CBrajkovich Ramblings

So, it seems like the perfect time to share a couple more quotes that are just begging us to set our minds free:

Unleashed imagination – it’s not something that we allow ourselves to do often enough. And yet, we are surrounded by proof that this action leads to some pretty incredible insights and life-altering events.

As Neil deGrasse Tyson contemplates in The Cosmic Perspective:

During our brief stay on planet Earth, we owe ourselves and our descendants the opportunity to explore—in part because it’s fun to do. But there’s a far nobler reason. The day our knowledge of the cosmos ceases to expand, we risk regressing to the childish view that the universe figuratively and literally revolves around us. In that bleak world, arms-bearing, resource-hungry people and nations would be prone to act on their low contracted prejudices. And that would be the last gasp of human enlightenment—until the rise of a visionary new culture that could once again embrace the cosmic perspective.

When people who are passionate about learning describe life as an adventure and a cause, telling us to go explore and experience, then you know that this recommendation isn’t being made lightly. Many of these people spend their lives researching the topics that fascinate them, and they all agree that they can’t remain 2D by only staying in their field of interest. There’s not a career path out there that is only dependent on a single subject. All subjects inter-relate with one another, bringing a new dimension to our outlook on the world when they are combined. Expanding our mind can lead to a fascinating once-in-a-lifetime experience (hopefully more than once if you become passionately inspired) such as:

Yes, this is Felix Baumgartner with the Redbull Stratos project, taking a leap to become the longest freefall jumper as well as the first person to break the speed of sound with his body as the sole vessel. As you can tell from the news, this video is one step closer to becoming reality because Felix completed a test jump on July 25, 2012 in which he reached a speed of 536 mph after falling from 18 miles up. And this isn’t the real jump yet, since the ultimate goal is to fall from the stratosphere (23 miles up). He’s already completing some amazing feats in his bid to surpass the current record holder, Joe Kittinger (who is also part of the Stratos team). We’ll have to hold our collective breaths and wish the team success (and Felix a safe return) in the ultimate freefall.

So, these are the kinds of things that happen when you unleash your mind and expand your horizons. It doesn’t have to be as drastic of an act as this, but it should leave you wanting more. Because that’s how we continue to expand our mind so that we keep deepening our curiosity to learn.

Change comes in many forms, some unexpected. But that change is usually done for the love of something precious. Always by people with the passion for experiencing life to the fullest as they attempt to grow from these important lessons.

Here’s our blue marble of a home, as described by Sally Ride, the first female in outer space. And the latest of our pioneers to have left this fragile planet. Here’s a video that NASA just uploaded to commemorate her mission of change, all for the love of science and this precious home we have.

Those of us who are old enough to remember when she was chosen to be the first women to enter outer space still look at her in awe. She symbolized a pivotal moment in history when change led to a new balance between men and women. She brought the astronaut symbol of the MTV generation (yes, the 80’s) down to the people’s level for the first time. Heroes were no longer larger-than-life men. Now a hero looked like a wild-haired woman with a sunny smile and a love of science, math, and technology. A teacher. And a friend of the masses who lived that amazing ride through the moments that she shared with us all. She continued to broaden the knowledge of her audience, tutoring the next generation of space lovers engaged with her company, Sally Ride Science. Her legacy is a powerful one: it’s there in the bright eyes of every youth who plans to walk in her footsteps.

RIP Sally Ride. And condolences to your loved ones. We hope that you’re playing amongst the stars now.

Annie Leonard is a pretty engaging voice for the idea of change. I know that I’ve been working hard to change my life in a responsible manner. It’s not easy because there’s just so much to change, and your little efforts sometimes feels pretty meaningless compared to the size of the issues. But when you notice that almost 52,000 people have watched this video in just over a week, then you just might feel uplifted. Or the fact that her original movie, the Story of Stuff, has already been seen by over 2 million international viewers in 4 years.

This video comes with a simple questionnaire to find out just what type of change maker you are. I found out (just as I’d thought) that I’m an investigator. Yeah, it kind of goes with the territory of being a writer. I’ve been doing a lot of research on the types of organizations that I want to connect my skills and passion with. There are honestly a lot of really great ones out there. And they all have the same idea: Be a change maker. And do it using your strengths and loves.

So, for all of your change makers out there, go check out the Story of Stuff (they’ve made quite a few more movies with some adorable graphics). Support them. Support another organization that believes in change. Or build one yourself. It’s clear that this is the way that the world is already heading. We’re just waiting for everyone else to catch up with the idea that change is good.