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Everybody say cheese! Thankfully there weren't too many lactose intolerant people present this time because we had 3 different types of macaroni and cheese. All them tasted great. Is anybody still constipated?

Sunday's potluck was an amazing group of entrepreneurs, businessmen and women, lawyers, musicians, dancers, students, educators, writers, fashion experts, and more. There was also a lot of love in the room as we were blessed a few groups of best friends, three couples, and
8 Driving School for Life alumni. The evening involved watching Beyonce's abs, salsa dancing, and a conversation around the last thing you did to love yourself. Answers included going to the spa, getting a gym membership, traveling with friends, singing and dancing freely at home, saying "I love you" in the mirror, moving across the country for love, among others.

We welcome the 14 new potluckers to the family. Thanks again to Ronethea for being such a great host. 17...18...19...20...21 makes this the biggest potluck in New York yet. Potluck has now reached 156 people.

Don't forget to continue loving thyself <3

Upcoming Events

• March 7th: Jullien's Driving School for Life Course. Visit www.drivingschoolforlife.com for details. Save $25 with early registration.
  
• March 12th: James' TechonOrganizing Workshop to get your Gmail organized. Email James at james.e.bartlett@gmail.com for details.
  
• March 13th: Karaoke Soul. Email Pam at pamelasjackson@gmail.com for details.
• March 14th: House Party @ Ronethea & Terry's
  
• March 15th: Potluck #16 in Brooklyn, NY at Kanako & Danya's
  

1. Soak in a bath with candles and music
2. Go for a walk
3. Make yourself a cup of tea
4. Exercise
5. Stretch and move to music
6. Practice Yoga, Tai Chi or another gentle activity
7. Sit in the sun for 15 minutes
8. Change one thing to improve your diet
9. Watch birds and animals interact in nature
10. Sit in a park or garden
11. Take a nap
12. Eat totally healthy for one day per week
13. Be mindful of an ache or pain, focus healing energy and love to that
14. area of your body for 5 minutes
15. Recognize when you need comfort, and seek it out, cuddle up in a warm
16. blanket, light a candle, call a friend, put on loving music etc.
17. Get lost in a book or a movie, or create a fantasy . . .daydream for
18. 15 minutes
19. Be playful or silly, let your inner child play ? color, blow bubbles,
20. paint or sing your favorite childhood song
21. Create a nurturing nook in your home, set up your own personalized sanctuary
22. Cry or laugh with a plant, tree or something from the earth
23. Engage in a hobby or craft project
24. Write yourself a letter about the obstacles you?ve overcome and things
25. like about yourself
26. Do something you have wanted to do for a long time
27. Hug yourself for 3 minutes
28. Breathe deep and think about a calm peaceful place, imagine yourself there
29. Remember a special time that brought your joy
30. Sing
31. Hug someone or ask for a hug
32. Talk to someone by pretending they are there
33. Make a to do list
34. Write a poem
35. Connect with nature
36. Concentrate on the flame of a candle
37. Meditate
38. Pray
39. Talk to your guardian angel
40. Write about your spiritual purpose
41. Write about an experience that has been meaningful
42. Smile every time you see a particular object (one that you see a lot of)
43. Email a friend, tell them how much they mean to you
44. List things you will do to improve your life
45. Identify negative beliefs that limit your life
46. Journal write about your reactions, thoughts, and feelings for a month
47. Learn about a different religion or spiritual practice from your own
48. Make a list of short and long term goals
49. Practice unconditional love and forgiveness with yourself and others
50. Work on your family tree
51. Smile at a stranger, send them thoughts of peace, acceptance and joy
52. Affirm yourself daily
53. Watch children play, talk to your inner child in a loving way
54. Acknowledge yourself for your accomplishments, be proud
55. Talk to or smile at an elder
56. Feel a fear and take a risk
57. Telephone a friend or relative
58. Do something of service for your community or another person
59. Eat something sweet or sour
60. Accept a compliment
61. Read love quotes to yourself
62. Give yourself a hand or foot message
63. Find two things you love about your body
64. Close your eyes, and smile for the gift of life

Potluck Invitation

To my beautiful brothers and sisters of New York,

Carry on the new year vibe and meet great people over great food at Potluck NY#14 this Sunday, January 11th, 2009 from 7-9pm.

Purpose:
The purpose of potluck is to create a space for positive people to connect with one another and to be fed physically, mentally, and spiritually. Ultimately, we want potlucks to take place all over the world in different spaces. Thus far potluck has been hosted 14 times, reaching over 100 people in 5 people's homes.

Special Guests:

You (and your friends!)

Teni's Apartment
25 W 132nd St, New York, NY, 10037

Take the 2 or 3 to 135th.

Please RSVP with a yes/no, guests' names, and your dish.

Bring:

• your authentic self
• a dish to contribute for 4 people
• a book to exchange for another book that someone else brings
  
• love
• a smile, and
  
• another person if you would like

Order:

• good food: an enjoyable dinner prepared by everyone with love
  
• good ideas: a space to help someone get to the next level in life
  
• good convo: a free-flowing discussions on love, life, and Spirit

Peace,

Course Summary

Register & renew your license to live...
...before it expires. You've got the green light...now go!

www.drivingschoolforlife.com

If Driving School isn't for you now, please share this opportunity.

Research-Based Methodology

Driving School for Life is based on academic research and the in depth study of some of the world's most successful people such as:

Oprah Bono M. Yunus Bill Gates

Supporting research can be found in books such as:

:: Driving School for Life :: A Personal Development Experience Created by Jullien Gordon

Driving School for Life is a personal development course I initiated in conjunction with my first book which is currently in production. The book documents the journey of three millennials as they participate in the 8 week course designed to help them gain clarity on their purpose and strengthen their friendship. The vision is to have this course take place in cities all across the country with the book as guide to help the millennial generation become the greatest generation ever.

:: The Test Drive :: An 8-Hour Condensed Version of the 8-Week Course

I am inviting 8 people to join me on Saturday, November 22nd from 9am-6pm to experience a simplified version of the 8 week curriculum. My intent is to learn from you and your experiences so that I can integrate themes that come from your stories into the book to make it more powerful and transformational.

This Course Is Great For:

• Anyone considering switching their careers or pursuing entrepreneurship
  
• Anyone considering applying to graduate school or undergrad (ie Law School, MBA)
• Anyone who wants to deepen their relationships with their friends
  

• Get a chance to meet 8 other incredible people
• Clarity on the their life's direction as we approach the new year
  
• Get a free signed copy of the book when it is published
• FREE breakfast and lunch

Potluck NY #09 was hot!...literally.

All that positive energy is that little living room made summer feel like sauna. The two little fans couldn't blow out our flame.

The hottest fans were us, the newest fans of upcoming 16-year-old MC, H.A.C.K. (of all trades). Check him out at www.myspace.com/hack2303. H.A.C.K. shared his passion as a young artist and his desire to link with producers who were about making original music. He blessed us with an a cappella version of his song "What I am".

Speaking of what I am, who were were as group could be defined by these words: investment banking, Brooklyn, MTV, fashion, MBAs, entrepreneurs, grad students, rappers, writers, Sugar Bar, real estate, Bronx, high school student, producers, hedge funds, Mark Echo, Bay Area, filmmakers, philosophers, academians. With 8 newcomers last night, the New York potluck family has grown to 50 people in 9 months. We're catching you Palo Alto ;)

The conversation flowed into making money with friends and how to not let money get in the way. The wisdom of crowds says put it in writing, make sure to put the company's mission first, determine what needs to get done short-term and long-term and let people self-select out if they can't honestly uphold their fair share.

The feast consisted of baked chicken with cream of mushroom sauce, brown and white rice (no discrimination here...it's all love), veggie tofu with broccoli, and greens. For dessert, we had strawberry ice cream popsicles.

The free book exchange had some Malcolm Gladwell, Eckhart Tolle, and SunTzu, among others.

It looks like the next potluck might have to be outside at a park...That would be new...and nice.

Potluck
The easy alternative to happy hour
Cool people doing cool things
Inspiration at your dinner table

Hey everybody,

Thank you for making last night such a special evening and blessing this space and world with your presence. I had an incredible time.

The Menu

• roasted chicken with creme of mushroom and brown rice by Jullien
  
• fried chicken by Wesley
  
• collard greens by Jullien
  
• sweet beans by Jullien
  
• vegetable platter with green pepper and broccoli by Kanako
  
• pound cake by Jamilah and Sallome
  
• homemade brownies by Alicia
  
• little nestle crunch ice cream balls by Honey and Ashley
  

• Please forward this email to Jamilah
  

• TODO: Send Jamilah your substitute filing #
• PLUG: Honey may need an alto sax
• IDEA: Consider starting a music production company for youth
• CONX: Check out Youth Uprising in Oakland - http://www.youthuprising.org/
• CONX: Check out Crown Heights Live - http://www.crownheightslive.com/
• TODO: Send Jullien the guy you met on the train from US Games Experts

• TODO: Send Jullien the contact information of your friend who is a programmer about to finish grad school

• PLUG: Check out Jullien's godparents' BBQ at http://www.carmenandfamilybbq.com
  

• Wesley and his transition to New York
• The Amish people as revolutionaries?
• Building sustainable communities: What's your role?
  
• Urban education in the 21st century
• How to make money in the music industry
  

• www.4real.com show
• Knaan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0IuUXHBkaw and http://www.thedustyfoot.com
• Majora Carter - http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=majora_carter
• William McDonough - http://www.mcdonough.com/full.htm
• Park Slope Food Co-op - www.foodcoop.com
• Song Thai Food 295 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
• Room Service Thai Food 166 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011
• Ringo USB music bracelet - http://beatle.wordpress.com/2007/12/21/ringos-new-album-comes-on-digital-wristband/
  

• your authentic self
• a book to exchange for another book that someone else brings
  
• a dish to contribute
• love
• a smile, and
  
• another person if you would like

April 30, 2008







Today I lead a workshop on the 8 Principles of Purpose for 300 Ghanaian young adults through my friend Allah Jesus' (that's his real name) company called Real Talk.

Because it was over the phone, I wasn't really able to engage with them as deeply as possible, but here are a few question that I got:

1. Once you've found your purpose, how do you maintain it?

Friends and community are your maintenance. It's easier to fix a flat tire with 2 people instead of 1. Your partners pump you up. Its no fun going on a road trip alone.

2. What if a physical disability is preventing you from doing what you love?

There are many examples of people with physical dis-abilities that are living or lived purposeful lives. They have found ways to use their dis-ability to their advantage instead of thinking about it as a dis-advantage:

• sprinter, Oscar Pistorius (double-amputee, still competing to be in the 2008 Olympics representing South Africa)
• theoretical physicist, Stephen Hawking (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but is still making ground-breaking discoveries in phsyics)
  
• author, Helen Keller (deafblind, yet campaigned for woman's suffrage and worker's rights)
• former boxer, Muhammad Ali (Parkinson's dis-ease, yet still lives life more fully than most)
  
• former Superman, Christopher Reeves (paralyzed, but now leading stem cell research movement)
  
• musician, Ray Charles (blind, but made inspiring music nonetheless)
• musician, Stevie Wonder (blind, but has made incredible music that has influenced many other musicians)
  
• "Back To The Future" actor, Michael J. Fox (Parkinson's dis-ease and appeared before Senate to advocate for federal funding)