Monday Motivation #11: Butterflies, Barriers, and Breaking Through

As I sat down to write this week's newsletter, a memory flooded back to me. I was seven years old, nervously approaching a new classmate on the playground. She has been crying. With a trembling hand, I offered her half of my lunch (Maggi). Her smile in response was like sunshine breaking through clouds. That moment, seemingly insignificant, showed me the power of small acts of kindness. It's got me thinking - how often do our actions create ripples we never see?

This week, let's explore some ideas that have been challenging my perceptions and inspiring me to reimagine our world. I hope they'll do the same for you.

Three Things to Read:

The Olympics are enthralling. The athleticism, the drama, the global unity - it's intoxicating. But lately, I've been wondering if the Games are living up to their full potential. A recent The Washington Post article by Daniel Pink echoed my thoughts, asking:?

Yet today’s Games don’t fully reflect how much the world has changed. Why not introduce more contemporary competitions, assemble more varied teams and involve more of the world as participants?

As I read this, my mind raced with possibilities. Imagine Olympic events celebrating not just physical prowess, but also intellectual and creative brilliance. Picture Global Policy Hackathons where diverse minds collaborate to tackle pressing world issues.

I found myself getting excited about an Olympics that truly represents our changing world. What if we had a chess grandmaster and a champion swimmer on the same team? Or a crossword challenge alongside the 100-meter dash? The possibilities seem endless, and frankly, thrilling.

What new Olympic event would you propose? I'm curious to hear your ideas!

I've always believed in the power of giving back. But recently, I've been grappling with some uncomfortable truths about philanthropy. Brian Klass' Substack article challenged my thinking.

Philanthropy, it is popularly supposed, transfers money from the rich to the poor. This is not the case. In the US, which statistics show to be the most philanthropic of nations, barely a fifth of the money donated by big givers goes to the poor. A lot goes to the arts, sports teams and other cultural pursuits…The common assumption that philanthropy automatically results in a redistribution of money is wrong. A lot of elite philanthropy is about elite causes. Rather than making the world a better place, it largely reinforces the world as it is. Philanthropy very often favours the rich – and no one holds philanthropists to account for it.

It was an incredible feeling watching my favourite club Chelsea Live lifting the FA Cup in May 2022 defeating Manchester City at the iconic Wembley Stadium. As a lifelong football fan, I've been thrilled to see the growing popularity of women's football. But an article from Lee Nxumalo in Africa Is a Country made me realize how much work still lies ahead. It pointed out:?

One of the main problems plaguing women’s football is that there is only so much cash to spread between men’s and women’s national teams as well as the other development programs and projects. But within these budgets, there is clear discrimination as far as who gets what.?

What really shocked me was learning about the history of women's football in the UK when I was there in 2021-22. Did you know that during and after the World War, women's matches drew larger crowds than men's? The subsequent ban on women's football by the Football Association, which took years to overturn, still impacts the sport today.

Two Things to Watch/Listen:

Food is political and this video on Dalit Cuisine left me deeply moved and troubled.

We were considered untouchables anyway. But because of our food habits, they refused any contact with us. To fulfill the protien requirement, we couldn't eat mutton which was expensive... In our childhood, sometimes we didn't even have salt. In the monsoon, we rarely had grains.

These words have been echoing in my mind for days. They serve as a stark reminder of how deeply ingrained social prejudices can impact every aspect of life, from nutrition to basic human dignity.

Adding Shahu Patole's Dalit Kitchen of Marathwada to my reading list!

Another video I watched this week left me with more questions than answers. Charulata Biswas discussed the New Broadcast Bill that could significantly impact online content creation, raising concerns about the fine line between regulation and censorship.

Bombay and Madras High courts had stated these rules citing that they imposed unreasonable restrictions on freedom of speech and expression the high courts highlighted that the vague and Broad terms of these rules create a chilling effect on Free Speech. Content creators could be penalized for expressing views that may not align with the government's standards of taste and decency. A significant expansion in the bill scope is due to the role of independent content creators during the 2024 Lo Saba elections.

If the bill existed today some of the articles and videos in this Monday Motivation may not have been available. Any guesses, which ones?

One Thing to Ponder:

Remember that playground moment I mentioned earlier? It's been on my mind a lot lately. Have you ever felt that your efforts to make a difference were too small to matter? I know I have. But that memory, and this image I came across this week, reminded me of the profound impact that small acts of kindness can have.

We're all part of an interconnected microcosm, where even the tiniest actions can set off a chain reaction of positivity. Your smile, your encouraging word, or your moment of patience could be the catalyst that changes someone's entire day – or even their life. It's a thought that both humbles and encourages me.

P.S. I'm not crying after reading this email, just have something in my eyes. BRB.

Bonus (Subscriber Suggestion):

Squadron Leader Anjali Rai (Retd) is reading Birthday Stories by Haruki Murakami.

Sometimes I get the feeling that everything that happened to me was some kind of illusion. It’s as though something happened to make me think that things happened that never really happened at all. But I know for sure that they did happen.

An Opportunity

At Postcards , I and my wonderful team are hosting a Focus Group Discussion on Climate to inform our upcoming podcast episodes. Join us for an open and meaningful conversation about climate challenges and how we can address them together. This is your space to share concerns, explore solutions, and connect with fellow advocates for our planet’s future. Your insights will directly influence our upcoming discussions on all things Climate!

• When? 18 August 2024, Sunday, 11am to 12.30pm.
• Where? Online
• For more information and registration: Click Here

See you there! ????

What are you reading, watching, or pondering this week? Share your recommendations in the comments – I'd love to hear what's fuelling your fire!        

Until next week, keep questioning, learning, and pushing for the change you want to see in the world.