Acknowledgement

It is the custom since ancient times before embarking on a long voyage to pay tribute to the gods in the company of close friends and family. Thus I honor the immutable spirits of Kindness, Generosity, and Joy who live among us, and also their earthly counterparts who have contributed so much to the present work: Angela–who has borne all and still loved for 37 years, can you imagine?; my friend and business partner of 25+ years, Bill Moulton, who has generously brought his unique gifts to creating the experience of the Guide as well co-inventing the new field of Big Heart Intelligence; and the co-founder of Big Heart Technologies, Dr. Ruth E. Perry, who generously made available her knowledge and experience in medicine and population health. Master Li Junfeng who introduced me to the qigong of heart which has deepened my understanding of what I have been working on for 30 years. I express my appreciation to other friends: my dear cousin Anne Towbes, for her confidence and support of the project and Ron Gallo, President and CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation for providing seed funding for the Vital ( now Resilient) Santa Barbara Initiative; and to many friends and supporters of Big Heart Technologies, including the members of our International Advisory Board; our fellow board member Patricia Bader-Johnston, a pioneering woman social entrepreneur; and the late Al Smith, a venture philanthropist and friend who fervently believed in giving great ideas and those who felt passionately about them a chance.

Julian Gresser, November 2018

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.  Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but his own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him. He had no further intercourse with Spirits; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!

Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol (1843) (Final Stave)

Take away our hearts o’ stone, and give us hearts o’ flesh! Take away this murdherin’ hate, an’ give us Thine own eternal love!

Sean O’Casey, Juno and the Paycock, 71-2