ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FORUM:

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FORUM

 

New York, New York – January 20^th 2010  

Mynewconnection’s second forum event featuring Mr. Howard Smith, Vice Chairman-Finance of C.V. Starr & Co., Inc. and a Director of Starr International Company, Inc., was another successful event.

It was nice to see some familiar faces and new ones as well. Mynewconnection is building an intellectual and enthusiastic community of individuals who seem to have a common interest in expanding their network and learning.

An international crowd of about 60 people gathered for refreshments followed by a forum in a salon setting where Mr. Howard Smith discussed his comments on the economic crisis, how he got to where he is today, and his advice and words of wisdom. Mr. Smith advised us: “there are no shortcuts. Putting in the time is the degree to any ultimate success. Don’t be afraid to challenge what you believe in.” Lastly, the enthusiastic audience engaged in an interesting question and answer period.

We were honored to have him as our second guest speaker, and we also look forward to reading his book when it is published!

Please stay posted and e-mailwww.mynewconnection@gmail.com if you have any comments or suggestions. 

HOWARD SMITH PICTURES 2:

Photos taken by Arilda Costa 

HOWARD SMITH PICTURES 1:

Photos taken by Arilda Costa 

EL GRECO:

Last night, I went to the El Greco exhibit at the Onassis Center.

My favorite was the small icon of “adoration of the Shepherds” which he painted in the last period of his life.   This painting is very moving. It is Greco’s monumental piece in the sense that it is a culmination of his life’s work.

I studied El Greco in Madrid, and I can recall that through his travels and studies in Italy, his characteristics in painting, ideas of beauty, and perception of art had transformed with the influence of the masters of the Renaissance such as Titian, Tintoretto, and Michelangelo including Aristotelian and Neo-Platonic writers.

The “Adoration of the Shepherds” is one of El Greco’s last and greatest paintings, in which a number of important characteristics of Mannerism can be seen. His last painting is most interesting because he painted it at the end of his life where we could imagine him as an old philosopher full of ideas, whose theory and all his characteristics closed his own cycle.

There are many things that shape each and every one of us as we get older and wiser. Experiences, education, our family background, and ideas, our biology. The cohesiveness and warmth of my family have been the most significant aspect in shaping the core of my character.  I have learned to cherish my culture and ethnic traditions. I appreciate speaking a second language with people whom I love. I rejoice in my culture, mainly by visiting Greece.

Traveling to Greece frequently, I discover a novel part of myself. For example, a few years ago, I visited Chios and observed the islanders who are minimalists. They utilized only what they need because what they need is all they possess. They are content with the bare essentials. I learned that many of the material things that we think are necessities are in fact luxuries. I realized that these simple people had a high quality of life and were happy despite the lack of material possessions that we think are vital to our well - being. Especially in times like these, I think we should appreciate what we have and realize what is important and meaningful while trying our best  to get ahead, and be our best possible self, full of ideas and our core characteristics. 

NEW YEAR:

Happy New Year and best wishes! 

I hope we can all be inspired and educated by our speakers this coming year.

I look forward to seeing you at the next forum January 20th.