Good news for humankind!

From the week of November 27 – December 3 2023 C.E.

Nepal registers its historic first same-sex marriage

Nepal has just become the first South Asian country to recognize a same-sex marriage after it formally recognized the marriage of Maya Gurung and Surendra Pandey who wed in 1997.

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The U.S. and six other nations commit to unabated coal phase-out

The U.S., Czech Republic, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Iceland, Kosovo and Norway have formally joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance, which was launched in 2017 by the U.K. and Canada. The new members have committed to not developing new unabated coal power plants and phasing out existing unabated coal plants.

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Massachusetts becomes fifth state in the U.S. to make prison calls free

“Ensuring that individuals in state and county prisons can keep in contact with their loved ones is key to enhancing rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, and improving community safety,” Governor Healey said in a written statement.

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Detroit becomes first city in the U.S. to install wireless-charging roadway

Initially, a Ford E-Transit fitted with a receiver will be used to gather data as part of a five-year pilot to perfect the technology in real-world settings and study potential public transport applications – though there are plans to open the electric road system to the public within the next few years.

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Belgian court of appeals has ordered the country’s government to cut emissions faster

In a powerful victory for climate campaigners, the Brussels court of appeal ordered Belgium to cut its planet-heating pollution by at least 55% from 1990 levels by 2030. By 2021, Belgium had cut its emissions by just 24%. The court rejected arguments that Belgium’s impact on the climate crisis was limited by its small size.

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Denmark becomes world’s first country to legally recognize same-sex relationships (1989 C.E.)

The country’s landmark registered partnerships gave those in same-sex relationships most rights of married heterosexuals, but not the right to adopt or obtain joint custody of a child.

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All of the world’s countries formally legalize same-sex marriage (2065 C.E. ???)

The world’s last countries affirm the right of all adults to love who they love and marry the partner of their choice.

I’m not for everyone

Sara and I recently watched Pete Holmes’s Netflix comedy special I’m Not For Everyone. I liked it. But what stuck with me most is just the title.

I’ve spent a lot of time in my life hand-wringing over whether I’ve offended someone or done something to make them not like me. I worry that I’ve pushed someone too hard, asserted a position they don’t agree with, asked them questions that are too personal, made a joke that isn’t to their taste, etc.. I often contort myself every which way to prevent others from feeling uncomfortable or possibly having some negative opinion of me.

It’s exhausting. But worse, it keeps me from showing up as the most authentic, empowered version of myself and offering my greatest gifts to the world. By trying to be for everyone, I become for no one.

Now when I find myself stuck in this kind of pattern, I ask myself: Am I being kind, curious, and patient with this person? If not, then there is some work for me to do here to get back in integrity with myself. But if I am, and they still don’t like or feel comfortable with what I am offering, then I just remind myself: 

I am not for everyone. I’m not supposed to be for everyone. No one is for everyone. 

Even if I embodied the absolute clearest, healthiest, fullest expression of who I am, I would still not be for everyone. In fact, the more I show up as the most authentic me, the more I will draw some people (“my” people) toward me, and the more I will inevitably turn others away.

Think of yourself as food for others. Do you want to be plain white rice: bland and unoffensive to all? Or would you rather be something with such a unique, robust flavor that some are ravenous and endlessly grateful for what you bring and others just pick something else off the menu?

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Peter Schulte

Life & Career Coach

Founder & Executive Director, Spark of Genius

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