We All Have a Story

    My dad loved to tell stories of being in World War II and he did have many dramatic tales of saving lives. He even delivered a Japanese POW’s letter to his parents in Tokyo, a a major act of kindness that involved a great deal of risk. I really wish I had recorded them, but I still carry dad’s stories and share them in his honor. Our elders, in particular, have much to share and life lessons we could all learn from. The Library of Congress is gathering these by sending out volunteers to video record in the Veteran’s History Project (loc.gov.vets). To me, one of the most special aspects of this oral history project is that it not only includes the Greatest Generation, but also features young people coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, whose stories are equally precious. I think we are learning that every generation has true greatness.

Let Kids Be kids

    Kids today play outside less than any previous generation. Promote play by donating to Ka-BOOM! (kaboom.org), a nonprofit that has built more than 2,300 playgrounds nationwide, to help make sure all children are within walking distance of a swing set.

Be a Good Citizen

    Rich Chin's family in New York City, pretty far away from any large expanse of wilderness, but that didn't get in his way. Rich shares his experiences that first made him see how he could be a good in the world:

    The Outward Bound Youth at Risk Program really helped many troubled teens get back  on the "good citizens" road. I was one of those Outward Bound instructors that volunteered to teach in this life-changing experiment for inner city kids in the late seventies and eighties. It changed my life as much as it did those kids. I saw firsthand that if so-called "bad kids" were given a chance to learn how to respect others as well as themselves, they could contribute very positively and be a part of our bright future.

    Kurt Hahn founded Outward Bound (OutwardBound.org) on this assumption: "In genuine service to the benefit of others, one best expresses on a day-to-day basis his reverence for life itself."

We All Have a Story

     My dad loves to tell stories of being in World War II and he did have many dramatic tales of saving lives. He even delivered a Japanese POW's letter to his parents in Tokyo, a major act of kindness that involved a great deal of risk. I really wish I had recorded them, but I still carry Dad's stories and share them in his honor. Our elders, in particular, have much to share and life lessons we could all learn from. The Library of Congress is gathering these by sending out volunteers to video record in the Veteran's History Project (loc.gov.vets). To me, one of the most special aspects of this oral history project is that it not only includes the Greatest Generation, but also features young people coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, whose stories are equally precious. I think we are learning that every generation has true greatness.