I’ve not published anything here for a while.
If anyone had asked me I would have said it was about three weeks since I wrote something. In fact, the date of the last article is 20 March 2010 – definitely longer than 3 weeks. And that time just slipped by.
No-one did ask me, which is a little disconcerting, but I’ll get over it.
I didn’t intend to take a break and was just planning to slow down while Mona and I got used to being parents together – maybe writing once a week, maybe a little more. No way did I plan to stop entirely.
Plans for Quantum Learning
I’m going to restart publishing in twice a week (Monday and Thursday) and to make it a bit more explicitly focused on what I consider to be the essential dimensions of peaceful living:
- Inner World
- Family Life
- Work Place
- World We Live In
Inner World
Sometimes I experience huge inner peace and self acceptance, even self love. These are what I might call ‘flashes of peace’ and is certainly not a steady state. I wish it was! I’m often stressed about day to day stuff, often paralysed by indecisiveness and often wallow in self pity and doubt.
Sometimes I forget everything I’ve learned and revert to a shallow, mean-spirited creature.
Yet those ‘flashes of peace’ show me that there is another ‘me’ bursting to get out. Finding ways of freeing that ‘me’ – the person I would like to be, is what I mean by Inner World.
Family Life
Even if you don’t have children, you were a child once upon a time. Even if you live alone, it wasn’t always that way. You were, for better or worse, part of a family of some kind.
How I live in intimate relationship and raise my children are two of the most nurturing experiences – and can also be two of the most challenging! I don’t often think in terms of ‘my legacy’, yet through my kids, part of me will carry on when I die.
I’ve made many mistakes along the way and many people have been hurt by some of the choices I made and decisions I took. On the other hand I can look back over this first part of my life and celebrate some of the wonderful things I’ve contributed to myself and those around me.
I’ve struggled many times with the idea of ‘family’ but I discovered that a firm family foundation supports peace within me, in the connections with others and, through my children, the future of peace on the planet.
Plus, for a site devoted to self development, I can’t ignore the huge amount I learn from my 3 children. The oldest just turned 18 and no longer a child. The middle is 7 and no longer a baby. My third is 3 months and no longer a newborn.
Work Place
I’ve been working with three dear friends on a concept for a new business venture I’m very excited about.
We believe there are plenty of people in business looking for respect, kindness, compassion and meaning in their working lives – and rarely finding it. We’re hoping to bring those people together and to support them through coaching, consulting and workshops.
We’re calling it ‘LightWork’ and wanting to play with the double meaning of that name.
Where is it written that work has to be ‘hard’ and heavy and a sacrifice? Who decided that competition needs to be tough and aggressive? When did we separate ‘work’ and ‘life’, as though work is not really part of living?
Interesting times ahead. For me anyway, and I hope you’ll join me!
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Good to see you back Ian. I hope you and the new baby are well. Yes, the phrase “work/life balance” has always struck me as odd — does that mean we’re dead at work? I know a lot of people feel that way, so maybe it’s understandable!
Hi Chris. Both me, baby and mother are doing very well!
You’re right about ‘work/life’ – and I think many people separate the two in their thinking and their routines so they can better manage them. I’d like to show there’s other ways to choose from to give a greater sense of personal choice and freedom.
Hi Ian,
You’ve been in my thoughts as I DID notice that you hadn’t posted in awhile. I regret not emailing you offline as I very much enjoy your blog — to make sure all was OK in your world. I’m happy to see you posting again.
I like what you had to say here and enjoyed reading about your direction and plans. I’ve (sort of) fallen off the face of the internet world as of late, too. But, I’ll be back soon.
Have fun and I like the concept of “LightWork”. I wish you all my best!
Lori, I think I picked up your thoughts though .. who needs Email when you have telepathy
Welcome back. Looking forward to reading your stuff again.
Good to be back Evan. Once I’ve got my writing routine established again I’ll be getting back to reading .. I missed that!
Balancing family life and business is a challenging, but nothing that can’t be overcome. Glad to see you back. I look forward to seeing the results of “LightWork.”
Wishing you and yours well
Hi Kimberly, I agree that most things can be overcome and those that can’t be overcome can be lived with! I’m also looking forward to seeing some results from LightWork!
Completely understandable to be busy with a newborn! I don’t think I wrote much or did much of anything else the three times I had a newborn.
The only reason I didn’t miss your writing is that I have tons of interesting things to read coming at me every day. Fortunately, I’m subscribed to updates of your blog.
I have been enjoying reading what you write. I look forward to more in all three of those areas. I agree with the idea of not separating work from life. It makes tasks like housekeeping no big deal to think of them as just part of my life rather than work I have to do before I can do fun stuff.
Michele .. in fact EVERYTHING is part of life and living .. even the housework. I imagine if we separated out all the things we don’t enjoy so much and put it into another category called ‘not-life’ then you have to wonder how much would be left in most people’s lives!