ARE:A Renewal Enterprise

Laughter For The Long Haul

Mayor Hazel McCallion of Mississauga, Ontario - the sixth largest city in Canada - has been elected 11 times and has served for 31 years in that office. She is 88 years old. Rick Mercer of CBC's the MercerReport interviews Mrs. McCallion about her life in public service (Rick - What's your secret? Hazel - Take care of your people!) in this informative and hysterical video (click below). Hazel doesn't say it directly but it's clear that one of the keys to her success is the ability to work playfully! The clip is 6.3 minutes long but worth every second. Be sure you watch long enough to find out what Hazel's only regret in her personal life is. It'll make you laugh out loud and give you more than a few things to think about. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy.

Dreams vs. Reality: A True Balancing Act

Long before they were built, while waiting for a dentist appointment, Philippe Petit saw a story about the World Trade Center twin towers being designed. And as he saw the story he knew already that he had to try to walk between them on a high wire. In fact, he was dreaming of walking across a wire strung between the twin towers before construction on them started! And by the time he would get to try to do it his passion for this would have led him to cross a wire strung over a bridge in Sydney, Australia and walk a span of cable strung between the towers of Notre Dame Cathedral in France!

Go Play. Your Brain Will Thank You.

Daniel Pink, the author of A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule The Future, argues that we have moved from the Industrial Age, through the Information Age, and are now entering a Conceptual Age where the ability to detect patterns & opportunities, create artistic and emotional beauty, tell a good story, empathize with others, elicit joy, and tap into the innate desire people have to find meaning in life will be equally important as the ability to manipulate information, think analytically, and employ logic in the pursuit of your goals. Pink describes "six senses" that he believes are the key to success in work and life today. One of them is a particular favorite of ours: Play.