Maybe, just maybe, this work I need to do, this learning and unlearning, is not all about me. As a white woman in America, its second nature for me to center myself in the discourse, but also to vanish from it when its convenient. So permit me, please, to make this work of undoing my complicity in white supremacy in the name of racial justice all about me, you and literally everybody else.

First up, I disagree that this is in fact work. Work is chores, and chores get done. Mopping the floor, watching The Help, getting a root canal; those are chores that thankfully all come to an end. When youre white, understanding racism and anti-blackness is not a root canal, its not a one-time-only, pay-your-money, drill-the-rot-out-and-get-through-it type of experience. This is a lifelong project we get to approach with grace and curiosity and the full understanding that it will be difficult at times and beautiful at times and any chance we have to take part in it is frankly rather stunning.

In a culture fixated on self-improvement, perhaps you could think about rescinding your power as a kind of barre class for your moral compass. In the beginning it will be difficult on those tiny, rarely used muscles, but boy will you be aligned after some years of daily practice.

I hope you dont, though. I hope you understand that grappling with this countrys brutal past and imagining a future that is fair is not something you are expected to do alone. Youre simply one drop in a new wave, a wave that slips easily into an ocean of people, deep and permanent, who have long been eroding the cliffs of white supremacy.

I hope this comes as a relief to you, as it did to me. There is great solace in putting aside the fallacy that youre entitled to a starring role in this story. When you jump from the brittle scaffold built by violence and go tumbling into the tide, youll see that its easy. Youll find leaders and peers there, all around you. You wont worry then about messing up or getting lost; youll know at once where youre needed. Much of the time that will be behind these leaders and peers, often beside them, or when faced with danger, youll be in front of them, bashing into the cliffs yourself so they can float and sparkle and enjoy the world away from the fight.

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To White People Who Want to Be One of the Good Ones - The New York Times

With the improvement of living standards, people's demand for food has grown from being full to eating well and safely. For fruits, vegetables, and tea leaves, some people will worry about pesticide residues on them, but in the near future, the ability to self-check pesticide residues at home will become a reality.

On June 8, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) announced that the team of Wang Jing of the Institute of Agricultural Quality Standards and Testing Technology of the Academy, after years of research and development, have achieved new breakthroughs in the rapid detection of agricultural pollutants. Taking pictures through WeChat can complete the detection of multiple chemical pesticide residues in 5 minutes, and the detection results are directly displayed on the mobile phone.

Normally, pesticide residue testing is done by professionals in the laboratory, the testing equipment is expensive, and the testing results usually take one to two days to be issued. However, this higher-cost detection method is not suitable for the needs of rapid detection on the spot.

Professor Wang Jing of the Institute of Quality and Standards of CAAS said that after harvesting many fresh agricultural products, it is difficult to wait for the test results to come out and then go to market. In many cases, "the relevant agricultural products have already been consumed" before the test results come out. Therefore, from government departments to enterprises and consumers, there is an urgent need to quickly and accurately detect pesticide residues.

First of all, the government can use these rapid testing technologies and products in the process of market supervision. Especially in the field of commodity circulation, some quick means are needed to inspect these fresh agricultural products on-site. If rapid screening reveals pesticide residues, they can then be sent to the laboratory for further confirmation.

Second, production bases and large companies must have a check before entering the market, and they also need such self-examination.

In addition, consumers are also concerned about the safety of eating these vegetables and fruits, so consumers also have a need for self-inspection.

After years of research, Wang Jing's team has developed a detection technology for pesticide residues, which is suitable for rapid screening by government supervisors, self-checks by producers and by consumers for home use. Just buy a test package containing test strips and a small tray, take pictures through the WeChat mini-program, and the test can be completed in 5 minutes.

At present, the team has developed colloidal gold rapid detection test strips for pesticides such as imidacloprid, carbofuran, tebuconazole, acetamiprid, procymidone, chlorpyrifos, carbendazim.

According to Wang Jing, if all the ready-made test strips on the market are standardized in the future and mounted on this platform, contaminants, viruses, and pathogens can be detected through this platform. In her opinion, if COVID-19 test strips, as well as a series of developed test strips such as influenza A and influenza B, are mounted on this, then they can all be tested at the same time.

Source: http://www.caas.cn

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Detecting pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables with smartphone pics - FreshPlaza.com

Sooner or later, our kids will make us suffer. When theyre babies, their crying keeps us up at night. Later, their teenage shenanigans might rob us of more sleep. Some of us stay at jobs we hate so that our kids will never have to wonder where their next meal will come from. We can battle with our co-parents over issues like housework and discipline, testing love we might have once thought would last forever.

These stresses and sacrifices can be painful, but studies are finding one thing that can help us to weather them: a sense of purpose. That is to say, our long-term, meaningful goals as fathers.

A sense of purpose shapes day-to-day goals and behavior. Seeing a destination on the horizon helps us to lift our eyes over the dirty dishes and temper tantrums, to a future that is better than the present. Purpose makes that pile of dishes matter. It reminds us that we matter, if only to our kids. Purpose keeps us at home with them when we wish we were elsewhere.

Meet the Greater Good Toolkit

From the GGSC to your bookshelf: 30 science-backed tools for well-being.

While purposes can vary, recent studies suggest that just having one is good for you and your family. So, what does purpose look like in a fathers life? How can you find your purpose as a father? These are existential questions that every man must answer for himself. But research does provide some insights to help us understand ourselves betterand see the fathers we want to become.

The chances are good that your purpose is different from the one held by your own father and grandfathers. Scholars say that fathers of previous generations saw their purpose as financially supporting their families and providing discipline to their children. Some saw themselves as leaders and role models for their families, especially when it came to religious instruction. Inherent in these missions is a sense of authority, which could sometimes become authoritarianismthe enforcement of strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom, as the dictionary says.

As a group, todays fathers see their role somewhat differently.

For more than a century, the number of women in the workforce has steadily increased. Today, there are roughly as many women as men working for paythough men still tend to make considerably more money than their female coworkers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What does this have to do with purpose? As women made more money, mens participation at home started climbing. Todays dads are spending much more time with their children than did their fathers. Moreover, the United States has become increasingly diverse. Immigrants have brought new conceptions of fatherhood to America. Fathers of color face challenges that are shaping their sense of purpose.

As a result of these developments, many fathers today add nurturing to their purpose, along with providing. In a discussion I hosted on my Facebook wall, a number of dads said their purpose was to be better than their fathersand to raise kids who would be better than them. What they meant by this, more often than not, was to be physically and emotionally present in the lives of their children.

I lost my dad a few months ago, said Jason Avant, a dad in California. Nowadays I find myself looking through the lens of my childhood, and I do my best to be everything he was, and everything he wasnt. San Francisco writer Andrew O. Dugas, one of those who defines his purpose as to be a better father than mine was, says: My son turned out better than I did. Stronger. Tougher. Kinder. Smarter. Wiser.

For many men, raising kids means that they need to make self-improvement and self-care part of their purpose. After the birth, It was no longer acceptable for me to simply go through the motions, said Blake Overbay, a sergeant with the Massachusetts Army National Guard. I had to outwardly demonstrate that I was working to better myself. Like deliberate and exaggerated movements to warm-up before a workout.

In fact, a new study links a strong sense of purpose to healthier behaviors. Boston College psychologist James R. Mahalik and his colleagues surveyed over 200 men (mostly white, employed, heterosexual, and married) about their sense of purpose and health behaviors like eating right or exercising, and then analyzed how those factors interacted.

Our results suggest that when men who are fathers experience greater purpose, they lead healthier lives, write the authors. It would be logical to presume that they do so to promote outcomes such as improving their health to make a difference in their childrens lives.

This finding adds to a rising number of studies that show that more purposeful people are happier, have better health and cognitive functioning, and live longer.

From an evolutionary perspective, it makes sense that purpose might lengthen lifeand that the purpose that comes with fatherhood might drive healthier behaviors that could be taken up by our kids. After all, evolution involves passing on our genes. Our offspring have a better chance of growing old enough to have their own children if we stick by their side to make sure they stay healthy and strong. A sense of purpose is a tool evolution put into the hands of fathers, to remind us to do that.

In the Facebook discussion I hosted, many fathers mentioned how a sense of crisisthe pandemic, police brutality, and economic turmoilis affecting or clarifying their sense of purpose.

For Berkeley, California, writer Shawn Taylor and his daughter, My primary purpose is to prepare her for the racist and sexist bullshit shell encounter, without robbing her of her sense of wonder and joy.

As the author Ta-Nehisi Coates once told me, in an interview for my book, The Daddy Shift: I just thought, it was the ultimate service to black people if I can be a great father. It was almost a nationalist, Afrocentric way of seeing it. For San Francisco attorney David Pai, watching younger generations rise up has energized his sense of purpose:

Their inherent curiosity, empathy, and general goodness makes me believe that, while I may not see it in my lifetime, I can certainly help lay the foundation for my daughters generation to build a more sustainable and equitable world. So that means being very intentional and self-aware in my thoughts and actions (avoiding cynicism is my challenge), not just around her, but touching upon nearly everything I do. Or, in a nutshell, trying hard not to pass on negativity, even in the end times.

A sense of crisis hasnt fundamentally changed the paternal purpose of Scott Behson, a professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University and author of The Working Dads Survival Guide. However, the #metoo and Black Lives Matter movements have led him to redouble his efforts to make sure that he is a good man to women and a good ally to people of color.

COVID-19 has powerfully affected how writer and Dads4Change founder Whit Honea sees his purpose. The global pandemic has provided many more examples of right, wrong, empathy, kindness, ignorance, sacrifice, and all the isms. The lesson plan changes by the headline. Right now, he said:

History isnt only being told, but fought, lived, and written. It has made my boys realize that their previous, comfortable view of the world was framed in window treatments and could benefit from a brick or two. Granted, these are the lessons my wife and I have been teaching our boys all along, but the reality of the moment is that they are now paying more attention. They are finding their voice and amplifying others. Their masks cant muffle the message and they dont hide anything. Well yell again tomorrow.

John Anner has three grown daughtersand he has found that raising them has changed his sense of purpose in life. Today, he is the business development director for a nonprofit called Women for Women International.

I long ago landed on my two central valuesgenerosity, and care for women. So, my purpose, as I age, is to focus intently on those two things, building off the things my daughters have taught me. Women in general, and Black women in particular, have labored for too long for no recognition and no pay. The world is built on their uncompensated and unacknowledged labor. So now is a great time for old white guys like me to do the workfor freeand make sure women get paid.

Oakland author and illustrator Innosanto Nagara sees his purpose as going beyond the selfa quality inherent in the scientific definition of purpose, which includes goals that are not just meaningful to us but make a difference in the world. Nagara sees his mission as creating the space for his son to explore, challenge himself, and push his limits, take risks, fail, and succeed but not incur/cause irreparable damage/trauma in the process.

For Nagara, this goes back to the basic Khalil Gibran idea that our children are not our children. They are the children of lifes longing for itself. They are with us but dont belong to us. Their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which we cannot visit, not even in our dreams.

There are almost no recent scientific studies of how fathers develop a sense of purpose. However, researchers are starting to understand the factors that shape our purposes across our lifespans, providing insights that can help fathers to find their purpose. Here are some of the pathways you might take to explore your own purpose.

1. Read books and watch movies

There are countless novels, comic books, movies, and TV shows that thoughtfully portray fathers, as well as nonfiction books and articles on the history and meaning of fatherhood. When I was becoming a father, I found particular inspiration in Michael Chabons novels, the short stories of Alice Munro, the graphic-novel series Starman, movies like The Pursuit of Happyness, daddy blogs, and books by feminist scholars like Stephanie Coontz and Arlie Hochschild.

The stories that inspired me may not inspire you. Perhaps youll look more to religious texts, or even to the stories of sports stars. The important thing is the search for inspiration. Seeing the purposes of other fathers, both real and imagined, can help you to see your own.

2. Talk to your co-parents, friends, and family

While purpose is a very personal thing, it often emerges from our connections to other people.

Its important to thoughtfully, intentionally sit down with your co-parent and talk explicitly about what shapes your idea of a good father and what your goals areand to listen to what the other parent has to say. It was incredibly meaningful for me to interview my grandfather and father for my book, The Daddy Shift, because in my family, we never discussed fatherhood. You can talk to the fathers in your own family right now.

If your kids are young, think about joining a neighborhood group for moms and dadsand then, later, volunteering at school. All of these conversations will help inform and sustain your purpose as a father.

3. Look to your hurtsand turn them into healing

Many men have described to me feeling hurt by their own fathers. Sometimes, the pain came from physical punishment. More often, its emotional, arising from absence or verbal abuse. As we saw in my Facebook discussion, men do turn this pain into a purpose to be better than their own fathers. Other fathers described being hurt by racism or some other form of collective discriminationand so are raising their children to fight back against injustice.

Youll incur hurts as a parent, too, when you feel overwhelmed or heartbroken. Instead of beating up on yourself, you can ask yourself what that pain means and how you can do better next time. Your purpose as a father never stops evolving, because we learn something new (about ourselves and others) at every stage of our childs life.

4. Move toward joy and meaning

Theres more to purpose than pain, of course. Many fathers describe their purpose as raising happy kids, and so they try to be happy themselves. I want my kids to be happy and to put good into the world, to do the right thing rather than the easy one, says Honea. My purpose is to model that, sometimes (often) fail, and let them see me learn from it.

In his book The Path to Purpose, Stanford psychologist William Damon argues that purpose happens when our skills meet the needs of the world. While that idea doesnt precisely translate into parenting, its always the case that were better at some aspects of parenting than others. When you play with your kids, you shouldnt always just do the things they enjoy; its important to do the things you like to do, too. If youre good at baseball, see if theyll play ball with you. If its Star Wars you love, watch the movies over and over with your kids, and talk about the messages the movies impart.

We constantly inject joy into our lives, said Taylor. We dress up, we play, we talk about what make us happy and ask what makes each other happy. Hes on the right track: There is a great deal of research suggesting that fostering positive emotionslike happiness and gratitudecan lead us to a sense of purpose.

That can be difficult to do in the face of disease and quarantine, violence and protest, unemployment and uncertainty. But making the pursuit of positive emotions a part of your purpose as a father can help your family to navigate the multiple, interlocking crises that we are facing. Confronting those crises provides us with a sense of purpose, too. Thats why I go with my son to Black Lives Matter protests, and why I talk with him about the work Im doing at home, in quarantine, for the Greater Good Science Center. In this way, I teach my son to have a sense of purposeand so open the door to its benefits for him.

The gift of having a sense of purpose is that it reminds us of the future we want for our children, and it shows us how we can work toward that future today.

This article is part of a GGSC initiative on Finding Purpose Across the Lifespan, supported by the John Templeton Foundation. In a series of articles, podcast episodes, and other resources, well be exploring why and how to deepen your sense of purpose at different stages of life.

Link:
What Is Your Purpose as a Father? - Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley

June 22, 2020 06:55 ET | Source: IMS

photo-release

Utilizing IMS' new Wedge telematics sensor to transmit data via the policyholders smartphone, the IMS Connected Claims solution can be deployed for as little as $1 per policy, per month with the opportunity for a near-term 3x return on investment (ROI) via claims cost reduction.

Most insurers believe that the benefits of telematics data are limited to UBI programs, but this no longer has to be the case, said Ed Rochfort, Chief Product Officer for IMS. IMS Connected Claims solution is a claims-focused telematics offering, allowing any insurer, with or without an existing UBI program, to distribute a low-cost connectivity solution to policyholders. It offers reliable collision notications, but more importantly, it gives a clear picture of the circumstances of a collision, enabling faster settlement of liability claims and reductions in claims handling shelf-life. Its a win-win set of outcomes for insurers and policyholders alike.

Boston, MA and Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, June 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMS (Insurance & Mobility Solutions), part of Trak Global Group (TGG) and one of the worlds top three providers of connected car data solutions to insurers, mobility operators, OEMs and governments, is pleased to announce the availability of the new IMS Connected Claims telematics solution.

The IMS Connected Claims solution combines the powerful data-gathering capabilities of IMS new, patent-pending Wedge telematics sensor while leveraging TGG sister company Carrot Insurances decade of experience in partnering with insurers to deliver loss ratio reductions and better claims outcomes for policyholders. As the industrys first claims-focused telematics solution, IMS Connected Claims can be introduced to an insurers existing claims operation without the requirement for complex, costly systems integrations and with minimal disruption. Additionally, IMS Connected Claims can uniquely be a standalone solution, rather than having to be a component of a usage-based insurance (UBI) program.

Most insurers believe that the benefits of telematics data are limited to UBI programs, but this no longer has to be the case, said Ed Rochfort, Chief Product Officer for IMS. IMS Connected Claims solution is a claims-focused telematics offering, allowing any insurer, with or without an existing UBI program, to distribute a low-cost connectivity solution to policyholders. It offers reliable collision notications, but more importantly, it gives a clear picture of the circumstances of a collision, enabling faster settlement of liability claims and reductions in claims handling shelf-life. Its a win-win set of outcomes for insurers and policyholders alike.

Utilizing the self-install, self-powered Wedge telematics sensor to transmit data via the policyholders smartphone, the IMS Connected Claims solution can be deployed for as little as $1 per policy, per month with the opportunity for a near-term 3x return on investment (ROI) via claims cost reduction.

We can point to existing insurance customers where weve helped them gain eight points of combined operating ratio improvement purely from the use of telematics data in claims, said Rochfort.

Insurers can build out from the IMS Connected Claims solution and add modular, configurable capabilities leveraging the wider IMS DriveSync technology platform from a rewards and messaging system that drives customer engagement to the creation of a full-blown UBI proposition, such as a Pay-as-You-Drive program.

While most insurance executives recognize the opportunity to digitally transform the claims process, the potential for operational disruption has traditionally made it a daunting shift to initiate. As a result, most insurers and technology vendors have concentrated on single pinch points, such as First Notice of Loss (FNOL), as the focus for claims transformation. However, insurers can achieve greater results by concentrating on areas of greatest cost savings and benefit using telematics data alongside existing systems and processes - such as the use of data to facilitate quicker, more accurate liability decisions and to make determinations on the likelihood of bodily injury. IMS helps insurers achieve maximum benefit by working in partnership with insurers with experienced claims professionals who guide the implementation path to reduce claims operation impact and ensure solution ROI.

We recognize that digital claims transformation has to go beyond just standing up a technology solution its about knowing how and where in the value chain that data can be used to unlock meaningful benefits, said Nick Street, VP of Connected Claims at IMS. Thats why weve created what we describe as Claims as a Service (CaaS) professional services as an additional claims solution component for our customers. CaaS encompasses implementation planning, process management, claims team training, and ongoing case-by-case support to help an insurer quickly get on the path to ROI. IMS is more than just a tech provider. We function as a true business partner that has a track record in delivering real-world results.

For insurers seeking additional details, register for free to attend the IMS claims technology presentation during the Connected Claims USA Tech Spotlight on June 24 at 2:15 PM ET at: https://events.insurancenexus.com/connectedclaimsusa/register.php

Additionally, insurers can download the IMS Claims ROI whitepaper, or review Wedge product details at http://www.ims.tech/claims.

# # #

About IMS (Insurance & Mobility Solutions)

IMS is a leading connected car solutions provider delivering services and analytics to insurers, governments, automotive OEMs and mobility operators. IMS is the developer of the cloud-based DriveSync connected car platform which has received industry acclaim for its ability to offer customers a data source-agnostic, multi-device strategy for service provision versus a single focused technology approach. IMS is part of Trak Global Group, an international connected solutions provider with technology deployed in over a dozen territories, and its own in-house telematics insurance business, Carrot Insurance. For more information, visit http://www.ims.tech.

About Carrot Insurance

Carrot Insurance, part of Trak Global Group, is a UK-based, award-winning, telematics insurance business. In 2015, Carrot received the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for its work in reducing driver accident frequency, and launched Better Driver, one of the first app-based connected auto insurance products in the world. Carrot offers both hardware and app-based solutions to its policyholders, and has won multiple awards, including Claims Partner of the Year in 2017 and Best Consumer App at the Insurance Times Tech & Innovation Awards in October 2019. For more information, visitwww.carrotinsurance.com.

Read more:
IMS Launches Industry-First, Claims-Focused Telematics Solution, IMS Connected Claims, to Drive Loss Ratio Improvement for Insurers - GlobeNewswire

This year, the Summer Solstice in Indiawill fall on June 21, 2020.The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year, as well as the shortest night of the year. For many, it is also a day of religious and spiritual significance. Some people consider the Summer Solstice to be atime of self-reflectionand personal growth. This day is atime of renewal, love, self-improvement, and spiritual thinking.

The Summer Solstice is highly significant for hundreds of cultures and religions all over the globe. From the Ancient Egyptians to the Far East, most cultures in the world have rituals and religious beliefs related to theSummer Solstice. Here are some culturally significant Summer Solstice rituals that are celebrated each year.

Also Read |Due To Coronavirus, Stonehenge Summer Solstice Celebrations To Be Live-streamed

Also Read |Google Doodle Observes Beginning Of Summer In Northern Hemisphere

Also Read |Skiers Celebrate Midsummer Midnight In Sweden

The Summer Solstice will start at3:13 am (Indian Standard Time) on Sunday, June 21. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may not be able to perform some of these rituals that require groups of people. However, you can still enjoy the longest day of the year with your friends and family online.

Also Read |Summer Solstice Quotes To Share With Friends, Family, And Loved Ones

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Summer Solstice rituals that you can perform to celebrate the longest day of the year - Republic World - Republic World

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Published on June 22, 2020

21st of June is observed all over the world as International Yoga Day. Yoga is not only about self-improvement but it is also about self-acceptance.Every year, brands all over the world dedicate this day to raising awareness about physical health and urging people to exercise daily through the various digital and social media campaigns.

If we observe the current scenario, obesity in India has reached epidemic proportions in the 21st century.Processed foods, unhealthy habits, lack of exercise, stressful work culture and more of such factors are leading to a deteriorating lifestyle.Yoga is a practice towards a healthier and a much better lifestyle. Here is a list of brands undertaking Yoga day campaigns

Ministry of AYUSH launches Yoga at Home, Yoga with Family campaign during COVID-19 spread. Under this, the ministry will organize a trainer-led session on 21st June 2020, the International Yoga Day and will telecast it on Doordarshan at 6:30 AM on June 21 so that people can follow and practice Yoga from their home itself. Yoga at Home, Yoga with Family campaign at home has been launched to observe the day at home, taking all precautions to slow down COVID-19 spread.

Candor TechSpace managed by Brookfield Properties has launched a series of campaigns with #FitnessOnMyMind right from virtual yoga meets, live yoga sessions to social media campaigns as well. The brand is conducting four yoga sessions namely therapeutic session, yoga for children,pranayam session and a live yoga session to promote a healthy and happier lifestyle. Candor TechSpace is also running a contest inviting entries with quirky yoga poses while doing house chores offering goodies to the winner.

Similarly TikTok the video-sharing social networking service is running a campaign this year too just like last year with various trending challenges to encourage users to adopt this physical, mental and spiritual practice.

Also, the Big Ganga, Zee Entertainment Enterprise Limiteds Bhojpuri General Entertainment Channel in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Purvanchal, will bring to its viewers a morning of fitness to promote healthy living on International Yoga Day, June 21. Celebrating the occasion the channel will bring a fitness show Yoga Futurefit to motivate viewers to take up the habit of yoga to reduce their anxiety and keep their mental health at check. The two-hour show will be telecast on June 21 between 7am and 9am on Big Ganga and 6am to 8am on Facebook.

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Brands outstretch their creative minds this International Yoga Day - APN News

Chef Trey Lamonts restaurant Jerk Shack has been serving up Caribbean food in the Belltown area since 2018.

Lamont grew up in Seattle and graduated from Garfield High School. Hes always knownwhat he wanted to do: go to culinary school.

But if I had wanted to go to Harvard, that wasnt an option. My dad couldnt afford that, Lamont says.

Lamont knows there are other high schoolers in the Black community who have dreams they cannot afford, and he wants to change that.

Lamont wants to expand his business to better serve the Black community, and to do so, hes enlisted the communitys help in the form of a GoFundMe campaign that he started on June 3. The end goal is to raise enough money to purchase land in an area of Seattle where more Black people live, he says, and build a new restaurant called Jerk Shack Express. Lamont is eyeing places like Renton, Rainier Beach and parts of South Seattle, the Central District or Skyway for his new restaurant.

But his master plan involves much more than purchasing land to build a restaurant which Lamont says will be created from a shipping container its about building a legacy and creating opportunities. Ultimately, Lamont wants to use a model similar to that employed by Dicks to build his restaurant into an enterprise that can give back to the Black community and the community its situated in.

My vision would be copying Dicks version of helping people pay for college, having child care, having full benefits of medical and dental, he says.

Dicks Drive-In, which was founded in part by Dick Spady in 1954, offers any employee working 20 hours per week for at least six months access to a $25,000 scholarship over four years to use for any college, vocational or self-improvement program as long as they continue to work at least 20 hours per week. Additionally, the company offers child care assistance up to $9,000 per year and free health insurance for employees.

The health insurance part is essential for Lamonts vision.

I know that my community definitely needs dental. Its an education in resources and compounded with everything that we call systemic racism, he says.

Lamonts GoFundMe has a goal of $700,000. Like his sit-down restaurant, Jerk Shack Express will serve Caribbean food, but in a fast-casual atmosphere. Lamont has already been testing out the menu since dining rooms closed on March 17.

Lamont has no plans to close the original Jerk Shack.

Im not trying to move out of Belltown, Im trying to expand and create more opportunity for the Black community, Lamont says.

His GoFundMe description reads, Everyone says the system is broken, but I think it works perfectly for the ones who it was created for. I would like to create a new system and do my part the best way I know how, by creating one of inclusion for everyone in our neighborhoods.

Lamont believes that showing the younger generation a person that looks like them and comes from the same place as them can create stronger communities.

Lamont has been thinking about this plan since he began cooking in his food truck, Papa Bois, in 2012, but hes been slowly refining it. Now he has a business plan and a menu; hes got realtors scouting property in South Seattle, the Central District, Renton and Skyway areas; and he has friends who have building plans for shipping containers.

And while he thinks there are some restaurants in his community that couldve done this already, Lamont says hes ready and he can no longer wait for someone else to do it.

Lamont expressed frustration with the perpetual cycle where an unjust killing leads to protests and marches, only for things to die down and six months or a year later it happens again and were doing the same thing.

With everything thats going on, I think underserved communities need to feel like we aresupportive of each other. This is the best way that I can serve my community. Im not that guy thats going to go lets organize this, Im the guy whos like Im going to make a bunch of food and lets come to the table, he says.

As of Monday, June 15, Lamonts GoFundMe campaign has raised almost $15,000, with nearly all the donations in small increments.

At $500 each, Hunter Samuels and Louis Arruela are the campaigns largest donors.

Arruela is a Portuguese commercial fisherman in the Bering Sea who supplies Lamont with fish on occasion.Arruela says he doesnt consider himself to be a social activist, but when he heard about Lamonts campaign he was so impressed.

Not only is it a good thing socially, but from a business standpoint hes doing it right, from the ground up and for all the right reasons, Arruela said.

Samuels first met Lamont as a teenager when they were training at the same taekwondo studio.

To see Trey speak up today and historically, Ive been proud of that and proud to be his friend and to do what I could, Samuels says, calling Lamont someone who is all in.

More than 200 other small donationshave come in. Lamont says hes not pinning his hopes on getting lots of large donations, and instead hopes that its a community effort built by many.

I want the people from the community to donate because this is for them. I want them to go, This is for me. If I dont invest in myself, no one else is going to, he said.

There is no deadline for the project; Lamont says hed be pleased if in a year or so hes got enough for even a down payment on land to keep things moving. But if that doesnt happen, hes not quitting.

It has to work because Im not giving up. I dont care if I dont get the funding for 10 years, Im still going to do it, he says.

Jackie Varriano covers the food scene in the neighborhoods around Seattle. She loves digging into stories that discuss why we eat the things we do and when in our region and beyond. Her very first article was a gossip column for her YMCA summer camp in 1990. Reach her at jvarriano@seattletimes.com.

Excerpt from:
Owner of Belltowns Jerk Shack is asking the community to help him expand so that he can better serve the Black community - Seattle Times

Utah State History

Editor's note: This article is a part of a series reviewing Utah and U.S. history for KSL.com's Historic section. This story also contains an image some may find graphic or disturbing.

SALT LAKE CITY Friday marks 155 years since Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to deliver the message that Texas was once again under Union control and that all remaining slaves must be freed.

That moment on June 19, 1865, could be seen as the true end of the Civil War, even if the Confederate Army had surrendered two months prior. By the end of 1865, the 13th amendment of the U.S. Constitution was ratified and the practice of involuntary slavery was forever banned.

"Juneteenth," also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, turned into the celebration of the day it ended and it has grown since then.

The holiday celebrates "African American freedom and achievement while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures," according to the National Juneteenth Register.

But the recent protests over the death of George Floyd last month are a reminder that systemic racism didnt end when the last slaves were freed in 1865. That moment only closed a chapter in Americas history of race relations. And the roots of slavery and racial discrimination are intertwined in Utah history as well.

So as we recognize and celebrate the advancements made over 155 years, we should also look at what happened in the past so those mistakes arent made again.

If you think Juneteenth shouldnt be important in Utah, think again. In many ways, discrimination began about as early as possible in Utahs community history. Green Flake, Hark Lay and Oscar Crosby were enslaved members of the first group of pioneers to reach the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Slavery was officially added to territory code less than five years later.

Black slaves were bought and sold in Utah, historian Ronald Coleman wrote in a piece about African American history in the state for Utah History Encyclopedia.

"The majority of slaves in Utah worked on the small farms that were scattered throughout the territory, although a few worked in businesses in Salt Lake City," Coleman wrote. "Although Brigham Young never intended that slavery flourish in Utah he did accept the biblical explanations utilized by proslavery apologists to justify the enslavement of blacks."

There were 30 freemen and 29 slaves in the Utah territory before the Civil War, according to 1860 Census records. The practice was officially outlawed in Utah when President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill in 1862 that banned involuntary slavery in all U.S. territories. The bill was ironically passed by Congress on June 19 that year exactly three years before Grangers ride into Galveston.

But much like in other places in the country, racial discrimination didnt end in Utah once slaves were freed. In other parts of the U.S., states passed so-called "black codes" that targeted black workers and set the stage for Jim Crow laws beginning in 1877. Those laws would continue to push ideas of "separate but equal" until it was ruled unconstitutional in 1954. The Civil Rights Act wouldnt be enacted until a decade later.

Its known that some of that treatment existed in Utah. For instance, here are a just few examples of unfair treatment from Utahs history:

The list could go on and on. There was racially-motivated violence as well.

Historian Larry Gerlach wrote a piece for a 1998 edition of Utah Historical Quarterly that looked into the history of lynching in the state. In his research, he found there were at least 11 lynchings between 1869 and 1886; at least two of the 11 were black men and two were Asian men. The incidents occurred in Corinne, Eureka, Logan, Ogden, Park City, St. George and Salt Lake City many of those being heavy mining or railroad towns at the time.

In all, at least 4,700 lynchings were carried out in the U.S. between 1882 and 1964 and nearly three-fourth involved black individuals. But Gerlach's paper centered mostly on a disturbing incident in Utah history because it was presented at a ceremony providing the victim a headstone.

On June 15, 1925, a Carbon County marshal was brutally murdered while making runs as the night watchman for the Utah Fuel Company. There were no witnesses to the crime but a pair of young boys playing near the scene identified a black coal miner named Robert Marshall as the assailant, Gerlach wrote.

Marshall was apprehended at his cabin on the morning of June 18 and was to be taken to a Price jail after his roommate had alerted authorities. But the caravan taking him to jail stopped outside of the towns courthouse and the deputy in charge left Marshall unattended while a lynch mob formed nearby.

"Members of the crowd, rope in hand, commandeered the vehicle and headed out of town followed by a parade of at least 100 cars," Gerlach wrote, adding that Marshall was taken to a site near Price where some 1,000 men, women and children had gathered.

"The crowd, described by a reporter on the scene as consisting not of disorderly, violent, undesirables but, instead of your neighbors, your friends, the tradespeople with whom you are wont to barter public employees (and) folks prominent in church and social circles," Gerlach continued.

The mob lynched Marshall on a tree at a farm in the area. He was cut down by deputies 10 minutes later but then hanged again after "lynchers detected evidence of life," Gerlach wrote.

A group of about 100-150 black workers in the county at the time pooled money together to pay for Marshalls funeral expenses but didnt have enough to afford a headstone at the time.

Eleven men were initially charged with murder for Marshalls death but a grand jury eventually decided later that year there was not sufficient evidence to proceed with the case mainly because more than 100 witnesses refused to cooperate with prosecutors.

Gerlach, who first presented his paper at a memorial for Marshall, refuted anyones claims that what happened in the past doesn't matter in current times.

"The Marshall lynching was symptomatic of a societal ill the racism that afflicted and still afflicts America," he said at the time. "The Marshall lynching, then, affords the occasion for us to meet in a ceremony of historical recognition and racial reconciliation. Reconciliation cannot truly occur unless past injustices are fully acknowledged. ... We cannot undo the past but we can recognize what has happened and why.

"To ignore past misdeeds is to condone them, if only by silence; to acknowledge past misdeeds is to educate and to educate is to prepare the way for a better tomorrow."

Of course, this history isnt new, especially to those who study it and those who have lived or are living through the outcomes created by systemically racist practices.

There are still many aftereffects from history. For example, even though redlining was banned in 1968, a 2018 study by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition found practices decades ago still had economic and racial segregation implications for many cities today.

On June 19, 1866, the first Juneteenth was held in Texas the site where the last of the slaves were freed. It's a holiday mixed with celebration barbecues and activities but is "almost always focused on education and self-improvement," according to the National Juneteenth Register.

According to the organization, it began as a holiday mostly celebrated by those in the black community even if it was a struggle to celebrate at times.

"In some cases, there was outwardly exhibited resistance by barring the use of public property for the festivities. Most of the festivities found themselves out in rural areas around rivers and creeks that could provide for additional activities such as fishing, horseback riding and barbecues," it wrote.

Juneteenth grew in popularity through time but did fizzle in the early 1900s and during the Great Depression. The register pointed to school textbooks incorrectly saying the Emancipation Proclamation was the end of slavery as one factor for this. The holiday gained popularity again during the Civil Rights movement and continues to grow today.

Utah passed a bill in 2016 that makes the third Saturday in June as Juneteenth Freedom Day.

When Rep. Sandra Hollins, D-Salt Lake City, proposed the bill, she noted that the holiday had been celebrated in Utahs community for more than 75 years.

It celebrates the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which helped change the course of America, she said, during that legislative session. Although we continue to struggle with modern-day slavery, this celebration reminds us that we as a country do not support this concept, and it celebrates the freedom that we all enjoy as Americans as a result of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Looking forward to the #JUNETEENTHCOOKOUT tomorrow, supporting local black owned restaurants here in SLC. Where we going @LouisLancs - all six? @NWSLpic.twitter.com/18N6uM497F

There have already been a few events the past few days that discussed everything from genealogy to stories of black American entrepreneurship. On Friday, there will be a Juneteenth Day flag raising at the Salt Lake County Government Center, as well as a State of Black Utah Town Hall later in the day that will be available virtually among other events.

Weber State University will host a virtual town hall Friday called "Mind, Body & Spirit: Black Mental Health in the Midst of Crisis." The conversation, which begins at 6 p.m. MT, will "give youth, young adults and emerging leaders a chance to share how they are coping with racism and injustices."

At 8 p.m., viewers can watch "Excellence in the Community Juneteenth Concert," streaming live from the Gallivan Center. A list of all events and performances are available at https://weber.edu/juneteenth.

The school will also host a "commemorative caravan" on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. in front of the Marshall White Community Center (222 28th Street in Ogden). Facebook, Instagram and Zoom will have live dancing, drums and gospel, hip hop, jazz, R&B and spoken-word performances throughout the day.

More companies are celebrating the holiday, as well. The Utah Jazz announced that Juneteenth will be an official work holiday for all employees across Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment.

The organization says it is encouraging its employees to participate in local celebrations and will give employees free access to "John Lewis: Good Trouble," a documentary about the 60-plus career in social activism who championed civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration. The film, which is due to be released July 3, includes interviews with the now-80-year-old Lewis himself.

"In the midst of the national conversation and calls for racial justice, our franchise has made the decision to pause, work to further educate ourselves, and reflect on our countrys race relations both past and present by observing Juneteenth," Utah Jazz President Jim Olson said in a statement from the team. "This is an important milestone in our history and another step for us to learn more about freedom for all and the fight for equality, and ideally be part of helping to create meaningful change."

Other sports teams have offered similar measures, encouraging their employees beyond just players to celebrate Juneteenth. Major League Soccer club LAFC took it a step further, starting a petition to have every June 19 recognized as an official U.S. holiday, Freedom Day.

The petition currently has more than 8,000 signatures. The clubs stated goal is 100,000.

"This is one of many initiatives LAFC is pledging to take on in its commitment to change," the team announced. "We will continue to be a force for good. Shoulder to shoulder, we stand with the black community."

Utah Royals FC of the National Womens Soccer League joined with the NWSL Players Association to provide a list of some local black-owned businesses in NWSL markets to support on June 19. Food is often viewed as a way of supporting and learning about other cultures, including black culture.

Among the Utah restaurants are:

All are currently available for takeout during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well.

One more day until our #JuneteenthCookoutpic.twitter.com/jiSZSTRc5F

"Weve always thought that food is a great way to connect and better understand someone elses culture," said North Carolina forward Crystal Dunn.

Added Orlando forward Sydney Leroux: "On June 19, also known as Juneteenth, we ask you to help us celebrate the beauty in black culture by ordering food from your local black-owned restaurants."

Even though its not a sanctioned federal holiday, several large companies in the United States will make June 19 a paid company holiday in their organizations. Among the largest corporations are Adobe, Twitter, Nike and the National Football League.

Internet mega-retailers Amazon and Google havent made Juneteenth a company holiday but have told employees to cancel meetings and "use this day to create space for learning and reflection," according to Reuters.

Adobe, which employs more than 1,500 people at its campus in Lehi, says it is giving employees the day off to "focus on reflection and advocacy." The company also made a $1 million donation to the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit organization that "provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons."

"At Adobe, we have a responsibility to address structural inequality in our communities and in society," Adobe said in a blog post signed by CEO Shantanu Narayen and executive vice president Gloria Chen. "Adobes mission has always been to create products that empower people to change the world. In order to be successful, we need to operate in a society where everyone is empowered. We are committed to harnessing the best of Adobe our people, platform, creativity and innovation to make lasting change inside and outside of our company."

Correction: This article has been corrected on the number of lynchings in Utah between 1869 and 1886.

See more here:
What is Juneteenth and why does it matter in Utah today? - KSL.com

Im very excited to offer my thoughts about Bishop Robert Barrons new offering, The Word on Fire Bible, Volume I: The Gospels: published on 15 June 2020: just a week ago as I write. First off, before I begin my own analysis, let me introduce you to this fabulous Bible with some words from Brandon Vogt, the Content Director at Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, and a very fine and influential apologist in his own right:

[Its] an extraordinary project weve been secretly working on over the last four years.Imagine Bishop BarronsCatholicismfilm series (art, beauty, culture, Bishop Barrons genius) all wrapped beautifully around the Scriptures. Then add tons of insightful commentary from the Church Fathers, saints, popes, and contemporary spiritual masters. Then produce it all using the highest quality paper and leather, and you have something truly groundbreaking: theWord on Fire Bible.

Its smart, beautiful, resplendenta cathedral in print. Theres never been a Bible like it before.

The description in the Press Kit for this volume offers more enticing commentary:

It was designed to appeal not just to Christians but to non-believers, searchers, and those with far more questions than answers. It doesnt presume any experience with the Bible, catering to those unfamiliar with its many events and characters, while still providing rich insights to even the most biblically literate.

Inside this first volume of the series, youll find the four Gospels surrounded by illuminating artwork and helpful commentary from Bishop Robert Barron, the Church Fathers, John Chrysostom, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, John Henry Newman, G.K. Chesterton, Thrse of Lisieux, Fulton Sheen, John Paul II, and many other teachers in the way of the Spirit.

Be sure to visit the wonderful Press Kit page for videos, photos, and twelve frequently asked questions. The web page devoted to this Bible at Word on Fire describes two more central features of the work:

Its purpose is evangelical

This is not a study Bible. Its goal is not merely to transmit historical knowledge or textual insight. It is also not a devotional Bible, offering self-improvement tips. The mission of this Bible is evangelical. It is meant to introduce not mere facts but a person: Jesus Christ. It aims to do that by unveiling Christ throughout each chapter and verse of the Scriptures, leading readers to a life-changing encounter with him.

It showcases the way of beauty

This Bible showcases what Pope Francis calls thevia pulchritudinis(the way of beauty). For many people in our postmodern cultureespecially the youngan appeal to the true (Here is what you should believe) or to the good (Here is how you ought to behave) is often a nonstarter, likely to awaken suspicion and defensiveness. But an appeal to the beautiful (Just look at this) is more winsome, less menacing. And so this Bible features many striking works of art as well as literary explanations of those piecesall designed to introduce the seeker to Christ through the aesthetic splendor that he has inspired.

The Word on Fire Bible (Gospels) will be available in leather, hardcover, and paperback.The translation used is theNew Revised Standard Version: Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE).

***

Now, since I am myself a professional Catholic apologist, I thought I would approach my review specifically from that perspective and utilize it as a way to explore how this Bible comments upon three passages that are of particular usefulness to the apologist and any Catholic who seeks to share and defend the faith. Apologetics is part-and-parcel of the evangelistic task, which is the stated purpose of this Bible. Ive always thought of evangelism and apologetics as half-sisters.

The first is the account of the rich young ruler, found in Matthew 19:16-24 (cf. Mk 10:17-21; Lk 18:18-22). To see those passages (for brevitys sake), readers may wish to visit my article on the topic. Briefly put, the relevance to Catholic apologetics and evangelism in this passage is in the area of the vexed Catholic-Protestant issue (central in the 16th century) of the relationship of faith and works. When I dealt with it, I was (characteristically) much more polemical, and challenged the Protestant understanding of faith alone in light of the passage.

But Bishop Barron is far more subtle, inviting, and eloquent in how he deals with the passage. Not everyone responds to apologetics and polemics. Most people are drawn in a much different fashion. His commentary (found on p. 121 in Matthew 19) is entitled Finding True Freedom and reads essentially like a sermon rather than biblical commentary per se. Its pastoral and personal, rather than scholarly, disputational, apologetic, or theology-heavy.

Jesus asks the rich young man whether he has followed the commandments, and the young man responds affirmatively.

[A]ll of those egregious violations of love murder, adultery, hatred of ones neighbor, and so on must be eliminated in the seeker after God.

Once the soul has been shaped in the direction of love through the discipline of the commandments, it is now ready for a more complete and dramatic self-emptying. It is ready for the sequela Christi, the following of Christ on the path of discipleship. And this is a matter not only of external imitation but of the deepest inner conformity to Christ, a walking with him in the manner of an apprentice shaping his life in accord with his masters.

Jesus answers him and then stands open to further dialogue; finally he invites him to the deepest form of life. At no point in this conversation is there a hint of violence or coercion,

The true God does not compete with freedom; rather, he awakens and directs it.

This is gospel preaching / homiletics at its finest: akin (in my mind, which is very fond of analogies) to fine wine, sparkling spring water right from the pure spring, or the most beautiful classical music. I could immerse myself in such words and thoughts forever . . .

My second example comes from the famous petrine / papal passage of Matthew 16:18-19:

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. [19]I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (NRSV)

Bishop Barron offers his own commentary, and also that of the great apologist G. K. Chesterton (from Heretics) and the Church father St. Cyprian of Carthage (200-258), from his Treatises. I cite both in their entirety (from pp. 104-105):

When Christ at a symbolic moment was establishing His great society, He chose for its cornerstone neither the brilliant Paul nor the mystic John, but a shuffler, a snob, a coward in a word, a man. And upon this rock He has built His Church, and the gates of Hell have not prevailed against it. All the empires and the kingdoms have failed, because of this inherent and continual weakness, that they were founded by strong men and upon strong men. But this one thing, the historic Christian Church, was founded on a weak man, and for that reason it is indestructible. For no chain is stronger than its weakest link.

I tell you, he [Jesus] says, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven . . .On him [Peter] he builds the Church, and to him he gives the command to feed the sheep [John 21:17], and although he assigns a like power to all the Apostles, yet he founded a single chair [cathedra], and he established by his own authority a source and an intrinsic reason for that unity. Indeed, the others were that also which Peter was [i.e., Apostles], but a primacy is given to Peter, whereby it is made clear that there is but one Church and one chair. So too, all [the Apostles] are shepherds, and the flock is shown to be one, fed by all the Apostles in single-minded accord. If someone does not hold fast to this unity of Peter, can he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he [should] desert the chair of Peter upon whom the Church was built, can he still be confident that he is in the Church?

St. Cyprians first Treatise is called The Unity of the Catholic Church (see section 4).Heretics, by the way, was written in 1905, which was actually 17 years before Chesterton was received into the Catholic Church. This is the amount of insight and wisdom that he had (much like St. John Henry Cardinal Newman) as an Anglican.

As a third example, I submit John 6:48-66 (see it in the similar RSV version), which is one of the classic passages regarding the Holy Eucharist and transubstantiation. Bishop Barron offers wonderful sermon-like commentary again, as he does throughout this volume, in the section entitled, Jesus Most Challenging Sermon (pp. 500-503):

How do we appropriate this shocking talk? If we stand in the great Catholic tradition, we honor these unnerving words of Jesus, resisting all attempts to soften them or explain them away. We affirm what the Church has come to call the doctrine of the Real Presence.

[F]or Catholics, the Eucharist is not one sign among many, one inspiring symbol among others. It is the very soul and life of the Church, the hinge upon which the life of the Church turns.

Gods word, on the biblical telling, is not so much descriptive as creative. It does not express a state of affairs that already exists; it makes a state of affairs to be. Gods word speaks things into existence, determining them at the deepest roots of their being.

Given who he is, these words [Dave: from the Last Supper] bore the creative power of the Logos of God. They effected a change, therefore, not simply at the level of symbolic or metaphorical reconfiguration; instead, they pierced to the very roots of existence of those elements and changed them into something else, into his Body and Blood.

This change, this transubstantiation, explains why the Church comes from the Eucharist, and why eternal life comes from eating the Lords Body and drinking his Blood.

Spiritual riches like these abound throughout this Bible. You will want to partake of its blessings. I give it my very highest (and enthusiastic) recommendation. Buy it today!

***

Photo credit: The Word on Fire Bible, from the Press Kit.

***

Read this article:
Review of Bp. Barron's Word on Fire Bible (The Gospels) - Patheos

By Aytekin Tank4 minute Read

Once the initial shock of stay-at-home orders diminished, the pandemic productivity movement began in earnest. Suddenly, friends and colleagues were sharing photos of alphabetized spice cabinets, grueling workouts, and enough baking to fuel a weeklong sugar high. There was a growing sense that if you didnt emerge from the crisis speaking Portuguese and sporting a six-pack, you would fail to make the most of your lockdown.

Even major media outlets got in on the action. What could you learn in a few short weeks? Mark Rice-Oxley wrote in The Guardian. That rather depends on your dedication, I suspect. Sewing, juggling, CPR, drawing, wood turning, the Cyrillic alphabet, solving cryptic crosswords, cooking, meditation, Temari, knitting, video editing, offspin, yoga, coding, diving (though this might be difficult in your front room), the accordion the list is endless.

Admittedly, I had to look up both Temari and offspin, but I was confident I wouldnt be tackling anything on Rice-Oxleys list. I have a young family and a business to runand I knew our employees needed extra support, both personally and professionally. Like many others, I also understood that working safely from home, with our team and company intact, was a privilege.

As many entrepreneurs urged each other to hustle and log even longer hours in isolation, I considered my options. With no travel or social gatherings on the horizon, maybe I would have some quiet time on my hands. Would I feel bad if I didnt start a yoga practice? No. However, I would regret a missed opportunity to recharge and reflect.

Major life changes often make us introspective. COVID-19 represents a rare moment when were all in transition. Across the globe, our lives and routines have been disrupted and, in some cases, changed forever. If you can tune out the social pressure for self-improvement, now is an excellent time to explore your true valuesand not in a strictly corporate sense.

Set aside the values on your website. Just ask yourself, what do I find most meaningful? You might find that youre pulled in an unfamiliar direction, like starting a new product line or making a major pivot in your life or business. On the flip side, you might realize that youre drawn to go deeperto home in on a niche area or serve a special audience. This could translate to double-downing on a meaningful cause, or, alternately, you may want to strip away the excess that accumulated over time.

Once youve clarified what matters, examine how youre spending your time, and consider whether this allocation is effective. To be clear, this step isnt intended to help you cram even more into the day. Instead, its a call to focus your energy and attention to create the biggest impact.

Look for extraneous tasks, responsibilities, systems, and habits you might want to shedand dont be afraid to let things go. Its easy to fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy, where we continue devoting resources to something that no longer serves us, simply because weve already spent time or money on it. Now is an excellent time to trim whatever is weighing you down.

A growing number of studies reveal that people with a strong sense of purpose score better on mental health and well-being assessments. Realigning your entrepreneurial journey with your values can make you healthier, happier, and possibly more successful. The key is to translate what youve uncovered into a clear roadmap.

For me, every year, I outline a new strategy for my company. This annual reset guides our decisions and priorities for the next 365 days. Of course, the company stays true to our core principles, but the strategy reflects whats captivated our team and will best help our customers. Not only has this process inspired some of our biggest innovations, it ensures the big picture never slips out of focus.

Whether you have two or 2,000 employees, consider what moves and motivates your team. People have a fundamental need to feel competent, says Susan David, founder of the Harvard/McLean Institute of Coaching. Its your job to give them stimulating, meaningful work.

Ensure your staff have adequate time to complete important assignments, and dont let inefficient practices dominate their workdays, says David. Help employees stay connected to the meaning in the work they do. Tie tasks to how they benefit the person, the team, the client, the organization.

In this strange time, you might be an entrepreneur, teacher, cook, IT specialist, dog walker, and leader. But you still need to prioritize your mental and physical health. Devote any extra time to activities that renew your energy. With rapid news cycles and constant change, shutting off screens is essential. Give your mind the gift of silenceat least a few minutes a day without audio, video, or other inputs.

Seeking support is equally critical. We all still need social connection in times like this, says clinical psychologist Dr. Joti Samra. Entrepreneurs carrying their teams through the crisis need to be able to reach out to a network of peers who understand what theyre going through.

Aytekin Tank is the founder of JotForm, a popular online form builder. Established in 2006, JotForm allows customizable data collection for enhanced lead generation, survey distribution, payment collections, and more.

See the rest here:
Why coronavirus lockdown is the appropriate moment to recharge and ref - Fast Company