Contributors

 We should have more coffeehouses, more cafes, more “third places.” More places where people can get together that’s not work, not home, and where they can interact with people who are differen…

 We should have mor…

 We should have more coffeehouses, more cafes, more “third places.” More places where people can get together that’s not work, not home, and where they can interact with people who are different from them. ~ Eric Weiner I recognize, I acknowledge, and I am grateful. In French, these three concepts are expressed by one term: “Je suis reconnaissant.” A term that clearly captures my sentiment when it comes to the “third place” that we call Our Friendship Bench. I witness with amazement the magic that transpires week after week. I acknowledge that the magic is borne of the wonderful…

In a world that’s constantly connected, sometimes the greatest act of rebellion is to disconnect so we can reconnect with our own inner world, our inner wisdom, and our deeper truths. –Unknown We…

In a world that’s …

In a world that’s constantly connected, sometimes the greatest act of rebellion is to disconnect so we can reconnect with our own inner world, our inner wisdom, and our deeper truths. –Unknown We live in curious times. It’s called the “Age of Information, but in another light, it can be called the Age of Distraction. While humanity has never been free of distraction – never have the distractions been so voluminous, so overwhelming, so intense, so persistent as they are now. We have forgotten how to slow down. Clash of the Titans: Well-Being vs FOMO Ah, FOMO, the ever-present fear of…

When we allow our children to be sold, to be used as a commodity, to be violated, persecuted, neglected, discarded, and preyed upon by criminal influences, we deteriorate as a civilized community. The…

When we allow our ch…

When we allow our children to be sold, to be used as a commodity, to be violated, persecuted, neglected, discarded, and preyed upon by criminal influences, we deteriorate as a civilized community. There is nothing civilized about the exploitation of the weak, the innocent, and the vulnerable for selfish gain. –Andi Buerger As CEO/ReImaginator for 360° Nation and Chief Encouragement Officer of our affiliated pro bono social impact enterprise; GoodWorks 360° Foundation, I was delighted to have the opportunity to get better acquainted with Andi Buerger, JD, Founder of Voice Against Traffi…

We simply cannot know joy without embracing vulnerability – and the way to do that is to focus on gratitude, not fear. ~Brené Brown Summing up his status as more than a man but a force of nature, …

We simply cannot kno…

We simply cannot know joy without embracing vulnerability – and the way to do that is to focus on gratitude, not fear. ~Brené Brown Summing up his status as more than a man but a force of nature, the colloquialism “Elvis has left the building!”  has taken on a life of its own in the 40 years since Presley left the building for good. According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, this phrase is often used to emphasize that something is definitely over or that someone has gone and will not return. Hope for a Brighter Future In recent years, our 360° Nation Studios enterpr…

The third place has always been a feeling. An emotion. An aspiration that all people can come together and be uplifted as a result of a sense of belonging. –Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks The Si…

The third place has …

The third place has always been a feeling. An emotion. An aspiration that all people can come together and be uplifted as a result of a sense of belonging. –Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks The Significance of Third Places In the dynamic tapestry of human life, beyond the confines of our homes and the structured environment of workplaces, lies a realm of social interaction and communal connection – the cherished domain known as third places. These spaces, distinct from our private lives and professional pursuits, serve as vibrant hubs where individuals can shed their everyday personas an…