Monday, May 30, 2016

Memorial Day Tribute



A tribute to the men and women who gave their lives fearlessly defending the freedoms we all enjoy. God bless them.

Friday, May 27, 2016

The Science of Compassion



Reaching out and contributing to the lives of others doesn't only make you a good person. The act of compassion has major health benefits, starting with the alleviation of stress.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Join Us for Our Special Community Service Day this Saturday!

 
When: Saturday, May 28th 2016 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.

Saturday, May 21, 2016

The Story We Tell About Poverty Isn't True | Mia Birdsong | TED Talks



As a global community, we all want to end poverty. Mia Birdsong suggests a great place to start: Let's honor the skills, drive and initiative that poor people bring to the struggle every day. She asks us to look again at people in poverty: They may be broke — but they're not broken.

Thursday, May 19, 2016

One Man's Journey From Gang Member to Academia



Victor Rios says he has lived two lifetimes. In his first, he was a gang member, juvenile delinquent and high school dropout. Today, he's a sociology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who studies at-risk youth.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Robert Wright: The Evolution of Compassion



Robert Wright uses evolutionary biology and game theory to explain why we appreciate the Golden Rule ("Do unto others..."), why we sometimes ignore it and why there’s hope that, in the near future, we might all have the compassion to follow it.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Love And Compassion - The 2 Essential For Success



No matter who you are or where you come from without compassion and love for yourself and the world around you, you will never get to enjoy success for what it is. Even though we all have different likes and dislikes there is a common amongst us all, that common is the need for giving and receiving compassion and love.

All kinds of success start with your thought process and if you didn't include love and compassion in that process you will always feel like there is something missing in your life. That greedy guy I described earlier would definitely relate to that in his moments of deep thought by himself. The thing is we form habits easier then we believe, even those of us who seem so strong.

How To Express Compassion And Love...

It really is quite simple to express these emotions sincerely to other people. The first thing you need to do is get rid of the "what can I get out of them attitude". Yes you know the one we have all tried it at some point in life and maybe your still trying to reach your own personal success with that attitude.

Treating other people with compassion and love is only possible when you believe you are worthy of giving it, not whether they deserve it or not. It sure is easy to come up with many reasons why others don't deserve it, how about coming up with reasons why they do?

Feeling vulnerable is something humans fear greatly and it seems we have put compassion and love into that catergory without realises the consequences of it. To show love and compassion towards others only makes you vulnerable when you can not use the word no when you need to, I sure have learned that one.

What Does Success Look Like When Compassion And Love Are A Priority?

It doesn't have a huge ego thats for sure and better still it doesn't use and abuse others for financial gain. It is when you are so comfortable with helping others you don't even think about it, you just do it naturally. Ask any successful person they will tell you that through having compassion and love and by helping others is how they got to where they are.

When compassion and love are applied to ones life while trying to achieve success, it radiates through your body language and facial expressions. This is due to the contentment felt by treating yourself and others exactly as you should and being able to apologise when you haven't.

You can spot that kind of person a mile away, they really do stand out from the crowd and just a tip that is the kind of success you want to achieve. If we were made to only think about ourselves we would not have been designed like we are.

Wishing you true success in your life full of compassion and love.

Angelene O'Reilly www.angeleneoreilly.com [http://angeleneoreilly.com] Skype: angelene.o.reilly
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angelene_O'Reilly

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6477019

Monday, May 9, 2016

Sophie Scott: Why We Laugh



Did you know that you're 13 times more likely to laugh if you're with somebody else than if you're alone? Cognitive neuroscientist Sophie Scott shares this and other surprising facts about laughter in this fast-paced, action-packed and, yes, hilarious dash through the science of the topic.

Friday, May 6, 2016

Creating Connections With Today's Youth


  1. Be open - Being open is extremely important to building healthy student to mentor relationships, and giving the young person a safe place where they can really discuss their struggles is important. Make sure to make it clear to the student that you're providing them with a no judgment zone, and that you can be trusted as an adult to have their best interests in mind. Unless they express a desire to do harm to themselves or others, allow them to talk out the tough issues with you as you build a strong foundation of trust.

  2. Provide relevant advice - As an adult, it's possible that you've experienced just what they're experiencing now, and that you have some useful information when it comes to what to do next. Providing advice to students who come to you for help is a great way to build a healthy relationship, but it's important to do so as an equal, and not as a person who may be speaking down to them and their concerns.

  3. Treat them equally - If there is one thing that many young people despise, it's being treated childishly, and talking to or treating today's youth in a mature manner can do a great deal in building respect. When providing advice, or an ear to talk to, it's important that you respect the student just as you would wish to be respected, and to speak to them in a mature manner appropriate for their particular age group.

  4. Go to them - In many cases, a student or young person may not feel comfortable initiating a relationship, which is why it's important for the adult to extend the line of communication. Engaging the young person or simply allowing them to know that you have a willing ear should they need someone to listen is a great way to offer the opportunity for a mentor type relationship.

  5. Appropriate Self-Disclosure- This is one of the many keys to connecting with disengaged students and youth. With more than 15 years of working with at-risk youth, I've learned that it's important to let them know that we experience or have experienced many of the things that they are going through. Loss, confusion, and anger, etc. However, it is not enough to simple say, "I've also been angry." or "I've also lost a loved one." When sharing bits and pieces of your life that you believe can change the belief of the young person you are working with, you must be specific. "I may not understand exactly how you feel, but I remember losing my uncle when I was 16. I never forget him and what he meant to me." or "I can remember getting angry at my mother when I was 16 and saying something inappropriate. I didn't sit down for a week!" Not only will some of your stories get a laugh, they will be memorable and will also let the student know that we all at some point have been where they are.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8866448

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Support The Matt Garcia Foundation Through AmazonSmile!

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