Focus on Our Thoughts
Mar 19 2009
Written by PAULINA, Clinton, NY
A Hopeful World View
Experience
View more video about Playing for Change at:
Playing for Change
Listen to Matt’s reading of his essay for NPR’s This I Believe:
Dancing to Connect to a Global Tribe
I’m really pretty fed-up with the negative news these days. You can’t escape it.
I make it a point (for my own personal mental health) of actively looking for news, video and music on the web that are uplifting or hopeful.
That doesn’t mean that I am sticking my head into the sand and hiding from the tough stuff. It’s just that, when I have a choice, I don’t want to hear about who’s stealing what from who, how our business and financial leaders are failing us, about drugs, pestilence and general moral malaise. It saps my energy and makes me feel that there’s no way out..jpg)
So, in these challenging times it is uplifting to receive a kind note from a friend through whatever medium they choose, or positive news that gives us something to smile about. I’d like to believe that there is an undercurrent of hope that continues to scratch its way to the surface despite the best intentions of the “mass” media to keep it otherwise.
Lots of junk is forwarded around and posted to the web. Much of it is vacuous. But every once in a while I receive or come across something that makes me want to share. This is obviously what makes things go “viral”.
In the interest of promoting hope, peace and positive change, I wanted to share a couple of videos that have gone viral and then some. Many of you may have already had a chance to see these. Regardless, every time I watch these videos and learn more about who made them, I smile. I don’t know how you couldn’t.
And both, in their own way, are about making the world smaller, a more tolerable and accepting place.
Playing for Change
The Playing for Change Movement and Foundation were co-founded by Grammy Award-winning producer Mark Johnson with the goal of “coming together to connect the world through music”. With the premier of their second documentary film, Playing for Change: Peace Through Music at the Tribecca Film Festival in New York City in 2008, and the pending release of a CD and DVD of Hear the Change in April of this year, the movement is gaining some steam.
As Mark Johnson has said, it’s about “change for the love of everyone, change for the good of everyone, change that will make everything alright.”
The video for Stand By Me is an indication of that momentum, and has been viewed over 7 million times on YouTube and elsewhere since it was posted in November of last year. It’s worth viewing (again if you have already). I hope this movement continues to grow.
Where the Hell is Matt?
Matt Harding has been dancing his way around the world since 2003. He started dancing at the suggestion of a friend on a street in Hanoi, and they filmed it. A couple of years later somebody found the video online and began passing it around. Since then he has visited a bunch of countries in two separate trips (2006 for 6 months and 39 countries and then in 2007 to get other people to dance with him). Somehow he got Stride Gum to pick up the tab for the last two trips (first at their suggestion and then at his to get other people involved).
The result of the second “Stride” tour can be viewed below and it’s infectious. It has been viewed over 19 million times on YouTube since its posting in June of 2008. So, Matt has been able to make the world smaller through shameless and self-proclaimed “bad” dancing, and also by connecting people all over the world who are infused and enthused by his hopeful, if a little goofy message.
Playing for Change photos API
I’m really pretty fed-up with the negative news these days. You can’t escape it.
I make it a point (for my own personal mental health) of actively looking for news, video and music on the web that are uplifting or hopeful.
That doesn’t mean that I am sticking my head into the sand and hiding from the tough stuff. It’s just that, when I have a choice, I don’t want to hear about who’s stealing what from who, how our business and financial leaders are failing us, about drugs, pestilence and general moral malaise. It saps my energy and makes me feel that there’s no way out.
So, in these challenging times it is uplifting to receive a kind note from a friend through whatever medium they choose, or positive news that gives us something to smile about. I’d like to believe that there is an undercurrent of hope that continues to scratch its way to the surface despite the best intentions of the “mass” media to keep it otherwise.
Lots of junk is forwarded around and posted to the web. Much of it is vacuous. But every once in a while I receive or come across something that makes me want to share. This is obviously what makes things go “viral”.
In the interest of promoting hope, peace and positive change, I wanted to share a couple of videos that have gone viral and then some. Many of you may have already had a chance to see these. Regardless, every time I watch these videos and learn more about who made them, I smile. I don’t know how you couldn’t.
And both, in their own way, are about making the world smaller, a more tolerable and accepting place.
Playing for Change
The Playing for Change Movement and Foundation were co-founded by Grammy Award-winning producer Mark Johnson with the goal of “coming together to connect the world through music”. With the premier of their second documentary film, Playing for Change: Peace Through Music at the Tribecca Film Festival in New York City in 2008, and the pending release of a CD and DVD of Hear the Change in April of this year, the movement is gaining some steam.
As Mark Johnson has said, it’s about “change for the love of everyone, change for the good of everyone, change that will make everything alright.”
The video for Stand By Me is an indication of that momentum, and has been viewed over 7 million times on YouTube and elsewhere since it was posted in November of last year. It’s worth viewing (again if you have already). I hope this movement continues to grow.
Where the Hell is Matt?
Matt Harding has been dancing his way around the world since 2003. He started dancing at the suggestion of a friend on a street in Hanoi, and they filmed it. A couple of years later somebody found the video online and began passing it around. Since then he has visited a bunch of countries in two separate trips (2006 for 6 months and 39 countries and then in 2007 to get other people to dance with him). Somehow he got Stride Gum to pick up the tab for the last two trips (first at their suggestion and then at his to get other people involved).
The result of the second “Stride” tour can be viewed below and it’s infectious. It has been viewed over 19 million times on YouTube since its posting in June of 2008. So, Matt has been able to make the world smaller through shameless and self-proclaimed “bad” dancing, and also by connecting people all over the world who are infused and enthused by his hopeful, if a little goofy message.
Playing for Change photos API
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11 Comments
Mar 19 2009
Written by Jamie Hollis
Thanks Blur for giving me the wonderful restful opportunity to enjoy the two videos, Playing for Change and Where the Hell is Matt. Very uplifting and helped me get through the day in a happy mood. There is hope. Thanks Bill and Paulina. You are great.
Mar 19 2009
Written by Bella, Providence, RI
I feel the same way about the news these days! Everytime I see the where the hell is matt video I want to get up and dance. It’s worth reading some of his blog (and listnening to some the lecture posted there) to see how all of this came together.
Mar 20 2009
Written by Sarah Weisz
You go, Paulina! We definitely need more inspiration and hope. Thank you for sharing yours!
Mar 20 2009
Written by jamie, Austin, TX
Great sentiment!
Mar 22 2009
Written by Harranin, Portland, OR
I’m glad somebody feels like me. All bad news all the time stinks. Great message. Great projects. Great videos.
Mar 23 2009
Written by Daniela
This is quite interested. I definitely agree with you Paulina. Love the diversity in the videos.
Mar 23 2009
Written by drewzer, Philadelphia, PA
Matt video is very cool!
Mar 25 2009
Written by Miguel
Nice, Nice , Nice I hope the world came positive all the time too
felicidades Paulina Congratulations
Mar 29 2009
Written by aimeergz, Athens, GA
I’ve watched these videos no less than 10 times now. Watching Matt dance never gets old!
Apr 1 2009
Written by Claire
Paulina…
What a thoughtful uplifting story. I loved both videos. I heard an interview with Matt the other day....sounds like creating the video was as transformational for him as it is for us watching.
You remind me to keep my focus on the goodness of now, and my vision for a bright future.
Thank you!