outcome is still unclear, but as the sign says ” We are the 99%, we’re too big too fail “, let’s hope that’s true.
5. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Officially Ends
September 20, 2011 marked the end of ” Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”- a law that banned service members from openly serving in the military. It seems to me that if you’re willing to die for your country, that country shouldn’t make you hide who you are. This has been a long time coming and is a another major milestone for gay rights.
4. Famed Artist Ai Weiwei Released on Bail from a Chinese Prison
After two and half months of detention and international outcries, Famous Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was finally released on bail from a Chinese prison. This Architect and sculptor, was a former darling of the Communist Party,turned into an out-spoken and very active critic of the government’s repression and human rights violations. Some believe his arrest was an attempt to silence his activism, and its good to see that this activist will be silenced no longer. For an in-depth interview of his prison experiences read here.
3. Nepal Is Finally Landmine-Free
The United Nations finally declared Nepal land mine free, as of June 14, 2011, after thousands of anti-personel land mines had been removed over the past five years. They had been planted by the Nepalese military to combat the Maoist rebels who they fought with in a ten years insurgency that began in 1996. The persistence and tireless effort of these land mine removers has now made this country a much safer place to live and to visit.
2. Aung San Suu Kyi Returns To Politics
After spending the better part of two decades under military house arrest, this opposition leader of the Democratic party in Myanmar has finally made big strides in returning to politics. On Dec. 13,2011, with incredible support from the Myanmar people and the international community, her political party was given the go ahead to run in the next bi-election.Their hope is to return democracy to the area and to try end Myanmar’s oppressive regime which has a terrible track record of human rights violations.
1. Three Brave Women Win The Nobel Peace Prize
Over 112 years, only 12 women have ever been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. This year however, three brave and influential women were given this prestigious award because of their tremendous work in their fight against injustice, dictatorship and sexual violence. The women are Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee (C), Yemeni human rights activist Tawakul Karman (R) and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. After receiving their award, they made a call for all women to stand up and fight for their rights.
“My sisters, my daughters, my friends—find your voice,” Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
I hope this list highlights all that we’ve accomplished this year, and illustrates that positive change is possible when we realize it is in our control, and that we, the 99%, have the power.
As we find ourselves in the midst of another busy holiday season, it can be so easy to get wrapped up in the commercialization of this holiday. I like getting presents as much as the next guy, and there is a joy in giving a gift that you can see someone really appreciates, but I know thats not what really matters.
As my wife and I find ourselves in Korea for the holidays, its not the gifts we’re missing, it’s our amazing friends and family. Thats what the holidays are really about, coming together with the people that matter to you the most in the world, and celebrating life and the miracle of Christmas.
Its not how you celebrate the holidays that matters, whether it’s Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or Christmas, but its who you spend the time with that really matters.
I feel this year is an excellent opportunity to revitalize the true meaning of Christmas, embracing our family and friends with new found sense of appreciation, and having love in our hearts for all.
We’re wishing all our family,friends, and Stoke My Fire visitors a Merry Christmas, and we hope the spirit of the holidays is alive and well in your heats, much love to you all !!
This video is created by Life Vest Inside who’s motto is kindness keeps the world afloat. The ” Kindness Boomerang ” concept is one that needs to be practiced before we decide that its some idealistic fairytale. Is the real world like this commercial, not always, but its hard to deny that seeing kindness in action is infectious and inspiring.
Maybe if we start throwing our own kindness boomerangs around, we’ll be surprised on what comes back to us. If there’s any thing I’ve learned, its that sometimes it’s the little things that matter the most.
Thats how we change our world, one act of random kindness at a time, don’t believe me, listen to God ( Morgan Freeman )
Pay it Forward! Stay Stoked, Stay Inspired!
This is truly an amazing story. Born with no limbs, Nic Vujicic now travels the world as an motivational speaker, inspiring others to never give up, no matter what the odds.
This moved me, I hope it does the same for you. Here’s to the celebration of Life over limitations, much love to you all.