the pathless path

Just a note: gifts for being a subscriber!

There’s a link on the e-mail version of this post. You can use it to download my most popular book, This Endless Moment.

Reasons for Hope is a great collection of "hopeful stories," collected by my buddy Boogie Jack Gaskill. I contributed one of the stories. Right click on the link and save the pdf file.

Looking Back

I wonder where we’ve been…

2009 is almost over, and I wanted to send you a short article, reviewing the past year, and having a look forward.

•  2009 saw the release of my latest book, Half Asleep in the Buddha Hall. Sales have been acceptable, and reviews have been overwhelmingly positive.

•  I’ve posted well over 50 blog posts in 2009. I’d say that if I have one discouragement, it’s how seldom readers comment on the posts. I’ve therefore cut the requirements for posting to the minimum – click on the title, scroll to the bottom of the article, leave a comment.

•  Oh, here’s another blog oddity. Twice this year, I’ve posted a second article in a week. Both times, a couple of people unsubscribed, and listed "Too many updates" as their reason.
I if that isn’t "whacked," I don’t know what is…

Donations to the cause were down a bit for 2009, perhaps reflecting the slow down in the economy. Many of you do comment on the value you receive from this blog, and it’s amazing to me how valuable equates to "free!!!"
In keeping with the season, you might want to rethink that, and add us to your Holiday giving list!

•  Here are the top ten blog posts during 2009. Many of these were written in former years (about 50% 50%)

10 Zen Principles to Help You Live Life Better

10 Quick Examples of Zen Living

9 Ways to Screw Up a Relationship

The Dance of Relationships

5 Ways to Live the Zen Life

Exercises in Self-Discipline

6 Ways to Deepen Relationships

Clearing Body, Mind & Spirit – Body Cleanse

10 Things Your Mommy Forgot to Tell You

5 Key Concepts

•  We’ve hosted several weekend residentials and day-long intensives, and we have several already scheduled for the New Year. Darbella and I really like working together – and have even taken to doing this with telephone counselling. We encourage you to make plans to come and do some in-depth work, especially given that we’re unclear on how much longer we’ll be in Ontario.

•  You may remember that Dar and I worked with the WSIB (the former Worker’s Compensation Board) – setting up a programme for injured workers. A pilot project has been off again, on again for a year. Now, there seems to be a shortage of people for the Pilot Project. We shall see where this goes, but see below.

•  Dar reached her "magic 85 and out" on her birthday this past October. She’s ready to "retire from teaching," or at least is looking for something new and challenging.

Looking Forward

Hmm. I wonder where I’ll be…

Well, lets get to the speculation.

•  Despite my mild whining above, the Blog will continue weekly for the foreseeable future. And I intend to toss out extra articles every now and again, so if you think you might piss yourself off over that, there’s an "Unsubscribe" link down below.

•  We’re encouraging you to make contact with us, both by commenting on the blog, and through e-mail. I respond to everything that arrives, and sometimes the correspondence goes on for a long time. Take advantage while this is available.

•  How about making suggestions about topics you’d like me to write about? I’d love to hear your ideas.

•  We’re planning a Winter Retreat. This will come to you as an extra blog post, and soon. This will be a Meditation / Qi Gong / Breathwork / Life Purpose Exploration weekend, held at Crieff Hills Community, south of Guelph Ontario. This will be limited to 10 participants, so pay attention when the blog post comes!

•  I’m creating another website, this one with a 56 day programme that will reflect many of the themes of the above retreat. It will be interactive, with videos and suggestions, and follow a membership model. HOWEVER, I’m planning on writing and releasing a FREE pdf guidebook containing a 200 word "blurb" about each of the 56 days (plus introductory info.) Stay tuned, as the pdf ought to be out in the next few weeks.

•  Retirement: Now here’s a dodgy issue. As above, Dar’s ready to "retire," and I’m ready to "get out of Dodge." Most of you know we own land in Costa Rica, and intend to move there and start up a tropical training centre. This is one possibility for later in 2010, as is teaching English in Japan, and a few other ideas. Or, we might change our minds. But don’t bet the farm on where this one is going.

•  If you have been intending to do work with me or us, do not put it off! (unless you’re planning on coming to Costa Rica.) Book counselling sessions, and commit to really pushing your boundaries and limits. Book weekend times, and really dig in.

We’ll keep you posted as we discover the next step on our path.

Thanks for reading to the end. Darbella and I wish you a deep and meaningful Holiday Season, (whatever your persuasion…) and an adventure rich and productive 2010.

Thank you for letting us walk with you on The Pathless Path.

Love and metta, Wayne and Darbella

Related posts:

1. So, I’m posting, already!
2. What’s Happening
3. The Watcher
4. Half Asleep in the Buddha Hall

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