Miscellaneous
Colofon
About The Intelligent Optimist The Intelligent Optimist (formerly Ode) is an independent international media platform focused on solutions, possibility and inspiration. We present optimism as the most effective, efficient and by scientific research confirmed strategy to drive the innovation and Read More...
Rio+20 conference and the green economy
Right now at the Rio+20 conference in Brazil, the United Nations is holding its biggest conference in history. World leaders are gathered to address issues and brainstorm ideas about sustainable development. The sentiments online are mixed—it’s not always easy to determine whether or not these Read More...
How the nation can get on “top” of sustainability challenges
It’s no secret: many places in our country are hot. While that may appeal to beach bums and bikini-lovers, it also brings with it huge environmental consequences and economic pressures, most notably in massive energy bills for cooling and a large cloud of emissions–carbon and Read More...
The well of peace
When the quote below appeared on my Twitter page, I had to smile. Aine Belton @AineBelton Access the well of peace within from which all good things rise … your love, joy, & wisdom inside. ~#Aine Aine, an Irish name pronounced Onya, is the founder of the Global Love Project in Read More...
Keeping your pantry green
Time to make room for healthier options. (via EcoSalon.com) You’ve committed to a healthier lifestyle, buying more fresh produce and switching to organic foods. In the rush to give your diet an eco-makeover, don’t neglect the portion of your kitchen often kept behind closed doors: the Read More...
The beauty of nature’s balance
Our first winter back in Ottawa after 27 years in warm Sri Lanka has been quite eye-opening. Watching all of the plant and animal life adapt to the freezing cold; seeing the plants and seeds fight to stay underground; witnessing the roots sprout as the ice thaws—all of these things were magical Read More...
No one else can sing your song
Voices are so personal. They mirror our story – our gifts, doubts, history, mood, identity, and secret dreams. Every time we speak, we are revealing something about ourselves – the things we’re proud of and perhaps the things we most want to hide. When people hear that I am a voice coach, Read More...
Learning peace
Think about this: we don’t know how to do peace on our planet very well. That’s why I like the words of the Dalai Lama, “When you realize that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy.” It’s important to understand that we need to learn how to do peace, Read More...
The healing of Congo
Congo is like a microcosm of the entire planet, taken to its extreme. One of the most beautiful places on Earth, it is also among the most troubled. By Charles Eisenstein Today I received the following letter from my dear friend, Cynthia Jurs. For the last two decades she has traveled all Read More...
Free time
What do you like to do with your “free time”? Or, perhaps more apt, do you get any time that is free? Time during which nothing has been planned, time that is okay to spend lost in thought, time that is completely…yours? For adults, such time is often seen as a luxury, a bonus. Having it Read More...