“Enemies are people...

... who's story you haven't heard, or who's face you haven't seen.*

Storytelling as a way of passing on wisdom and culture is as old as the spoken word. However, oftentimes the internet seems to have rendered it obsolete. 

When we stop taking the time to tell our stories to one another, especially face-to-face, we intercept the flow of our humanity.

That realization came home to me when Jack, my Possible Society In Motion Radio Show co-host, and I hit a road block in our program planning efforts this past week.

That is – until a well-timed story initiated by Jack broke the deadlock!

I have recounted my story about Jack’s story in Post Mid-Term Election Reflections And The Wind In My Sails. Both of these are stories I hope I will long remember. Their poignancy to me is so great.

I took a lesson from Jack’s telling of his story, offering it back in the story I later told about the importance I attached to both. I told my side of it, after the fact, on my blog site as well as on our Possible Society In Motion Radio Show.

Now several days later I have gotten to pondering the significance, once again, of the role storytelling, generally, plays in my life. Additionally, this contemplation has brought me back to wanting to draw attention to the important role storytelling plays in the data gathering for our Possible Human, Possible Society Study.

Sometimes one can become so accustomed to even the most supreme riches of one’s life that you can forget to honor the Divine gifts they bring.

I may be guilty of this neglect where the importance of storytelling is concerned; the wondrous rewards I receive by telling my stories and having others listen to them. And the priceless gifts I receive when others share their stories with me.

Truly the most rewarding benefit I have, to date, accrued in doing interviews for our Possible Human, Possible Society Study is the experience of participants telling me the stories that are personally relevant for them as they relate to the objectives of the study.

I have previously written of the awe I have known in this process of human heart and mind to human heart. But I have become so accustomed to the magic of it that I have neglected, for a time, to hold it far enough out in front of me so as to admire its luminescence.

Right now I am making up it for that here.

It was storytelling, both Jack’s and mine, that enabled me to come up with a script plan for our last program that I could feel good about.  I had been so mired in the ruminations of last Tuesday’s elections that I had lost my way in getting to the heart of the matter, if “heart” can be seen anywhere near our political election process.

Storytelling turned me around.

So, now, as New Horizons gets itself ready to embark on the next phase of our study; polarization as it may or may not be playing itself out in campus life, I am re-setting my intentions so as to not lose sight of the singular importance storytelling plays in our study.

Anastasia, The Super Sleuth Says – 

Remember this --

Enemies are people who's story you haven't heard, or who's face you haven't seen.*

So if you want to really be a genuine peace builder take time to tell and hear the stories of others.

P.S. Once I heard the quote above, attributed to Irene Butter, a Holocaust survivor and the subject of the film "Never a Bystander," I could never forget it. I hope you won’t either.

*Whether or not Dr. Butter is the true originator of these words is a relatively small matter compared to the impact this message has had on many others, as well as myself.

Finding The Light In The Dark Sides Of American Life

I am looking forward to Jack Slattery, my Possible Society In Motion Radio Show co-host, and I doing an inspiring post mid-term elections program this coming evening. Our pre-program planning meeting last evening brought me a certain clarity of mind as to how best for me to hold this most current emblem of American life, mid-term elections.

Finding myself caught up in ruminations about the significance of this recent, collective foray into the Republican and Democratic parties “who struck John,” why and so forth so that no real winners for the long haul could truly emerge, I didn’t like the feel of it.

Out of my reflecting on that fact; not liking the ruminations of that ilk, a theme for this next show was birthed, titled –

"Finding The Light In The Darkness Of America’s Secret Civil War"

This show is offered in honor of our dear friend and supporter, G.M. (Mike) Corrigan. Jack and I dedicate this show to Mike who first introduced me to the notion that there is, indeed a “Secret Civil War” that needs exposing. (I also, personally, thank Mike for his beautiful -- and my favorite -- feature interview/article about me, titled "Finding Light In The Darkness.")

Shining a light on that darkness makes, at least, a modicum of difference, better than ignoring it!

Please join Jack and I, offering you a hand up to by-pass the negative vibes of one more god-awful political shenanigan-ing, by listening to tonight’s Possible Society In Motion Radio Show

“FindingThe Light In The Darkness Of America’s Secret Civil War”

The Possible Society In Motion Radio Show!

Thursday, November 6, 2014 6:30 p.m.

As usual the on-air, broadcast portion of the show is followed by a conference call forum discussion. 

Guests are welcome to join in at: 712.432.0600, access code 640883 (also recorded).

If you miss the original conference call discussion, please contact New Horizons, the show's sponsoring organization, at: zonesofpeacenh@aol.com for access code for the conference call recording.

Hear The Podcast!

An Interesting Discovery

We’ve said it before and we will say it again. Our Possible Human, Possible Society Study has shown us that  –

Better than 70% (raised to 90% as of June, 2014) of those interviewed in our study believe they are powerless or lack the skills or other resources to impact our national social and political crises.

Anastasia The Super Sleuth says,

“There is nothing to be ashamed of in believing you are powerless in all the many areas in which this is verifiably true. The problem is when you do not do what you can with what you have.”

In this vein, Anastasia recognizes the value of a quote favored by Helen Keller that speaks to the full utilization of one’s personal resources.

I am only one, But still I am one. I cannot do everything, But still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. 

Edward Everett Hale

Anastasia The Super Sleuth asks you to ask yourself,

“Where did I fall short today of giving this day my very best?”

Bravo if you would give yourself an A+! 

Now that's an interesting discovery!

On The Sunny Side Of The Street

Jack Slattery, my Possible Society In Motion Radio Show co-host, and myself have given significant attention the past few weeks to the Dark and the Light sides of human nature.

"The sun doesn’t shine on us,

it shines within us."

John Muir

Our aim with this track is to raise consciousness and educate our followers and supporters on how to accept both of these sides in oneself; the Dark and the Light, in ways that can help to elevate the functioning of our society and politics.

Imagine Anthony Weiner or some other yukky acting politician of your choice telling folks he is really a dark and devious person with enough understanding and appreciation to genuinely change his ways all the way down deep.

This is the kind of substance, not surface, we are after! It's an endeavor that can knock your socks off!

We are only at the very beginning of this undertaking New Horizons calls the adventure of a lifetime, i.e. exploring your Dark Side and, thus, transforming it to its highest good, the Light Side.  

And, we have only offered a miniscule drop in the bucket of our larger mission, thus far. But this effort is part and parcel of New Horizons’ greater commitment to accomplishing several hoped for outcomes.  

Our Possible Human, Possible Society Study and this blog site are central to Plan A --

Discovering that Mahatma Gandhi’s words, as below, are actively embodied by the majority of the citizens of the U.S.A. --

“We do best to begin by carving out territories or zones of peace in our personal relations where violence and deceit won’t be used.”

Ha! Since this aim is shooting rather high, we have also set Plan B in motion --

New Horizons contributing guidance and skills to further the realization of Plan A. 

Behind the scenes, we are actively involved, daily, striving to accomplish both of these outcomes. However, we know the achievement can be only a WE thing! That means you and me.

Still three Possible Society In Motion Radio Shows have, to date, taken up the exploration of the Dark and Light side theme. That's how we know we are on our way. But we have only just begun.

My favorite of the three, so far, was program number 2, “Living In The Light, Dancing In The Dark.” Jack and I hope you will want to listen in to all of our shows in this series and find out more about how “Exploring Your Dark Side” can become your adventure of a lifetime.

I’ve been traveling this adventure road, now, for close to forty years and it just keeps getting better and better and more and more fun as others join with me.

I hope you will do it too!

It may seem idealistic to think that if folks could just learn to love and accept the Dark Side in themselves they could start having more fun, health, joy and peace.  But I know it to be true! Still it is an art form and you have to really strive and discipline yourself to make it real!

Nonetheless, a few words I caught from an advertiser reminds us that today’s impossible may well be tomorrow’s possible. I know this to be true when it comes to one’s relationship with his/her own Dark Side and its benefits. (The message went by so fast I forgot who said it but not what was the point of it.)

As it turns out – the Dark Side transformed is the key to one’s personal power but once you begin to know it – you can’t help but LOVE it and appreciate it!

This is a real, true turning lead into gold endeavor!

New Horizons and I are committed to showing you how. 

So we think you will want to check out and follow our new–

Exploring Your Dark Side: 
The Adventure of A Lifetime blog site

with specially designed interactive activities for transforming your life and our society and politics.

Coming in November!

Possible Human, Possible Society Study Goes To College

Blair Thomas, the newest addition to the New Horizons Small “Zones of Peace” Builders Team and I made a door-opening visit to Hood College on Tuesday.

Our intention was to begin developing a Campus Life Phase for our Possible Human, Possible Society Study. Who knows where else that might lead beyond simply gathering data?

Our brief but inspiring meeting at Hood saw our initial mission accomplished.

Thus, we are pleased to announce that within the coming weeks New Horizons and its two main initiatives, the Possible Society In Motion Project and the Small “Zones of Peace” Project will begin efforts to interact with Hood College students on campus as our first step in investigating the dark and the light sides of campus life, U.S.A..

We want to learn who is walking the walk for peace action in our country on college grounds and who is just possibly sabotaging this ideal; how and why.

If we are fortunate perhaps we may uncover some pockets of unrest before they explode. If we find any, of course, we will offer our best community development and violence prevention services to assist. However, we have been informed that Hood is a very special college with an abundance of the “make a better world” type.

At the very least, we hope to increase what we know about citizen involvement in students in more general terms.

We are now nearing three years into the study with approximately one hundred fifty participants. Our goal of reaching the magic number of four hundred interviewees across a spectrum of diverse groups means that we now need to intensify our efforts. Data gathering for the study is slated to end December 31, 2016.

Blair Thomas has just the right background to accomplish this goal. He will now head the Campus Life Phase of our Possible Society In Motion. As it turns out student involvement is a natural for him. Blair, with a Masters degree in education has umpty ump years of teaching and will be wonderfully suited to the role. We are quite excited to have him with us.

To underscore the perfection of Blair in this selection, we were not more than five minutes on campus before he met up with a former student from his recent high school teaching days.

How very fortuitous!

From all angles, including numerous positive past experiences with Hood College, New Horizons is now getting set for some new adventures in learning. We might just end up teaching a few things too in the process.

With much thanks to Jill Hermes ’87, Director of the Hood College Career Center and Office of Service Learning for her most gracious welcoming of our project and us.

More to come.

The Wonderful World Of The Inner Warrior

Anastasia and Jack begin building a framework for guiding listeners on the adventure of a lifetime through exploring the dark side, a subject Anastasia has devoted an entire blog site to. 

We hope you will be visiting it and draw on the wisdom and guidance there to make profound, core level changes to your life -- as a gift to yourself and others.

This can be a life changing endeavor.

Dancing In The Dark, Living In The Light

Anastasia The Super Sleuth Says –

The hoax – the almost biggest lie (maybe the BIGGEST) is

“If you “appear” to be all goodness and light, then you are all goodness and light (or mostly anyway).”

Not so! Not so!

New Horizons sponsored research, dating back to 1980, recently updated, is revealing that “better than 95% of our population is “dancing in the dark,”  at least sometimes, regardless of how “nice” we  may look on the outside.

Dancing With The
Dark Side

This also includes Anastasia, The Super Sleuth, who just happens to know how to have fun with her Dark Side!

Don’t you sometimes wish you did too?

Find out your part in spreading the Dark Side Disease, currently infecting our country.

And, how you can heal and transform it, personally, interactionally and politically, to its highest good.

Check out your dark and light sides quotient!

New Horizons is here to enlighten you.

Anastasia, The Super Sleuth, is here to guide you.

3 Dark Side inventories you can use today to test yourself.

• ·         Where is your Compassionate Warrior Hiding?
• ·    Exploring Your Dark Side Easy Assessment
• ·         Survival Driven Behaviors

Hear Anastasia And Jack discuss the “Dark Side” and the Light on podcast --

The Way It Is: 
Accepting The Light And The Dark

The Possible Society In Motion Radio Show!

Anastasia The Super Sleuth Says –

"Get on board today to “Explore Your Dark Side: The Adventure of A Lifetime” and transform it!

You will barely believe how much personal power you have waiting for you."