As some of you know, I am working on my book. The book I am writing is all about focusing on all the beauty that is around us. Working title is "Jij bent de mooie wereld" (you are the beautiful world). There is so much focus in the media on all the bad things that are happening that we sometimes tend to forget there are also a lot of beautiful things in our world. Like the people I have met recently that I have interviewed for my book.
The first person I interviewed is the founder of Africa Unsigned (www.africaunsigned.com), Pim Betist. Pim is passionate about music, and in particular African music. He has set up a great platform for African musicians to get access to an audience they would otherwise not get to, because they just do not have the money. For people in Western countries it is so easy to just use Garageband, go to a studio to record a demo, and upload it to the internet. What if you do not have a computer, no internet access, and no recording studio within reach? Pim makes it possible through a crowdfunding platform. I visited a concert were one of the first artists who had been funded was playing. Amazing!
I also interviewed Rachel ter Horst who works for Artsen zonder Grenzen (Doctors without Borders). She is passionate about helping others who are less fortunate. "How is it possible that there is still such a big gap between what we have in the countries we live in, and countries in for example Africa?". I was really inspired by her passion for doing good.
Today I met with Marianne van Wetter. Marianne, together with her husband Mark Simons, is planning to spend time in Nepal the next few months to work with children without parents in the age group of 14-18. Mark and Marianne want to bring Nepalese inner-city orphans to the Himalayas, to help them think about their dreams, their vision for the future.
In the book I am writing there will be much more detail about the initiatives. But what caught me after these 3 interviews was the feeling that it is up to every individual to make this world a better place. Everyone I have interviewed said it. "I decided to go for it. Not wait for things to happen. Small things can have a big impact!"
vrijdag 4 maart 2011
zaterdag 25 december 2010
2011.... ACTION!
I just listened to a Bob Dylan song. "What good am I?" I have posted the lyrics below. What a beautiful song, and what a great wake up call for 2011! Although we see beautiful things happen all over the world (let's not forget about those!), we still have some work to do. The only way we can make a difference is if we start working together as one. We know we are all connected, but sometimes forget when we get tied up in our daily routines. Let's start the year by not forgetting that we can make a difference. Let's not shut ourselves off to the great things we can do. We can make a difference!
Have a wonderful 2011!!
What Good Am I?
What good am I if I’m like all the rest
If I just turn away, when I see how you’re dressed
If I shut myself off so I can’t hear you cry
What good am I?
What good am I if I know and don’t do
If I see and don’t say, if I look right through you
If I turn a deaf ear to the thunderin’ sky
What good am I?
What good am I while you softly weep
And I hear in my head what you say in your sleep
And I freeze in the moment like the rest who don’t try
What good am I?
What good am I then to others and me
If I’ve had every chance and yet still fail to see
If my hands are tied must I not wonder within
Who tied them and why and where must I have been?
What good am I if I say foolish things
And I laugh in the face of what sorrow brings
And I just turn my back while you silently die
What good am I?
Have a wonderful 2011!!
What Good Am I?
What good am I if I’m like all the rest
If I just turn away, when I see how you’re dressed
If I shut myself off so I can’t hear you cry
What good am I?
What good am I if I know and don’t do
If I see and don’t say, if I look right through you
If I turn a deaf ear to the thunderin’ sky
What good am I?
What good am I while you softly weep
And I hear in my head what you say in your sleep
And I freeze in the moment like the rest who don’t try
What good am I?
What good am I then to others and me
If I’ve had every chance and yet still fail to see
If my hands are tied must I not wonder within
Who tied them and why and where must I have been?
What good am I if I say foolish things
And I laugh in the face of what sorrow brings
And I just turn my back while you silently die
What good am I?
zondag 28 november 2010
Vienna waits for you!
Do you know this song by Billy Joel? For those who don't... Here is a link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0yvjk6mzKE&sns=em
It is such a great song. I have been singing along with itmeverytime I hear it. But some days, like today, the lyrics really resonate. "Slow down you crazy child"... It is really important to make sure I do not get ahead of myself. It is so easy in our day to day job to completely lose sight of what we really want to do. This song reminds me to go back to myself when busy to remember that "Vienna waits for you".
The lyrics say it all....
Slow down, you crazy child
you're so ambitious for a juvenile
But then if you're so smart, tell me
Why are you still so afraid?
Where's the fire, what's the hurry about?
You'd better cool it off before you burn it out
You've got so much to do and
Only so many hours in a day
But you know that when the truth is told..
That you can get what you want or you get old
You're gonna kick off before you even
Get halfway through
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?
Slow down, you're doing fine
You can't be everything you want to be
Before your time
Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight
Tonight,...
Too bad but it's the life you lead
you're so ahead of yourself that you forgot what you need
Though you can see when you're wrong, you know
You can't always see when you're right. you're right
You've got your passion, you've got your pride
but don't you know that only fools are satisfied?
Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?
Slow down, you crazy child
and take the phone off the hook and disappear for awhile
it's all right, you can afford to lose a day or two
When will you realize,..Vienna waits for you?
And you know that when the truth is told
that you can get what you want or you can just get old
You're gonna kick off before you even get half through
Why don't you realize,. Vienna waits for you
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0yvjk6mzKE&sns=em
It is such a great song. I have been singing along with itmeverytime I hear it. But some days, like today, the lyrics really resonate. "Slow down you crazy child"... It is really important to make sure I do not get ahead of myself. It is so easy in our day to day job to completely lose sight of what we really want to do. This song reminds me to go back to myself when busy to remember that "Vienna waits for you".
The lyrics say it all....
Slow down, you crazy child
you're so ambitious for a juvenile
But then if you're so smart, tell me
Why are you still so afraid?
Where's the fire, what's the hurry about?
You'd better cool it off before you burn it out
You've got so much to do and
Only so many hours in a day
But you know that when the truth is told..
That you can get what you want or you get old
You're gonna kick off before you even
Get halfway through
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?
Slow down, you're doing fine
You can't be everything you want to be
Before your time
Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight
Tonight,...
Too bad but it's the life you lead
you're so ahead of yourself that you forgot what you need
Though you can see when you're wrong, you know
You can't always see when you're right. you're right
You've got your passion, you've got your pride
but don't you know that only fools are satisfied?
Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?
Slow down, you crazy child
and take the phone off the hook and disappear for awhile
it's all right, you can afford to lose a day or two
When will you realize,..Vienna waits for you?
And you know that when the truth is told
that you can get what you want or you can just get old
You're gonna kick off before you even get half through
Why don't you realize,. Vienna waits for you
When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
maandag 22 november 2010
Shine
The more I let it in, the better it gets. It really feels that things are falling into place. And why? Because I have made the choice to accept it. It is ok to have things falling into place. I really liked the metaphor Ingrid Tappin gave me last week, and the video I saw on youtube about it. "Live your life like a true rockstar". And that is what I will do. And I will do everything I can to help create a world full of people who chose to live their lives as true rockstars!
Links:
www.ingridtappin.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_smaqZJqKw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Karel
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Links:
www.ingridtappin.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_smaqZJqKw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Karel
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
dinsdag 14 september 2010
A note from Shanghai
Sitting in the lounge at Pudong airport. It suddenly dawned on me. When I set aside all my preconceptions about China, I really start to enjoy being here. Really strange that it took me such a long time. I have visited China many times, but now came to realize that I always looked at China through my own glasses, and not open to the friendliness of the people I was meeting. I am glad I have finally gotten to this point. So... No big statements in this blog... Just a short note from Shanghai...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Shanghai,China
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Shanghai,China
donderdag 24 juni 2010
maandag 21 juni 2010
Electric cars.....
Please watch: www.youtube.com/user/fullychargedshow
How many discussions can you have about electric cars.I find it really amusing to hear all the arguments that people have for not driving electric. What I find really irritating is the fact that most of the people who try to convince me that my electric car is as bad for the environment as a Hummer (how can you even believe that), do not have any answers on alternative solutions. They are great at indicating that electric is not good, but completely close their eyes for the fact that if we do not move we will run out of oil in 50 years or less.
Anyway, with my car charging on solar and wind power, I am convinced I am doing the right thing. And driving a Tesla is definitely no punishment! What an unbelievable car to drive!
If you are interested in driving an electric car in the Netherlands, please check out www.thenewmotion.com. They will make it very easy for you. I know that from my own experience.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Home
How many discussions can you have about electric cars.I find it really amusing to hear all the arguments that people have for not driving electric. What I find really irritating is the fact that most of the people who try to convince me that my electric car is as bad for the environment as a Hummer (how can you even believe that), do not have any answers on alternative solutions. They are great at indicating that electric is not good, but completely close their eyes for the fact that if we do not move we will run out of oil in 50 years or less.
Anyway, with my car charging on solar and wind power, I am convinced I am doing the right thing. And driving a Tesla is definitely no punishment! What an unbelievable car to drive!
If you are interested in driving an electric car in the Netherlands, please check out www.thenewmotion.com. They will make it very easy for you. I know that from my own experience.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Home
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