What’s On YOUR Mind?

Primarily, 2007 was the year of this BLOG.

Early in the year I began to cross post our old e-zine, Into the Centre, to my WordPress BLOG. In August, my posts shifted to the BLOG, and went to weekly posting from twice a month. I also hooked it up to FeedBlitz, which is how the majority of you are reading this. It shows up pretty much every Monday, (occasionally Tuesday…) and you read it as e-mail. A few of you use an RSS newsreader, but that isn’t particularly necessary. Newsreaders are good for sites that publish several times a week or day.

In the last year, the main access to our site has been to the Bodywork section. Apparently, we are answering a great need that people feel, to understand the Mind/Body/Spirit connection.

As to the BLOG, the top 5 articles were:

Clearing the Body - a body mind spirit cleanse

10 Quick Examples of Zen Living

10 Zen Principles to Help You Live Life Better

Zen for the Holidays

9 Ways to Screw Up a Relationship

So, what do I want to ask or say about this? Well, BLOGS are designed to foster community and to encourage dialog. However, sending each article out in its entirety, by e-mail, means that most of you never go to the website, and almost none of you post comments or ask questions.

I could change the format of the e-mail and only give you an article excerpt, but I’ve decided against that. I will, however, from now on, be adding this to each article:

I’m doing this because I want to hear from you!

I’d like to know

• what you are thinking,
• where you are coming from,
• what your sticking points are, and
• what you’d like me to write about.

I’m writing this BLOG because I want to provide you with tools and resources. To do THAT, I ask that you click over to the site, if not every article, at least on a regular basis, and leave a comment!

Zen, Zen, Zen… it’s all about Zen

Well, no, not all about Zen, but as you’ve likely noticed, my focus has been moving in a Zen-like direction.

I’m convinced that the issues we face are self-created, as we direct odd little passion and persecution plays in our heads. We endlessly scare ourselves, and then blame others.

Zen teaches a discipline of watching, without judgement, the games our minds play. I’m construing my job as being a gong that wakes you from this game.

Wake Up!

Speaking of gongs, did you download my magical Zen Timer program? I have it running almost always on my computer, and I find the unpredictable reminder to stop and re-focus my attention to be valuable.

Go Deeper!

Two weeks ago, I gave you a link to a new pdf, both an online and a downloadable version, of some exercises you can try to deepen your relationship with your partner. I’m going to include those exercises in my next book, which is nearing completion of the writing phase. More on that next week.

Past Decisions, Future Directions

Dar and I continue to waffle about the direction our lives will take. As most of you know, Dar’s official retirement from teaching date is 2009. We kind of decided to go a year early - July 2008. You likely also know we own land in Costa Rica, and intend to settle there. Adding to this mix is our decision to take a year teaching English somewhere. Presently, Korea is at the top of our list. We also think we’ll buy an older house in Costa Rica, once we get there, but that’s another story.

Anyway, we have committed to taking a few days away during March Break, to decide - will it be 2008, or 2009. Needless to say, we’ll let you know what we decide.

This also means that if you have considered working with me directly, either in person or by phone, you’d better hop to it! Unless you want to visit in Korea or CR. If you’ve considered showing up for some work, have a look at our Weekend Residential concept.

We look forward to keeping in contact through our BLOG postings, and encourage you to keep in touch with us.