The Thinking Bench » Outreach

My Birthday Wish: Giving Kids Room to Breathe

Glen Lubbert — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 02:47:38 +0000

As I sit in gratitude of another year of healthy life on this planet, I am taking the occasion to ask you to join me with a birthday wish: to give our kids essential skills for focus and stress management, room to breathe.

In a data streaming world of accelerating change, we are all dealing with the impact on our psyche. Even adults with fully developed brains are struggling in this whitewater of a 140 character world. Teaching a powerful technique called mindfulness, part of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), has been scientifically proven to be effective “to teach children how to focus, manage their emotions, handle their stress, and resolve conflicts.”

In his groundbreaking book, A Mindful Nation, Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) writes about the benefits of social and emotional learning and its benefits in education. “A young child who can regulate his emotions is a child who will do better in school. … Isn’t that what teachers and parents have been screaming to kids forever: ‘Pay attention!’? With mindfulness, we can teach them how to pay attention.”

There are several great organizations leading the effort in promoting and educating these techniques. One of these organizations, Mindful Schools, is on a mission “to help lead the integration of mindfulness into education,” and with its in-school program has taught over 30,000 children since its 2007 inception. What I really like is its adult courses designed not just for educators but also for parents and organizations.

For my birthday, my wish is for you to help teach our kids these essential skills by donating to Mindful Schools as I have done for my birthday, or if a donation isn’t feasible then just read this passage to know more about the benefits of mindfulness for the children in your life.

Other links worth checking out:

Room to Breathe Film

1440 Foundation

A Mindful Nation

Be Radical and Drop In To Right Now

Wisdom 2.0 Summit

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My Seven Days to End AIDS #AIDS/Lifecycle

Glen Lubbert — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:22:11 +0000

California's Central Valley on Day 2 of the 545-mile AIDS/Lifecycle

It’s only days ago, but now back connected with all my devices and plugged into the goals running mojo it feels like a world away. Nothing quite disconnects you like a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Talk about being present, focused on a goal, and tapping the best physical and mental you. #happiness

I’m thankful to everyone who volunteers and supports the AIDS/Lifecycle because you truly do create a life changing event.

Captured these Facebook thoughts from each day on the ride:

DAY ONE

AIDS/Lifecycle Superhero Rest Stop 2

Blog Addition: Beginning with a 4am alarm, opening ceremonies and 90 miles into Santa Cruz, this is a long, exhilarating day.

AIDS/Lifecycle Day One

DAY TWO

Amigo Ferd Garcia being interviewed on Action 8 news in Salinas about his 13 years doing the California AIDS Ride.

Ferd Garcia Salinas Interview

Done! 108 miles through California’s Central Valley (where they grow everything) on Day 2 of the 545-mile AIDS/Lifecycle … Smells of strawberries, artichokes, cabbage, and two fields of cactus (not sure how that’s used). Gorgeous day with awesome tailwinds pushing us to King City.

Rider through California's Central Valley

DAY THREE

67 miles today over the infamous Quad Buster!

Rode through the blazing sun into Bradley (population 120) where the school has a BBQ = hamburger instead of ham and swiss box lunch the AIDS/Lifecycle provides today … this is their biggest fundraiser by far and provides essential $$ for their sports and arts program. Money from last year went to a road trip to LA to visit the museums.

It’s hard to top a line of kids slapping your hands as you enter town.

As we rode into camp at Paso Robles we were each given a letter from one of the students. This is the letter I received ♥

From Bradley, California

DAY FOUR

Day 4: 98 miles including climbing the Evil Twins which tops out at 1,700 feet in elevation and marks the HALF WAY!! mark on of the AIDS/Lifecycle.

What was terrifying was dropping those 1,700 feet to sea level over 8 miles in the cold fog, hitting nearly 38 mph. I could feel my bike wobbling as the semis barreled past me. (everyone survived)

My back tire wasn’t so lucky after smacking into the giant pothole on the road leaving lunch from San Luis Obispo.

Bike repair

Angry Birds dropped some eggs on us at Rest Stop 4 yesterday as we closed out Day 4. Definitely my favorite themed rest stop so far.

Angry Birds at Rest Stop 4

DAY FIVE

Despite the fun around the relatively short 44-mile wear red day (aka red dress day), AIDS/Lifecycle Day 5 is climbing, climbing and more climbing; and I love to conquer each peak.

My upper hamstring, however, isn’t so eager and is beginning to really show signs of strain from all the saddle time.

Icing ever hour. Hoping it can hold two more days. Wish me luck!

Icing the hamstring

DAY SIX

Hamstring held up for 88 miles but kept reminding me to take it easy. No racing today :(

Feels incredible riding to Ventura Beach knowing only one more day remains. Ended our night with a beachside candlelight vigil.

#thankful

Candlelight Vigil on Venture Beach

DAY SEVEN

Woke up for the last 65 miles on Day 7 and the clip that holds my shoe together had fallen off.

No way was I going to allow that to keep me from riding every one of the 545 miles of the AIDS/Lifecycle.

So happy to be done and to have slept in a bed last night.

Thanks to everyone who offered support and followed along during the last week. It really helped motivate me through the mental and physical exhaustion. Thanks again to all my donors who helped me raise $6k. This turned out to be the largest AIDS fundraiser of all time at over $14 million!

Taped up my shoe for the last few miles

MOJO CONGRATS

From Mojo Interactive’s Facebook page: Congrats Glen Lubbert for completing your 3rd AIDS/LifeCycle ride. They raised an amazing $13 MILLION. Mojo Orlando couldn’t be more proud of you!

Blog Addition: Mojo helped sponsor six riders on this year’s lifecycle including these awesome jerseys. Watch my twitter feed or mojo’s youtube feed for videos from each of the riders.

Mojo helps Sponsor AIDS/Lifecycle Riders

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Ready for the AIDS / Lifecycle

Glen Lubbert — Tue, 31 May 2011 03:44:23 +0000

Marshall Wall - Marin, CA

Saturday I took Marshall Wall for the first time in the middle of the final training ride of the season before the 545-mile trek from San Francisco to Los Angeles for the AIDS/Lifecycle. Marshall Wall is a rigorous 360 foot climb over a single mile that took us to a beautiful vista (above) during the second half of our 70 mile ride.

Never climbing this before, I was eager to conquer it, especially after making it to the top of Morgan Territory at Mt. Diablo a few weeks early, roughly 1,500 feet, give or take a few hundred feet ; )

Marshall Wall was my final test, and it didn’t disappoint. I had to laugh as I made the turn to see the entire climb ahead of us and the tiny dots of riders far up the ascent. The accomplishment was quite a milestone for my short training season.

I can now say, I’m as ready as I’m going to be for this year’s AIDS/Lifecycle.

Where I’m falling a bit short is my goal to raise $5k. I sent some checks in from the fundraiser I had at Swirl that haven’t processed putting me a few hundred short.

Thanks again to Jerry and everyone at Swirl as well as those who came out to support during the fundraiser. Also thank you to everyone who has donated online.

Every donation helps. Josh Lopez, age 12, gave up $10 from his longboard skateboard savings. Very much appreciated.

Please support my efforts to end AIDS: http://bit.ly/fklGUt

Plan to follow along at home during the ride next week via the Lifecycle website, and I’m sure I’ll post a few Tweets and FB status updates.

Wish me luck!

glen.

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An Affordable Gift of Substance, Meaning, and Generosity

Glen Lubbert — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:34:34 +0000

Antonia - Kiva.org loan recipient

Scratching your head for a good gift idea, not wanting to buy something just to buy, but yet wanting to show your appreciation for the time given to a friendship or a colleague?

I find this challenge especially difficult each year. Being sensitive to economic conditions, it’s nearly impossible to find something of substance, meaning, and generosity at an appropriate price point. For most, daunting beyond hope may be an understatement to describe this challenge.

My solution is an amazing service called Kiva – loans that change lives. Kiva is a micro-lending service that provides capital to help entrepreneurs in developing countries build their business in a part of the world where access to even the simplest financial tools aren’t available.

A few months ago I lent to Antonia, a 48-year-old mother of three in Peru who needed money to purchase more merchandise for her general store before an upcoming opportunity of increased demand. Her story and request was detailed in her own words and translated on the site.

Her first loan payment has already been made, and when all is paid back, I have the option to re-lend to another borrower and continue this powerful experience, donate the funds to Kiva’s operating expenses, or withdraw the funds to my PayPal account.

All the benefits of a gift certificate packaged with the priceless power of karma…

This year, consider giving Kiva.org gift certificates to say thank you to your friends and colleagues and in the process give an experience that has substance, meaning, and generosity well beyond its relatively minimal expense.

Happy Holidays everyone, and best wishes for a 2011 filled with growth and opportunity!

–glen.

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