The Humanity Blog

2010-01-28T15:44:00.002-05:00

A Very Good Neighbor … In Stereo

We each can use a good neighbor, right? Someone nearby who cares about us. Someone who’s there when we really need them. For nearly 90 years now, State Farm has proven they’re just what their slogan claims: a very good neighbor. Hey, there’s a reason our Humanity Project office is protected by a State Farm policy! State Farm’s neighborliness extends to good causes around the country too, including support for the Humanity Project’s anti-bullying programs for elementary students. So we’re very pleased to announce that State Farm has just signed on as an official sponsor of the Humanity Project podcasts for 2010. You can hear these stereo webcasts through iTunes, among other major podcast providers – or by just going to our website at www.thehumanityproject.com and clicking on “Podcasts.” We offer interviews, original music and stories and lots more. And thanks to our good neighbor, State Farm, we’ll be able to keep sharing these special Internet broadcasts with you every month. Thanks so much, State Farm!

2010-01-25T09:42:00.003-05:00

Money For Haiti

This is just a brief update about the Humanity Project's partnership with New Theatre to raise money for Haitian earthquake relief. We're pleased to report that audiences have been very generous so far. In just the first two performances of New Theatre's world premiere show, "The Hour of the Tiger," the cast collected nearly $400. That's in an intimate 100-seat theater, by the way. We're pleased with those results. And the cast and staff of New Theatre will continue to collect money right through the end of the run on February 14. The Humanity Project will account for each penny donated, and then turn it all over to the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders or the Salvation Army -- whichever group seems to need it most by then. We thank everyone at New Theatre for helping us to help Haiti in this way. And we hope that, if you live in South Florida, you'll go to see this enjoyable play to support New Theatre's good work.

2010-01-15T19:29:00.003-05:00

Humanity Helping Haiti

We want you to know that as the world scrambles to relieve the terrible suffering in Haiti, we've been busy doing what we can. We're telling you this to suggest ways you can help too. One is specific to the Humanity Project. One is an easy method that some of you may not have learned about yet:

1) The Humanity Project has partnered with New Theatre in Coral Gables to raise money that will help Haiti. This distinguished theater premiered a play that won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 2003. New Theatre will collect audience donations throughout the run of its latest world premiere show, "The Hour of the Tiger," from January 22 through February 14. The Humanity Project will carefully account for every contribution -- and write checks to the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders or the Salvation Army for the donations collected. We'll take charge of the fundraising effort, in essence, and make sure the money gets into the best possible hands. Please attend the play if you can to support the cause through an evening of good theater.

2) Some members and friends may not know that you can text the Red Cross to donate $10 -- right now. We've done this and urge you to do the same. Just text the word HAITI to 90999. The $10 donation will be added to your phone bill. This fundraising effort has been approved by the White House, among others.

Meantime, we will all keep the struggling Haitians at the front of our minds -- and do whatever we can to help. May they get all the aid they truly need!

2010-01-04T11:40:00.002-05:00

Thanks, Office Depot Foundation

As we begin a new year and new decade, everyone at the Humanity Project wants to thank our members, friends and supporters. For the third consecutive year now, our growing list of important sponsors includes the Office Depot Foundation. On New Year’s Eve, they approved another grant to help us to keep on helping others in our community, especially young kids around South Florida. We are very grateful. Special thanks to David C. Fannin on the Board of Directors as well as to Mary Wong, Sabrina Conte and others at the foundation. It’s folks like you who make our work possible. Thank you, Office Depot Foundation.

2009-12-14T17:31:00.005-05:00

Copyright © The Humanity Project, 2007, 2008, 2009 All Rights Reserved
All tales written by Robert Spencer Knotts, president and founder
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These are the first six in a series of original modern fables for adults by The Humanity Project. They are short, fun, fictional tales that we hope will help demonstrate key points of The Humanity Project message. Stories have been used to teach moral lessons for centuries, from the ancient Greeks through the Bible and up to today’s self-help gurus. That’s also our goal with these stories. We hope you’ll enjoy them, re-posted on this blog so they can be easily read.
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The Tale of Me-First Mary

Mary was an odd name for this particular Mary. For this particular Mary often pursed her unmerry lips in disgust at some other someone. Someone, anyone who got in her way during any particular day. Mary was as unmerry as any someone could be.

Knowing that she lived in a me-first world, Mary often used her lips to speak aloud the two words always mostly on her mind. “Me.” And “my.” (Sometimes Mary often spoke the words “I” and “mine” too.) These were the syllables that tumbled off her tongue from each day’s first sunflicker to every night’s final moongleam.

Driving to work, she fumed that an accident ahead on the highway put “me” behind schedule. Vacationing in the mountains, she snorted that her boyfriend’s sprained ankle ruined “my” holiday. Watching television, she sniffed that terrible news about terrible floods somewhere interrupted “my” favorite program. The drivers in the accident and the boyfriend in the mountains and the people living near terrible floods were not tickled by these events either, of course, though this thought never meandered completely into Mary’s mind.

Mary wasn’t mean, mind you. No, Mary didn’t want to hurt anyone, of course, of course not. No, Mary had just learned, oh yes, Mary had learned the big lesson very very well: If you’re helping someone else, you’re not helping yourself. It was a hard but simple truth, as every someone understood in this me-first world.

The trouble with being just one me in a me-first world is all those other me-firsters living in your world, of course. Yes, all those other me-first people just keep getting in your way. Which was why Mary so often pursed her unmerry lips in disgust at some other someone. Which was why Mary was as unmerry as any someone could be.

And so it went for Me-First Mary, day after day after day becoming less merry by the moment. Until one day Mary had to wonder, just for one moment beneath her pursed unmerry lips: “Maybe me-first isn’t the best way to be in this world. Maybe, maybe helping only yourself isn’t really helping yourself at all.” This is what Mary wondered one day. Was it possible that doing something helpful for some other someone really might help Mary too somehow? Was it possible Mary might feel a little merrier if she thought a little less about herself alone? Was it really possible that any of this was really possible in this me-first world?

Mary pursed her lips again, tighter than usual. “No, that’s really not possible,” Mary said tartly to herself aloud. “My life’s hard enough just worrying about ‘me’ all the time! ‘Me,’ ‘me,’ ‘me’ every minute and I still can’t get what I want. Imagine how bad my life would be if I started worrying about any of ‘them’ too!”

The Humanity Project believes that Me-First Mary had it all wrong, wrong, wrong. :-) Because she was so unmerry precisely as a result of thinking only about herself. Our group believes that each of us simply function more fully as human beings when we do, indeed, worry about other people too. We think it’s possible, we know it’s possible, to focus on helping ourselves and others – all at the same time. Not only “me” and not only “them” but rather “us.” For instance, when bystander students learn to stop school bullying, they also make their schools better places for themselves to learn and enjoy each day. Practical action that helps both yourself and humanity – that’s the Humanity Project. Find out more by exploring www.thehumanityproject.com or call us at 954-205-2722.
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February 2009

The Tale of the Yellowbright Flower

Flowers feel feelings. Strong emotions vibrating out through their stamens and pistils. It’s a secret well known by flower lovers who coax blooms open with whispered encouragements. So it should be no surprise that the Yellowbright Flower growing in a large red field trembled with feelings now. Yes, he trembled each day from the strong feelings he felt. He felt different, after all, which is always a strong and unsettling thing to feel. He was the only Yellowbright Flower flowering in a field of red something-or-other plants. Whatever they were. He knew walkers walking by stopped walking and wondered at the sight of the Yellowbright Flower, stopped and stared before walking on. He knew he was some special thing, the only thing of his kind. But so what? Because the only thing of anything is always a very lonely thing to be, no matter what thing it is.

Until one midnight moonful lightbright night, as the Yellowbright Flower bobbed on a summer wind, the field spoke to him. Yes, a voice came from the field itself, from one red something-or-other plant itself in the field itself. This plant, whatever it was, now spoke to the Yellowbright Flower by saying this: “You’re not really alone, you know.” No one and nothing had ever spoken to the Yellowbright Flower before. To say the Yellowbright Flower was startled would be an understatement. Remember, flowers feel strong feelings.

“You’ve missed it along,” the red plant went on to the Yellowbright Flower. “You’re a rose. So am I. So are we all, all of us in this big field. If you’re yellow, with a different bloom, your color only adds to the beauty of this field. But it’s all of us, together, that the walkers stop walking to see. Not just you. Together, we’re a garden. Alone, you’re only one pretty but very small blossom.” Funny how this changed things for the Yellowbright Flower, who now recognized he was really a Yellowbright Rose. Funny how those few words changed everything. Because no thing is really the only thing of anything, no matter how special that one thing is. Somehow it helps to feel this when you’re a flower feeling strong feelings. Yes, somehow a flower garden just feels like a much less lonely place to flower, don’t you think?

At The Humanity Project, we believe that human beings flower most fully when we begin to understand we’re part of something much larger than ourselves – humanity. And then commit ourselves to working for the betterment of humanity in whatever ways we each best can. That’s what The Humanity Project is all about: teaching individuals how to take practical action for the improvement of both humanity and ourselves. Find out more by contacting us at 954-205-2722 or go to the Contact Us page at www.thehumanityproject.com.
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July 2008

The Tale of the Small Hole

Life is tough if you’re nothing but a small hole. For big holes, sure, things aren’t quite so bad, sure, sure. At least bigger is better, as everyone knows. But for each small hole poked into the fabric of this world somewhere, there is almost nothing to do but to live in hollow boredom.

The worst of it was this, though: The Small Hole wasn’t even sure, totally sure, he was even a hole even. He was round. Sort of. He was empty inside. Kind of. But he sat among rows of black lines on a field of white. His best guess was that he came into being as a tiny hole in a sheet of paper. But he wasn’t sure, not totally sure, not sure at all.

The Small Hole had lived all his small vacant life with this terrible uncertainty. Big holes at least had some purpose anyway. They could let big things pass through them anyway, like a tunnel that is a pass-through for cars anyway. At least it was something to do with your day. Even some small holes could be useful sometimes, it seemed, as when a finger scratches an itchy leg through the pocket hole of old jeans. Even small holes had a purpose even, sometimes. Not a grand purpose, mind you. But amid the nothingness of small hole life, even small purposes were welcome.

So sat the Small Hole, day after day. Round and empty, sort of, kind of. Unable even to think of himself as a big nothing even, because he was only a small nothing after all. The Small Hole had no purpose and nothing to give at all.

Or so it seemed.

Until the day he overheard one voice uttering some very interesting words. (Yes, holes can understand whatever people say. Most recognize several languages as well as signing for the deaf.) The Small Hole heard one man’s voice talking, followed by very beautiful sounds. The same voice again, then more sounds of a beauty the Small Hole had never heard before. And then once more, the same man’s voice again, once more yes the same man’s voice, but now very loud, very bellowy now. This is when the man’s words got very interesting, if also very loud.

“You’re late!” the man’s voice bellowed. “You have the most important moment in this whole work – and you’re late! Play on the downbeat, as it is written!”

The Small Hole understood the words, of course, but he could not make sense of their true meaning. What was the bellowing man talking about? Soon enough, the Small Hole would learn.

Because now the voice of the bellowing man continued: “I can’t believe my ears! One note to play and you get it wrong! That cymbal crash is the climax of this great symphony by this great composer and you cannot be late! On the downbeat, Mr. Nada! It’s right here on your page! Let me show you!”

What was the bellowing man saying? The Small Hole glanced quickly around now, excited. Because something was happening now. Yes, now the bellowing man was drawing a circle in pencil now. A circle around … him! Around the Small Hole! The bellowing man was drawing a circle around the Small Hole, which of course meant the bellowing man had been talking about the Small Hole!

And now the Small Hole suddenly understood something he never had understood before. Something that made everything make sense at last. Because the Small Hole was not a hole at all after all, after all. He was a musical note. Sitting in the middle of a sheet of lined music paper, all alone. All alone – because he was so important.

“The most important moment in this whole work,” the bellowing man, who really was the orchestra conductor, had called the Small Hole. “The climax of this great symphony by this great composer,” the bellowing orchestra conductor man had added. Then the bellowing conductor had drawn that circle in pencil around him, around the Small Hole.

Yes, the Small Hole understood now for sure, for sure. He wasn’t a Small Hole. He was a Big Note. He was the Big Note that made the cymbals of the orchestra crash loudly together at just the right time at just the right place in the music for everyone in the audience to enjoy. For sure, the most important musical note in this great symphony by this great composer!

And the Big Note understood one thing more, for sure. He understood that this is how it goes sometimes, for sure, for sure. Because sometimes we are sitting just a little too close to the page to see everything, that’s all. Sometimes it all looks just too big all around us to recognize our real place among it all, that’s all.

Sometimes we have a more important purpose, much more important, than we think. Yes, this is what the Big Note understood at last. Except sometimes we just need someone to draw a circle around us, in pencil, to show us what we were missing all along.

The Humanity Project believes purpose is what we each find for ourselves. It is our perception of our place in the world as an individual. The Humanity Project also believes that every human being can live a fuller, more meaningful life by recognizing that we each have something important to offer. Finding that larger purpose, and making it the focus of our everyday existence – that’s what The Humanity Project is all about.
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March 2008

The Tale of No-Time Nora

No, no, no, no! No was No-Time Nora’s favorite word. Often she would say, while hurrying past him or her in some frantic flurry, “No! Sorry! No time!” No time for coffee with a colleague. Sorry! No time for sewing with her sister. Sorry! No time for a film with a friend. Sorry! No, nor time to stop and listen, nor time to stop and chat. Nora was far too busy for frivolous stuff, for time-wasting things like that.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry! Gotta go feed the dog! And then the cat,” she would blurt into her cellphone while darting door to door, car to apartment, in very few seconds. Usually just 26 seconds flat. Though with her arms loaded with grocery bags, Nora would sometimes wave one spare finger, very quickly, toward her neighbors Paula, Spencer and Nat.

No-Time Nora had showers to scour, you see. Washing to wash, dusting to dust. Endless errands, a list of things-to-do that filled up her day. Important stuff, time-taking chores like that. And when they were done, just before bed, there was always the company of her dog. And her cat.

There was no time at all for doing with others. There just were not two seconds in her day to give two seconds to anyone at all. She never could squeeze in one instant for friendly frolics or friendships, she never could eek out one moment for moments of family fun. Though sometimes Nora paused long enough to admire her checklists showing all the chores she just got done.

Of course, none of Nora’s “no’s” was entirely necessary. Her shower was completely mildew-free. Even her dog was scrubbed down and her cat was washed clean. As were Nora’s doors and windows and every one of her window screens.

But at least her busywork life kept her so, so, so busy. So busy she had almost no time to notice how busy she was being unhappy. No-Time Nora just numbly buzzed with a busy loneliness throughout each busywork day. With no one and nothing in her busy life but one fat dog. And one very fat cat. And one sparkling shower – oh yes, and also one totally spotless white bathmat.

Until one day, Nat helped Nora with an armload of groceries, smiled and said to her, “Nora, my neighbor, some of us plan to help out another neighbor who needs some real help this weekend, just down the street. I know you’re always rushing off to do chores in a frantic flurry. But why not help us help our neighbor for just two hours – or just one hour’s helping if you really have to hurry?”

She could at last meet all the nice neighbors in their nice neighborhood, Nat told Nora. Giving two of her busy hours to someone else might make her smile more than she seemed to smile now. She could set aside for a while, Nat suggested, all the endless chores of her frantic, flurried life. Nora might even talk a bit with Spencer and Paula – who, Nat explained, were his son and his wife.

Nora pondered Nat’s invitation for just a moment. For two seconds Nora gave his suggestion a first and second thought. Maybe she really needed to meet some people. Maybe doing something for somebody else would do her some good. Maybe a nice smile with some nice neighbors would make a nice change. And with Paula and Spencer, she might even have some pleasant words to exchange.

But you know, of course, how No-Time Nora answered Nat. “No” was the first of the few short words in her no-time reply. “No time for helping neighbors, but thanks, Nat – goodbye!”

Sometime later, after Nat was gone, Nora told herself she really would like to help her needy neighbor. Why, of course she would! Because she was a giving person after all. If, if, if only there were more hours in her busy, busy day. But on the big neighbor-helping weekend, of course, she really had to scrub down the dog and clean up the cat. “And then there’s that dirty shower to scour,” Nora reminded herself, “and I really, really must wash that filthy white bathmat!”

Time for sharing herself with others was time that No-Time Nora always seemed to lack. Besides, when she had tried sharing herself with others, in the long ago past, others sometimes didn’t share themselves back. Life was so, so much simpler with just her one sparkling shower and her one fat dog – and her one very fat cat.

The Humanity Project says there’s no need for No-Time Nora to live in such busy, lonely isolation. She was prevented from connecting with other people mostly by fear and anger – that is, her memory of times when she had reached out but didn’t get the response she expected. The Humanity Project’s program teaches a practical system for sharing our best with others. This frees us from the kind of feelings that held Nora back. Get in touch with us for more information. __________________________________________________________________________
December 2007

The Tale of Generous Jen

Upon some time lived Jennifer once. Writing a children’s book, she was, all in lovely scented verse. Writing only once, perhaps twice, a month. Perhaps. When she could find some time.

This was how Jennifer’s scented children’s book began:

“Music comes alive at night, you know.
Every note has ears to hear.
It listens for the first sound of your snore.
And waits for your dreams to come near.”

Enchanted imagination was Jennifer’s great gift, telling us of things no one else could think to tell. Much more than these few lovely words, oh yes, Jennifer had almost written. But all the rest was still locked inside her head, just dancing and humming to get out for some young someone-else to read.

Just when Jennifer’s words would be unlocked free, oh my – this was anyone’s guess. If those words would ever be unlocked at all. Because Jennifer was so generous, you see. “Generous Jen,” her family all called her. Jen’s fingertips were usually far too busy helping someone else with something else for those fingertips to unlock her enchanted imagination. Whether that help for someone else was needed much or not.

No matter how many other fingertips were busy baking cookies for the church bake sale, Generous Jen always volunteered her fingertips too. No matter that her mother rarely wore some pair of worn pants – Generous Jen hemmed them up some half-inch higher with her busy fingertips. Just in case her mother changed her mind. Every friend who didn’t really need help packing up to move got Jennifer’s generous help anyway. Every friend of a friend who didn’t really need a ride to the airport got their ride anyway from Generous Jen.

There was not a “no” bone in her body any time anyone hinted they might prefer a “yes” from Jennifer. Always giving, giving, giving something or other to someone who didn’t really need her smallish gifts. That was Generous Jennifer.

If that’s what real giving really means, of course.

Because some gifts are gifts much easier to give than others, perhaps. Perhaps.

Much easier to give, at least, than writing scented verses.

At The Humanity Project, we believe “Generous Jen” isn’t really giving her best. But we also feel sure that she could. Our program can help Jennifer free that enchanted imagination – and the other great qualities that make her a unique individual with much to offer the rest of us. Learning to share the best in ourselves with others throughout each day can help release that potential. The Humanity Project can tell you more. __________________________________________________________________
October 2007

The Tale of Techie Tom

Thomas was a technical type. Totally. His colleagues in IT called him TT. To them, he was “Techie Tom.” But he felt sure all the Ts in his nickname were merely a teasing for him, initials given not with affection but with disdain. His colleagues didn’t really like him, TT would think each day. No one wanted him around. Except for his whiz-bang wizardry on the Internet, he was a man of little interest and lesser use to anybody. Or so TT thought.

Eating lunch this day, alone as usual and thinking typically techie things, TT picked up a magazine. One article instantly caught his attention. “The Humanity Project helps people live more happily through learning to give to others,” the story read. TT scratched his earlobe and other parts. A bit of smelly tuna was stuck to his lip when he lowered the magazine and said out loud, to himself only, “What does that mean anyway? That’s stupid! What do I have to give anyone?”

But TT kept turning the magazine pages. Because the magazine article next said, “The Humanity Project teaches us to focus our actions and thoughts on giving all we can to others each day, without expecting reward or fearing rejection. This ‘giving life’ connects our daily individual efforts to something larger than any one person: humanity. And that can help bring us each greater meaning and happiness.” Now TT was terribly troubled. In an untypically testy display of emotion, he tossed the magazine to the table and stalked angrily from the lunchroom. “‘A giving life!’” he tsked and snorted over and over, walking back to his safe, separate cubicle.

On the way, TT passed two techie colleagues talking about music or something. He never listened to anyone’s untechie chatter and heard not two words. So he did not overhear one colleague telling the other that they’d never find a drummer for their weekend jazz trio. Of course, TT had played the drums all through high school. Still had a drum set hidden in his closet. “‘A giving life!’” TT snorted again as he walked past.

TT still tsked and snuffled as he passed Theresa’s cubicle, who looked up from her techie tinkering long enough to sigh to herself, “TT’s such a cute guy! Too bad he doesn’t like anyone around here.” Then she watched him stalk past her and she got a funny, sad, if-only look in her two eyes. Down the techie hall, TT closed his ears again and hurried by someone who was touring techie cubicles collecting donations for some good cause or other that didn’t concern him anyway. Back within his safe, separate cubicle space now, TT did not phone his mother who was ill or his older sister who missed his voice or his younger brother who had always admired him. And TT, who loved and understood baseball, did not make plans to coach a Little League team that season or support the local major leaguers by attending even one game. After all, TT had a TV. And after work, TT did not take his seriously major techie talents down the street to the struggling school with all the broken computer terminals. The list of did-nots is too long to list here, in toto. Instead, TT fired up a microwave pizza, alone at home as usual, and turned on the ballgame. “‘A giving life!’” TT tsked one last time, to himself. “I’ve got nothing at all to give. And even if I did, who would want it anyway?”

The Humanity Project could help Techie Tom understand that he has a lot to give. Like some of us, he just doesn’t see all his talents and gifts very clearly – and all the people who need them. Because the truth is that Tom isn’t merely a computer technician, a “techie.” He’s a human being with much to offer colleagues, family, children and his community at large. If you know a “Techie Tom” type, tell him or her about The Humanity Project. Just call us at 954-205-2722. Thanks!
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2009-11-18T08:54:00.004-05:00

Please Help Michael

There are lots of good causes in this needy world of ours. Including our work at the Humanity Project. So we don't normally talk much about other fundraisers outside our own efforts. But this is an exception. If you live in South Florida, please attend an important event this Saturday, November 21, in Pompano Beach. They're raising money to help the family of Michael Brewer, who was set on fire deliberately by five classmates several weeks ago. It is, to us, one of the most horrible examples we know of extreme bullying. Michael nearly died but is slowly recovering, just out of ICU. It's a long, expensive haul for him and his family. The fundraiser will be held starting around noon at a lovely restaurant/bar called Galuppis. Here's a link for the address: http://galuppis.com/ The Humanity Project believes that we can learn to help others in ways that also help ourselves. Surely, this important fundraiser is one time to give what we can, helping to make a difference in a child's life -- and in our lives too. Thanks so much!

2009-11-06T10:51:00.003-05:00

Thank You, Michael Jackson

You may wonder why we're thanking Michael Jackson. Fair enough. The answer is best seen, not read. Go to this link and watch the Humanity Project's latest offering, "If You Help Someone." www.youtube.com/hpflorida. Loosely based on MJ's classic video "Beat It," we use child dancers and actors in our own tale of bullying -- and how to stop it. You'll hear original music that's very different anything Jackson did -- but that also sends a strong message young kids will remember. (While you're at our YouTube site, also check out the other videos, especially the wonderful news story about last year's anti-bullying Thousand Youth March for Humanity.) We think these videos will make you smile! Thanks MJ ... and thanks to you for your interest and support!

2009-11-04T17:24:00.002-05:00

Big Thanks to Children’s Services Council!

For the second consecutive year, Children’s Services Council of Broward County has become a sponsor of the Humanity Project. We’re proud of our association with this distinguished tax-funded organization. And we’re appreciative of their continued enthusiasm for our work, an enthusiasm that once more takes tangible, meaningful form as monetary support for the Humanity Project. Last year, Children’s Services Council of Broward County helped us pay the costs for our Thousand Youth March for Humanity, the nation’s first mass children’s march against bullying. (If you haven’t yet, check out this news report about that march. It’ll make you smile! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4dIhJR_D_k. ) As you see, CSC plays a vital role in South Florida’s efforts to help kids – and they do a great job of it! Many thanks to CSC’s president and CEO, Cindy J. Arenberg Seltzer and her great staff for this important boost to the Humanity Project’s efforts. We are, again, enormously grateful.

2009-10-15T12:45:00.002-04:00

This is the sixth in a series of original modern fables by The Humanity Project. They are short, fun, fictional tales that we hope will help demonstrate key points of The Humanity Project message. Stories have been used to teach moral lessons for centuries, from the ancient Greeks through the Bible and up to today’s self-help gurus. That’s also our goal with these stories. We hope you’ll enjoy “The Tale of Me-First Mary.”

The Tale of Me-First Mary

Mary was an odd name for this particular Mary. For this particular Mary often pursed her unmerry lips in disgust at some other someone. Someone, anyone who got in her way during any particular day. Mary was as unmerry as any someone could be.

Knowing that she lived in a me-first world, Mary often used her lips to speak aloud the two words always mostly on her mind. “Me.” And “my.” (Sometimes Mary often spoke the words “I” and “mine” too.) These were the syllables that tumbled off her tongue from each day’s first sunflicker to every night’s final moongleam.

Driving to work, she fumed that an accident ahead on the highway put “me” behind schedule. Vacationing in the mountains, she snorted that her boyfriend’s sprained ankle ruined “my” holiday. Watching television, she sniffed that terrible news about terrible floods somewhere interrupted “my” favorite program. The drivers in the accident and the boyfriend in the mountains and the people living near terrible floods were not tickled by these events either, of course, though this thought never meandered completely into Mary’s mind.

Mary wasn’t mean, mind you. No, Mary didn’t want to hurt anyone, of course, of course not. No, Mary had just learned, oh yes, Mary had learned the big lesson very very well: If you’re helping someone else, you’re not helping yourself. It was a hard but simple truth, as every someone understood in this me-first world.

The trouble with being just one me in a me-first world is all those other me-firsters living in your world, of course. Yes, all those other me-first people just keep getting in your way. Which was why Mary so often pursed her unmerry lips in disgust at some other someone. Which was why Mary was as unmerry as any someone could be.

And so it went for Me-First Mary, day after day after day becoming less merry by the moment. Until one day Mary had to wonder, just for one moment beneath her pursed unmerry lips: “Maybe me-first isn’t the best way to be in this world. Maybe, maybe helping only yourself isn’t really helping yourself at all.” This is what Mary wondered one day.

Was it possible that doing something helpful for some other someone really might help Mary too somehow? Was it possible Mary might feel a little merrier if she thought a little less about herself alone? Was it really possible that any of this was really possible in this me-first world?

Mary pursed her lips again, tighter than usual.

“No, that’s really not possible,” Mary said tartly to herself aloud. “My life’s hard enough just worrying about ‘me’ all the time! ‘Me,’ ‘me,’ ‘me’ every minute and I still can’t get what I want. Imagine how bad my life would be if I started worrying about any of ‘them’ too!”

The Humanity Project believes that Me-First Mary had it all wrong, wrong, wrong. :-) Because she was so unmerry precisely as a result of thinking only about herself. Our group believes that each of us simply function more fully as human beings when we do, indeed, worry about other people too. We think it’s possible, we know it’s possible, to focus on helping ourselves and others – all at the same time. Not only “me” and not only “them” but rather “us.” For instance, when bystander students learn to stop school bullying, they also make their schools better places for themselves to learn and enjoy each day. Practical action that helps both yourself and humanity – that’s the Humanity Project. Find out more by exploring www.thehumanityproject.com or call us at 954-205-2722.

2009-09-28T12:57:00.003-04:00

Thank You, Elizabeth J. Liberty Charitable Trust Fund!

The kind folks at the family-run Elizabeth J. Liberty Charitable Trust Fund deserve a big thank you from everyone here at the Humanity Project! We just received a generous contribution from this organization to help support our original anti-bullying work in the schools. The timing of their donation was perfect too -- we really need donations and sponsorships to get our cutting-edge program to many more kids just now. Thank you so very much: Elizabeth J. Liberty, Anita Liberty, Phil Liberty and Frann Castillo. We are very grateful. The Humanity Project also wants to thank Anita and her two talented children, Trevor and Spencer Wayne, for helping us make our soon-to-be-released anti-bullying music video. Stay tuned for more details in this space. But for now, you should know that this new video included the acting and dancing skills of Trevor, 12, and Spencer, 8, as well as a slew of other talented young kids from performing arts schools. (Our new podcast talks more about this video: http://www.thehumanityproject.com/podcasts/Podcast66.html) We've already seen a rough cut of the music video and it will be something very special, shot in high definition. We expect to have it posted permanently on our website at www.thehumanityproject.com and on YouTube in the next few weeks. And it will be included as part of our in-school anti-bullying program. Thanks again so much to the Elizabeth J. Liberty Charitable Trust Fund for helping us to make it all happen. We appreciate your support more than you know.

2009-09-04T13:14:00.001-04:00

Psychological Boost

Lots more folks are learning a little more information each month about the Humanity Project, partly through our free monthly email newsletter as well as our podcasts and blogs. Learning about who we are, what we do, where we’re going. As this happens, we’re definitely finding that our group is attracting a diverse collection of bright, involved people. Increasingly, this includes psychologists. So we’re very pleased that the Florida Psychological Association, Broward Chapter, is running an article about the Humanity Project’s anti-bullying efforts in its current newsletter. Our work includes an original anti-bullying program for elementary school kids. Empirical evidence shows our program really works. We hope many more psychologists will want to meet us personally in the weeks ahead -– and ultimately become involved directly with the Humanity Project. We’re genuinely grateful that this distinguished professional organization now has placed the Humanity Project on its radar screen. Many thanks to Dr. Heather Jordan Clark and Dr. Amy Danser, newsletter co-editors. Perhaps we might suggest that you folks consider a newsletter article about our blog article about your newsletter article??
:-)) Just kidding ... (BTW, if you want to receive our fun, informative and FREE email newsletter each month, just email us at rsk@thehumanityproject.com. Put “newsletter” in the subject line and you’ll get this month’s issue emailed back to your return email address. See? Some things in life ARE free!! Thx!)

2009-07-27T18:23:00.005-04:00

Humanity Music

At the Humanity Project, music is a big deal. So we thought you might enjoy our latest podcast, "Humanity Music: Our Symphony Orchestra." You can find the new program at this website address: http://www.thehumanityproject.com/podcasts/Podcast64x.html Or just go to http://www.thehumanityproject.com/ and click on the menu link for "Podcast." You'll hear an explanation about WHY we use music so heavily -- use it to connect with kids and adults in many ways, including our original anti-bullying program. You'll also hear some of our original music during the program and listen as we create right before your ears a lovely, short symphonic piece ... something just for our listeners. We'll explain how we make these sounds in the studio and more. All in the latest podcast, coming to you each month for free through iTunes and other major podcast providers as well as on our own website. From the Humanity Project to you -- we hope you'll enjoy it! (Please pass it along to your friends and family for us too!!) Thanks!! :-))

2009-06-30T19:24:00.002-04:00

Save This Date -- Really!

We know, we know. Everyone says, “Save The Date.” Like their event is the only thing to do in South Florida or something. But you may want to consider grabbing your pencil, or maybe pen, for this date. July 7, 2009. Here’s why: You can help kids to stop bullying in our local schools – AND meet some great people and listen to some terrific live music. All this for just $10. That seems like a date worth marking down. You’ll also be able to purchase food and drink at very reasonable prices, if you want, at the historic Downtowner Saloon. That community-minded establishment is the host for the grand finale to our “Freedom from Bullying Parties” over the 4th of July weekend. ALL of this money, every $10 we raise, will go to help us complete The Humanity Project’s anti-bullying program for South Florida elementary school students. These are the details for your calendar:
· Day/time: Tuesday July 7, 6 – 9 p.m.
· Location: Downtowner Saloon, 10 South New River Dr. East, Ft Lauderdale (954-463-9800) – Look for us in the beautiful refurbished Maxwell Room in back! A very cool space …
· Music: Jazz Survivors, a hot quartet that plays local festivals, jazz brunches, etc.
· Cost: $10, tax deductible – ALL money to benefit The Humanity Project’s anti-bullying program!
· Parking: Lots of free parking right behind the Downtowner.
· People: Fun, caring, looking to meet new friends!! (Not always easy to find in South Florida!!
;-))

2009-06-14T16:47:00.003-04:00

Website Improvements For You!

Please make sure to see the significant additions to our website. If you go to our home page at www.thehumanityproject.com, you'll find two new menu items: YouTube Channel and NING Network. Click on the YouTube Channel to see an uplifting five-minute news story about our Thousand Youth March for Humanity, the nation's first ever mass children's march against bullying. The Humanity Project conceived and organized the march, and lead it to a huge success last November. The other website addition is our NING Network, which will bring you to a whole alternative website for The Humanity Project -- one with pictures of the march as well as informative anti-bullying videos and other resources related to our work. A BIG shoutout of thanks to our remarkable volunteer, Cheryl-Ann Henry, for tackling this web work for us. Eventually you'll find a completely redesigned website, with a bold new look as well as new features and new information that you can use. For now, enjoy the changes Cheryl made possible for us. And please, pass our website along to friends and family! We need your help for The Humanity Project to keep growing! Thanks!! ;-))

2009-06-08T08:42:00.005-04:00

Sample a Yellow Strawberry

We hope you're planning your 4th of July "Freedom from Bullying Party," which we explained in the previous blog. But there’s another way you can help us complete our unique, effective anti-bullying program for the school kids if you live in South Florida. Our great friends at Yellow Strawberry Global Hair Salon in Fort Lauderdale are giving to The Humanity Project yet again. Owner Jesse Briggs is a wonderful guy who cares about kids a lot – and is helping us to stop bullying. He also has cut the hair of some pretty famous folks over the years. If you’ve never had the chance to try upscale Yellow Strawberry, now’s a great time because it will also help stop bullying. Here’s Jesse’s generous offer: Anytime in June, bring the below coupon with you and get a shampoo, conditioner, haircut and blow dry. He’ll give us $20 toward the music video for each woman’s cut (out of the total discount price: $45 -- or see this link for other services available with discount prices and anti-bullying donations: http://www.yellowstrawberry.com/ysblog/) and he’ll donate $10 for every man’s cut ($35 total price). Please make SURE to bring in the coupon below. The offer’s not valid without this. Just copy, paste and print the coupon. Simple, right? Ask for Jesse Briggs or one of the other four talented stylists who are helping us. They’re named in the coupon. You’ll get a great cut – and help a great cause!!
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COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON
This coupon is redeemable for one woman’s haircut ( total price: $60; $75 for long hair) or one man’s haircut ($35) at Yellow Strawberry Global Hair Salon, 1007 E. Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, between June 1 – June 30, 2009. Yellow Strawberry will donate $20 from each woman’s cut with coupon, $10 from each man’s cut with coupon, to The Humanity Project’s important anti-bullying program. Ask for Jesse Briggs, Shelly Van Pelt, Franco Magnotta, Christopher Durst or Edy Gomez. Call for appointment: 954-463-4343.
COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON COUPON ____________________________________________________________________
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2009-05-29T19:14:00.004-04:00

Anti-bullying … “Party”??

Yep. No joke. This is your chance to do good and feel good – and have a good time! We just gave two more great presentations of The Humanity Project anti-bullying program to elementary school kids. Thousands of children clearly are “getting” our message: bullying hurts everyone in school and everyone must help stop it. But we’re still lacking the final important component of this program … lacking it for the usual reason. Money. We have recorded another very cool original kids song, “If Ya Help Someone” and plan to turn this into a terrific MTV-style music video. It’ll really help drive home our point at the end of each program. We’ll also make it available to the general public for free on YouTube. We need around $3,000 to create, direct and produce a high-quality professional music video. You can help us make that video a permanent part of our unique original anti-bullying program … just by having a “Freedom from Bullying Party” sometime around the 4th of July holiday. It won’t cost you much: not much time, not much money, not much hassle. Here’s details of the idea (which was suggested by our great volunteer, Rebecca!):

** Invite from 5 – 15 friends to your 4th of July holiday wingding. Have the party when it’s most convenient for everyone, but ideally sometime near the 4th weekend.
** Ask each guest to bring something for the party: bottle of wine, six-pack of soft drinks, bag of chips, etc. Not much expense there, right?
** Tell each person about the important idea behind these parties: To free kids from bullying!! Request that each guest contribute just $20 to that cause.(We can give you receipts for each tax-deductible $20 donation!)
** Have a blast for freedom over our national holiday – knowing that you’re also helping kids become free of bullying. This gives your 4th of July party a whole new, very satisfying spin!
** After your party, just email us at rsk@thehumanityproject.com or call 954-205-2722. We’ll tell you how you can easily get the money to us over the Internet or where to mail the money you collected.

That’s it! No hassles at all, really! We’ve already got several parties lined up but need a whole bunch more to make that anti-bullying video a reality for the kids. Please help us. We need you! (And if you’re still not too familiar with The Humanity Project, check out our new presence on YouTube: www.youtube.com/hpflorida . You may want to include that link in your “Freedom from Bullying Party” email invites too!!)

2009-05-20T10:14:00.001-04:00

Competition: “Me” or “Us”?

Just a very quick blog this morning as a thought struck me – a thought about the nature of competition in our society. Each of us feels the universe revolves around “me” … or should anyway. From our individual perspective, everything begins and ends with myself. Me. So when we compete for things, we put the “me” first. That’s true whether competing for attention in a group, or for a new job, or a parking space at the grocery store. To most of us, competition means getting mine for me and me alone. But there’s another approach that may work better for us, individually and as a society. Competition that lifts everyone involved. I was recalling what Paul McCartney once said about his backstage songwriting competition with John Lennon when they worked so closely together composing those classic tunes for the Beatles. “John would go off and write ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ and then I’d go write ‘Penny Lane.” In other words, the achievements of one of them inspired the other to greater achievement too. And back and forth it went with them, leaving us with some of the greatest popular songs ever penned. They even put both their names on all their songs precisely to avoid igniting an unhealthy competition between them. Competition can be viewed as a friendly effort to get the most out of “us,” rather than a destructive battle just for “me.” That was my morning thought and I wanted to share it with my friends at The Humanity Project – which is about teaching individuals to take practical action for the betterment of both humanity and themselves. “Us.” Have a great day! :-)

2009-05-16T15:21:00.001-04:00

Gifts, Given and Received

On my desk sits a small bronze figure of Buddha. It represents to me the many wise lessons imparted to the world by this insightful man. But it also means something else: friendship. The inexpensive figurine was handed to me spontaneously by a woman at a shop along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. The sales clerk did this as a kindness, I believe, a gesture of good will between us. I already had bought several masks and other art pieces at her store and paid for them. She had nothing to gain except my smile.

Just now, as I dusted the Buddha during my weekly housecleaning, this thought occurred to me: the gift was given with no knowledge of how I would receive it. I might just as easily have seen this as worthless junk and tossed it in the nearest trash can. Or I might have put it in some jewelry box when I returned home and never glanced at it again. Or. Or … yes, I might have looked at this small gift in the way I do, as an object I genuinely appreciate and use to enhance my life. That thought led me to another. Isn’t the same true of our own gifts, the talent and experience and enthusiasm we can share with others? All we can do is to give these, with no knowledge of how they will be received. Just like the Buddha from my friend in Bangkok. We only have the power to hand out our individual treasures to the world. What the world does with them is entirely up to others to decide.

2009-05-02T10:03:00.004-04:00

One Mom & Two Kids

Just a quick post to let our many blog followers know about a podcast they may want to check out. It's called "One Mom & Two Kids," the first Humanity Project show on which we've heard the voices of children who actually have experienced bullying first-hand in their school. It's an engaging interview with a mom and her kids and you can listen to all or part of the program, which runs about 1/2 hour long. An interesting way to spend a little free Web-surfing time! Check it out at http://www.thehumanityproject.com/podcasts/Podcast61.html. Thanks -- and please email the link to your friends!

2009-04-20T15:11:00.003-04:00

Like Our Blog?

Then you should love our podcast! We just wanted to send out a brief invite for the many new folks who subscribe to our blog -- but seem to be missing our podcast. You get even more lively fun from these Internet radio shows. Each has different original music, something that somehow or other fits the theme of the program. And we offer lively commentary and fascinating interviews. Check them out at http://www.thehumanityproject.com/podcast.html ... And please, if you like what you hear, send this link to your friends and family so they can discover us too. Thanks! ;-))

2009-04-06T15:46:00.003-04:00

Copyright © The Humanity Project, 2007, 2008, 2009
All Rights Reserved
All tales written by Robert Spencer Knotts, president and founder
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These are the first five in a series of original modern fables for adults by The Humanity Project. They are short, fun, fictional tales that we hope will help demonstrate key points of The Humanity Project message. Stories have been used to teach moral lessons for centuries, from the ancient Greeks through the Bible and up to today’s self-help gurus. That’s also our goal with these stories. We hope you’ll enjoy them, re-posted on this blog so they can be easily read together.
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February 2009

The Tale of the Yellowbright Flower

Flowers feel feelings. Strong emotions vibrating out through their stamens and pistils. It’s a secret well known by flower lovers who coax blooms open with whispered encouragements. So it should be no surprise that the Yellowbright Flower growing in a large red field trembled with feelings now. Yes, he trembled each day from the strong feelings he felt. He felt different, after all, which is always a strong and unsettling thing to feel. He was the only Yellowbright Flower flowering in a field of red something-or-other plants. Whatever they were. He knew walkers walking by stopped walking and wondered at the sight of the Yellowbright Flower, stopped and stared before walking on. He knew he was some special thing, the only thing of his kind. But so what? Because the only thing of anything is always a very lonely thing to be, no matter what thing it is.

Until one midnight moonful lightbright night, as the Yellowbright Flower bobbed on a summer wind, the field spoke to him. Yes, a voice came from the field itself, from one red something-or-other plant itself in the field itself. This plant, whatever it was, now spoke to the Yellowbright Flower by saying this: “You’re not really alone, you know.” No one and nothing had ever spoken to the Yellowbright Flower before. To say the Yellowbright Flower was startled would be an understatement. Remember, flowers feel strong feelings.

“You’ve missed it along,” the red plant went on to the Yellowbright Flower. “You’re a rose. So am I. So are we all, all of us in this big field. If you’re yellow, with a different bloom, your color only adds to the beauty of this field. But it’s all of us, together, that the walkers stop walking to see. Not just you. Together, we’re a garden. Alone, you’re only one pretty but very small blossom.” Funny how this changed things for the Yellowbright Flower, who now recognized he was really a Yellowbright Rose. Funny how those few words changed everything. Because no thing is really the only thing of anything, no matter how special that one thing is. Somehow it helps to feel this when you’re a flower feeling strong feelings. Yes, somehow a flower garden just feels like a much less lonely place to flower, don’t you think?

At The Humanity Project, we believe that human beings flower most fully when we begin to understand we’re part of something much larger than ourselves – humanity. And then commit ourselves to working for the betterment of humanity in whatever ways we each best can. That’s what The Humanity Project is all about: teaching individuals how to take practical action for the improvement of both humanity and ourselves. Find out more by contacting us at 954-205-2722 or go to the Contact Us page at www.thehumanityproject.com.
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July 2008

The Tale of the Small Hole

Life is tough if you’re nothing but a small hole. For big holes, sure, things aren’t quite so bad, sure, sure. At least bigger is better, as everyone knows. But for each small hole poked into the fabric of this world somewhere, there is almost nothing to do but to live in hollow boredom.

The worst of it was this, though: The Small Hole wasn’t even sure, totally sure, he was even a hole even. He was round. Sort of. He was empty inside. Kind of. But he sat among rows of black lines on a field of white. His best guess was that he came into being as a tiny hole in a sheet of paper. But he wasn’t sure, not totally sure, not sure at all.

The Small Hole had lived all his small vacant life with this terrible uncertainty. Big holes at least had some purpose anyway. They could let big things pass through them anyway, like a tunnel that is a pass-through for cars anyway. At least it was something to do with your day. Even some small holes could be useful sometimes, it seemed, as when a finger scratches an itchy leg through the pocket hole of old jeans. Even small holes had a purpose even, sometimes. Not a grand purpose, mind you. But amid the nothingness of small hole life, even small purposes were welcome.

So sat the Small Hole, day after day. Round and empty, sort of, kind of. Unable even to think of himself as a big nothing even, because he was only a small nothing after all. The Small Hole had no purpose and nothing to give at all.

Or so it seemed.

Until the day he overheard one voice uttering some very interesting words. (Yes, holes can understand whatever people say. Most recognize several languages as well as signing for the deaf.) The Small Hole heard one man’s voice talking, followed by very beautiful sounds. The same voice again, then more sounds of a beauty the Small Hole had never heard before. And then once more, the same man’s voice again, once more yes the same man’s voice, but now very loud, very bellowy now. This is when the man’s words got very interesting, if also very loud.

“You’re late!” the man’s voice bellowed. “You have the most important moment in this whole work – and you’re late! Play on the downbeat, as it is written!”

The Small Hole understood the words, of course, but he could not make sense of their true meaning. What was the bellowing man talking about? Soon enough, the Small Hole would learn.

Because now the voice of the bellowing man continued: “I can’t believe my ears! One note to play and you get it wrong! That cymbal crash is the climax of this great symphony by this great composer and you cannot be late! On the downbeat, Mr. Nada! It’s right here on your page! Let me show you!”

What was the bellowing man saying? The Small Hole glanced quickly around now, excited. Because something was happening now. Yes, now the bellowing man was drawing a circle in pencil now. A circle around … him! Around the Small Hole! The bellowing man was drawing a circle around the Small Hole, which of course meant the bellowing man had been talking about the Small Hole!

And now the Small Hole suddenly understood something he never had understood before. Something that made everything make sense at last. Because the Small Hole was not a hole at all after all, after all. He was a musical note. Sitting in the middle of a sheet of lined music paper, all alone. All alone – because he was so important.

“The most important moment in this whole work,” the bellowing man, who really was the orchestra conductor, had called the Small Hole. “The climax of this great symphony by this great composer,” the bellowing orchestra conductor man had added. Then the bellowing conductor had drawn that circle in pencil around him, around the Small Hole.

Yes, the Small Hole understood now for sure, for sure. He wasn’t a Small Hole. He was a Big Note. He was the Big Note that made the cymbals of the orchestra crash loudly together at just the right time at just the right place in the music for everyone in the audience to enjoy. For sure, the most important musical note in this great symphony by this great composer!

And the Big Note understood one thing more, for sure. He understood that this is how it goes sometimes, for sure, for sure. Because sometimes we are sitting just a little too close to the page to see everything, that’s all. Sometimes it all looks just too big all around us to recognize our real place among it all, that’s all.

Sometimes we have a more important purpose, much more important, than we think. Yes, this is what the Big Note understood at last. Except sometimes we just need someone to draw a circle around us, in pencil, to show us what we were missing all along.

The Humanity Project believes purpose is what we each find for ourselves. It is our perception of our place in the world as an individual. The Humanity Project also believes that every human being can live a fuller, more meaningful life by recognizing that we each have something important to offer. Finding that larger purpose, and making it the focus of our everyday existence – that’s what The Humanity Project is all about.
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March 2008

The Tale of No-Time Nora

No, no, no, no! No was No-Time Nora’s favorite word. Often she would say, while hurrying past him or her in some frantic flurry, “No! Sorry! No time!” No time for coffee with a colleague. Sorry! No time for sewing with her sister. Sorry! No time for a film with a friend. Sorry! No, nor time to stop and listen, nor time to stop and chat. Nora was far too busy for frivolous stuff, for time-wasting things like that.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry! Gotta go feed the dog! And then the cat,” she would blurt into her cellphone while darting door to door, car to apartment, in very few seconds. Usually just 26 seconds flat. Though with her arms loaded with grocery bags, Nora would sometimes wave one spare finger, very quickly, toward her neighbors Paula, Spencer and Nat.

No-Time Nora had showers to scour, you see. Washing to wash, dusting to dust. Endless errands, a list of things-to-do that filled up her day. Important stuff, time-taking chores like that. And when they were done, just before bed, there was always the company of her dog. And her cat.

There was no time at all for doing with others. There just were not two seconds in her day to give two seconds to anyone at all. She never could squeeze in one instant for friendly frolics or friendships, she never could eek out one moment for moments of family fun. Though sometimes Nora paused long enough to admire her checklists showing all the chores she just got done.

Of course, none of Nora’s “no’s” was entirely necessary. Her shower was completely mildew-free. Even her dog was scrubbed down and her cat was washed clean. As were Nora’s doors and windows and every one of her window screens.

But at least her busywork life kept her so, so, so busy. So busy she had almost no time to notice how busy she was being unhappy. No-Time Nora just numbly buzzed with a busy loneliness throughout each busywork day. With no one and nothing in her busy life but one fat dog. And one very fat cat. And one sparkling shower – oh yes, and also one totally spotless white bathmat.

Until one day, Nat helped Nora with an armload of groceries, smiled and said to her, “Nora, my neighbor, some of us plan to help out another neighbor who needs some real help this weekend, just down the street. I know you’re always rushing off to do chores in a frantic flurry. But why not help us help our neighbor for just two hours – or just one hour’s helping if you really have to hurry?”

She could at last meet all the nice neighbors in their nice neighborhood, Nat told Nora. Giving two of her busy hours to someone else might make her smile more than she seemed to smile now. She could set aside for a while, Nat suggested, all the endless chores of her frantic, flurried life. Nora might even talk a bit with Spencer and Paula – who, Nat explained, were his son and his wife.

Nora pondered Nat’s invitation for just a moment. For two seconds Nora gave his suggestion a first and second thought. Maybe she really needed to meet some people. Maybe doing something for somebody else would do her some good. Maybe a nice smile with some nice neighbors would make a nice change. And with Paula and Spencer, she might even have some pleasant words to exchange.

But you know, of course, how No-Time Nora answered Nat. “No” was the first of the few short words in her no-time reply. “No time for helping neighbors, but thanks, Nat – goodbye!”

Sometime later, after Nat was gone, Nora told herself she really would like to help her needy neighbor. Why, of course she would! Because she was a giving person after all. If, if, if only there were more hours in her busy, busy day. But on the big neighbor-helping weekend, of course, she really had to scrub down the dog and clean up the cat. “And then there’s that dirty shower to scour,” Nora reminded herself, “and I really, really must wash that filthy white bathmat!”

Time for sharing herself with others was time that No-Time Nora always seemed to lack. Besides, when she had tried sharing herself with others, in the long ago past, others sometimes didn’t share themselves back. Life was so, so much simpler with just her one sparkling shower and her one fat dog – and her one very fat cat.

The Humanity Project says there’s no need for No-Time Nora to live in such busy, lonely isolation. She was prevented from connecting with other people mostly by fear and anger – that is, her memory of times when she had reached out but didn’t get the response she expected. The Humanity Project’s program teaches a practical system for sharing our best with others. This frees us from the kind of feelings that held Nora back. Get in touch with us for more information. __________________________________________________________________________
December 2007

The Tale of Generous Jen

Upon some time lived Jennifer once. Writing a children’s book, she was, all in lovely scented verse. Writing only once, perhaps twice, a month. Perhaps. When she could find some time.

This was how Jennifer’s scented children’s book began:

“Music comes alive at night, you know.
Every note has ears to hear.
It listens for the first sound of your snore.
And waits for your dreams to come near.”

Enchanted imagination was Jennifer’s great gift, telling us of things no one else could think to tell. Much more than these few lovely words, oh yes, Jennifer had almost written. But all the rest was still locked inside her head, just dancing and humming to get out for some young someone-else to read.

Just when Jennifer’s words would be unlocked free, oh my – this was anyone’s guess. If those words would ever be unlocked at all. Because Jennifer was so generous, you see. “Generous Jen,” her family all called her. Jen’s fingertips were usually far too busy helping someone else with something else for those fingertips to unlock her enchanted imagination. Whether that help for someone else was needed much or not.

No matter how many other fingertips were busy baking cookies for the church bake sale, Generous Jen always volunteered her fingertips too. No matter that her mother rarely wore some pair of worn pants – Generous Jen hemmed them up some half-inch higher with her busy fingertips. Just in case her mother changed her mind. Every friend who didn’t really need help packing up to move got Jennifer’s generous help anyway. Every friend of a friend who didn’t really need a ride to the airport got their ride anyway from Generous Jen.

There was not a “no” bone in her body any time anyone hinted they might prefer a “yes” from Jennifer. Always giving, giving, giving something or other to someone who didn’t really need her smallish gifts. That was Generous Jennifer.

If that’s what real giving really means, of course.

Because some gifts are gifts much easier to give than others, perhaps. Perhaps.

Much easier to give, at least, than writing scented verses.

At The Humanity Project, we believe “Generous Jen” isn’t really giving her best. But we also feel sure that she could. Our program can help Jennifer free that enchanted imagination – and the other great qualities that make her a unique individual with much to offer the rest of us. Learning to share the best in ourselves with others throughout each day can help release that potential. The Humanity Project can tell you more. __________________________________________________________________
October 2007

The Tale of Techie Tom

Thomas was a technical type. Totally. His colleagues in IT called him TT. To them, he was “Techie Tom.” But he felt sure all the Ts in his nickname were merely a teasing for him, initials given not with affection but with disdain. His colleagues didn’t really like him, TT would think each day. No one wanted him around. Except for his whiz-bang wizardry on the Internet, he was a man of little interest and lesser use to anybody. Or so TT thought.

Eating lunch this day, alone as usual and thinking typically techie things, TT picked up a magazine. One article instantly caught his attention. “The Humanity Project helps people live more happily through learning to give to others,” the story read. TT scratched his earlobe and other parts. A bit of smelly tuna was stuck to his lip when he lowered the magazine and said out loud, to himself only, “What does that mean anyway? That’s stupid! What do I have to give anyone?”

But TT kept turning the magazine pages. Because the magazine article next said, “The Humanity Project teaches us to focus our actions and thoughts on giving all we can to others each day, without expecting reward or fearing rejection. This ‘giving life’ connects our daily individual efforts to something larger than any one person: humanity. And that can help bring us each greater meaning and happiness.” Now TT was terribly troubled. In an untypically testy display of emotion, he tossed the magazine to the table and stalked angrily from the lunchroom. “‘A giving life!’” he tsked and snorted over and over, walking back to his safe, separate cubicle.

On the way, TT passed two techie colleagues talking about music or something. He never listened to anyone’s untechie chatter and heard not two words. So he did not overhear one colleague telling the other that they’d never find a drummer for their weekend jazz trio. Of course, TT had played the drums all through high school. Still had a drum set hidden in his closet. “‘A giving life!’” TT snorted again as he walked past.

TT still tsked and snuffled as he passed Theresa’s cubicle, who looked up from her techie tinkering long enough to sigh to herself, “TT’s such a cute guy! Too bad he doesn’t like anyone around here.” Then she watched him stalk past her and she got a funny, sad, if-only look in her two eyes. Down the techie hall, TT closed his ears again and hurried by someone who was touring techie cubicles collecting donations for some good cause or other that didn’t concern him anyway. Back within his safe, separate cubicle space now, TT did not phone his mother who was ill or his older sister who missed his voice or his younger brother who had always admired him. And TT, who loved and understood baseball, did not make plans to coach a Little League team that season or support the local major leaguers by attending even one game. After all, TT had a TV. And after work, TT did not take his seriously major techie talents down the street to the struggling school with all the broken computer terminals. The list of did-nots is too long to list here, in toto. Instead, TT fired up a microwave pizza, alone at home as usual, and turned on the ballgame. “‘A giving life!’” TT tsked one last time, to himself. “I’ve got nothing at all to give. And even if I did, who would want it anyway?”

The Humanity Project could help Techie Tom understand that he has a lot to give. Like some of us, he just doesn’t see all his talents and gifts very clearly – and all the people who need them. Because the truth is that Tom isn’t merely a computer technician, a “techie.” He’s a human being with much to offer colleagues, family, children and his community at large. If you know a “Techie Tom” type, tell him or her about The Humanity Project. Just call us at 954-205-2722. Thanks!
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2009-03-12T14:54:00.002-04:00

Thank You, State Farm!

Once again, our Good Neighbors have come through for us. State Farm Insurance has just signed on as a sponsor of The Humanity Project’s innovative anti-bullying program for elementary school students. This month, more than 1,400 kids will learn why bullying hurts everyone in their school – and how they can stop it in appropriate ways. Many thousands more will hear that same lesson in the coming weeks. Our program was approved by psychologists, educators and prevention specialists for use here in Broward County, Florida – the nation’s sixth largest school district. But we can’t get it to the kids who need it without money. So three State Farm agency field executives stepped up to help, just as they did for our Thousand Youth March for Humanity last November. The Humanity Project gives a big thanks again to Eugene Dixon, Craig Holloway and John Gentry for bringing State Farm to this cause. They understand how important it is to stop the school bullying that damages, sometimes destroys, young lives. And like the good neighbors they are, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Holloway and Mr. Gentry are doing something about it. We offer them our heartfelt thanks.

2009-03-04T15:00:00.003-05:00

Some Podcast Fun

We hope you'll take a half hour to have some fun with our new podcast. Called "A Board Member Speaks," the title may not exactly be catchy! ;-) But the program will grab you if you begin listening and stay with it a few minutes. The Humanity Project's newest member of the Board of Directors, Bob LaMendola, is not only a socially committed, thoughtful person -- he's fun. As a full time journalist and musician, he tells some good stories on this podcast. We think you may also enjoy our cool original theme music for this show. (Each podcast has different original music, composed and performed by The Humanity Project's president/founder. Check out various programs and you'll hear everything from blues to New Age music, classical to hip hop.) Just go to www.thehumanityproject.com and click on the podcast tab. Then open the latest program. Let us know what you think of the new podcast -- and please help us spread the word. Tell your friends about our blogs and podcasts! Thanks!!

2009-02-14T12:08:00.002-05:00

This is the fifth in a series of original modern fables by The Humanity Project. They are short, fun, fictional tales that we hope will help demonstrate key points of The Humanity Project message. Stories have been used to teach moral lessons for centuries, from the ancient Greeks through the Bible and up to today’s self-help gurus. That’s also our goal with these stories. We hope you’ll enjoy “The Tale of the Yellowbright Flower.”

The Tale of the Yellowbright Flower

Flowers feel feelings. Strong emotions vibrating out through their stamens and pistils. It’s a secret well known by flower lovers who coax blooms open with whispered encouragements. So it should be no surprise that the Yellowbright Flower growing in a large red field trembled with feelings now. Yes, he trembled each day from the strong feelings he felt. He felt different, after all, which is always a strong and unsettling thing to feel. He was the only Yellowbright Flower flowering in a field of red something-or-other plants. Whatever they were. He knew walkers walking by stopped walking and wondered at the sight of the Yellowbright Flower, stopped and stared before walking on. He knew he was some special thing, the only thing of his kind. But so what? Because the only thing of anything is always a very lonely thing to be, no matter what thing it is.

Until one midnight moonful lightbright night, as the Yellowbright Flower bobbed on a summer wind, the field spoke to him. Yes, a voice came from the field itself, from one red something-or-other plant itself in the field itself. This plant, whatever it was, now spoke to the Yellowbright Flower by saying this: “You’re not really alone, you know.” No one and nothing had ever spoken to the Yellowbright Flower before. To say the Yellowbright Flower was startled would be an understatement. Remember, flowers feel strong feelings.

“You’ve missed it along,” the red plant went on to the Yellowbright Flower. “You’re a rose. So am I. So are we all, all of us in this big field. If you’re yellow, with a different bloom, your color only adds to the beauty of this field. But it’s all of us, together, that the walkers stop walking to see. Not just you. Together, we’re a garden. Alone, you’re only one pretty but very small blossom.” Funny how this changed things for the Yellowbright Flower, who now recognized he was really a Yellowbright Rose. Funny how those few words changed everything. Because no thing is really the only thing of anything, no matter how special that one thing is. Somehow it helps to feel this when you’re a flower feeling strong feelings. Yes, somehow a flower garden just feels like a much less lonely place to flower, don’t you think?

At The Humanity Project, we believe that human beings flower most fully when we begin to understand we’re part of something much larger than ourselves – humanity. And then commit ourselves to working for the betterment of humanity in whatever ways we each best can. That’s what The Humanity Project is all about: teaching individuals how to take practical action for the improvement of both humanity and ourselves. Find out more by contacting us at 954-205-2722 or go to the Contact Us page at www.thehumanityproject.com

2009-02-03T13:41:00.002-05:00

A Plan to Stop Bullying – and Much More

The Humanity Project has been very busy again. Sorry for the long gap between blogs, but we’ll try to do better in the near future. We’re still new and small – but we’re working on some ambitious plans. Those plans include, well, another type of plan. A plan to stop bullying in the schools. We have created an innovative anti-bullying program for elementary school students. It’s been approved by psychologists, educators and prevention specialists in the nation’s sixth largest school district. It is available to other school districts as well. Contact us and we’ll tell you all about it! We also have exciting news about a new website just for kids. It will be called www.thp4kids.com – get it? As in, “The Humanity Project 4 Kids.” We’ve already created an outline of some truly cutting-edge interactive features that will keep kids 8 – 14-years-old coming back day after day. And what will they learn? How to stop bullying, yes. But a lot more too. We’ll teach human values in new, entertaining ways to any child with access to a computer. Values like self-respect, respect for others, perseverance to fulfill their potential and lots more. We believe we have the background in our organization to pull this project off successfully. Now we need major sponsors to help us. If you’d like to know more, again, just go to the Contact Us page on www.thehumanityproject.com. Together, we will make a difference in the future of our kids.