Status Updates From Beginner's Mind: Words + Music

You have to go through each chapter to become who you are
You can always begin again
"Every season provides us with an opportunity to do better."

Families ripped by accidents of history
Cultural Values: truth, trust, service, curiosity
Build a better world
Humans shaping our destiny - Cultural revolution will be the main force driving out future. Choose what the future looks like.
Documentary: The social dilemma
AI Algorithms that control us, manipulate us, affect our mental health. Use same tools for creation, making, learning, community, build resiliance
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(para) Each one of us is born with an equal measure of the ability to create or destroy. What is your choice?
(Relation to neuroplasticity, children/grandchildren & parenting)
"I believe optimism is a choice."

Trance dance - wanted to go, spoke of it, provided opportunity, and acted on it
So many times we become mired in the desire & the speech but halt ourselves with excuses on why we can't follow the action

Pitzola (sp?) - serendipity of babysitter's uncle being part of his instrumental group led to Yo-Yo Ma's interest and Pitzola's influence on his musical career/thinking/life
(Me: We are but a collection of events, fortunes, and happenstance. What are you going to choose to use as your layers, building blocks of self?)

Equal billing: Music/Performances and dialogue/conversation not a monologue

Discussion with his father in his teens on whether he'd rather Yo-Yo Ma be an obedient son or an excellent musician, because he couldn't be both - being an obedient son meant sublimating 'self' (his own sense of identity) while being an excellent musician meant exploring his own thoughts and expanding boundaries.

Psychologist Howard Gardner - theory of multiple intelligences (including musical intelligences)

Yo-Yo Ma's father's back story: loneliness caused by enforced curfews ➡️ necessity is the mother of invention.
We change because we 1) are pushed/pulled by extrinsic motivator - someone/thing, 2) are forced by circumstance, or 3) make a conscious choice to do so.