The best way to make things better is to begin. Create the conditions for others to join you.*
Seth Godin

‘Yes, but …’ she began. Then she caught herself. ‘I guess that’s my problem isn’t it, way too many Yes, buts.**
Brian McLaren

I have just been reminded of Seth Godin’s book
Purple Cow;^ when I first read this, I thought,
If I were to write a book, I would
want it to be like this, so, I pulled the book our
of my library to find that
it will soon be twenty years since I read it –
One of my many yes-but moments.

I know that I am at another moment for
starting something for the sake of others;
Who knows what others will begin if we do
what we must do next? – thought we shouldn’t
send our minds spinning by wondering – only,
If there is something we feel we must do then
we should start: what might this be for you?

Seth Godin’s blog: Toward better;
**Brian McLaren’s Faith After Doubt;
^I’m going to read Purple Cow again.

What I’m saying is that you don’t get to the truly creative place unless you find the dangerous idea. And once again, that’s like standing at the mouth of the tomb, in vigil, waiting for the shock of the risen Christ, the shock of the imagination, the astonishing idea.*
Nick Cave

If I want to be secure, that is protected from the flux of life, I am wanting to be separate from life.**
Alan Watts

Finally, we have arrived
at the place of no surprises –
People, activities, ideas, finances –
But we know it’s not good for us,
It’s only half of the story,
The other part is adventure.

*Nick Cave and Seán O’Hagan’s Faith, Hope and Carnage;
**Oliver Burkeman’s The Antidote.

We navigate the world with stories, beliefs and assumptions.*
(Seth Godin)

I realise that I use reading, journaling, and doodling as means for
navigating life wherever and whatever –
Whether that be three weeks away visiting our daughter and husband in
Australia, or getting back into work now that we’ve returned.

First Nation Australians use Songlines for their navigations,
Marcus Aurelius used his personal writings** – quite different ways to access knowledge;
How do you capture the things that are important to you for
giving expression to your story as you navigate through life?

*Seth Godin’s blog: A convincing argument;
**Two books brought back from Australia to find out more about for myself and others.

A god can create a world only by listening.*
James Carse

I have to stop a whole lot of things to really listen –
It’s a hard lesson to learn, so,
This is a note to self.

*James Carse’s Finite and Infinite Games.

What is the invisible in your field of vision because of what you are focusing on*
AleXander McManus

Anything that requires highly focused attention helps our brains not to atrophy but to continue to grow and, I believe, to grow in all kinds of new directions that were not there for us even as children.*
Jean Houston

My not-favourite element of an eye examination is
the one that checks peripheral vision;
Although I usually make it through okay,
I know I miss far too much important stuff in life
because of my focus –
I need to step back and
see the bigger picture.

*From a Blue Moments session;
**Jean Houston’s The Wizard of Us.

Whether a life is fulfilled does not depend on how great one’s radius of action is, but rather whether the circle is fully filled out.*
Viktor Frankl

Do that thing you do
with all your heart,
Repeat tomorrow,
Wherever it takes you.

(You’re welcome to print off and colour in the doodle as you contemplate this.)

Viktor Frankl’s Yes to Life.

When you find what you’re meant to do, you do it.*
Ryan Holiday

This is activeness,
The normal state for our lives when we uncover our must.**

What is your must?^

*Ryan Holiday’s Discipline is Destiny;
**The thing we must do, which arises within us;
^Drop me a line if you’d like some help; geoffrey@thinsilence.org.

Equidistant from the atoms and stars, we are expanding our exploring.*
Stephen Hawking

Explore
explore
explore,
The more certain we already are,
The fewer new ideas will appear,
Ideas that will carry us
upon fantastical journeys.

*Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time.

Old age offers the opportunity to integrate and bring together the multiplicity of directions that you have travelled.  It is a time when you can be awakened and new possibilities come alive for you.*
John O’Donohue

There’s only one age: alive.**
Agnes Varda

Even an 80 year old is a child in
a 14 billion year old universe –
May you never lose your wow.

What’s amazed you recently?

*John O’Donohue’s Anam Cara;
Austin Kleon’s blog: A quote a day.

At sixty-six years of age, one might reasonably say, “Oh, enough growth already,” but there has to be growth and change, because life is growth and change.*
Anne Lamott

The challenges and stimuli may
come from outside, but if we have
grown, it is because we have
made it so.

You are welcome to print and colour this doodle whilst you reflect on your growings.

*Anne Lamott’s Dusk Night Dawn.