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The best of 2012
We hope you look back on a wonderful year! It has been a very special year for us. In 2012, Ode changed her name. She is now The Intelligent Optimist. Ode was always about open-minded optimists and pioneers of the possible looking for solutions.Ode was a song of praise, a tribute to the people Read More...
Warrior of the human spirit
"Let’s see ourselves as ‘warriors of the human spirit,’” says Margaret Wheatley, who has just published So Far From Home, a book about “how we ended up in a world that nobody wants.” (See an excerpt on page 52.) She sees perseverance as the way that these warriors get through. “I Read More...
Ode to the Treehotel
To call it a tree house would be almost insulting to Sweden’s Treehotel. The Lapland lodging opened its doors—or, rather, dropped its ladders—in 2010. Since then, thousands of guests have taken in the Lule River valley views from its treetop windows. The Treehotel has five different rooms; Read More...
Ode to Swings Tampa Bay
When was the last time you swung on a swing? It was probably much too long ago, and that is exactly what Swings Tampa Bay (STB) is trying to change. Known as a “spontaneous community-building organization,” STB organizes volunteers who hang handcrafted, hand-painted swings throughout the Tampa Read More...
A gunman shames us all
Mother Theresa famously said: "I'm not against war, I'm for peace." Profound wisdom. Please take a moment with me to direct your love to not just the young victims of the overwhelmingly painful massacre at the school in Connecticut and their families, but to all people who live Read More...
Step into infinity
When Alberto Villoldo was in the Amazon earlier this year, he found the shamans who live there in a deep state of preparation. They believe that beyond the end date of the Mayan calendar on December 21, 2012, lies the chance for a reinvention of humanity. Therefore, they are fasting and Read More...
December 21, 2012: the start of a new era
Imagine the Maya's who developed their calendar many centuries ago and concluded that December 21st, 2012 was going to be this exciting date at the beginning of a new era. How eager would they have been to be part of this great transition. Well, you are part of it! When Alberto Villoldo was Read More...
Take a music lesson with a master on Skype
Pakistan’s leading rock star writes songs about love and reconciliation. His embrace of social causes has invited comparisons with Bono. And now, an intelligent optimist like you can take a music lesson with him. Yes, that’s right. Salman Ahmad has kindly offered his time for the annual Read More...
10 Tips to Keep Energized (and Calm!) During the Holidays
When the rush and worry get to you, these ten tips will energize and relax your holiday season. With a balance of energy and calm, you'll get things done and enjoy your cherished memories. 1. Drink more water. It cleans out your body, fills you up, and provides extra oxygen for your busy brain Read More...
Soul Messenger: Michael Franti
I met Michael Franti in Amsterdam seven years ago. The Netherlands was still in shock after the brutal murder of director Theo van Gogh, who was shot and stabbed by a Muslim fundamentalist. Franti was performing at a literary music festival in The Hague, and I was amazed at the ease with which he Read More...