The thing about kindness though is that you do it REGARDLESS. You give without expecting anything good in return. You invest your time and money on something or someone without any promises of worldly gratification. Whatever you get from these experiences is something you will always have though. Priceless moments that charge the spirit and give hope to other people.

~ Fritz Dorado at Imperfection @ its finest

Each Monday I’m greeted in my email box to a great newsletter from John Chappelear.  He always includes positive affirmations.  This one about balance really speaks to me today.

Positive Thought of the Week

I will take time each day to keep myself in balance. I will use Quiet Time to create a positive daily path. I will use Love & Forgiveness to keep me balanced and Gratitude to keep me living in the now and allowing me to see the good that always surrounds me.

Business Thought of the Week

I never let pressure at work effect the quality of the relationships I have with my people. I will be ruled by my positive values and not negative emotions. I will use Service to keep my focus on others. I will focus on helping my people become more successful and then my own success is assured.

Shepard Fairey is the artist behind the iconic Obama “Hope” poster in blue/red as well as variations thereof.  A version was on the cover of TIME magazine and now he’s released a special poster for the inauguration.

I caught an interview with Shepard recently on The Colbert Report.  He also talked about one of his earlier projects called OBEY.  Here’s how he described it:

My concept with this was that people actually follow the path of least resistance and frequently are not actually happy with thier lives. But if they are confronted with the idea of having to make the choice to whether obey or disobey,

I think frequently they will at least have an inner dialogue and maybe make a choice to do things the way they think they should be done, rather than the way they are being told to do them.

From an interview on The Colbert Report, January 15, 2009

The idea of thinking and critiquing ourselves and society is a continuing process.  It doesn’t stop when you reach a milestone birthday or when something in particular happens.  We must reevaluate again and again. Same is true with society.  Critique, thinking and questioning must continue into Obama’s presidency.  No matter who is in office in this country, or any other, keeping them accountable and doing what we can to make change, are key.

Quote of the day via Twitter:

Franken defeated Sen. Coleman in MN. Somewhere in the US, a suicide hotline volunteer is trying to talk Bill O’Reilly down from a ledge.

Dennis Metzcher, @dmetzcher