Understanding pain
I realise that so much of my life is spent trying to avoid pain. In a sheer guess, I suspect avoiding pain is just the other side of the coin to “pursuing pleasure” and all of us are motivated by either one side or the other throughout our lives. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying this is necessarily a bad thing. There are all sorts … Continue reading Understanding pain
Ten thousand hours
A mild transition? Sometimes transitions are obvious. They are marked by a single event, such as a marriage or a divorce or having your first baby or starting a whole new career. But other times transitions might only appear as such in retrospect – a little like the sun rising on a cloudy day. You know it has happened but can’t pinpoint the moment of … Continue reading Ten thousand hours
I never managed to visit the killing fields
It’s been about three and a half years since I visited Cambodia. At the time I was working for an NGO and the purpose of the trip was to gather stories and footage of the work our partners were doing in local communities. I think I travelled the extremity of the country in about ten days. I loved it. The people were so friendly. There … Continue reading I never managed to visit the killing fields
A Loving Transition
Love It doesn’t take long to see the place of love in our lives. Just think of our songs: “All you need is love”, “Can you feel the love tonight?” and our stories (even Disney variations on classic themes in films like Frozen and Maleficent are about the power of love, even in the most unexpected forms). M. Scott Peck wrote more than 40 years … Continue reading A Loving Transition
The life of power
An Easter Reflection I recently read an article on the ABC news site, titled A power has risen in Australian politics – and it’s not coming quietly. The author, Annabel Crabb, considers the shifting landscape in Australian politics that is undermining the traditional patriarchal power base. She states, “in this instance, there is opportunity for women to seek justice, to speak out, to demand restitution … Continue reading The life of power
The cost of growing up
What is the cost of growing up? This may not be the question we normally ask when thinking about our progression to adulthood. Yet I have observed that a child’s identity and worldview are primarily shaped by their family of origin. Even the tiny mannerisms that escape our faces have their origins in the people who nurtured us in our earliest years. So, whether we … Continue reading The cost of growing up
New Life
A few days ago my grandson, Felix Gabriel Xiaoyu was born. Celebrating Life It is wonderful being a granddad all over again. The delight of welcoming someone into your family is special. Holding him for the first time is even more special. Here is life in all its potential. In this little bundle that only weighs about 2.8 kilos (a little over 6 pounds) I … Continue reading New Life
Learning on the job
“When I was in High School, I didn’t know what I wanted to study, but I knew what I wanted to be,” explains Claudia as she unpacks the past few years of her life since leaving University. Creative Dreams She goes on, “I wanted to be an Art Director, working for a major publication because I wanted to be super creative.” After some investigation, Claudia … Continue reading Learning on the job
The heart of a runner
Doug’s story “I started running seriously about 20 years ago”, Doug explains. “Initially it was to spend time with my son Paul, who had developed a passion for running when he was 14.” Eventually Doug would be running long distances. Even though he had previously undergone a knee reconstruction, he became an endurance athlete, running in many long-distance events. “At the time of my peak … Continue reading The heart of a runner
