Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Happy New Year!


Wishing You and Your Family a Wonderful Year Ahead!

Happy New Year from The Matt Garcia Foundation!

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Power and Possibility of Unity

This week I posed the "unity" (unite) question. I asked people what they considered to be in unity with and what the word actually meant to them. I also had an opportunity to reflect on this power word myself.

Here's what I ask you to think about:

What is it?

In mathematical terms, the word "unity" means the number ONE. Unity also means singleness or the state of being one. It is when several parts come together with fidelity of purpose or action.

When people UNITE they join or come together and form a sole or distinct unit with connections of mindset and purpose. If there is a decision to be made, often it is with collaboration of all who are in the particular unit. For me, I think that the extent to which you feel united with something (or someone) is truly a matter of perspective. It begins in the mind (of course).

Levels of Unity

To be able to explore the relevance of unity in my life I found that I needed to break it down to specific levels. Like any other self-inquiry process, we often recognize the differences depending on the circumstance or context. When it comes to unity, this is no different.

Consider the ways in which you are united on these levels:

1. Unity to Self:

How well do you know, admire, and live from your connection to your true self?
In my opinion, unity starts within and works outward through our organic life experiences.
What parts of you are you deeply connected/detached from?

2. Others/Community:

Would you say that you are united with the various parts of your community and relationship?
When you believe, and are passionately committed to something, you are "in union" with it - not an added feature but a part of it.

We are united in gifts of service through our profession. I believe that our calling is our responsibility to respond to. As I have found with the helping professionals who are currently enrolling in the Purposefull Practice Program, some of us have been fortunate to have found our missions. There are many people, however who go through the motions of life still in search of their true purpose-driven life assignment.

3. World:

We all have the power to connect on a deep and profound level to the external parts of our world.
What is the biggest connection you have to missions and a purpose that is much bigger than your daily life and interactions?

I believe that our unity can be described as a unity or oneness that exists not in spite of our diverse characteristics, but because of it. It is the wonderful differences themselves which contributes to the whole.

Importance of Unity

Unity seems to hold even more precious value today in a world where we have become reliant on the web and other media platforms for communication. People are more disconnected than ever before. The spirit of individuality is quite common in our world today. While there is a place for this, we are social beings with distinct and valuable contributions to be made.

There is so much power and possibility in unity. When there is UNITY, where all the people have united in the same goal and purpose, they can accomplish just about anything that can be contemplated. When we unite, the members or contributors don't necessarily look alike or function alike, yet, they are all important, needed, interdependent, and all engaged in a vision or purpose toward the common end. As individuals we are indeed strong but as a united force, we can shift the world in unimaginable ways.

The way you think about unity will guide you to the way that it exists in your life. It's a mind thing!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_A_Soares

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8730734

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Monday, December 22, 2014

Join Us For Our Monthly Community Clean Up This Saturday, December 27th!

When: Saturday, December 27th, 2014 at 9am
 
Where: Starbucks Downtown Fairfield 700 Jefferson St Corner of Jefferson & Texas (map)
 
Description: We meet every last Saturday of each month (weather permitting). We clean up different locations and neighborhoods. Please join us. All are welcome
 
At the Matt Garcia Foundation we don’t want to complain about this, we want to create solutions to problems. It is with this spirit that we began our Monthly Community Clean Ups.

On the last Saturday of every month, volunteers get together and clean up a neighborhood in Fairfield. We pick up trash, work on landscaping paint windows, fix fences – all in an effort to improve our community. This is another example of community coming together to help make a difference.

The Matt Garcia Foundation Dream Team, is all about stepping up and stepping out of ourselves to serve others and our communities to be a part of the solution. Matt would say ” if you see a piece of garbage on the ground, please just pick it up” How simple is that! So, that is what we do.

Friday, December 19, 2014

6 Common Causes of Crime That We Should Be Aware Of

A society is defined as a group of people who establish relationship with one another while performing their own roles based on their work and status in life. In a particular society, a person tries to get involved with the people around them regardless of culture, language, work or lifestyle. Society plays an important role in the upbringing of a person especially among the youth. But then, it is noticeable that in different societies, crimes are committed and thus instill fear in the hearts of many.

Theft, burglary and murder are only some of the crimes that are rampant in our society. Even inside the homes where we should be safe, crimes still happen. Burglars enter our homes, steal of valuable possessions and in some instances, harm one of the family members. This is can truly be frightening that's why many of us install security or burglar alarms.

Installing alarms is a good idea but there's no stopping a criminal from harming you if he really wants to. So, let's discuss some common causes a person commits crime so we can be aware of them and know how to help improve our society. Below are the common causes of crime.

1.) Lack of proper education and judgment.
Some people who lack education commit a crime because they are not taught by teachers the proper manners and good values that they should have. They tend to have poor judgment and cannot distinguish right from wrong because they are not properly guided in school.

2.) Poverty
This is sometimes the lame excuse of criminals. Poverty can at some point be one factor that can trigger criminals to commit a crime but the society should also be blamed for this because criminals are tempted to get the material things that they see around while other offenders really need money and food so they resorted to theft or robbery.

3.) Lack of parental supervision
Statistics can prove that many offenders particularly young people lack supervision by parents. Some are fatherless or motherless while others are abandoned by their parents or in the care of a relative who care less in the way they should be brought up. Some parents are also too busy working so they neglect their child and spend no time in teaching them good deeds.

4.) Influence of media and environment
The movies and shows we see on tv, watch on video or easily access on the internet can truly influence on the way a person thinks. Young people who have seen violent movies or brutal acts on TV may think that being violent is acceptable. There are also shows that imply revenge which make some people think that they should get revenge to those who have hurt them. Even the environment where a person lives has a high impact on his upbringing and if crimes is rampant on their place then most likely he/she will also adapt it and do the same crime.

5.) Lack of Love
Studies show that many offenders are those that feel neglected by their families. They felt unloved by their parents or siblings thus they attempt to be accepted by the outside world. Some of them unfortunately meet bad people and join gangs because they feel a sense of belonging. They are influenced then by the gang and believe that they should join their peers in committing unlawful deeds.

6.) Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Some crimes are committed because a person needs money to buy drugs in which they are now addicted to. They resort to stealing money just so they can buy the drugs they want. Crimes are also committed because those who are drug addicts or under the influence of alcohol can no longer think clearly and cannot distinguish bad from good thus they commit murder or other crimes.

As a parent can do our part in avoiding more crimes from happening by educating our children on proper conduct and guiding them to the right path. As part of this society, let us join organizations that help the youth be educated and keep them away from bad influences and if we have extra income, we can give to charities/donate to our less fortunate brothers and sisters. Let's do our part in making our society peaceful and crime-free.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Hermann

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4830754

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Carol Dweck: The Power of Believing That You Can Improve



Carol Dweck researches “growth mindset” — the idea that we can grow our brain's capacity to learn and to solve problems. In this talk, she describes two ways to think about a problem that’s slightly too hard for you to solve. Are you not smart enough to solve it … or have you just not solved it yet? A great introduction to this influential field.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Jose Miguel Sokoloff: How We Used Christmas Lights to Fight a War



Colombia is a country of exceptional beauty and promise, and it’s also a country where the F.A.R.C. guerrilla movement has incited violence for 50 years. “In my lifetime, I have never lived one day of peace in my country,” says Jose Miguel Sokoloff. This ad executive and his team saw an opportunity to sway guerrillas' hearts and minds with Christmas trees and personalized messages strategically placed throughout the jungle. A look at the creative messages that have led thousands of guerrillas to abandon the war, and the key insights behind these surprising tactics.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

The Matt Garcia Foundation's Community Investment Day - S.T.A.N.D.


The Matt Garcia Foundation invites you to STAND with us this day to Support, Teach, Advocate, Nurture, and Dream with the youth, businesses, and residents of our community. Help us continue our efforts to support the many neeeds of our neighbors and partners by pledging to STAND with FFINEST.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Emily Balcetis: Why Some People Find Exercise Harder Than Others



Why do some people struggle more than others to keep off the pounds? Social psychologist Emily Balcetis shows research that addresses one of the many factors: Vision. In an informative talk, she shows how when it comes to fitness, some people quite literally see the world differently from others — and offers a surprisingly simple solution to overcome these differences.

Monday, December 1, 2014

Support The Matt Garcia Foundation Through AmazonSmile!

You can help support The Matt Garcia Foundation by shopping through AmazonSmile.


  • Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to The Matt Garcia Foundation whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
  • AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same Amazon Prime benefits.
  • Support your charitable organization by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com.

 
Click the logo above to start shopping!