No, I don’t think I will kiss You!!!

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Rod's World

Today I am going to write about friendship, in particular, a friendship I have formed with two of my English student, Jule and Xue Li. They are both Chinese mothers who are in Australia supporting their children through their education.

I must admit I did not have any Chinese friends before meeting these two wonderful women and really knew very little about everyday Chinese culture, perhaps the Great Wall of China was visible from space and that there are 2 billion Chinese and that is a lot of people.

Since then I have learnt of their deep respect for educators, that they do not have snags at Chinese BBQ’s and they include you in their circle of friends. Here is a photo that was taken on Monday at the National Gallery of Victoria on an excursion to a Japanese fashion exhibition they organised instead of having English lessons:

They make me smile with their antics, they met each other at English classes, are from totally different areas of China and have different cultural backgrounds. Here is a quite long list my friend Marc Chernoff wrote about how to make people smile, several of them relate to how Julie and Xue Li make me smile:

1. Smile Often.

2. Hold a door open for someone,

3. Pay for the person in line behind you.

4. Send a hand-written thank you card to someone who assisted you with something.

5. Clean out all your old clothes and donate them to someone in need.

6. Give a compliment about a waiter, waitress, sales clerk, etc. to his or her manager.

7. Compliment a stranger’s appearance. Flatter them.

8. Leave encouraging post-it notes in library books and other random places.

9. Help an elderly person carry something.

10. Send flowers to someone anonymously.

11. Be a courteous driver. Let people merge in front of you.

12. Volunteer at a children’s hospital or nursing home.

13. Donate blood.

14. Buy house warming gifts for new neighbours.

15. Introduce yourself. Make new colleagues, classmates, etc. feel welcome.

16. Inspire others online.

17. Send letters of appreciation to business owners/managers and other people who support you.

18. Treat everyone with the same level of respect you’d give to your grandfather.

19. Give everyone the same level of patience you’d have with your baby sister.

20. Appreciate people the way they are.

21. Share your lunch or a snack with someone who doesn’t have one.

22. Put some change in an expired parking meter.

23. Check up on someone who looks lonely.

24. Tell your boss, teacher or professor that he or she is doing a great job and that you appreciate what they’ve taught you.

25. Create places and things for others to enjoy. Like decorating your house for the holidays or creating a piece of art.

26. If you overhear that it’s someone’s birthday, go out of your way to wish them a happy one.

27. Ask someone for their opinion or advice.

28. Bring cookies or bagels to work for everyone.

29. Tip waiters and waitresses well when they deserve it.

30. Be a part of something you believe in. Those around you will notice your enthusiasm.

31. Leave a thank-you note for the office janitors.

32. Help bag your own groceries at the checkout counter.

33. Offer your seat to someone when there aren’t any left.

34. Let someone with only a few items cut you in line at the grocery store.

35. Wave to a kid in the car next to you.

36. Spread the good news.

37. Repeat something nice you heard about someone else.

38. Remember people’s names and address them accordingly.

39. When you make eye contact with someone, smile.

40. Replace what you’ve used. For example, fill up the copier or printer with paper after you’re done using it.

41. Share your umbrella on a rainy day.

42. Listen intently to people’s stories without trying to fix everything.

43. Dance with someone who hasn’t been asked.

44. Call a stranger’s attention to a beautiful sunset or full moon.

45. Give words of encouragement toward someone’s dream, no matter how big or small it is.

46. Ask someone who enjoys cooking for a recipe.

47. Let someone else eat the last slice of pizza or cake.

48. Stop and buy a drink from a kid’s lemonade stand.

49. Help someone get your parking space in a crowded parking lot when you’re leaving.

50. Ask someone you see every now and then if they’ve lost weight.

51. Do a little something extra to make someone else’s life easier.

52. Use all the manners you learned in Kindergarten.

53. Listen to someone’s pain and help them find a path through it.

54. Give without expecting to get back.

55. Encourage others to do one unanticipated kind or helpful act at least once a week.

56. Observe everyone without judging.

57. Say “Please” and “Thank you.”

58. Forgive and let go of anger. For instance, if somebody accidentally cuts you off in traffic, just let it go.

59. Believe in yourself with all of your heart. People will notice.

60. Don’t be so serious all the time.

61. Treat every small interaction with another person as an opportunity to make a positive impact in both your lives.

62. Greed, anger and ignorance. Avoid all three.

63. Speak your truth.

64. Teach others how to make a difference by setting an example.

65. Help others be independent.

66. Give people the space they need.

67. Lend your shoulder to cry on.

68. Offer encouragement after a failure.

69. Acknowledge people for a job well done.

70. Tell a good joke.

71. Clean up after yourself.

72. Excel at what you do. People appreciate professionals.

73. Create a care package and send it to an active duty military unit.

74. Redirect gifts. Instead of having people give you birthday and holiday gifts, ask them to donate gifts or money to a good cause.

75. Stop to help. The next time you see someone pulled over with a flat tire, or in need of assistance, stop and ask how you can help

76.Put a small personal touch on everything you do. People notice and appreciate individuality.

77. Take the time to teach someone a skill you know.

78. Help someone get active. There’s a coworker or acquaintance in your life who wants to get healthy but needs a helping hand. Offer to go walking or running together, to join a gym together.

79. Send a nice email to a tech support representative who has assisted you.

80. Donate food to a charity.

81. Stand up for someone. Lend your voice. Often the powerless, the homeless, the neglected in our world need someone to speak up for them.

82. If you see a couple taking a self-pic, offer to take the picture for them.

83. Help the weary shopper in front of you who needs those extra two or three cents to avoid breaking a 20-dollar bill.

84. Come to the rescue. If you realize someone is sick, bring them some hot tea, etc.

85. Stand up for your beliefs without flaunting them.

86. Make yourself available and approachable.

87. Over-deliver on all of your promises and obligations.

88. Be positive and focus on what’s right.

88 Luft ballons of how to make people smile later we move on, what does the world say about the value of friendships, here are a few of my favourites:

1. The power of we, it can make you well.

2. They are your personal Santa’s little helper: That’s What Friends Are For.

3. I so love that silence, it is special.

4. We are all along for the ride, where the hell are we going: No Idea.

5. Thank them for letting you practice being in the world.

6. Become the disturbance in their life that has them known they are loved: Greatest Love of All.

7. Heartspace, Soul Love.

8. One of the main benefits of having healthy friendships: Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.

9. Because I loved the image.

10. The Bard chimes in with this classic: Grown Woman.

11. Cripps or Bloods, Choose.

12. Kids movies have certainly offered up some of the worlds greatest quotes: Always look on the Bright Side of Life.

13. We don’t have to always feel our best to make life long friends.

14, Miraculous, really: Promised You a Miracle.

15. Angelo Lagusa is the main protagonist of the game 91 Days. He is an orphan who lost his parents and brother to the Vanetti Family, having witnessed them being gunned down on his birthday.

So a final word on how to generate meaningful friendships: Above all, live proudly. Inspire people with who you are and how you live your life.

The playlist begins today with a famous crew: Whitney, Luther, Dionne and Stevie. Don Tolver is new to me. Whitney Houston again. then some great pop from Wham. My pop diva fetish is fulfilled with Beyonce. Eric Idle is silly next and we finish with some live Simple Minds: No, I Don’t Think I’ll Kiss You!!!

Friendships, some last less than a month, others are from your childhood. However long, I firmly believe they are what will make my ethos for the planet, Love and Respect for All, Everyone Included become reality. Until we meet again, my dear friends.

Who Hurt You, My Own Expectations!!!

Posted on November 14, 2019 by Rod's World

Do you remember or have you ever read the saying by Maria Robinson:” Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending”. I recently had an interaction with one of my English students that brought this to the fore, she was in deep pain about her son, and I could do something about it but was it my right to take her pain away in a teacher/student relationship. This sums up what I did, this is what I wrote as my #Winsday, which is a celebration we make in a course I am doing called Rise – Speaker training, it is one of the best things I have done for years and I do a lot of personal development.

I’m not sure how to start this “Win” My English student said I have something to show you I don’t understand. It was an email from her son’s teacher recommending that they have a Mental health assessment done on him sooner than later as she was incredibly worried for his ongoing wellbeing. Mental health is not a biggie amongst Upper-middle-class Chinese families, especially when it is their one beloved child. After some discussion, I worked out her husband is in total denial of it and keeps saying he is fine. Coincidentally one of my best friends is head of the Child Psychology unit at the Austin Hospital, I contacted her as to what they needed to do about it. My student kept drifting between calling her son abnormal to breaking down and crying. I stood in the power of the central position and helped her keep in touch with her love for him and taking some action. In the end, we had booked a call with her GP the following day. I think without this work I would have given in to its none of my business very early on surviving in the backward position of communication.

I realise I did it because there were times in my life I had seen my own pain and my friend’s pain and done nothing about it. So what does the world say about hurt and pain and how we relate to it:

1. Yep, I was guilty as charged for years and years using this supposed protection method as my friends would not want to know the truth, luckily I have learnt this was a bald-faced lie and they loved me for all of me, warts and all.

2. For each of us, the level of hurt that is defined as bad is unique: Hurt – NIN.

3. V.J., whoever she is, points out what often happens in our relationship with others we meet on the journey of life.

4. Stop doing this in the name of Love: Stop In The Name Of Love.

5. I had many bruises from my 40 year battle with alcohol, the best thing I did when I went cold turkey 5 years ago to heal my chi energy.

6. Not the easiest thing to do, but it is what got me out of a 5-year mental health crisis that saw me be hospitalised 6 times: Believe.

7. What a great question to ask yourself to begin the healing process.

8. Do you accept the option: Bring Me To Life.

9. All pain is not bad for you.

10. Not too sure about this, to me both modalities are valid: Letting Go.

11. A guaranteed recipe to have hurt and pain in your life, hate others.

12. My friends’ daughter went to this extreme as well, it was only the love of her parents that got her through it: Till I Collapse.

13. Lewis and fellow novelist J. R. R. Tolkien were close friends. They both served on the English faculty at Oxford University and were active in the informal Oxford literary group known as the Inklings.

14. If you are born as a human, you will suffer it, enjoy the journey and what it is meant to teach you, avoiding it is not the way to go: Hurt – JC.

15. Bianca Sparacino has an interesting life motto: If you don’t fit in, you’re doing something right. It seems a great description of Living a life without any pain, don’t do that.

So how do we lessen the pain, here is my friend Marc Chernoff’s 30 suggestions to stop doing to Yourself:

Stop spending time with the wrong people.
Stop running from your problems
Stop lying to yourself.
Stop putting your own needs on the back burner.
Stop trying to be someone you’re not.
Stop trying to hold onto the past.
Stop being scared to make a mistake.
Stop berating yourself for old mistakes.
Stop trying to buy happiness.
Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness.
Stop being idle.
Stop thinking you’re not ready.
Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons.
Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work.
Stop trying to compete against everyone else.
Stop being jealous of others.
Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself.
Stop holding grudges.
Stop letting others bring you down to their level.
Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others.
Stop doing the same things over and over without a break.
Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments.
Stop trying to make things perfect.
Stop following the path . of least resistance.
Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t.
Stop blaming others for your troubles.
Stop trying to be everything to everyone.
Stop worrying so much.
Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen.
Stop being ungrateful.

Have a go at a few of these and see how your hurt and pain levels shift.

Today’s playlist has another first, two versions of the same song. We begin with Nine Inch Nails, then some Motown from The Supremes. Then three bands – Mumford and Sons, Evanescence and Paul McCartney and Wings. Two of my favourites complete the set, the penultimate tune is from Eminem and we complete with Johnny Cash: Who Hurt You, My Own Expectations.

So if the world can turn down it’s hurt and pain levels, I reckon my Interculturalist ethos for the world of Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included has a better chance. Until we meet again, my dear friends.

Told You So. Sincerely, Your Intuition!!!

Posted on November 11, 2019 by Rod's World

Apres workshop continuation, I have been having these amazing conversations with people by asking them do they know what their passion for life is. I have been sharing about one of mine, My Sacred Love Stories workshop idea.

The concept came as follows: One night I was making chai at Mojo – The Dance of Connection and I looked through the window onto the dance floor and the thought that a majority of these beautiful people would go home alone, and this made my heart very sad. Shortly after the words, Sacred Love Stories passed through. I pondered this for the following week and came up with the following. The premise is that we have stopped being vulnerable with each other, the evidence being the divorce rate, that the average length of a relationship for 18 to 35 years olds is six months and the existence of Tinder. So in the workshop, you will work through the chakras, telling your partner your if you knew this about me, I would die and your, No, I am not boasting, I actually did this stories for the distinction of each chakra. You practice with a fellow participant so that you can increase your ability to be vulnerable and then go home and do it with your beloveds.

So that’s one of my passions, Time for my friend Marc’s list on the subject:

1. When passion and skill work together, the end result is a masterpiece.

2. Your work is to discover your work and then, with all your heart, to give yourself to it.

3. If you are passionate about it, pursue it, no matter what anyone thinks. That’s how dreams are achieved.

4. 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.

5. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write. The concept can be applied universally/

6. It’s not how much money you make that ultimately makes you happy. It’s whether or not your work fulfils you.

7. 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.

8. Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things.

9. 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.

10. Purpose is the reason you journey. Passion is the fire that lights your way,

11. If you cannot put your heart into it, take yourself out of it.

12. Continue to work hard at what you love no matter what the odds are. Eventually, someone will praise and appreciate what you do.

13. 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 be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work. Sometimes you just have to go for it.

People have been passionate throughout recorded history, what have they said about it, here we go:

1. Remember, you are a sovereign being.

2. In our country, the official retirement age used to be 65, many people died soon after. The passion was missing: The Power and The Passion.

3. Of course, Oprah would be one of the quoters.

4. Supposedly, the percentage of people who do this is at an all-time low: Money.

5. Besides being an amazing sci-fi writer, Kurt Vonnegut said some good shit about passion and purpose.

6. To help with this, I would recommend reading Lissa Rankins great book on the subject, The Fear Cure: Lose Yourself.

7. Time to open up one of the largest organs in your body.

8. Just don’t, okay: Not Afraid.

9. Born in Manchester, Jamaica in 1967, Bailey immigrated to Canada at age 13 and played basketball with John Degenhardt before his graduation at Queen Elizabeth Park High School in Oakville, Ontario. He began competing as a 100 m sprinter part-time in 1991, but he did not take up the sport seriously until 1994. At that time, he was also a stockbroker. He won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympic games.

10. The cardigan-wearing one, Eckhart Tolle time. Yes, The Power of Now: Sing for the Moment.

11. Some deeper stuff from Carl.

12. Already naked, follow your heart – Great words: Follow Your Heart.

13. There are no promises you will wake up tomorrow, we just live our lives like it is a given.

14. What is the anatomy of your Calling: Wake Me Up.

15. And for our final lesson, there is really no other choice.

So we will finish with another list titled Passion questions to make you think:

1. What will you never give up on

2. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?

3. What activities make you lose track of time?

4. What fascinates you?

5. What’s something you would do every day if you could?

6. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?

7. What would you do DIFFERENTLY if you knew nobody would judge you?

8. Would you rather have less work or more work you actually enjoy doing?

9. What is something you would hate to go without for a day?

10. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?

Today’s playlist contains three songs from the same artist, never been done before. We begin with one of Australia’s great rock and roll band, Midnight Oil, then off to the UK for Pink Floyd. across to the USA for three Eminem tracks, then Germany for the Scorpions and we complete with Avicii: Told You So. Sincerely, Your Intuition!!!

Lets complete with why we follow our passions: No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying, Love and Respect to All,, Everyone Included. Until we meet again, my dear friends. Remember you can sign up to receive the blog in your inbox on the right-hand side.

Answer with a Kiss!!!

Posted on November 7, 2019 by Rod's World

Still integrating the workshop. This week I have been noticing the things I have stopped doing to myself and others. Such as actually being present in conversations, noticing things that are not impeccable and just walking past them but actually doing something about it. It feels like a really different universe I am walking in. Went to my friend Marc’s book for some inspiration – here is a list of 30 Things to stop doing to yourself that will improve your life in general:

1. Stop spending time with the wrong people.

2. Stop running from your problems.

3. Stop lying to yourself.

4. Stop putting your own needs on the back burner.

5. Stop trying to be someone you’re not.

6. Stop trying to hold onto the past.

7. Stop being scared to make a mistake.

8. Stop berating yourself for old mistakes.

9. Stop trying to buy happiness.

10. Stop looking to others for happiness.

11. Stop waiting.

12. Stop thinking you’re not ready.

13. Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons.

14. Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work.

15. Stop trying to compete against everybody else.

16. Stop being jealous of others.

17. Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself.

18. Stop holding grudges.

19. Stop letting others bring you down to their level.

20. Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others.

21. Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break.

22. Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments.

23. Stop trying to make things perfect.

24. Stop following the path of least resistance.

25. Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t.

26. Stop blaming others for your troubles.

27. Stop trying to be everything to everyone.

28. Stop worrying so much.

29. Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen.

30. Stop being ungrateful.

So I reckon you could choose one or two of these to take on fortnightly and see your life transform in front of your eyes, and your perception of the lives of your significant others.

Time to walk down the what does the world say about this lane:

1. Time to undo those restrictive relationship knots and gain some freedom.

2. Crossing oceans can be adventurous or amazingly tiring if you are doing it with people who don’t really want to be there: Six Months In A Leaky Boat.

3. But we are not talking about giving up everything for others.

4. Welcome to the house of …: House of Fun.

5. Self Love 101.

6. From one of my top ten, I have 5,000 people and groups I follow so rate Danielle’s wisdom highly: Stop in the Name of Love.

7. The cardigan-wearing one, Eckhart Tolle’s philosophy is present here: The Power of Now.

8. You know which things you do to discard, it is not these ones: From Little Things, Big Things Grow.

9. Or these, as well or you will find yourself at that well-known square on the monopoly board.

10. Two words – Right On: All Rise.

11. Classic Tom Waits, that’s why I love his music so much.

12. Now, these things, let go of: Set Your Controls for the Heart of The Sun.

13. I thought it would say, Brene Brown, not Eddie Rickenbacker.

14. Lifts all the weight off your heart and soul, doing this: Brave.

15. And our final lesson in what is possible in taking on a practice of a few of these stops a month: you start caring about what really matters to you.

Many of the things we think will make us happier, more successful, more famous are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter, and working on our passions.

OMG, there’s a boy band in the playlist, with 55 million hits. Split Enz starts the journey, a New Zealand product, then off to the UK with Madness. Trump nation next with the Supremes. Australia’s offering is next with Paul Kelly and Missy Higgins, my most chosen song, why, because it’s so epic, that’s why. The Boy band Blue precede the penultimate track by Pink Floyd, and we finish in the present with Sara Bareilles: Answer with a Kiss.

So, imagine if each person on the planet stopped doing what did not work for them. My ethos of Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included would have a much better chance and earlier fruition. Until we meet again, my dear friends.

You Can Never Go Back!!!

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Rod's World

After doing 9 transformational workshops in 2018 it has been a bit quiet on that front this year. Just my first stop year-long training Warriors of Love with the Essence School: For your edification up until now. I have completed a one-day vulnerability workshop and the amazing Awakening Connections. Level Two in the past two weeks. Both provided a new level of being alive. Here is the mission of Awakening Connections:

We believe that at our human core our greatest longing is to be seen, felt and heard by those we love.

Awakening Connections is a new paradigm of relating that empowers people to come into deeper wholeness, love and truth.

We know a world exists where humans feel enlivened within themselves which in turn creates an opening for healthy, sexy and inspired relationships.

Relationships with self and others are the most challenging emotional experiences we face, asking us to continually evolve and grow.

We give people the ability to really step into and navigate the challenges we face and turn them into gold.

Awakening Connections celebrates the journey of relationship through embracing both its ecstatic potential as well as the gritty, real and raw nature of the human experience.

It’s time to create extraordinary relationships, are you ready?

Did they deliver on this, I would have to say FUCK YES in spades. For privacy reasons, even though as adults we did not have this agreement to reveal the contents of the course I will reveal the last practice at the end of this blog. But lets have a look at what society has said about the values of transformational experiences over time:

1. Yes, he is a chef, a quite famous one, but this so relates to our lives.

2. Have you seen that meme of the guy on the bike riding what we think life is like and the one below with the entangled ball of string that represents what life is truly like, this is saying the same thing, be courageous: Live Your Life.

3. Sir Richard’s take on it.

4. This was written quite a while ago, to me he is still speaking the truth: Free.

5. From the world’s best-known cardigan wearer comes this powerful statement on transformation.

6. I think it says Patti Smith, not sure: Because The Night.

7. My man Thich Nhat Hanh, you rock.

8. We discussed trust and safety quite a bit over the four days of the journey: Surrender.

9. Lot’s of Heart opening too.

10. I had the privilege of seeing one of the other participant’s souls, it was an ecstatic experience: Soul Sacrifice.

11. What is wonderful about this type of workshop is you can go the whole gamut of life from rage to silence and this is what is provided.

12. From ancient China is the offering of the whole world when it lands in your soul: We are the Champions.

13. Welcome to your new career, my fellow participants.

14. So here is a song that was played towards the end, not nearly loud enough. This song is meant to be so loud it rocks your soul: Lust for Life.

15. And for the final lesson, this is what transformational experiences do. It turns the numbness and the noise down. And you get to hear your soul’s passion.

On the final day, we gave up our old lives, asked our partner to hold our old fears, mine was: Will you hold my Neediness of and total mistrust of women, she accepted. We walked down the aisle and my new vows are:

I vow to stand in my power, I vow to be a legendary lover, I vow to do what it takes to get the job done, I vow to have an open heart at all times, I vow to let love in and I vow to be part of healing the planets pain schisms through spreading Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included across the Globe.

The playlist today begins in the now and then goes back to the past to some of the classic transformational anthems: We begin with T.I. and Rhianna, moving on to Rudimental and Emeli Sande. Patti Smith then rocks your world, back further to the king Elvis. Then we complete with two out of the final three tracks being my all-time favourites. Santana from Woodstock, Google it if you don’t know what Woodstock was, followed by Queen telling you who you are, then completing with Iggy Pop as we did on the final day, remember as loud as possible: You Can’t Go Back.

So if you get to create your vows in such a supportive bubble your life with be different from the moment you take them. Thank you so much, Alley, Shaney and Jared, we owe you big time. Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included.

You Are Not Alone In This!!!

Posted on October 15, 2019 by Rod's World

I went to a local council meeting today to support a group who had been defunded, there was a lot of anger in the room. One group called the other racist for doing it, and there were allegations flying everywhere. I left as it did not seem to be serving many purposes, the decision to not defund them was watered down to a prissy offering of looking at other means of funding them. So it appears they must use the energy of their anger to fight the next battle.

So anger, what is its purpose and is it very useful in today’s world? Marc Chernoff writes about it as follows:

WHEN SOMEONE UPSETS us, It’s often because they aren’t behaving according to our fantasy of how they “should” behave. The frustration, then, stems not from their behaviour differs from our expectations. This is a moment for looking within.

You can’t control how other people behave. You can’t control everything that happens to you. What you can control is how you respond to it all. Your power lies in your response. Let’s practice together…

Get comfortable with pausing.
Respect people’s differences.
Be compassionate
Extend generosity and grace.
Don’t take people’s behaviour personally.
Talk less and learn to appreciate silence.
Create a morning ritual that starts your day off right.
Cope using healthy choices and alternatives
Remind yourself of what’s right, and create more of it in the world.

What has the world written about the power that Anger has over us, here are a few of my favourites:

1. I wouldn’t suggest telling someone they are being stupid if they make you angry, that would mean there would then be two angry people in the room.

2. Known for his satirical wit and sardonic view of human nature, Ambrose Bierce earned the nickname “Bitter Bierce.” His mocking cynicism is on full display in The Devil’s Dictionary, a work that originally appeared under the title The Cynic’s Word Book. … As a short story writer, Bierce gave us many treasures: No Regrets.

3. Ralph points out simple homegrown logic in a lot of his quotes, check out this classic.

4. They say it is better to reclaim the anger than have it reclaim us by being blurted out all of a sudden: Just Give Me a Reason.

5. In the development work I do, we speak of the immature feminine and masculine, and the mature feminine and masculine. Guess in which fields an insecure personality would hang around in?

6. Anger doesn’t tend to hang around in the field of contentment: Going Through Changes.

7. The cardigan-wearing one points out what lies within when we are angry.

8. From the 16th Century, noted English poet Alexander Pope talks about anger being revenge on oneself: Smells Like Teen Spirit.

9. Duck!!!

10. Not a good anxiety practice, going to bed angry: Fight for the Right.

11. Fark!!!!

12. From the man who found enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, why holding onto anger is so toxic: Burning Down The House.

13. Commonly known as a foot in mouth disease.

14. It’s the old one finger pointing forward, three backwards routine: Lithium.

15. The final lesson is that anger is just as important to deal with as all the other things we feel.

Everybody gets upset and loses their temper sometimes. Remind yourself that we are all more alike than we are different. When you catch yourself being angry with someone, add “just like me sometimes” Choose to let things go. Let others off the hook. Take the high road today.

Today’s playlist is anthem clad. From the 60s we begin with The Walker Brothers followed by some angst from Pink. My favourite white rapper Eminem is next, then the first of two Nirvana entries. A unique version of The Beastie Boys biggest hit will test your mettle. Talking Heads second last then back to Nirvana to finish off this great rocking playlist: You are not alone in This.

So the world does not say anger is bad all the time, I believe I need some to get my ethos, Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included to triumph over the current world conversation. Remember if you like these blogs of mine sign up to have them in your inbox on the day of creation. Until next time we meet, my dear friends.

Never Accept The Definition of Life From Others!!!

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Rod's World

I am going through a 21-day process called Integrity and the Power of Habit via the Warriors of Love year-long training program I am in. Each week has a list of core principles, for week one they are as follows in the area of Integrity :

Live from Embodies Essence.
The Power of Declaration from Essence.
Integrity – Do what you say you will do.
With Integrity Comes Power.
Write It Down – Put it in time.
When Integrity falls out, we create distance.

For each of us, these principles will bring up different shadows where we could improve said integrity. I immediately noticed for me it was how I spend my mornings. I have watched ABC News Breakfast for at least an hour for the past five years. My friend Brian Johnson from Optimize, the best ten dollars you can spend on the internet: The link to Brian’s World. states that we are at our most refreshed first thing in the mornings . after we have rested our body.

So the TV is now turned off and I go for a half-hour walk wearing my absolutely fantastic Beats Bluetooth headphones listening to my morning meditation.

What do others say about the morning and how empowering it is when used to its full benefits, let’s have a look.

1. My Tibetan Buddhist school referred to him as Shakyamuni Buddha. This is about living in the present.

2. One is not the loneliest number sometimes: One.

3. A bit out of integrity with the spelling but a great message.

4. My life ethos is Love and Respect for all, Everyone Included so I cannot agree with this: One Love.

5. Celebrations, Challenges and Commitments are what we look at in the group.

6. Word Magic: Try.

7. And hopefully we all have one of these, and if we don’t, they are out there, you just have not found each other yet.

8. Refer to the Blog title…: Born This Way.

9. Is this a tautology, even if it’s not, it’s clever.

10. From the worlds most popular philosopher, Ms Unknown, the reason why early to bed, early to rise is such a great idea: Live It Up.

11. From the early and mid-1800s, Ralph speaks of the benefits the mornings offer.

12. Life is a Blessing, a powerful mantra to live life by: Blessed We Are.

13. And is all across the planet.

14. Cute cat photo of the blog: Moving On Up.

15. And for our final lesson, there are 7 billion different ways to relate to these principles.

Today’s list from Marc and Angel Chernoff is entitled: 10 WAYS Successful people START Their Mornings:

Get an Early Start.
Clarify and Review Your Priorities.
Prune any nonessential commitments for the day.
Exercise.
Eat a Healthy Breakfast.
Kiss your partner good-bye.
Practice 15 minutes of positive visualisation.
Eat That Frog.
Connect with the Right People.
Stay Informed.

Today’s playlist educated me, I did not know that one of Australia’s musical icons went as far back as the sixties, but there you go. We begin with John Farnham and Bob Marley from the last century. Pink and Lady Gaga returns us to this one. Another Australian number one from Mental As Anything. Then a fantastic singalong from Peia, and we complete with some R and B from M People: Never Accept The Definition of Life From Others!!!

So here is to walking to my nearby lake in Rezza, aka Reservoir each morning. Showing myself Love and Respect For All, Everybody Included. Remember if you enjoy the subject matter of my blog, sign up on the right-hand side on the homepage. Until next time we meet, my dear friends.

There Is No House Like The House Of Belonging!!!

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Rod's World

We had a training day for my Warriors of Love yeat long training program yesterday, that’s Sunday for the rest of my readers who don’t live in Australia. Embarrassingly due to lack of sleep, I fell asleep twice in the theoretical section of the day. But towards the end of the day, we did an amazing exercise on Belonging – as in what was our belief’s that had us not fully belong in a group of over 30 people and what did we think was the core belief of the group that prevented it.

There was an amazing range of reasons offered, some people spoke easily, others did not comment at all. For myself, my bugbear “If they truly knew how unlovable I was they would hate me” was my offering. Others covered I am afraid to shine because I will be cut off at the knees too, I can’t bring all part of my life here. They were as many and varied and unique as the diverse individuals in the group.

When we moved on to the group ethos it tied into fear of what would our lives be like if we actually achieved this. The thought crossed my mind that my worrisome and sometimes anxious identity would have to die. So what has the world said about belonging, what stops or creates a sense of community, let’s have a look:

1. Who else could we start this with but a classic Brene Brown quote?

2. As children, we will try anything because everything is a new experience, and we belong to them all: Adventure of a Lifetime.

3. British film director Anthony Minghella powerfully states the control these thoughts have over us.

4. I totally get where actor James Caan is coming with this statement: Hey Ho.

5. Not just students: children, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, girlfriends, boyfriends, lovers, ex-lovers, etc. etc.

6. I think William should have called them the superpowers: Superpower.

7. Wonder (curiosity), self-discovery, problem-solving, interaction, exploration, and play—that’s what Bev Bos taught me. Reading and writing come after these approaches to learning are established. Children learn best when they can make their own choices and set their own goals.

8. The entertainment industry is featuring heavily in this blog, musician Tom Petty directs us towards our freedom spot: Freedom.

9. That’s how powerful your story is – speak kindly to yourself.

10. More Brene, Self Love 101: Love Myself.

11. And from outside Western civilization comes proof this is a worldwide search.

12. Being the daughter of famous parents may have something to do with this quote, Gail’s mother was Lena Horne: Stormy Weather.

13. Belonging has many different meanings.

14. Being the best or most extreme example of its kind. “the ultimate accolade”: Ultimate.

15. The final lesson for today is this image because I loved it so much.

I like adding one of my friends Marc and Angel Chernoff, who wrote 1000+ Little Things Happy Successful People Do Differently lists at the end of my blogs, I have found them extremely useful on my healing journey. Todays is entitled 10 TIMELESS lessons from a Life Well Lived:

Happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.’
Be a student of Life every day.
Experience is the Best Teacher.
Your Choice, Your Actions, Your Life.
No one is “too busy.” It’s all about priorities.
Be patient and tough. Someday this pain will be useful to you.
It’s usually better to be kind than right.
You can become a magnet for good things by wishing everyone well.
Only you are in charge of your attitude.
Satisfaction is not always the fulfilment of what you want.

Today’s playlist features Rock, Rap and Pop Diva’s. We begin with the rock of Coldplay and the Lumineers. Beyonce and Hailee Steinfeld are split by a classic Woodstock anthem from Richie Havens. The penultimate song returns to the time of World War Two from Lena Horne and we finish with a grungey rap number from Denzel Curry: There Is No House Like the House of Belonging!!!

I was thinking as we were standing in the completion circle of our Belonging process that if we achieve this it would be possible for the whole planet to come from Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included, my heart shuddered. Remember if you enjoy reading my musings you can sign up to receive them on the right-hand side of my home page. Until we meet again on the airwaves, my dear friends.

Take Time To Connect To The Divine.

Posted on September 30, 2019 by Rod's World

I spent the weekend at three entirely different connections in my life. Friday night I made chai at Dancing Freedom, Saturday I crewed on a Spring Chant Meditation and Sunday I attended Sunday Assembly. Each fulfils a different part of my soul and the people come from completely different parts of society.

I believe the more parts of society I have contact with it helps me able to strengthen my resolve to see the ethos, Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included become accepted across the planet. I am working on the Act Local, Think Global principle. I live in the Darebin Council area in Melbourne, Australia where there are over 150 different cultural groups residing and volunteer at the Darebin Intercultural Centre where differences are Acknowledged, Explored, Understood and Embraced.

How has the world look at connecting in this time of world leaders talking about nationalism vs, Globalism and the difference which of these being dominant will make to human beings connecting with each other? Lets have a look over time:

1. From Hollywood, the land of fables comes this wise insight regarding human connection.

2. Jacqueline is an entrepreneur who left the banking industry to make a difference in the area of global poverty: We are all Connected.

3. In our instant gratification times, we can easily miss the message of deep connection.

4. The We are all Starseed conversation: Across The Universe.

5. It can be as simple as eyes locking across a crowded room at a party.

6. Harvey grew up openly gay at a time when very few celebrities were. So to have the above be true he must have had a strong belief in universal connection: You’ve Got A Friend.

7. Hip Hop artist Dramatik of the Wolves speaks about the mind, body and soul connection we make with certain individuals we come across in our life journey.

8. Don’t really know what Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg . is referring to here, although I know I have connected to quite a few people on a deep level across the airwaves: So Far Away.

9. I agree, if you can discuss your shadow and light with your connections, they tend to be more intimate than just making polite conversation.

10. Our roots are our common humanity: Human.

11. Connection isn’t always about spoken words, it may be a shoulder to cry on.

12. And then there is the special one: We Found Love.

13. One World.

14. John is known for his work on marital stability and relationship analysis through scientific direct observations, many of which were published in peer-reviewed literature. The lessons derived from this work represent a partial basis for the relationship counselling movement that aims to improve relationship functioning and the avoidance of those behaviours shown by Gottman and other researchers to harm human relationships: Steady Love.

15. And our final lesson is from Steve Maraboli, I spend my time on how to make all relationships like this. Imagine that world paradigm.

A short blog today, Dancing Freedom fuels my body transformation connection. Chanting my heart connection and Sunday Assembly my desire to connect to humanity through service.

Today’s playlist begins with one of the most unusual songs I have used, it is a group of scientists known as Symphony of Science. Then a cover by Rufus Wainwright followed by two songs by Carole King and James Taylor where they reverse roles. The beautiful anthem by Rag N Bone Man is next, the penultimate song is by Rihanna and we complete with the golden voice of India Arie: Take Time To Connect To The Divine.

A dear friend who passed way to early, said that Love was the Answer. I agree, the more we communicate it the closer we will get to having Love and Respect For All, Everybody Included in all our relationships. Remember, if you wish to receive a reminder about when I have done my latest blog, sign up on the right-hand side. Until we meet again, my dear friends.

In Praise of the Women and Men of DE, Sensual sisters to the Core.

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Rod's World

OK, I admit I am a DE sister in a male body, and I love the distinctions of this magnificent portal in life.

My friend and mentor Arion Light recently wrote an epic article praising it, Here is some of what he said:

For me, this is medicine our disconnected culture so desperately needs. A return to an honour of the beauty of the feminine. I feel, as do many of you I’m sure, our disconnection from our deep love within is at the heart of our insatiable need for stuff and distraction. When we truly see ‘her’ beauty all we can do is bow and give our lives to celebrate and serve her.
I really get it’s not the ‘only’ answer. Clearly, this reverence for love, women, earth and simplicity has to turn to action if we are to make the cultural shift that many of us hunger for. Yet this is a portal to initiating women, men and all beings to know this wild dark love in themselves, and that has to be a very central step to the revolution we need to survive.

There are five archetypes studied, The Erotic Mother, The Wild Women, The Slut, The Maiden and the Priestess over either an intense week or an eight-week evening format. The way you look at life and the human beings in it are transformed forever.

Given this is relatively new work, just seven years young, how did the world speak about female archetypes prior to this, lets walk down that path:

1. Sisters, do we run with the wolves?

2. Spell time methinks: For Love of Woman.

3. Could be the DE sister to-do list.

4. This work clearly heals the participant’s relationships with their ancestors: Familiar.

5. You enter many doors over the times, and you come out the other side, some easier than others.

6. Lucy rocks: Tantric Shamanic Dance Journey.

7. You get the opportunity to enquire into your relationship to the naked body if you wish.

8. Fuck Off: Closer.

9. Mrs POTUS, did she pass the test?

10. Take the risk, sisters: Last Stand.

11. Shadow and Light, they travel together and both are as necessary as each other.

12. It was some brave male sisters who kept requesting who saw this work became available for he’s as well as she’s: Good For You.

13. A drop of free water, magnificent line.

14. And from the lesser-known member of the Gates partnership, comes this powerful quote: Touch.

15. And our final lesson comes from Lord of The Rings. Haldir was an Elf of Lothlórien, probably a Silvan Elf, and a march warden who guarded the forest’s northern borders. When the Fellowship of the Ring arrived in Lórien, he became their guide to Caras Galadhon. He and his companions are described as wearing grey hooded cloaks and residing on platforms or flets. Underlying all is Love.

This is Arion’s final wish in his news feed article about the work and its courses, May they fill with people and may we all grow an inner and outer love that brings a revolution of deep love and healthy power throughout the fabric of our worlds. I second the motion.

Today’s playlist comes from one of the Dancing Eros playlists I created from existing Spotify lists that began with the Dancing Eros titles. See, I much prefer visual to the audio, there are some damn sexy videos in the lists. If you put in Dancing Eros in the Youtube search engine you will find a few. The first track comes from Perequios, then Agnes Obel which is followed by a momentous track from Leyolah Antara. Two men follow, NIne Inch Nails and Kwabs. The penultimate track is from Selena Gomez and we finish with Holy Other: In Praise Of.

If this amazing work could spread across the planet, Love and Respect for All, Everybody Included would happen sooner than later, methinks. Remember if you like these blogs register to receive them in your inbox on the right-hand side. Until we meet again, my dear friends.