This September 2003 issue deals with Challenges as learning tools

If I had the power to grant you one wish in your chosen niche, what would that wish be and why?
Interesting question isn’t it? Can you answer it?

Happy, Optimistic, positive, energy = HOPE
No, Opportunity, possible, ever= NOPE
Point of Action: Which of the two words project you?

When challenge/problems/disputes arise what is your first instinct?

Mine is to turn and face the wind, meaning turn and face them head-on. There is a Chinese proverb that says;
    “The wind does not know what the willow knows”

We are exploring the realm of Leadership from a cross cultural perspective for the first few issues. You are to place yourself in the scenario’s I present. See with the intent to learn, experience being enlightened and harvesting as many tidbits that you wish. This journey called life is what you choose to make it.

Challenges As Learning Tools by Nani Aki Linder

Visualize
1. See yourself at about age eight or ten years old. You are poor, your only good attire is on your body and your teacher tells you for the sake of a play you are practicing you must put dirt on your clean clothes and face. See your parent’s reaction if you do as the teacher instructs! Do you listen to teacher or to that voice that says,” you’re gonna be in trouble if you get your clothes dirty”. Listen! Your teacher is speaking and saying,” you are nothing but a dirty Hawaiian; you will always be a dirty Hawaiian!” Feel him yank you by the hair and push you to the coarse black dirt. Feel the dirt chafing your face. See the black dirt on your only good clothes, the dirt on his hands and the look on his face. He is a giant standing above you.

As a small child, how are you feeling, what do you do?

Point of Actions: Stop for a moment and reflect on how you felt and reacted. Right now, this moment think of the child in your family, classroom or a colleague that you verbally lashed or physically touched in anger. Ugly picture isn’t it? You are seeing through the eyes of others.

How would you use this experience in a positive way in your life? Could you do it? Would you tell about it?

2. Imagine you shopping with your niece or sister enjoying a carefree wonderful day. See yourself trying on clothing, rings, hats, bracelets etc. You make no purchases. As you walk to leave see the clerk stop you she is saying, “Empty your purses and pockets!” You ask,” Why? What is missing”. and she says, “I won’t know until you do as I say. You people come from the reservation and steal anything that isn’t nailed down.” You are horrified, People are watching, starring. Your niece/sister who is 12 is crying and afraid. What do you do? You have stolen nothing. Your niece/sister has stolen nothing yet she is sobbing and afraid.

Imagine how an Indian child feels hearing these words or watching his mother, father or elders being verbally challenged and humiliated because they are Indian. Imagine this happening for over 200 years over and over and over and over until today. This cumulative effect is devastating to you as a child and as a human being and a first American. You feel drained, guarded, angry, defeated, hopeless, defensive, and sometimes even hostile. You yearn for justice and equality. You wait and you wait and you wait for now well over 200 years.

Point of Action: See through the eyes of the first Americans on this land we call America. Look into the eyes of the elders, see their tired concern and despair. What else do you see?
How would you use this experience in a positive way to enhance the lives of others? Could you? Would you?

3. Imagine for a moment you are Superintendent of schools at a tough school. A group of boys bigger than you are surrounding you. They grab you hold you down and pour liquor down your throat. It burns you are chocking. They tell you to chug a lug or be hurt really bad. You see their sneering faces. Smell the wretched sour odor of booze on their breath. Feel the fear. Feel your racing heart and throbbing temples. If you show fear it will be worse.

Point of Action: What do you do? How would you use this challenge for the greater good to enhance the lives of others? You are a Caucasian administrator who cares deeply about the children.

Could you find the positive in the negative? Would you try?

These life challenges are faced daily somewhere in the United States and indeed around the world. Are these challenges exclusive to certain people of different hues and shapes? No! For like the potter who molds clay, humans come in all colors, shapes, religions, backgrounds, jobs, attitudes, values, perceptions etc. We are a diverse society living on this planet together, each of us important in the scheme of life. Why do some who have experienced these trials by fire or these crucibles, see them as training for the best that is yet to come and others as a reason to sit down, whine, complain or retreat from living? Is diversity about racism or attitude? Often we confuse discrimination with diversity. Point of Action: Grab your dictionary and see for yourself.

Here is what I believe:

Responsibility is the key to a life of positive expectancy. When one takes responsibility there are possibilities of doing something about your situation. When you create solutions you stay in charge of your life as opposed to circumstances, other people or illness doing it for you. What is the pay off? Personal power and peace of mind. All of the scenes you visualized were tough, all are real life experiences. One and two happened to me, three I witnessed (for real) while attending a training workshop being held at a rough school in Alaska.

Let’s turn it around a bit shall we! Instead of resisting change, how about doing our job willingly? What a concept! Instead of seeing things as a burden how about, I can do that or why not me? Victims happen when one cannot acknowledge that you create your response to everything that happens to you. When this happens you/we may project helpless/hopeless/victimization of your environment. Hint: Nothing happens because life is unfair, or you have bad luck. It is there in my opinion, because you do not feel safe changing and getting back up. It is like the cliché’, if you fall off a horse get up and try again. Recall the Chinese proverb that says, “The willow knows what the wind does not” Enlightened ones know to bend, flow and reengage.

In the system that I wrote and now teach University Of Life A Cross Cultural Approach To Leadership Success which is based on Hawaiian/Chinese values and leadership perspective, we practice making learning greater than our experiences. My point: wise people find the lesson in every situation and look quietly/diligently for the positive in the negative. Thinking deeper: you are responsible for what happens to you. Why? If you dwell in the realm of “it is someone else’s fault” it is harder, no impossible to learn from the experience. Thinking beyond the obvious: Since it is someone else’s fault, you are out of control. Defending this common sense thinking and answering how?

“Someone else/circumstances control you by your choice!” Make sense?

I think I’ll toot my horn now! www.universityoflife.info

If you are in need of a professional speaker for your organization, keynote or workshops I am at your service. I also offer a spectacular fund raising opportunity for non-profit organizations. Feel free to inquire about that by asking for document: non-profit draft proposal (only non-profits may apply for this service.) This is not negotiable.

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Holistic health tip for September 2003

The body is programmed to heal its own self if you feed it proper foods. Chinese people call this regeneration. The body’s largest organ is the skin. What we put on it matters. I recently did research and wrote a training manual for an herbal line and my science findings were OUTRAGEOUS. I got pretty angry while doing this assignment but I learned a lot after checking and double checking. Good news is there are happy alternatives. Bad news is not too many people pay attention. For example:

Did you know? Point of Action!

Hawaiian words of wisdom for September 2003

He onipa’a ka oia ‘i’o “Truth is not changeable”

For your information

Author’s proceeds of my book Trial By Fire A True Story Of Hope go to feed the hungry be they human or pets. You may order on line at Nani’s website, however, if you wish an autograph copy send $15.95 to 3327 w Indian Trail Rd. #115, Spokane, WA. 99208.

www.tonysweightloss.com is a unique and exciting new support site that is allowing people to discover and empower themselves to a successful weight loss journey using love and honor as the basis for change. It’s NOT just about food and never was. If you are ready for your truth and the life you deserve. Have the courage to join them. In my book Tony is tops! Check for yourself click or Call Tony at 313-730-0899.

www.RatRaceRemedies.com
Darlene believes you can “do what you *love* for a living not what you have to do” and offers a free weekly newsletter with strategies and motivation for finding the money to do it. I find her advice to be doable NOW and her flow of writing inviting. She has me smiling and agreeing with her common sense approach to living life. Go ahead, click and see!

These two champions lash themselves to the desk and validate my motto “quitting is not an option” I love it!

John has written a book that not only tells you how, he does everything but do it for you. Filled with current websites and information to make things happen for you, NOW! Way to go John. He turns and faces the wind firmly when challenges arise I admire that. The bonus is, he has a lovely mom named Naomi!

www.SpeakingBizSuccess.com
Burt works with people who want to be speakers and with speakers who want to be masters. His website includes dozens of complimentary articles and newsletters issues. “I have known Burt for over two years and find his reputation is “sterling”. He is like a walking encyclopedia. Burt Dubin’s work is second to none, you can take that to the bank!