Archives for January 2019

Do you see beyond the circle that surrounds you?

Do you see the impact of your words and actions?

Do you notice the other people in the room who may be paying attention?

Do you realize that they are learning from you?

Do you see that what you do carries weight?

Do you see that if you weren’t here the world would be different?

Do you see that what you do (or don’t do) matters?

If you don’t, let me be the one to tell you that it does. Very much so.

It’s not easier to explain less if not all the meaning comes across.

It’s not easier to draw a quick sketch if the viewer can’t see the image in your mind.

It’s not easier to use cheaper materials if the final product won’t last.

It’s not easier to skimp on your work if someone else has to pick up the pieces.

It’s not easier to teach a summary if the student doesn’t learn the lesson.

Shortcuts are everywhere. There are entire industries built around making our lives efficient. I am not anti-technology, but I am anti-shortcut.

Many of us have enjoyed taking the shortcut every now and then. That’s okay. Many of us have also experienced not receiving the needed message, vision, product, work, or lesson, because of having taken that shortcut. That’s not okay.

So, no shortcuts for me. Give me the full message, vision, product, work, or lesson. No abbreviations, summaries, or sketches needed.

The first day is important. It’s the first time you enter the space. This first time you write a blog post. It’s the first introduction to the staff. Your first public audience. It’s the first meeting of the clients. It’s the first hearing of complaints. It’s the first time you go to work and then come back home.

I recently joined the Vancouver Tap Dance Society as the Artistic Director, and October 29, 2018 was my first day. I looked forward to it. Planned ramping up to it. Paid close attention during the entire day. And have referred to it as a marker since.

There are many First Days in our lives. Some catch us by surprise, some we can plan for. Either way they can be markers we can use to measure change. Whether big or small over time they resolve to the greater narrative of our lives and find their proper place.

Before a tradition is established there is a always a threshold that needs to be met of people that feel the need to institute the tradition. They have a reason for the practice, the particular actions, and the time when it happens. Most traditions that stick originate thoughtfully. Someone said, “We should do this because…”

What of our traditions today? Do we remember where they come from, why we partake in them, and what they stand for?

I ask because traditions are easily co-opted. When you are already engaged in a meaningful action it is a power play for someone else (especially if they are outside of the community) to come in a say, “You can make it more meaningful if you only…” or “What you really should do is…”

Next thing you know, your meaningful traditions are fraught with tension, undue stress, and unneeded strife. Let not your heart be troubled. Remember the original intent. If you don’t know, find out. Use resources to dig up the truth. It’s important. Lest your traditions detach for their original purpose, fall flat, lose their meaning, or worse.

The work we are given never ends. This is true whether one is raising a child, running a business, building a new project, tending to a garden, or growing personally. In the midst of the weight that each of these pursuits may carry, we would be good to remember the cycle.

The cycle of stories, of nature, and of life. That is there is a beginning, middle, and end to all things. Even the smallest of tasks starts with a recognition of need, the act of executing and fulfillment, and finally rest and reflection on the task completed.

In the current pace of many cultures we often are robbed of this final area, yet rest and reflection is important. Exceedingly so in a society which is over stimulated, and fraught with need. We often wait until holidays, special occasions, or forced time off (illness or injury), to experience rest and reflection. But why wait?

Burn out is real, and unless we honor our own cycles (in our days, weeks, months, and years) we will continually hit the wall. We may defend our work ethic, thinking we are increasing our capacity and working towards greater productivity. Don’t get tricked. Greater capacity and productivity should be a consequence of greater health. Not the other way around.

The only time something ends is when no one does it, believes it, or even thinks about it. A craft, language, or art, doesn’t die until every practitioner stops their personal practice.

Whether a practice is dead or alive has nothing to do with the market – the popularity of a particular craft in the industries of media, education, or trade. Yet the power of the market deeply affects our perception of things. Don’t buy the hype.

Much is living that has been thought to be dead (or dying). Much is dying that is assumed to be alive.

Check yourself, check your sources, check the situation. Discern reality.

If those who you trust haven’t brought you up in a particular way, do not expect them to help you in learning those very same ways.

At the extremes…

Don’t go to the greedy and expect generosity.

Don’t go to the slothful and expect discipline.

Don’t go to the lustful and expect anything more than degraded humanity.

Don’t go to the glutinous and expect pacing.

Don’t go to the covetous and expect an fulfillment.

Don’t go to the wrathful and expect peace.

Don’t go to the vain and expect love.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had a harder time going to sleep. If I have any energy at all, I figure I should stay up and do one of the things that are still lingering on my list. But rest is important. So I’m learning how to end my days. Here’s a list of things I’m doing as I end my day to help me fall asleep.

Turn off my computer.
Turn my work phone to do-not-disturb.
Turn down the bed.
Do a little reading – something light, story driven.
Conclude my conversations with God for the day.
Fall asleep.

Do you have an end-of-the-day routine? Any things you’ve found helpful?