Sometimes You Have To Fight For The Things!!!

Posted on December 31, 2019 by Rod's World

The end of a decade, you have done some amazing things, you have done some stupid things and you have done a lot of basic, ordinary things. What would you like to have said to your younger self if you could travel back in time to give yourself some advice about life?

Here is a list by my friend Marc Chernoff called Lessons Life Taught Us that will make you think:

Spend more time with those who make you smile and less time with those who make you feel pressured to impress.
Laugh at stupid jokes. Apologise. Tell someone how much they mean to you. It’s the small moments that make life grand.
Life is way more enjoyable when you stop being trying to be cool and simply focus on being yourself.
Complaining is like slapping yourself for slapping yourself. It doesn’t solve the problem, It just hurts you more.
Learn to adjust the sails of your life to unpredictable winds, while keeping your focus clear on your destination and keep sailing until you get there.
Freedom is the greatest gift. Self-sufficiency is the greatest freedom.
If you want something in your life you’ve never had, You’ll have to do something you’ve never done.
Your health is your life, keep up with it. Get an annual physical check-up.
Living a life of honesty creates peace of mind, and peace of mind is priceless. Period. Don’t be dishonest and don’t put with people who are.
Forgiving yourself is far more important (and difficult) than getting others to forgive you.
There are few joys in life that equal a good conversation, A good read, A good walk, a good hug, a good smile, or a good friend.
Laughter is the best medicine for stress. Laugh at yourself often. Find the humour in whatever situation you’re in.
Everything that happens in life is neither good nor bad, It just depends on your perspective.
You’re not alone. Everyone has problems. Some people are just better at hiding them than others.

So what does life say about the lessons we learn over our journey, let’s have a look:

1, Don’t waste time on those quick to judge and not take the time needed to find out about the real you.

2. Going out your front door each day is an inherent risk: Mine.

3. I have had periods of both, I am called the beautiful man.

4. Karen Salmansohn came out of advertising to create the popular salmon.com due to the awful ongoing mispronunciation of her name. People used to joke that she couldn’t drink a glass of water without it spurting out the knife holes in my back – because there were so many jerks and “drama llamas” in the ad business: My Immortal.

5. Better known by his pseudonym “The Colonel”.

6. For each their one: Oh My God.

7. I know which I prefer.

8. From the world’s most popular quote writer, Ms Unknown comes this insightful piece of wisdom.: Walk a Mile.

9. What a great name.

10. They are very special, these people, as it says do not let them go.: Time of My Life.

11. I just love this image, I have used it before.

12. in the early 1960s, Rohn was invited to speak at a meeting of his Rotary Club. He accepted and, soon, others began asking him to speak at various luncheons and other events. In 1963 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, he gave his first public seminar. He then began presenting seminars all over the country, telling his story and teaching his personal development philosophy until the time of his passing in 2009.: Run The World.

13. Life has both Shadow and Light in it.

14. This reminds me of the African philosophy of Ubuntu: ‘A person is a person through other people’ strikes an affirmation of one’s humanity through recognition of an ‘other’ in his or her uniqueness and difference. It is a demand for a creative intersubjective formation in which the ‘other’ becomes a mirror (but only a mirror) for my subjectivity. This idealism suggests to us that humanity is not embedded in my person solely as an individual; my humanity is co-substantively bestowed upon the other and me. Humanity is a quality we owe to each other. We create each other and need to sustain this otherness creation. And if we belong to each other, we participate in our creations: we are because you are, and since you are, definitely I am. The ‘I am’ is not a rigid subject, but a dynamic self-constitution dependent on this otherness creation of relation and distance.: Ubuntu.

15. And for our final lesson………

And to take Self Love into 2020 here are some questions from Marc:

If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow that person to be your friend?
Why are you, you?
In one sentence, what do you wish for your future self?
What’s something you have that everyone wants?
What’s something Nobody can steal from you?
What has the little voice in your head been saying lately?
What makes you feel incomplete?
What’s something new you recently learnt about yourself?
What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
What promise to yourself do you still need to fulfil?

For the final list of the decade, I have returned to some pop divas and an all-time classic. We begin with Taylor Swift, then rock out to Evanescence. Across to Malta for Ira Losco. Then Joe South followed by Dirty Dancing. Beyonce is the penultimate number and we complete with all things Ubuntu: Sometimes You Have To Fight For The Things!!!

Life teaches us many lessons, one of mine is that Love and Respect For All, Everyone Included answers question two and three above. Until next time we meet in the new decade, dear friends.

Be Curious, Not Judgemental.

Posted on December 27, 2019 by Rod's World

Someone asked me recently, “What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you.” It’s like they are asking do other peoples opinions decide what you do in life. Truth be told, nobody has the right to judge you. People may have heard your stories, but they can’t feel what you are going through, they aren’t living YOUR life. So forget what they say about you. Focus on how you feel about yourself, and do what you know in your heart is right.

My friend Marc Chernoff’s list gifts us ten things to do for ourselves even if others judge you for it:

1. Take care of yourself.

2. Do what you know is right, for YOU.

3. Follow your own unique path.

4. Lock yourself away from the world and work on your goals.

5. Adjust your goals and dreams as life changes.

6. Forgive those who have wronged you.

7. Show everyone your love and kindness.

8. Stand up for others, even if it’s the unpopular thing to do.

9. Fight through your failures.

10. Keep your head held high and keep on smiling.

As Jack London once said, “The proper function of man is to live, not to exist”. so why do we take notice of how people judge us, and what has society said about judgement over time:

1. How would the planet operate if we all did this?

2. Remember when you are pointing a finger there are three pointing back at you: Only God Can Judge Me.

3. Judgements are normally instant before you know anything about a person or situation. Show some kindness and ask what is happening for them.

4. Everybody’s life changes each chapter. Learn the full story before you make your decision.: It’s my Life.

5. Anne Inez McCaffrey was an American-born writer who emigrated to Ireland and was best known for the Dragonriders of Pern science fiction series. Early in McCaffrey’s 46-year career as a writer, she became the first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction and the first to win a Nebula Award.

6. To each, their own: Judge Not.

7. As you are about to do it, remember how it felt last time it happened to you.

8. Each of us has our own deadly sins, mine are chocolate and icecream: Sinnerman.

9. Brene has something to say about it.

10. Very difficult to do I have found: Hallelujah.

11. There are 7 billion unique individuality types on the planet, remember that.

12. His Holiness rocks: One Love.

13. Mother Teresa was known for getting in people’s faces, she does not hold back here.

14. Two Bob Marley songs and this fantastic anti-judgement quote: Creep.

15. And for the final lesson, what would it take you to get to live your life from this premise?

Every new day is a chance to change your life. Work on making life all that you want it to be. Work hard for what you believe, and keep your dreams big and your worries small. You never need to carry more than you can hold; just take it one day at a time. And while you’re out there making decisions instead of excuses, learning new things, and getting closer and closer to your dreams, know that there are others out there, like me, who admire your efforts and are striving for greatness too.

There are some giants of the music scene on today’s playlist. Two songs by the same artist but both not done by him, one is a cover. Tupac leads off, Then to the world of rock and roll with Bon Jovi. Bob Marley’s first-ever single follows. Then, two giants, Nina Simone and Leonard Cohen, both recorded live. The penultimate number is a cover of Bob by Playing for Change and we complete with Radiohead: Be Curious, Not Judgemental.

I have found as I become less judgemental I come closer and closer to living my life ethos – Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included. Until we meet again my dear friends.

Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk!!!

Posted on December 23, 2019 by Rod's World

It’s the festive season and the end of the year, and notably the end of the decade. My social media newsfeed features many posts talking about living in the now and not regretting your past life. I acknowledge over the past ten years I have been in many different places. It began in psych units for the first four years then a miracle cure via the love my siblings showed me stating That they did not care how much I hurt them and myself, they would still love me unconditionally. Enter the Conscious Community of Melbourne via the Rainbow Bridge 13:13:13 retreat in Gunnedah in the shire in December 2013 and my miraculous recovery journey began.

Over those six years, I have had many regrets but this piece of prose from my friend Marc Chernoff sums it up pretty well:

“When the deepest part of you becomes engaged in what you are doing, when your activities and actions become gratifying and purposeful, when what you do serves both yourself and others, when you do not tire within because you are pursuing the sweet satisfaction of your life and your work, you are living your life the way it is meant to be lived.”

Of course, you will have regrets, but it is how long you hold onto them that matters. Marc lists 17 decisions that can affect you in this area:

Not loving what is.
Waiting and waiting and waiting.
Changing who you are because others have changed.
Letting heartache define you.
Running away from problems.
Being ungrateful.
Allowing long-term anger to occupy your heart.
Believing that beauty looks a certain way.
Letting your expectations run rampant.
Disrespecting others.
Disrespecting yourself,
Putting up with unfaithful friends and lovers.
Rushing Love.
Neglecting your most important relationships.
Trying to control every last detail about everything.
Never taking risks.
Giving up on YOU.

So, lets have a look at what we human beings say about the power of regret:

1. Congrats, you made it through. Next small step forward.

2. It may be as simple as turning left instead of right and missing out on bumping into the love of your life: Money Changes Everything.

3. From the world’s greatest philosopher Ms Unknown comes this-worldly insight as to why people have come into your life.

4. But we all have those doozies!!!: Why Did You Do That.

5. Yes, it was!!!

6. Our education begins on the day we are born and we graduate on the day we pass: Falling In Love.

7. I relate this to my drugtaking period.

8. Where does falling in love fit in here: Everything Has Changed Now.

9. Mine is bungy jumping in New Zealand.

10. Regret is like the mud in a pigpen, for wallowing in: Bring Me To Life,

11. A writer of words, a poetic soul, an emotive expressionist, Ranata Suzuki is a poet and quote writer whose eloquent words form with painful clarity the sad yet beautiful world of the broken heart.

12. And yes, there is an official description of the mood: No Regrets.

13. Shadow and Light travel together to give you the complete experience.

14. Time to move on down the road: Moving On Down The Line.

15. And for our final lesson, that big white-haired dude in the sky has his say.

Sometimes life doesn’t give you what you want; not because you don’t deserve it, but because you deserve better. No matter how many times you break down, there should always be a little voice inside you that says “NO, you’re not done yet! Get back up!” That’s the voice of passion and courage. Life is a journey, often difficult and sometimes incredibly cruel; but you are well equipped for it as long as you tap into your talents and gifts, and allow them to flourish.

Today’s playlist contains some Alan Watts wisdom and several certified legends of the music scene. Cyndi Lauper leads out, Lady Gaga is next from that film. Alan’s wisdom follows, then a beautiful duet from Kate Perry and Ed Sheeran. I sneak some rock in with Evanescence next. The penultimate track is by the Walker Brothers and we complete with Roy Orbison: Don’t Cry Over Spilt Milk.

Let’s learn from our regrets and conquer them so that Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included can flourish on the planet. Until we next meet, my dear friends.

Surround Yourself With People Who Know Things You Don’t Know!!!

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Rod's World

I was part of an excellent team on the weekend who helped create an event called Synergy – Kin Rising, over 200 plus people gathering to gift their energies to each other to create a sacred space with excellent workshops, good and music. Synergy’s definition is as follows: the combined power of a group of people when they are working together that is greater than the total power achieved by each working separately.

My friends Phoenix and Clare have been producing these extravaganza’s for ten years and they keep getting better and better. Here is Phoenix sharing what Synergy is really about: Phoenix’s prayer for Life.

My friends Marc and Angel Chernoff’s Quotes to help follow your Passion sum up what Synergy is about as well:

When passion and skill work together, the ned result is a masterpiece.
Your work is to discover your work and then, with all your heart, to give yourself to it.
If you are passionate about it, pursue it, no matter what anybody else thinks. That’s how dreams are achieved.
The heart of human excellence often begins to beat when you discover a pursuit that absorbs you, frees you, challenges you, and gives you a sense of meaning, joy and passion.
No matter how many times you break down, there should always be a little voice inside you that says “NO, you’re not done yet, Get back up.” That’s the voice of passion and courage.
Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things.
Find what makes you come alive, whatever it is. Become it and let it become you, and great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you.
Continue to work hard at what you love no matter what the odds are. Eventually, someone will praise and appreciate what you do.
If you cannot put your heart into it, take yourself out of it.
It’s not about getting a chance, it’s about taking a chance. You’ll rarely be 100% sure it will work, but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work. Sometimes you just have to go for it.

So what do our communities say about the power of the Synergy field, let’s have a look:

1. And in that harmony, there will be times of disharmony as well.

2. None of, It’s my way or the highway in synergy mobs: Burning Fire Soul

3. Si-nar-je, the correct pronunciation of such a powerful word.

4. As the title of this blog suggests, find the others: Ancestors.

5. Bucky could sure twist words together.

6. With synergy in the driver’s seat so much more is attainable: Here In The Now.

7. Why do we need Synergy, so amazing shit can happen.

8. No words needed: Agua Doce.

9. Then there are always other interpretations.

10. Stephen Covey quote number three, this dude sure knows a lot about the subject: Innermost High.

11. The vocal jam run by one of the entertainers, Murray Kyle was next level.

12. The importance of synergy is infiltrating all levels of society, even to the lofty branches of the head of the Virgin empire: Danza Del Viento.

13. Well said, Barbara.

14. And Synergy – Kin Rising was an amazing example of this immense power: Protect The Water.

15. And the final lesson for today is that synergy actions can produce unexpected results, such as this smile.

So with the power of Synergy, we can create and do things that are far beyond our own capabilities. A question to finish – Are you doing what you BELIEVE in, our are you SETTLING for what you are doing?

There where two head musical acts on the day: Murray Kyle and Porangui. Today’s playlist goes, Murray then alternating with Porangui, Enjoy: Surround Yourself with People Who Know Things You Don’t Know!!!

If you are a regular reader you will know my Why in life is Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included, With more events like Synergy – Kin Rising this will happen sooner than later. Until next time my dear friends.

Every Person’s Map of the World is Unique as Their Thumbprint!!

Posted on December 16, 2019 by Rod's World

This quote finishes with the following – ” There are no two people alike. No two people who understand the same sentence the same way…So in dealing with people, you try not to fit them in with your concept of what they should be.”

I relate this to the fact we are all born with a Superpower to gift to the planet but over time we are trained out of them to fit into society. Remember as a child when you ran around enacting them, what happened? I think we go through a period where we forget it, and at some stage in our lives many of us take the actions to recover them, this may not be an easy path but it is truly worthwhile.

My superpower is to have Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included to be present in interactions, on the person to person level to a world scale. I was at an event on the weekend helping set up when a woman asked me to help unpack her car. I was called to ask her what was her superpower, she replied she hadn’t really thought about it. This woman helps create the largest women’s gathering in my home state of Victoria if not Australia. So it sort of shocked me that she did not see this as a superpower as I imagine the 3,000 plus women who attend the event certainly would.

I have found my friend Marc Chernoff’s list 12 Things you should be able to say about Yourself useful in having mine present on a daily basis, here it is:

I am following my heart and intuition.
I am proud of myself.
I am making a difference.
I am happy and grateful.
I am growing into the best version of me.
I am making my time count.
I am honest with myself.
I am good to those I care about.
I know what unconditional love feels like.
I have forgiven those who once hurt me.
I take full accountability for my life.
I have no regrets.

So what does society say about our superpowers, let’s have a look:

2. Lena overcame the colour and sex barrier that has existed in the comedy industry in America for eons to win an Emmy for her writing.

2. It is said that the minute you become a parent, your superpowers multiply tenfold, the above quote supports that: Baby Bielanko.

3. This is what Sylvester wrote about the journey: After being ejected as collateral via my parent’s breakup; After being lied to, cheated on and subtracted from all equations of love; I determined that things were not adding up any more. I knew that I deserved to be loved every day, not only with words but with actions. I found a great deal of power in learning about love. I had been confused this whole time as I believed what we were all taught to believe as children – that love was something you find inside of another person. This journey allowed me to heal, forgive and accelerate my life towards love. Our journeys have different titles but we are all out here walking together toward the same goal. People with different skin tones, speech variations and socio-economic status all deserve love. This is The Dear Queen Journey: A Path To Self Love.

4. How could I write on Superpowers without using a Stan Lee quote: Stan.

5. And this is when your superpowers are most powerful.

6. The superpower of true Love: Unconditional Love.

7. This is very rarely thought of being a superpower that is needed but is incredibly powerful for the kids involved.

8. Pharrell did it with this amazing song he wrote: Happy.

9. It’s not in the wearing of a cape.

10. Mahatma points out why we need our superpower at times: I Stand Alone.

11. As I said my superpower is Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included, What’s Yours?

12. From one of the people using her superpower for the good of the planet at the moment: Thinking Outside The Box.

13. For your superpower, you get to write the manual.

14. Stan reveals the answer to what is the greatest superpower: Get Lucky.

15. And for the final lesson, is who give our superpower purpose, look in the mirror!!!

Life is not complicated, We are complicated. When we stop doing the wrong things and start using our superpower to do the right things, life becomes simple.

The playlist begins with today’s unknown artist Monica BieLanko then some Eminem. Donna Summer and Pharrell Williams lift the mood in the next two numbers. Godsmack squeezes out some hard rock before the penultimate number by Ben Lee, finishing with the funk of Daft Punk: Every Person’s Map of the World is Unique as Their Thumbprint!!

So, I have revealed my superpower to you. In having you ponder yours I am sure that mine: Love and Respect For All, Everybody Included will make a huge difference on the planet with the support of whatever you reveal for yourselves. Until we meet again, my dear friends.

Inhale the Future, Exhale the Past!!!

Posted on December 12, 2019 by Rod's World

I went to a fabulous Xmas house party last night, lots of interesting people and great dance music. Clare, who lives there is a workshop facilitator and performer and she took us through a process to welcome in the new year. Clare got everybody to gather in the loungeroom, there were quite a few of us:

And then she asked us to contemplate what was something we wished to achieve over the coming period and call them out into existence, they covered a new house to my inlaws making up and everything in between. I love my friend Marc Chernoff’s list he created some time ago to empower your near future:

Start spending time with the right people.
Start facing your problems head-on.
Start being honest with yourself about everything.
Start making your own happiness a priority.
Start being yourself, genuinely and proudly.
Start noticing and living in the present.
Start valuing the lessons your mistakes teach you.
Start being more polite to yourself.
Start enjoying the things you already have.
Start creating your own happiness.
Start giving your ideas and dreams a chance.
Start believing that you’re ready for the next step.
Start entering new relationships for the right reasons.
Start giving new people you meet a chance.
Start competing against an earlier version of yourself.
Start cheering for other people’s victories.
Start looking for the silver lining in tough situations.
Start forgiving yourself and others.
Start helping those around you.
Start listening to your own inner voice.
Start being attentive to your stress level and take short breaks.
Start noticing the beauty of small moments.
Start accepting things that are less than perfect.
Start working toward your goals every single day.
Start being more open about how you feel.
Start taking full accountability for your own life.
Start actively nurturing your most important relationships.
Start concentrating on the things you can control.
Start focusing on the possibility of positive outcomes.
Start noticing how wealthy you are right now.

So what does society say about taking steps forward, here are a few of my favourite things:

1. Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist who was best known for creating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a theory of psychological health predicated on fulfilling innate human needs in priority, culminating in self-actualization.

2. Certainly has a positive ring to it – Grit anchored with Grace: When You Believe.

3. Remember to Ask, Often.

4. You must move forward to fail, being frozen by doubt achieves nothing: Who You Are.

5. Keep on keeping on.

6. Nicholas James Vujicic is an Australian Christian evangelist and motivational speaker born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of arms and legs. That gives him the right to say the above about stepping forward: One Step Up.

7. You don’t need to see the arrival point if you have faith.

8. A classic from a great Kiwi band: One Step Ahead.

9.The pathway to continuing to step forward in life.

10. Vincent Lingiari never did, he just took a small step forward at a time, and got his people’s land back: From Little Things, Big Things Grow.

11. Cause and Effect.

12. Place a foot in front of another and you will eventually get to the top: Stairway to Heaven.

13. Not always an easy choice, but one you must make for yourself.

14. Time passing is a given, never give up: Wake Me Up.

15. And for the final lesson, taking that step forward begins a new chapter.

You can’t change everything, but you can always change something. Wasting your time, talent and emotional energy on things that are beyond your control is a recipe for frustration, misery and stagnation. Invest your energy in things you can control and act on them now.

Today’s playlist begins with a duet by Whitney and Mariah, then we move forward in time to Jessie J.The males then take over with Bruce Springsteen, Split Enz, Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody, the penultimate track by Led Zeppelin and we finish with Avicii: Inhale The Future, Exhale The Past.

If there were more ceremonies held like the one Clare had us take part in I am sure that my dream of Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included would manifest sooner than later. Until we meet again, my dear friends.

How about a Coffee, Drinks, Dinner and a Movie?

Posted on December 9, 2019 by Rod's World

I went to two extremely different gatherings on the weekend. One was Mojo – The Dance of Connection and the other the Christmas gathering for Sunday Assembly, Melbourne.

I became seriously involved with Mojo when Jules, who facilitates asked me if I knew how to make chai for 50 people about three years ago and have been the crew chaistro ever since. I didn’t I had made two cups in my life, all hail Google. At Mojo we investigate connection through touch and connection. We have an intro session for about 30 minutes to introduce the concept of consensual touch, then move onto the forest, an experience where you close your eyes and allow this to occur for about 15 minutes. We then move into the Jam where we request you dance with a different human being each track. As Jules says, you may find that you get the most out of dancing with someone you least expect to.

I became entwined with Sunday Assembly when they did a conga line to I come from the Land Down Under and it was so much fun singing songs from my childhood, listening to a TED talk and contemplating life, that I have attended regularly since. Actually, I am on the organizing committee, surprise, surprise. We have had talked covering subjects from arranged marriages to transgender coming out.

So, how do you gather? Go to the Footy, hang out with your parents and siblings, attend your local church, gyrate at conscious dances: I have done all of these things over my lifetime so lets have a look what society says about the power of gathering with others:

gath1

1. What would it be like if all humanity realised that life was just one big love gathering?

gath2

2. Three primal things we gather for, music, food and sex: Havana.

gath3

3. Can’t understand why there is an image of Jesus in the top left-hand corner, but he could have said it, I suppose.

gath4

4. Gatherings are an excellent space to express your gratitude for others: Thank You.

gath5

5. Jona Lewie made the kitchen famous with his hit song from the 1980s.

gath6

6. And here it is: In the Kitchen at Parties.

gath7

7. Would make a very acceptable invite to a party.

gath8

8. Proposing that “real social change comes from the ageless process of people thinking together in conversation,” she describes her work as opposing “highly controlled mechanistic systems that only create robotic behaviours.”: Equal Rights.

gath9

9. Gathering your precious each day also helps.

gath10

10. I just really like this quote, for no other reason: Ocean of Sounds.

gath11

11. This is extremely powerful.

gath12

12. I assume Rumi is talking about the human race in this stanza: Gamble Everything For Love.

gath13

13. From junk food to high tea, on all levels possible.

gath13

14. Just so I could choose this song from my teenage years: The Devil Went Down to Georgia.

gath15

15. For the final lesson, Jane comments on a form of gathering that exists in every culture on earth.

If you can’t always gather, here are 21 Quick Tricks to Feel Better Instantly from my friends Marc and Angel Chernoff:

1. Wash your hands and face, and brush your teeth.

2. Change your socks for refreshment.

3. Call a close friend.

4. Stretch.

5. Go outdoors.

6. Take a light exercise break.

7. Dress to Feel Your Best.

8. Listen to your favourite music.

9. Watch and read something that inspires you.

10. Have a good laugh.

11. Take a few really deep, controlled breaths.

12. Clear your stuffed nose.

13. Cook a tasty meal.

14. Walk away from energy vampires.

15. Complete an important piece of unfinished business.

16. Work on something that’s meaningful to you.

17. Assist someone in need.

18. Think about your latest (or greatest) success.

19. Act like today is already an awesome day.

20. Notice what’s right.

21. Take a moment to acknowledge how far you’ve come.

From gatherings to a quick conversation with someone you care about is just what you need to boost your mood.

Today’s playlist begins with some Latin beats from Camilo Cabella. A beautiful song of gratitude from Dido follows then the anthem to kitchens from Jona Lewie. We visit Jamacia next with Peter Tosh, then possibly the most eclectic track I have ever chosen from John Cage. A fine boppy number from Ben Lee sees us complete with a number from my teenage years from The Charlie Daniels Band: How About a Coffee, Drinks, Dinner and a Movie?

So this is why I feel the art of gathering is so important for my why: my ethos in Life, Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included to spread across the planet. Until we meet again, my dear friends.

gath16

Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included!!!

Posted on December 5, 2019 by Rod's World

Today I write about my Why: it’s expressed in the title of this blog. I write all of these blogs at the Darebin Intercultural Centre in Preston Australia a placed that healed me after six years of a mental health crisis that included six psych unit hospitalisations totalling a period of six and a half months, my advice, never let this happen to you.

In our brochure our ethos is explained, it is as follows “Where difference is acknowledged, explored, understood and celebrated. Darebin Intercultural Centre aims to foster respectful and constructive interracial, intercultural and interfaith relations between and amongst people who live, work or play in Darebin. The Centre is a dedicated space for Intercultural development, dialogue, engagement, participation and celebration.”

How did I end up here? After working for Centrelink, a government agency who deals with the unemployed, the disabled and the elderly, read the people who others want to forget exist for 14 years I ended up being dismissed never to work again after being Manager of the most chaotic Newstart section in Melbourne ending my career doing filing because I did not listen to what my heart and body were saying to me, which was, Get the Fuck out.

I spent about two years lying around my flat believing what they had said when I saw an ad in the local newspaper: Free Colombian film night. I was drawn to this as South America is one place that is on my bucket list. I fought against my social anxiety and went to the Darebin Intercultural Centre for the film.

When I arrived there was an incredibly diverse crowd of cultures just hanging out together being friends. It spoke to my heart and to this day I do not know what gave me the courage to ask the manager Inaam did they need any volunteers. I do not know why she replied yes, as they had never had any before.

Over the following five years I have done many things and at the moment being an English tutor three days a week, my dear old dad, if he was alive would be very proud because he always wanted me to follow in his footsteps as a teacher up until the day I was expelled at the end of Year 11 for non attendance as I hated the formal school system.

I feel that my friend Marc Chernoff’s list called 10 Actions That Always Bring Happiness speaks to my joy of being involved with the Centre:

1. Appreciate how much you have.

2. Focus on things that really matter.

3. Define your own meaning in life, and pursue it.

4. Embrace life’s challenges.

5. Find the balance that allows you to be who you truly are.

6. Love your body enough to take care of it.

7. Limit your time with negative people.

8. Treat others the way you want to be treated.

9. Set a good example.

10. Accept what is, and live for the possibilities that lie ahead.

I chose to learn about new cultures as the way of empowering my intercultural journey, but what does the planet say about it:

1. No words really needed.

2. Travel is a great way to discover new cultures. Be careful you may fall in love with one, and never leave: Greece – The Best Love Song.

3. You have to open your eyes to let love in.

4. Live your life to the full, A Ho: Loving Life.

5. In December there is something to celebrate every day, not just Christmas. My favourite is December 30th: National Bicarbonate of Soda Day.

6. This is why I love our Centre, I am always learning new ways of these things being expressed: Where Is The Love.

7. Vironika Tugaleva is an award-winning author, poet, spoken word artist, life coach, wanderer, visual artist, vocalist, and seeker of beauty in all its forms.

8. I don’t always agree with Ayn Rand but this hits home: Life is Worth Living.

9. Exercise your compassion for others and their diverse cultures and build up your wing strength.

10. Strange a right-wing conservative came up with this: I was Here.

11. From the most famous of philosophers, Ms Unknown comes this power quote on the beauty of Interculturalism.

12. Abdel-Fattah studied a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law at the University of Melbourne. During this time, she was the Media Liaison Officer at the Islamic Council of Victoria, a role that afforded her the opportunity to write for newspapers and engage with media institutions about their representation of Muslims and Islam. She completed her PhD on Islamaphobia. Abdel-Fattah was a passionate human rights advocate and stood in the 1998 federal election as a member of the Unity Party (slogan: Say No to Pauline Hanson). I Don’t Like It.

13. Spiritualism explained really well.

14. From the man who refused to cut the Arts budget to fund a war, here is another on the importance of art and culture: Beasts of No Nation.

15, For our final lesson, what are we up to with our addiction to learning from Social media and not libraries.

If you want to empower others in your life. you need to start living the most empowered version of your self first, that is why finding your why in life is so important. You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream, I’m 65. Believe in what you want so much that it has no choice but to become your reality. And don’t ever compare yourself to anyone else; stay focused on your own journey and leave footprints behind. My blog has left footprints in 104 countries across the planet, I find this amazing.

I have fulfilled a dream today in the playlist, I got to include a Fela Kuti song. We begin with a love song to Greece, Our unknown artist at 57,000 likes is a fine voice from Lysa. The Black Eyed Peas do that song next. Back to modern times with Justin Bieber and Beyonce. Some Aussie edification with the satiricalness of Pauline Pantsdown and we complete with my dream track from Fela Kuti: Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included.

So this is the joyfulness and one of the loves of my life, The Darebin Intercultural Centre where I was gifted my Why one afternoon sitting at my desk: Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included. Until next time we meet, my dear friends.

You are not a Pretzel!!!

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Rod's World

Just got back from a Warrior of Love Retreat, this is us at the end:

The theme was Belonging, to community and self. We did an interesting practice called the quadrant where you got to hang out in four fields – The Pleaser, The Lone Wolf, The Village and The Leader. I discovered that I am a bit of a pleasing lone wolf who likes hanging out in villages in the hope it will rub off on me.

So here is an exercise to help empower your situation :

A silhouette of a human being stands before you, perhaps a friend, perhaps a lover, perhaps a perfect stranger: They need you to connect with them, they need you to share this moment, they need you to be you – just the way you are. And they need you to respect them, just the way they are. Here are 13 practices to help achieve this:

Smile without hesitation
Give without expectation
Comfort without lying
Guide without misleading
Forgive without resentment
Rest without judgement
Notice with critiquing
Appreciating without comparing
Listen without interruption
Question without objection
Challenge without mocking
Consider without doubting
Discuss without criticizing

These exercises help you become more of the real you, what do we say about truly being you, here are some examples from over history:

1. It seems Beyonce can do a little more than making sexy Youtube videos and sing.

2. I like this quirky to be list: Mama, Weer All Crazy Now,

3. Turning down all those doubts in your head help free your heart.

4. Stay true to your school, you are its main student and you choose who the other students are: Be True To Your School.

5. You were in a unique line of one when you arrived.

6. Find your Others: Self-Care.

7. There are 7 billion people on the planet, not all of them will like you.

8. From my second favourite Buddhist master, Thich Nhat Hanh comes this powerful insight: Who You Are.

9. Two things we know will happen – birth and death, the in-between is your life to live.

10. Moment to moment your life can change, unfortunately, we do not live our lives like this for quite a bit of our lives: Lose Yourself.

11. My name is Rod Williams, my unique version of that name.

12. The philosophy of the woman who changed the Beatles forever: Walking On Thin Ice.

13. Edwin Elliot or Edwin Bailey Elliott was born June 1, 1851, in Oxford, England and died July 21, 1937, also in Oxford, England. He was a mathematician who worked on invariant theory. Outside mathematics, Elliott had many interests. Music, natural history and literature were all high on his list of hobbies. However, these were often more than mere hobbies. For example, he founded the oldest literary society in Queen’s College.

14. You are your own superpower: No One.

15. And for your final lesson on being you, being your unique self is how people can best enjoy you. If they don’t, time to move on.

fate controls a lot of who walks into your life, but you decide who you let walk out, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go. In choosing to be a Warrior of Love I am surrounding myself with people who make me a better person, and I choose who to let go of those who don’t.

The playlist today begins on the last century with Slade and The Beach Boys. We then return to modern times with Savanahh Christina and Jessie J. Some rap from Eminem next and a surprisingly tuneful number from Yoko Ono follows. We finish with Alicia Keys: You Are Not a Pretzel!!!

Learn to accept that is often not people who have been in our lives we miss but the feeling we had when we were with them. Times change, and what presences Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included may as well. Remember you can get these blogs in your inbox by filling in the form on the right-hand side. Until we meet again, my dear friends.