CBrajkovich Ramblings

Warriors don’t always use weapons of physical destruction. Sometimes their choice of weapons are much more effective because they reach into the hearts of their conquests.

We’ve all heard the sad news that we lost two strong men who made a difference in their own way. Adam Yauch (aka MCA) lost his battle with cancer way too soon. We all knew him because of his part in Beastie Boys, as well as with his outspokenness that came through his music, films, and his activism. He gave us a role model on how to fight for your rights (to go beyond partying). And so much more… Read his tribute on Beastie Boys’ site to understand his full impact on us all, as spoken in their own words.

Then we heard more sad news with the announcement that we also lost Maurice Sendak, the children’s illustrator/author who is most closely associated with his book, Where The Wild Things Are – though he’s equally loved for his belief in not treating kids like kids. His works might have seemed dark to some parents, but they all broke open our imaginations to see past the surface and embrace those things that went bump in the night. Read an interview he did with Guardian UK in 2011, “I refuse to lie to children” to get the genius of his beliefs.

Here are two warriors who fought to change the world view in their own ways. They never stopped until the end. And they were just a part of those change-makers, both well known and unknown, who used their talents to get us to see our surroundings just a little different, so that we could grow as human beings. We don’t just want to remember all of these warriors. We also want to do our part so that we not only pay tribute to their hard work, but also continue it with our own talents. That would be a pretty incredible tribute to them and their loved ones, don’t you think?

Yochai Benkler is a Harvard law professor that believes in openness and sharing. He has been talking about the disruption that is now happening with collaborative projects that will progress our society to the next stage of its evolution. No longer will we be relying on industrial institutions to set up the methodologies of production. Our world that is in its infancy is now in the hands of the people who choose to share their efforts with one another in order to build something more inspirational. Here’s his Ted Talk that he gave in 2008, though he’s been busy since then. It’s a fascinating discussion on how our economics has already changed in the 21st century, even when our own governments are attempting to stop the act of sharing –  not piracy, sharing. And here’s his name for it: Social Production.

He’s well known for his book, Wealth of Networks, but he’s also recently given another talk that simplifies the battle that the people have been fighting against outrageous laws like SOPA and ACTA: The Blueprint for Democratic Participation (thanks Boing Boing and Twitter). And here he is discussing the new democratic awakening of the Internet with Bloomberg:

Skills are built because we need to build them. Everyday, we are faced with tasks in our jobs and our lives that require us to step way beyond basic. It’s when you’re in the toughest moments of your life (which can sometimes be life-threatening as well – though that’s not necessary to push past your limitations) that you find just how much you have within you. Witnessing these knuckle-biting moments (the first video was via Reddit, followed by another on Youtube) gives you a new appreciation for honing your skills to the edge of perfection, because everything depends on you doing your best.

Unloading cars in China:

http://youtu.be/2bInXhNc8IM

Maneuvering a Caterpillar in tight spaces:

Every job has skill sets that we would never imagine. It tells a lot about a person when they can perform at this level of perfection when the time calls for it. We really do have it in each and every one of us to shine. Especially when anyone else would call us insane to do what we just did. Bravo for your guts to face a challenge head-on. Just remember to be as safe as you can if you’re faced with this kind of challenge.

If you’re still having doubts about your own strength and determination, well simply look to nature to see that she wins every single time against all types of obstacles. Reddit shows us this lesson first hand with….the Spider Goat. If goats can face vertical walls with little uneven crevices, then pretty much anything is possible, don’t you think? Thanks for the lesson, Reddit.

Isn’t this a great reminder for all of us? Life isn’t always easy, and sometimes you just feel the need to break down. Crying isn’t a weakness – it a cleansing. We all need it. Even if we don’t like being out of control. None of us has to be strong all of the time. That’s physically impossible. We’re only human. So, if you have to cry (or scream, or laugh hysterically), then do it. If you’re uncomfortable then do it when no one’s around (e.g. at night in the middle of some field, or your bathroom, or closet, or wherever). But do it if you need to, and don’t worry about how others look at you. Just check to see if you feel better afterwards. Because that’s why you need to do it – for you.

– thanks again Piccsy