Welcome to Connect! Unite! Act!
A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us at Daily Kos every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward. |
If you are new to the site or have been lurking, we invite you to join in the friendly banter here. Don’t be shy, you have something to say. Say anything, it will be well received. Join any of our communities at Daily Kos, just for camaraderie!
EDITOR’S NOTE: Hi, navajo here, please welcome back Dragon5616 to his Sunday slot we’ve been keeping open for him. What a pleasure to see him write again for us! Dragon, thanks so much for contributing content to Connect! Unite! Act! again. We’ve missed you and we’re so glad to have you resume your column here. YAY!!!
WHAT MAKES A GOOD LIFE?
“What makes a good life?” is usually a purely subjective question, a matter of opinion. But it turns out that scientists at Harvard have been trying to answer that question for a very long time, and they now have some remarkable results.
Since 1938, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has been tracking the lives of 724 men, about 60 of whom were still alive and in their 90’s a year ago. The subjects consisted of two groups of American males, all in their late teens when the study began: 268 sophomores from Harvard University (The Grant Study) and 456 underprivileged Boston youth (The Glueck Study).
Dr. Robert Waldinger, the current director of the ongoing project (he’s the fourth one), gave a TEDTalk in November 2015 and shared some insights. I urge you to watch the video below (12:46). The background information is fascinating (JFK was one of the sophomores in the study!), and Waldinger’s breakdown of the meaning and applicability of the results is excellent. Spoiler alert! Here’s the study’s main conclusion:
So what have we learned? What are the lessons that come from the tens of thousands of pages of information that we've generated on these lives? Well, the lessons aren't about wealth or fame or working harder and harder. The clearest message that we get from this 75-year study is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.
(emphasis added)
I am not surprised to learn this. At (almost) age 65, I can see that what really matters are the people I can depend on and the people who can depend on me. I have been blessed when it comes to good relationships. I was born into a warm and loving family, and I still have my sister. I got a good education and was part of a close-knit group of friends in college. I spent 21 years teaching and 18 years in sales and sales management; I worked with great people every day. I’ve had a wonderful wife for 34 years, and we have two terrific sons. I have a best friend who is like a brother. I have had, and continue to have, good relationships and a good life.
But I have neglected one important relationship for a couple of years—my connection to this online community. Relationships here are very real to me, and I have missed them, even if some of them are purely cyber. (Happily, I did get to meet many of you in person at NN14.) I returned to Daily Kos because I trust you. I draw the same comfort, delight, and security from Kossacks as I do from my meat-space friends. And it’s really great when we Connect, Unite, and Act in a common cause. For that reason and many others, I am glad to be back at DK and especially glad to be back at CUA! All of you help to make my life good. Stronger together? It’s true.
How about you? Do you have a good life? What do you think makes a good life?
As Always, This is an Open Thread!
LET'S BUILD IN-REAL-LIFE COMMUNITIES!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events. We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in. If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
The orange pinpoints are the location of each organized group of Daily Kos readers. If you'd like to join a group, click on a point and a box will pop up showing contact links. If you'd like to start a group, contact navajo for instructions.
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
Colorado: Sunday Mornings
Michigan: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Eastern
North Carolina: Sundays, 1:00 PM Eastern
Washington: Sundays, 3:30 PM Pacific
Missouri: Wednesday Evenings
Kansas: Monday Evenings
We appreciate everyone’s work on the ground locally while the general is ramping up. Please let us know in the comments what you’re working on. For example, GOTV, down-ballot campaign volunteering, blogging about our races, etc.
All hands on deck.
Let us know if you’ve got any events that would be of interest to other readers of Daily Kos IN-YOUR-REAL-LIFE space.
What: A Daily Kos meet up for DK members and interested parties before the Moral Mountain Monday rally in downtown Asheville.
When: Monday, October 24th — 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Where: Asheville
Why: Connecting face to face, sharing information, getting inspired and adding to the crowd that is there to support Reverend Barber the week early voting starts.
Food: Restaurant TBD
Attendees:
randallt, Joieau, davehouck, Lamont Cranston, SteelerGrrl, SteelerGuy
Click here to add your name.
Read more details here.
NEW GROUPS FORMING:
Peregrine Kate organized canvassing for her local candidate, Paul Clements. Details about the event are here: Canvassing for Clements in MI-06! WE Are Making a Difference. YOU Can Help! Great job, Kate!
Seattle & Puget Sound Kos got together Sunday, August 14th to catch up. Even though some were hard-core Berners, they’re all voting for Clinton. Unity. Thanks to bleeding blue for organizing this meet-up!
WOW. Just WOW. See peregrine kate’s diary about connecting Kossacks at the DNC convention. Great job, Kate!
Her commentary is excellent and there’s terrific food pr0n! If you didn’t notice her coverage in her previous diaries while she was there you should look at her diary history. Stellar reporting! Thanks, Kate for hosting this group on behalf of Daily Kos.
The Readers of Daily Kos making a difference!
Houston Area Kos had an last minute meet-up and still had a very decent turnout. Great when local readers of Daily Kos can rally for critical camaraderie. Go Houston Kos!
DKos Asheville gathered on July, 23rd with Gordon20024 driving from Roanoke to provide the catering for the event. People drove from Charlotte and South Carolina! Special guest Tom Sullivan, 1st Vice Chair: (Precinct Organization & Get-Out-The-Vote) of the Buncombe County Democratic Party. More commentary here and more photos here.
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries about your event or if you have changes or additions.