Jill shares some thoughts on staying connected
A heartwarming audio story to make you smile
Robert explores the popular music of his new country
A short trip to the Soo
A limited online screening of Diving Into The Darkness
Jill’s Bio-Pic wins at another film fest
“Alone you can do it, but you cannot do it alone.” - Jill’s Great Uncle Jock
Society has long emphasized the value of independence in pursuing growth and success. I was encouraged to cultivate self-reliance, autonomy, and personal achievement from a young age. However, as we navigate an increasingly interconnected and complex world, the importance of interdependence is increasingly evident.
My Great Uncle Jock was run over by a bus and told he would never walk again. But with the help of doctors, family, and friends he did. At times with the assistance of crutches, he even danced into the night. He lived a long happy life of interdependence and connection.
While independence has its merits, no individual operates in complete isolation. We are all part of intricate social networks, communities, and ecosystems that shape our experiences and opportunities. In today's globalized society, success often hinges on individual capabilities paired with the ability to collaborate, communicate, and cooperate with others.
Cast your gaze upon the ocean, and you'll witness a myriad of interdependent relationships. From the symbiotic partnership of clownfish and anemones to the mutual reliance of reef-building corals and zooxanthellae, the ocean is a living testament to the power of interdependence. The zooxanthellae, nestled within the coral, are expelled in a warming ocean. The coral, though it may endure for a brief period, relies on its partner to produce oxygen and eliminate waste. The zooxanthellae supply the coral with glucose, glycerol, and amino acids, all byproducts of photosynthesis. If you've recently taken a dip in tropical waters and been taken aback by coral bleaching, you've witnessed the aftermath of a partnership shattered by heat.
Interdependence encompasses recognizing that our actions and decisions affect those around us. Whether in the workplace, relationships, or the ocean, the ability to work effectively with others is paramount. Collaborative problem-solving, teamwork, and empathy help us navigate complex challenges and achieve shared goals.
Interdependence fosters interconnectedness and mutual support essential for collective well-being. Relationships provide strength, resilience, and solidarity in times of crisis or adversity. By sustaining a culture of interdependence, we can grow stronger communities and societies better equipped to address shared challenges and pursue common aspirations.
The transition towards interdependence not only underscores its role in nurturing diversity, innovation, and creativity but also highlights the potential consequences of its absence. If the concept of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) makes you flinch, consider the alternative it prevents: uniformity, prejudice, and exclusion.
By embracing a multitude of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, we enrich our collective wisdom and stimulate innovation by challenging assumptions and sparking fresh ideas. By valuing the distinct contributions of each individual, we can harness the power of diversity to drive positive change and progress. This is where interdependence assumes a pivotal role, not just in interpersonal relationships, but also in professional environments.
As we continue to navigate the complexities of the modern era, prioritizing interdependence is not just beneficial but essential for shaping a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Recognizing and supporting interdependence within the marine ecosystem is imperative. Every choice we make resonates with consequences for the sea. Our actions ripple through the marine ecosystem wherever we live.
When we rode our bikes across Canada we found kindness and hope in the most unexpected places. Here’s a short story about an intergenerational Sturgeon Falls, Ontario family.
Robert’s Canadian Jukebox
Most of the time when Jill and I listen to music I’ll blurt out some ridiculous piece of trivia about the artist, composer, or song. Things like: “Well you know Steve Winwood was in the Spencer Davis Group when he was 14 years old and wrote the classic song “Gimme Some Lovin. Then he went on to play in groups like Traffic and Blind Faith along with Eric Clapton…”
All Jill did to suffer this bit of pop musicology was to say the song we were listening to, “Higher Love” reminded her of University days in Toronto. Thankfully, she is a very patient woman and pretends to care about such minutiae because it is important to me. At least it occupies a neutral space in my brain that could otherwise be filled with anxiety-ridden thoughts.
I can’t help myself. I was seven years old when The Beatles first played the Ed Sullivan Show. From that moment, sitting just 3 feet from the screen in the eerie glow of our black and white Philco TV set, I was mesmerized by popular music. Like many of my peers who came of age in the ‘60s and ‘70s, I am fortunate to have lived through one of the greatest popular music eras of the 20th Century. We were blessed to experience creative geniuses in their prime, from Dylan to Black Sabbath, to The Clash and Joan Jett. All of whom I experienced playing live, along with perhaps hundreds of other iconic acts.
This obsession inevitably led to me working as a stage manager for a live concert company. I did shows with everyone from U2 to Ray Charles, and almost everyone in-between. And, night after night I pinched myself to be working with some of my musical heroes.
Thirty-five years, two serious careers, and a nationality later, I find myself discovering an entirely new (to me) world of Canadian music. Yes, I knew that Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Rush, and Arcade Fire were Canadian. What I did not know was the plethora of other incredible artists that were extremely popular north of the longest international land border in the world.
For the next few months, I am going to share some of the acclaimed Canadian artists I have discovered. Since moving to Canada and becoming a citizen here, I am required to pretend that I like Tim Horton’s coffee and own at least two Tragically Hip tee shirts. Oh, and between November and April, endlessly marvel at the miracle of merino wool long johns.
Hook up your sled dogs and come along - join me on this journey.
Let’s start with the Canadian country-rock band “Blue Rodeo.” About 15 years ago, when we still lived in Florida and frequently visited Jill’s Toronto family, she took me to a concert at Ontario Place. Blue Rodeo was the headline act, and opening the show was Steve Earle, a legendary American singer/songwriter. I had no idea who this Rodeo band was. From their name, I assumed they were a twangy Nashville North troupe. But hey, I got to see Steve Earle live, so I figured I could tolerate one night of bootleg Canadian country music.
Blue Rodeo blew me away! Melodic, intelligent, authentic songs performed by a tight bunch of likeable guys with incredible chops. Harmonies that rivalled Crosby, Stills and Nash; and a diverse, dynamic set of songs that had the crowd (and Jill and me) dancing in the warm summer moonlight. And, as a bonus, Steve Earle joined them onstage for an encore of their hit song “Lost Together.” I may have been the only person in the audience who did not know every lyric, and sing along at the top of my lungs.
Here’s a video of “Lost Together.” I hope you enjoy it and feel free to comment.
As we were all locked down during the COVID-19 pandemic Blue Rodeo’s “Lost Together” became the unofficial theme that connected us. It became a nationwide Canadian sing-along via Zoom. Here’s a video link.
The Soo - with Jill
I am fortunate to be an in-demand public speaker at this point in my life. Over the years I’ve spoken at such diverse venues as dive clubs, TED talks, universities, and corporate conferences. Once, early in my speaking career, we had to move the animals out of the way so I could give a presentation in a rural Ontario barn.
This week I was speaking at a Workplace Safety event in Sault Ste. Marie. Whenever I travel for talks, I like to visit the local sites, wandering from my hotel. The Soo is located on the picturesque shores of the St. Mary’s River where Lake Superior and Lake Huron meet. From its rich Indigenous heritage to its pivotal role in the fur trade, the city’s past is strung along the iconic Sault Ste. Marie Canal, with its impressive locks.
I recall reading a book about the construction of the canals. Each time a decades-long digging and construction effort was completed, ships had gotten larger and no longer fit through the canal. The locks are crucial for making the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway navigable. If you left Duluth in Lake Superior to reach the ocean, you would drop 600 feet in elevation with the help of these locks.
Join A Limited Virtual Online Screening of “Diving Into The Darkness”
Scuba Diving Magazine and Running Cloud Productions invite you to a special online preview screening of Diving Into The Darkness, the award-winning documentary film about my life as an underwater explorer. Here’s the link to join us! Director Nays Baghai is collecting more awards with Diving Into the Darkness as the film has won again at the Endless Summer + Dana Point Film Festival.
Here’s Robert’s recommendation for this week. Ted Gioia (pronounced JOY-ah) has created one of the most successful and inclusive Substack communities. This was the first Substack newsletter to which I subscribed. Check out The Honest Broker.