Whole Life Magazine

June/July 2019

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14 wholelifetimes.com T he familiar phrase "random acts of kindness" has its origins on a placemat in Sausalito in 1982, on which writer Anne Herbert wrote, "Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty." The idea took on a life of its own, with stories of strangers buying groceries for others or feeding someone else's parking meter. The idea is simple: Doing something selfless, with no other thought than to brighten someone's day, creates a ripple effect. Kindness spreads, making the world a happier place. But these days, many yearn for more. Divisiveness and distrust in the public discourse can leave people feeling isolated and angry. One man decided to do something about it, taking a big risk by reaching out to others in what might be called a random act of listening. Canadian-Egyptian entrepreneur Tarek Mounib sought to build a bridge of mutual understanding and friendship with an ambitious project: He offered complete strangers he encountered across the U.S. an all-expenses-paid trip to Egypt, with the sole purpose of connecting with people who might even distrust him as a Muslim, allowing them to see for themselves what Egypt is like and to meet ordinary Egyptians. Although his initial attempts to find Americans willing to take him up on his offer were met with suspicion and mistrust, eventually he was able to find people open to the journey. Mounib captured the life-changing experience by producing a film, Free Trip to Egypt, directed by Ingrid Serban. The documentary, in theaters for a premiere event June 12, shows how a small, diverse group of Americans travel to Egypt for the first time. Hosted by Egyptian families, they see Cairo up close and personal — an experience which challenges many of their previously held beliefs and perceptions. And the Egyptians' preconceptions about Americans were equally tested. What happens when a retired teacher and her husband are united with a young Egyptian revolutionary? Or when a Christian missionary and a born-again, former Miss Kentucky are housed with an orthodox Muslim family where the mother wears a burqa? Or when a police officer faces off with a radical, left-leaning journalist? "I had no idea what was going to happen," recalls Mounib. "We encountered conflict, but we all came together and connected. People are really the same wherever you go." Throughout Free Trip to Egypt, Mounib stresses the importance of listening, especially to those you may disagree with, or you may think have nothing in common with you. He discusses a variety of topics with his guests as they travel, always maintaining a respectful openness to learn and try to understand. And the entire experience affects everyone on the trip profoundly. With the release of Free Trip to Egypt, Mounib seeks to start a dialogue by launching a social impact movement and reaching people around the country who may be reluctant to hear other people's points of view and to inspire everyone to listen to one another, by going online to take the #PledgeToListen. HERE ARE A FEW WAYS YOU CAN PLEDGE TO LISTEN: u Practice active listening Next time someone says something you disagree with, see if you can restate what they said accurately, By John Raatz Listening with Heart spirit T he familiar phrase "random acts of kindness" of kindness" of has its origins on a placemat in Sausalito in 1982, on which writer Anne Herbert wrote, "Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty." of beauty." of The idea took on took on took a life of its of its of own, with stories of strangers of strangers of buying groceries for others or feeding someone else's parking meter. The idea is simple: Doing something selfless, with no other thought than to brighten someone's day, creates a ripple effect. Kindness spreads, making the world a happier place. But these days, many yearn for more. Divisiveness and distrust in the public discourse can leave people feeling isolated and angry. One man decided to do something about it, taking a big risk by risk by risk reaching out to others in what might be called a random act of listening. of listening. of Canadian-Egyptian entrepreneur Tarek Mounib Tarek Mounib Tarek sought to build a bridge of mutual of mutual of understanding and friendship with an ambitious project: He offered complete strangers he encountered across the U.S. an all-expenses-paid trip to Egypt, with the sole purpose of connecting with people who might even distrust him as a Muslim, allowing them to see for themselves what Egypt is like and to meet ordinary Egyptians. Although his initial attempts to find Americans willing to take him up on his offer were met with suspicion and mistrust, eventually he was able to find people open to the journey. Mounib captured the life-changing experience by producing a film, Free Trip to Egypt, directed by Ingrid Serban. The documentary, in theaters for a premiere event June 12, shows how a small, diverse group of Americans of Americans of travel to Egypt for the first time. Hosted by Egyptian families, they see Cairo up close and personal — an experience which challenges many of their of their of previously held beliefs and perceptions. And the Egyptians' preconceptions about Americans were equally tested. What happens when a retired teacher and her husband are united with a young Egyptian revolutionary? Or when a Christian missionary and a born-again, former Miss Kentucky are housed with an orthodox Muslim family where the mother wears a burqa? Or when a police officer faces off with off with off a radical, left-leaning journalist? "I had no idea what was going to happen," recalls Mounib. "We encountered conflict, but we all came together and connected. People are really the same wherever you go." Throughout Free Trip to Egypt, Mounib stresses the importance of listening, of listening, of especially to those you may disagree with, or you may think have think have think nothing in common with you. He discusses a variety of topics of topics of with his guests as they travel, always maintaining a respectful openness to learn and try to understand. And the entire experience affects everyone on the trip profoundly. With the release of Free Trip to Egypt, Mounib seeks to start a dialogue by launching a social impact movement and reaching people around the country who may be reluctant to hear other people's points of view of view of and to inspire everyone to listen to one another, by going online to take the #PledgeToListen. HERE ARE A FEW A FEW A WAYS FEW WAYS FEW YOU CAN PLEDGE TO LISTEN: u Practice active listening Next time someone says something you disagree with, see if you if you if can restate what they said accurately, By John Raatz Listening with Heart FREE TRIP TO EGYPT The Egyptian God Anubis.

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