Plan a Gratitude Visit

I met a hero named “Shig” at my dad’s church on Sunday. He was a small, maybe 5’2”, 92 year-old Japanese-American man. He shook my hand with a firm grip as my dad said, “This is Shig. He was part of the 442^nd.” Shig responded to my dad’s words with a modest smile and shook his head as if to say, it was no big deal. Shig turned to greet others and I quickly said “Thank you, for what you did for me, for us.”

I can’t imagine myself as Shig, in his early 20′s, making the choice to fight for a country that had imprisoned his family because of their race. President Roosevelt and America said even though you were born here, you are not American and can’t be trusted. Young men like Shig said, “I’ll prove to you that my race and ancestry does not stop me from being an American.”

The Japanese-American 442^nd infantry went on to be the most decorated military unit in the history of United States Armed Forces.

We, as a nation, honor our women and men veterans this Wednesday. It is a public way of showing our gratitude for those who give and gave their lives for our country and our freedom. (more…)

The Science of Happiness

I like to read obituaries. I like seeing the snapshot of their major life accomplishments, mistakes, and passions and why people loved or hated them. Spending a few minutes examining how they lived, I look for an example of how to live or not live my life today.

I also like finding examples in the living. In our ED191 series classes, I ask college students to give me snapshot of what they want from life. Their answers are about having a successful career, being with that special someone, raising a family, or doing something meaningful to impact their world.

Sometimes they say, “I don’t know yet. But I know I want to be happy.” (more…)

Happy Halloween 2009 From Student Health

My relationship with Halloween is what you might call “complicated.”  I love the creativity and positive energy of our students dressing up.  I love this Gaucho spirit and unity.  Only at UCSB do you see your Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Dean of Students come out to greet the crowds of students on D.P. on Halloween night.

I don’t like the violence, ass grabbing, fighting, property damage, and all the trash.  Last year, Halloween fell on a Friday.  In spite of the rain, over 45,000 people came to I.V.  There were over 230 arrests made and 560 citations given out (instead of treats). 55 people were transported for emergency care and over 50 cars were towed. Two people fell off the cliffs.

This year we will have around 250 police officers on the streets, on horses, and conducting DUI checkpoints.  But, if we have the same or more visitors as last year, it will take more than just the police to keep the peace over the weekend.  Here are a few simple things you can do to help: (more…)

The “Girl Next Door?”

Marge Simpson is the cover girl for November’s Playboy Magazine. She even has a “pictorial.” I guess you could say good for Playboy for taking a mid-thirty-something mother of three, who quit a promising career in the police force because of out-of-control corruption and sexism, and worked as a nuclear technician as a perfect example of the “girl next door.”

Weird, yes. But even weirder is the cartoon-like photoshopped women in recent Ralph Lauren ads. Woman 1: My head is bigger than my waist. Woman #2: I have no ribs/pelvis. And to add insult to injury, Filippa Hamilton, the model in the first ad, was fired by Ralph Lauren because she was too big. Filippa is 5’10” and 120 lbs. (a “normal” weight is ~150 lbs).

Those are damaging messages to send our friends, family, and culture. But Ralph Lauren isn’t the only one sending them: we are bombarded every day with these messages. They impact on how we view and talk about our bodies. (more…)

Tuesdays With TED: Inspiration

I want to be inspired continuously.  Reality check: That’s not possible. Sometimes we have to just get it done, inspiration be damned. But, I don’t want to just go through the motions for most of my life.  I seek out inspiration for motivation and to see the world from different points of view. (more…)

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