Time for an Overhaul, Renewal is Needed.

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Rod's World

I have been feeling the desire to transform what I do for a living. I was retired 4 and a half years ago by a federal agency Unfit to work ever again and placed on a life time pension. I believed this for two and a half years and did nothing eventually starting to do voluntary work as this did not necessarily mean that I was doing anything that I would receive value for my work.

Since I began writing my blog I have discovered that I also have great proof reading, marketing, editing and copy-writing skills I picked up in the seventies when I became joint Editor of a national Community Development journal by default. The editors left to drive around Australia and gifted the journal to the volunteers. It was pre-Internet, the early days of email so everything was basically a manual process. I did not use them for years except proof reading every sign and chalk board as I walked the streets of Melbourne. When I moved into a voluntary Social media role I discovered I still had the skills, they just had been dormant.

So what does it take to renew oneself? Here are my Fifteen favorite quotes and thoughts on the matter from over the pages of history.

1. I know that I will not be able to earn a living from these skills doing what I do or thinking that I’m to old and my skills are out of date, so I will have to open myself up to a new way of being about these matters.

2. If you think you know it all, there is a famous Gandhi quote

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Being frozen with your thoughts and ideas points to the fact that you have settled into the cement of rigidity.

3. Henri Amiel born in 1821 had great insight into the matter, stating that as long as you had the capability, you could renew.

4. Shamans who visit the West are often saddened by the way people with mental issues are treated. Breakdowns are seen in their communities as a stepping through to the next stage of a persons journey not a disease. Often to renew we have to go through the process of our situation being in breakdown.

5. Nature has been around a lot longer than we mortal humans, our time on earth is equivalent to a few minutes of natures history. It keeps regenerating again and again. Do we see our lives as regenerating moment to moment, not as much as we should if we wish to transform our lives.

6. We drive to work the same way, eat the same meals watch the same TV programs, then we walk into a cafe and the person who serves us changes our life for ever. Her or his fairy wings flutter and say come and play. Renewal at it’s most beautiful.

7. Socrates, one of our great ancient philosophers points out the importance of no regrets, don’t spend our time focusing on righting the wrongs of our past but to look forward and spend our time renewing our identity.

8. Jean Racine, one of France’s great playwrights from the 17th Century, doesn’t see quarrels as the impending end of a relationship , but the strengthening of people’s love through speaking up for what they required in the relationship.

9.Why is renewal important, because it allows freshness in our lives, the joy of stopping and smelling the roses on a daily basis. As the founder of Buddhism was heard to comment, the root of all suffering is attachment.

10. This one is just too cute to not put in. What came first the egg or the chicken. Who cares.

11. There are so many beliefs about death and what happens. the ease with which we go to it often affects how peaceful and pain-free our final years occur before we begin it all again, The ultimate renewal, or do we?

12. Wendell Berry, Author, Poet and Environmental Activist points out that some renewal is more important than others. We can renew our life and commitments but if we don’t renew our love of the planet it won’t matter much.

13. Our family and friends within our community are who we turn to when we have a down time in our lives. This makes it extremely important to look after these relationships om a daily basis, the non renewal of them could be very costly.

14. Angela Anaïs Juana Antolina Rosa Edelmira Nin y Culmell, better known as Anais Nin points out that the act of renewal in relationships is one of the sparks that brightens them moment to moment. Renewal prevents stagnation in whatever you bring it to.

15. Finally, life’s greatest renewal, our beloved children. The reason we go to the well time and time again. Who remind us that their is a simpler life and in a lot of cases, that we just gave up.

I still have to deal with those thoughts and feeling that will allow me to renew my position in Life. Luckily I am off to my Creative Mastery course tonight run by my friend Arion whose fabulous work enables you to work through this quite quickly. Here’s a link to find out more – Activation School home page.

Well it’s time to say Namaste again, enjoy the read and share it on Facebook if you like it.

Who helps make your Life Story special?

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Rod's World

I recently went to an introduction to an event called Sex and the Soul, it contained Tantric practices so I was hesitant as always when that word is bandied around. As the people running it are my two main teachers in life My heart trusted them but my circumstantial driven mind still had the thoughts that some of it would be unsafe.

It was a beautifully joyous sacred occasion, honoring Men and Women on an equal level and opening up the possibility of huge expansion of your sexuality and all areas of your life really. I didn’t get better at the practice of the bump and grind of sex, that isn’t what its about. But riding home on the tram a few days later it hit me the main thing I had got was that I was so much more accessible to myself and other people to share my life story with and that it could be juicy.

So what does life have to say about our Life stories and how has society related to it over time. Here they are, my favorite 15 sayings on the matter and a few of my thoughts on them.

1. This is what I and I’m sure quite a few other people travelling on the Love realm dream of, How sexy would this be in your life.

2. What kind of people are we? Often flawed at time, we all do our best to be the best person we can be for another. Find the one’s who will give their all for you, even if it doesn’t fit your list.

3. Songs tell us the stories of our lives year to year. What were the melancholy songs that you used to stand and shout out next to your friends in those,imy case smoke filled rooms that now move you to tears as you remember the good and bad times of your ill spent youth.

4. I have to agree with this one, how did I get to be 60 with my own Seniors card. You can still, and I do dance like you are a third of that age, its your choice to listen to the conversation that there are things you can no longer do.

5. Our stories contain everything, the highs and the lows, the love and the pain. When it becomes just reminiscing the events and feelings that took place and you don’t become crippled by the memories, the pain has miraculously gone.

6. There’s the past, the present and the future. Those times we believe that we think we can control the third of these is when we are most disappointed. The joy in life is those unexpected meetings that transform what we can accept in our lives.

7. All those things we are told and boxed into become our Life. We often forget they are just a story and that stories can be scrunched up and re written in a new magnificent version.

8. Do you make a difference with your life story, do you give to others of your wisdom, time and spirit. The bettering of humanity is not in focusing on yourself all the time. Yes we need to get better, but it is in the grand purpose of taking others with us that will transform our wounded planet.

9. How often do we say or think, It’s their fault, not mine. Turn around , go back and begin again. You are letting others write your story, that beautiful eulogy to your magnificent life.

10. Are you an introvert or an extrovert , a whisperer or a yelling full out type. All stories are there to be told. Nothing wrong in how you tell it, just live it full out.

11. Do our stories get heavier as we grow older. This humorous take on our stories by Garfield is my favorite excuse why I have an expanded tummy.

12. Imagination is what makes our stories great to listen to. Today in our schools they are focusing on Knowledge, memorizing by rort. This saddens me that they are building clones not unique individuals who will live their amazing stories.

13. I don’t think I will ever be able to explain why one drunken night I said to the people I had just met, see you in 4 weeks. Yes I did the Melbourne Stair Climb and came fourth last, I smoked 40 cigarettes a day when I did this. Funny thing is they gave you a beer at the end.

14. Virginia Woolf, one of the great women of history, has us looks at those could have been, would have been ghosts that permeate our past when we decide no instead of going for it full out.

15. And finally for a little bit of light entertainment, what song describes you blessed , sacred life story. I have chosen Give Peace a chance by John Lennon. What will you choose

My theme song.

Well another 15 ways to look at how we can live our Life story well. Thank you for taking the time to have a look at your Life Story and Namaste until next time.