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Scene from the movie “City Slickers”

Curly:   Do you know what the secret of life is?                                                                                            

Mitch: No, what?

Curly:   Holds up one finger) This.

Mitch:  Your finger?

Curly:   One thing. Just one thing.

Mitch: That’s great, but what’s the one thing?                                                                           

Curly:   (smiles)  That’s what you have to find out.     

In the 1991 movie starring Billy Crystal and Jack Palance, the grizzled cowhand advises the young city slicker to find his most important thing in life. I’ve been thinking about that recently as I look at the most important issues in the world right now. If asked, each of us would have our own list – climate change, terrorism/security; human trafficking; opioids; economic disparity; lack of water/sanitation/education for millions; refugees/migrant populations – and I may not have hit yours yet. But is there “just one thing”, just one overarching issue that we could all agree must be addressed before everything else?

I think there is – It is our inability to find respect, empathy and trust for the “others” of different races, religions, nationalities, lifestyles or ideologies, and to bridge those divisions. I know that sounds too naïve, trite and simplistic to be taken seriously, but I believe it is true. The only way we are ever going to address the big issues, whether at a global, national or local level, is first to build a sense of trust. Trust comes from understanding…which is the result of empathy…which is reached through curiosity about each other…which only occurs from a mutual desire to find common ground. That process is not naïve. It is not trite or simplistic. It is the hardest work we can ever do. And it is the most important step we can take if we are to make progress as a human family and sustain our world.

Up with People was formed in the 1960’s in the midst of another divided and troubled time in the world. The founding beliefs were:

• Young people can and will create positive change if empowered and supported
• Music is a powerful instrument for creating social change
• Through music, travel and social action we can and will build respect, understanding and find common ground with people unlike ourselves

Since then over 22,000 young adults and teens have shared the experience of traveling in a cast, living with host families, giving back to the communities they visit and learning the skills for global bridge building. As alumni they have continued working to address some of the most important issues in their families, work places, communities, nations and world. And today more young people see Up with People as their platform to learn about the world and find their paths to being leaders for positive change. Each of them has found her/his “one thing” that will help them live with the perspective and commitment to be global citizens.  If you are a young person of university age, please consider being a member of a cast. If you are beyond cast age, please support today’s young global leaders through a scholarship gift for deserving students.

Thank you.

BTW, Mitch did discover his “one thing.” I recommend the movie.

What I’m feeling now,
I could do something
Really listen,
Open up my heart
All I have to give
I can bring hope and live for others
I’m not afraid to start
I can do something, right now
With what I’m feeling now

What I’m Feeling Now © Up with People

“You’ve made this day a special day, by just your being you. There’s no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are.” – Fred Rogers

In Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, kindness and compassion have resonated through his television show to millions of public viewers around the United States. For those of you that have never heard of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, it was a half-hour educational television series for children hosted by Fred Rogers. He discussed various issues through music, crafts and puppets to help young children learn about self-love and acceptance at an early age.

What is 1-4-3 Day?

Fred Rogers used ‘143’ as a special code for “I Love You.” This is based on the number of letters in each word. As a way to encourage residents to perform random acts of kindness and spreading love towards their own neighbors, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has declared May 23, 2019 as the Inaugural celebration of ‘1-4-3 Day’ since it is the 143rd day of the calendar year.

What better place to ignite this movement of good deeds than in the hometown of the television show that inspired it?  As a statewide campaign, community members will encourage one another to share their stories, photos and videos on social media using #143DayPA.

While you might not live in Pennsylvania, you can participate in #143DayPA anywhere you are in the world. The cast of Up with People is doing just that.

Good Deeds From Up with People

Throughout the tour, the cast of Up with People visits various cities around the world for a full week. They spend time during that week to bring volunteer work and intercultural education to the people of that community.

In Metepec, Mexico, the cast of more than 100 people from various nationalities came together to help clean up a river to allow clean water to flow through the town. In Naucalpan, they led workshops for youths and adults to help educate them on cultural diversity, tolerance and how to have civil conversations on difficult topics.

In their upcoming European tour, the cast will continue to perform good deeds in Belgium, Denmark and Germany. This week, the cast will work with Sint-Godelieve, a residential care center that offers services for the elderly in Gistel, Belgium and the surrounding areas.

Through sharing their international traditions and music, the cast will be fully integrated for a full day of cultural celebration. They will also be sharing an international soup recipe withe the entire care facility.

Participate in 1-4-3 Day

There are many ways you can be an active participant in your local community, school or workplace on May 23. Not sure what to do? We have a list of  random acts of kindness here that you can use to get you inspired to spread the love.

The 1-4-3 Day website also has a “Kindness Generator” which will generate new ideas of kindness when you click the button ‘Show Some Love.’

What will you do to show love to your fellow neighbor?

“The further we reach out, the closer we become.”

The Further We Reach Out © Up with People

Mother’s Day in the United States is just around the corner, but how do other countries around the world celebrate the wonderful women in our lives each year?

“He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark.”

– J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Mother’s Day is coming up fast in the United States. Every year, this national holiday is celebrated by sons, daughters, husbands and wives to express their love and appreciation for the women who brought life into this world. President Woodrow Wilson is recognized as the man who signed a proclamation in 1914 designating Mother’s Day as a national holiday in the United States. It is now held annually on the second Sunday in May. Some of the earliest Mother’s Day celebrations can be dated back to Greek civilization in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. This year, Mother’s Day is celebrated on Sunday, May 12, 2019.

How is Mother’s Day Celebrated Around the World?

The United States isn’t the only country in the world to recognize this incredibly special day. More than 40 countries around the world designate at least one day to celebrate mothers. Many countries celebrate it on the second Sunday in May just as in the United States, including Canada, Australia, India, Japan, South Africa and many others.

Other countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland celebrate it on the fourth Sunday in Lent. Most Arab countries celebrate Mother’s Day on the vernal equinox on March 21. You can see a full list of all the countries around the world with their designated annual Mother’s Day dates here.

What you will find no matter where in the world you are, Mother’s Day traditions are usually celebrated the same way. Love is shared through gifts, cards, special meals and other means of expressing pure gratitude.

Mother’s Day in India

Dedicating an entire day to a person’s own mother, however, is something new to India. The Hindus in India have always celebrated the divine Mother Durga and the Great Mother-Kali Ma, also known as Divine Mother, during a festival called Durga Puja in October every year. This festival lasts for ten days as they celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

Mother’s Day was quickly adopted into their society because of the immense respect that Indians hold for their mothers. Early traditions in India are in place to strengthen the emotional bond between a mother and her child. It is also an important time to reflect on the pain and suffering a mother endures from the birth of her child until they become an adult. People express their gratitude through cards, gifts and cooking meals.

Mother’s Day in Australia

Australians love their Mums! While this day has become more commercialized, people in Australia still treat this day very seriously. On the second Sunday of every May, you will see people on the streets of Australia wearing carnations as a symbol of the hardships a mother goes through in raising her children. Many others give a gift of chrysanthemums as a popular choice in flowers because they call their mothers ‘Mum.’

In addition, Mothers, aunts and grandmothers are not expected to work on this day and are usually pampered with delicious breakfast in bed or a nice dinner out. There is also a large amount of service events that are held around the holiday. These are meant to help raise money for many women’s causes throughout the country, and the world.

Mother’s Day in Mexico

The first Mother’s Day in Mexico was celebrated on May 10, 1992 and is now celebrated on the same day every year. Because 81% of Mexico’s adult population is Catholic, the holiday has taken on many religious aspects with images of the Madonna and Child being displayed throughout the country.

While it is not a public holiday, it is still taken very seriously by many people. Mexicans are very closely attached to their families. Men and women well into their 40s still live with their parents. It is widely accepted unlike many westernized cultures. 

A popular song, “Las Mananitas” is often sung by mariachi singers in honor of mothers everywhere.

“Despierta mi bien despierta
Mira que ya amaneció
Ya los pajarillos cantan
La luna ya se metió”

“Awaken, my dear, awaken
and see that the day has dawned
now the little birds are singing
and the moon has set.”

Mother’s Day in Egypt

The first official Mother’s Day in Egypt was celebrated in 1956 during the era of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Every year on March 21, Egypt celebrates Mother’s Day in correlation with the first day of spring. This unofficial holiday was said to have first begun through an opinion article written by Ali Amin, an Egyptian journalist. According to the story, Ali’s widowed mother came to his twin brother, Mostafa Amin, with a saddened heart. She had dedicated so much of her life to raising her children, only for them to grow up and leave her behind to live alone.

It was proposed that there should be a day to celebrate our mothers and treat them like queens. “Why don’t we encourage children on this day to treat their mothers like queens, so they don’t let them do any work and instead, perform the house chores on her behalf. But which day of the year should we call ‘Mother’s day’?” Amin wrote in the Al Akbar el-Youm newspaper.

Mother’s Day in Thailand

Thailand chose to celebrate Mother’s Day every year on August 12 to mark the birthday of Queen Sirikit. As the world’s longest reigning royal consort for more than 60 years, Her Majesty was well renowned for her extensive charity work and countless development projects throughout the country. Queen Sirkit is regarded as Mother of the Nation and is celebrated together with Mother’s Day through parades, ceremonies, and private family gatherings.

In the early morning on Mother’s Day in Thailand, ceremonies take place where people will offer food to Thailand’s Buddhist monks as a means of giving alms. Schools throughout the country will hold a special ceremony where children will spend weeks rehearsing special performances. Mothers will come to their school on this day and their child will kneel at his or her mother’s feet to pay respect for all she is done for them. However, most schools, government offices and businesses are closed on this day.

A traditional Mother’s Day gift in Thailand is jasmine, a white flower called “dok mali” in Thai. It is used in worship and symbolizes qualities of purity, gentleness and of course, motherhood.

Celebrating Your Mother Wherever You Are

Above all, no matter where you are in the world, it is always an important time around Mother’s Day to share with your own mother, mum, ahm, or madre. Celebrate them and let them know how much you care this year. Feliz día de la madre!

“Oh, you might be a single parent, you might be a teenage mom,
You might live in suburbia, or maybe you don’t have a job.
But the backbone of the future is in the fam’ly log.
If there is no hope in family, then there is no hope at all.”

Home Foundation © Up with People

As the cast of Up with People continues their tour throughout Mexico, a special holiday that holds great significance to the Mexican culture is happening at the same time. Easter in Mexico is an extremely important holiday where most people will get an entire week off of work to celebrate, pray and partake in the festivities that go on throughout the country. Schools and often businesses will close as well throughout the observance.

Easter is usually a two-week celebration for the entire country. Why is this so important to their culture? According to World Religion News, 81% of Mexico’s adult population recognizes themselves as Catholic which emphasizes the importance of Holy Week, also known in Spanish as Semana Santa. This is one of the most widely celebrated weeks which begins with Palm Sunday and goes through Easter Sunday. The following week is Pascua, meaning Easter, which begins on Easter Sunday and runs throughout the end of the week.

Passion of the Christ Reenactments

There are many ways that Easter is celebrated in Mexico. One of the unique ways is through a large reenactment of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. With elaborate processions and devout Catholics, these reenactments sometimes go as far as ‘self-sacrificing’ by wearing a real crown of thorns and carrying a cross weighing several hundreds of pounds over significant distances. Others will take their dedication a step further by inflicting penitentes, as a way to repent their sins and prove their faith by real physical pain through whipping or other types of laborious work. This tradition has been going on since the middle ages.

The Burning of the Judases

In some parts of the country, a ritual called ‘The Burning of the Judases’ takes place on Holy Saturday. In the 12th-century, wooden dolls were hung around different town squares representing the Spanish inquisitors who burned people at the stake during the Holy Inquisition. Throughout the years, the tradition has evolved to its current tradition where giant Judases and other political figures made from paper mache are crafted, hung, and blown up by fireworks. Children will then run to take remnants and keep them as souvenirs to remember the day by.

Twelve Churches in Twelve Days

Those who want to go the extra mile in sharing their extreme devotion to the Catholic religion will dedicate themselves to visit twelve churches in twelve days to represent and honor the twelve apostles of Jesus. This is a very demanding tradition that can sometimes be difficult in more rural cities where there is not a lot of transportation or a large amount of churches.

Up with People is honored to be able to share in the cultural and historical traditions of Mexico during these two important weeks. As the cast immerses themselves deeper into the Mexican culture during their time traveling North America, it’s powerful to see such an appreciation by so many young adults who are experiencing Mexico for their very first time.

What color is God’s skin?
I said it’s black brown it’s yellow
It is red it is white.
Ev’ry man’s the same in the good Lord’s sight.

What Color is God’s Skin? © Up with People