On the Eve of #MLK2016 & The New Week: Brief Thoughts

It was another busy weekend in #Outsiders as our team finished a series of notations and worked on getting ready to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King with a series of Thoughts from him.   It has been quite a weekend yet again!!

As I reflected upon this weekend, I ran across these thoughts that I shared with the team to underscore why the journey of #outsiders is ever so crucial and how we should not despair despite the odds.    We look forward to telling the stories and hopefully overcome the very admonitions that Michael Jordan reminded us and the late Alan Rickman told us---May the soul of Alan Rickman &  Rene Angelil   Rest in peace: 

“If you accept the expectations of others,
especially negative ones,
then you never will change the outcome.”
~ Michael Jordan

“It’s a human need to be told stories.
The more we’re governed by idiots
and have no control over our destinies,
the more we need to tell stories to each other
about who we are, why we are,
where we come from,
and what might be possible.”
~ Alan Rickman

As I finished these thoughts, I ran across this from one of the fathers of the Arab Spring that I hope our team can learn from:

On This MLK Week-End: Quite A Day (with a "Brief Update)

It has been an eventful day in our World.   I coined the term "Virtually Breathless" at one time in response to the Commitments I have serving as Webmaster for my local Troop, Troop 772--a Commitment I view as a privilege and an honor especially as we in the United States celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I released this earlier on my personal Twitter Feed in honor of this weekend as I look forward to supporting the on-going journey here @ #Outsiders:

On this #MLKDay2016 w end #inspirationalquote from the @Simple_Truths: https://t.co/hlQOIXVEbJ pic.twitter.com/sWbDkg4Tp9

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) January 16, 2016

& This I could not help but pass on:

I wish all a fabulous weekend.

On A Challenging Week...Yet so much to be thankful For.....

It has been a rather challenging week here in #outsiders as the team was on the "prowl" for President Obama's last state of the Union.    Our team's focus primarily was to underscore the key themes and provide a balanced view of the key challenges being faced.     I look forward to being supportive of it over the ensuing weeks and months as we are now "officially" in campaign season in the United States.

Beyond the politics, there is the human element always.    I had the pleasure to once again help staff the St. Timothy's Catholic Church Food Pantry this past Wednesday.  I happened to help a lady with the food she'd shopped to her car--and I subsequently was told by another team member that she had taken refuge in a Battered Woman's with her friend who was with her.  I don't mind noting that it was absolutely disheartening to hear it.    I subsequently struck a conversation with a father who had fallen on hard times.   He had five kids--All I could tell him to smile and never allow the World to change his smile.    I hope and pray that I somehow made his day just a little bit better.

As I was working away selfishly concerned about my own challenges, I saw this:

I don't mind sharing I was in near tears seeing...I salute @moas_eu: Sky Witnesses Distressing Migrants Rescue https://t.co/XupdUuECpp

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) January 15, 2016

I just got to know MOAS briefly after this report and I am frankly in awe.    I warn all (and our team shared it earlier as well in a special edition of Notations) that the Clip by the wonderful team @ SkyNews is horrific to be witness to.   The great reporter pitched in to help as I saw the MOAS volunteers jumping in cold water.

It is a stark reminder about all that we're blessed with--and a reaffirmation of all that we can do to make a difference.