Feel Good Friday: Cancun Underwater Museum

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

MODEL, BEFORE, AFTER

                   These are just a handful of images from the amazing underwater sculpture exhibit near Cancun, Mexico.  Artist Jason deCaires Taylor created the coral-friendly sculptures to promote the growth of marine life and relieve the stresses on the natural coral reefs in nearby waters.  I selected just a few pictures that illustrated the many stages of beauty his art has created, but I encourage you to check out his website.  The main page features a slide show of some of the more breathtaking results nature has made of his work.

Lots of Love,

~Jenny

P.S.  Do you have a suggestion for a future Feel Good Friday?  What do you think of art that is designed to be acted on by nature?  Leave a comment below or shoot me an e-mail!

Feel Good Friday: Talking Twin Babies

                        Today's video, like the very good Feel Good Friday video, was brought to my attention by Dan Pearce's blog Single Dad Laughing.  It is quite possible that there is nothing cuter than babies talking to each other.

                        The original video was posted on Twin Mama Rama, the Tumblr for the twin's mother.

Lots of Love,
~Jennifer

Feel Good Friday: Simple Religion

                         No commentary today.  This one speaks for itself.
                         From the Dalai Lama's official website: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet.  He was born on 6 July 1935, to a farming family, in a small hamlet located in the Taktser, Amdo, northeastern Tibet.  At the age of two the child, who was named Lhamo Dhondup at that time was recognized as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso.  The Dalai Lamas are believed to be manifestations of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and patron saint of Tibet.  Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who have postponed their own nirvana and chosen to take rebirth in order to serve humanity.

Lots of Love,
~Jennifer

Feel Good Friday: The Lion in the Mirror

                    This week's Feel Good Friday is the first picture I've selected, but I hope that it speaks to all of you like it did to me.  You may remember that in 'Thinking vs. Wanting' I mentioned a phrase that kills all dreams: "I can't do that."  Today's picture, on the other hand, illustrates how to keep dreams alive.

                     Like the kitten in the photo, we need to be able to see ourselves as we want to be every time we look in the mirror.  While acknowledging the sometimes frustrating reality that right now we are just adorable fuzzy kittens, we must never lose sight of the lion we intend to be.  There is nothing wrong and (as anyone who has ever cuddled a kitten will tell you) a great deal that is right about being a kitten.  Everyone is a kitten at some point, and some of us take longer than others to grow out of it.  But as long as you can see the lion in the mirror, "I can't do that" becomes "I can't do that yet."
                     I know that right now I'm just a young woman, hardly out of her teens, with a retail job and no degree.  I am still a kitten. But I also know that some day I will be a counselor.  I will hold an advanced degree, and help young people who are struggling with the same kinds of problems I have overcome.  And I will help them to see their own personal lions in the mirror.

Lots of Love,
~ Jennifer

P.S.  I'd love to hear about your own lions in the mirror.  If you'd like to share, send me an e-mail or leave a comment below!

P.P.S.  I looked for the origin of this picture but could not find any information on it.  If you happen to know who originally created the image, please let me know so that I can give proper credit!

Feel Good Friday: Panda Slide

                     Yeah, yeah, I know I'm a day late.  What with Christmas and all, I kinda forgot about it until yesterday morning, and then I wasn't able to find something I wanted to share before I left for work.  That said, have some playing pandas.

                      From the Chengdu Panda Base website:  The Chengdu Panda Base was founded in 1987, with six giant pandas rescued from the wild.  Today (2008) our captive population has increased to 83 individuals from that founding population of only six.  Genetic diversity in the population is sustained by the exchange of preserved genetic material with other facilities.  We are very proud that we have not taken any giant pandas from the wild for 20 years.  This demonstrates our unique and uncompromising commitment to the conservation of the wild (in situ) population and the healthy growth of the captive (ex situ) population.

Lots of Love,
~Jennifer

Feel Good Friday: Life Vest Inside

                 Today I'm trying what I hope will be a new weekly tradition: Feel Good Fridays.  Every Friday, I will find an inspiring story, poem, or video, and share it with you.  The only criteria?  When you are done reading the blog or watching the video, you should feel warm-fuzzy happiness.  If I'm lucky, you may even be inspired by them.  So without further ado, here is your first Feel Good Friday, a beautiful video by the non-profit organization Life Vest Inside.

                  From the Life Vest Inside website:  Charity work and community service are invaluable tools for bettering our world, but kindness is more than good deeds or volunteerism alone.  Kindness is empathy, compassion, and human connection; it's a smile, a touch, or a comforting word.  Even the smallest gesture can brighten a dark day or ease a heavy burden.  LVI works to cultivate the awareness that individuals can effect real and positive change in the people around them, simply by 'living kindness:' by embodying empathy and compassion in our day-to-day lives.  LVI seeks to spread kindness and goodwill through the sharing of Acts of Kindness Cards, connecting our users to various inspirational media through film and the Internet.  And further through the implementation of our Social Emotional Learning Program.

                  What do you think?  Shall I keep doing Feel Good Fridays?  Do you have a story or video you'd like me to share next week?  Leave a comment or send me an e-mail!  I look forward to hearing from you.

Lots of Love,
~Jennifer