Language: English

I sold tickets to an event I co-organized ».

Initially, for a few years, we organized them for free. When we started asking for money, people were reluctant to pay us. After a while, we got to a similar number of participants for the premium editions as for the free ones. Most of the selling argument was “You know us well, already”, we didn’t need to use much persuasion.

We did use some packages, like buying multiple tickets with a discount.

I also helped with selling a book online, in which I wrote two chapters.

We put the first chapter online for free, some testimonials, and arranged to have an option to buy online.

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There are some ethics in event organizations that somehow tend to be forgotten:

• You shouldn’t give an award to someone who is a sponsor/partner;
• You shouldn’t invite as a speaker a person from a company who is a sponsor/partner.

It’s really not that hard to understand the rules. Yet, they seem difficult to apply.

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Some years ago, I found a solution for wearing sun-protecting glasses and also glasses for better vision.

Both of two worlds: protection against Sun and good vision.

I bought two pairs of such glasses and I like them, both, a lot.

If you’re looking for a solution, now you know what to find.

You can see an example in the photo below (via »).

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In a podcast/netcast I listened to recently (INDISCUTABIL #9 – Gelu Duminică | Rasism, mentori si empatie – YouTube), Gelu Duminică said something in the lines of:

“În teoria prejudecății există un moment care se numește ancorare (adică «Ce văd eu în tine?»). […] Fiecare dintre noi are foarte multe identități. (eu – n.O.) Nu am doar o identitate. […] Sunt etnic rom, sunt român, sunt sociolog, sunt gras, sunt chelios, sunt bucureștean, sunt copil, sunt … etc., etc. Deci – am foarte multe identități, da? Rasismul este în momentul în care îl ancorezi pe celălalt doar într-o identitate și, indiferent ce face el, se exprimă doar prin identitatea aia.”

Racism has a limited view of the world, focusing on the negative.

What happens if, like I tend to do, focus only on one quality?

What if I reduce one person not to a thing of qualities a person has, but to a single one?

Or, even worse, what if I, instead of valuing persons based on an intrinsic quality – “they exist” -, focus on actions and characteristics?

It’s now that I realize that a very limited view of a person, even if it’s meant to be a look on the positive side, can have negative aspects.

Because you can look at the situation like this – if I value a person on one quality only, I do two things at the same time:

• I ignore all the other persons. It’s that person and no one else.
• I ignore all the other qualities of other persons.

People tend to do so when falling in love. You love one person for some things and ignore all the other persons.

You love your family more than other persons in the world.

You have a circle of friends for which you care more.

This doesn’t make things right, even if it’s for positive reasons.

I don’t have a solution.

Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:37-39 niv – “Anyone who loves their father or – Bible Gateway)

As a possible solution:

“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” ― Brad Meltzer

It’s hard loving your neighbor.

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Each day seems like a wonder, to me – I’m amazed by what people create, say, do.

I’m grateful and amazed by healthy and tasty food, I’m surprised that people are so good (as humans, in day-to-day life, but also as professionals), I read amazing things, watch great movies, and listen to superb music.

Each day is a miracle, in its way.

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