Tag Archives: personal growth

Regrouped.

Last year was a shock to my system: losing three friends in a short period, then my favourite uncle, and soon after my 92-year-old aunt – last of my father’s siblings, end of an era. And as if to ‘add … Continue reading

Posted in depression, losses, mourning, personal growth | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Thinking about ‘critical-judgmental’…

I posted this on Facebook recently*: “Ploughing through the shock-value, mud and bugs in the swamp of this gentleman’s lifestyle/behaviour, I was rewarded by the Precious inside him…. Smells like integrity to me – a quality I profoundly respect and … Continue reading

Posted in awareness, beliefs, consciousness, criticism, judgment, personal growth, psychology, reflections | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Unlearning depression?

Would you, for a moment, entertain with me the possibility that depression is not “an illness”, so much as a perfectly natural response – or group of responses – to certain experiences or changes, or even to ‘good manners’?   What … Continue reading

Posted in change, choices, conformity, consciousness, depression, Feelings, personal growth, personal power, psychology, reflections, repression | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

A little democracy….

One of the things I love about  Alternative Grounds (the café where I spend most mornings), is the egalitarian, democratic attitude of the patrons. I just enjoyed a discussion with one of the city’s maintenance workers  about Iceland  and how … Continue reading

Posted in communication, community, democracy, enrichment, equality, experience, Inclusion, personal growth, reflections, social commentary | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Coming out as an atheist

When I was about 19, despite having taught Sunday school for three years, I delared myself an atheist.   Or perhaps it was because of Sunday school.  What had happened to the formerly ‘devout Christian’ me? My aunt, who at 92 … Continue reading

Posted in atheism, causes, compassion, fear, fundamentalist, gay, ignorance, Memories, peace, personal growth, poverty, reflections, religion, schizophrenia, social justice, values | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Blogging consciousness…

Why do I blog?   Probably the majority of bloggers ask themselves, occasionally, why they do it, what they are after.    Am I posting too often, or too little?   And ultimately “What is my goal?” * When I ask myself why, … Continue reading

Posted in awareness, blogging, consciousness, Insight, personal growth, personal power, Poetry, Reflection, reflections, social change, values | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Reflections on a friendship…

At a cottage by a lake on the Precambrian shield we four longtime friends spent this weekend together.    Raising our children, we sometimes even lived in the same neighbourhood.  Over the years, we shared many concerns, cheers and tears.   Now … Continue reading

Posted in compassion, friendship, reflections, relationships, social change | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

The habit of despair

Last night I watched the very moving documentary Crooked Beauty* about Jacks McNamara’s  life, art, music, poetry, and activism – threaded through her experience of mental illness.  I’ll watch it again.  I was reminded of something I’ve been thinking about, … Continue reading

Posted in awareness, body, consciousness, Feelings, Insight, personal growth, psychology, reflections | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Different drummer

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. It is not important that he should … Continue reading

Posted in causes, community, consciousness, history, Inclusion, Insight, love, marijuana, personal growth, personal power, reflections, social change, social justice, values, volunteering | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Blogging Woes

As they say, “some days are diamonds, some days are pearls” and some are akin to lumps of coal.   I spent yesterday doing research around a couple of pet subjects, instead of writing, and ended up frustrated.   That’s rare for … Continue reading

Posted in blogging, Internet, personal power, psychology, Reflection | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments