Forgiveness is incredibly hard. But if we want to live a joyful and happy life, then it is one of the most important things we have to learn to do. When something happens to us and we don’t forgive, then we carry that burden around with us. Whoever has upset us gets to live rent-free … Continue reading Forgiveness
Author: Richard
Hi, I’m Richard and I’m a regular, middle-aged guy who thinks a lot.
I believe that, regardless of how we currently see ourselves, each of us has something amazing we can contribute to the world. That we each have a unique purpose for which we were made, and I’m on my own journey to find out what that means for me.
This blog is a place to share those experiences and hopefully to encourage great people like you as well. I write about self-improvement, the search for purpose, life, faith, all sorts really.
As far as we know (and without wishing to start a religious debate) we only get one go on this ride a few times around the sun.
So as the poet Mary Oliver very wisely asked:
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?"
I’ll just…
Sometimes it seems like there are too many things to do. A list so full that it's hard to know where to begin. In the face of this overwhelmingly load, we often freeze. Unable to see a way through or even the place to start. The bills need paying Clients are chasing for assignments to … Continue reading I’ll just…
Traffic
When you’re stuck in a traffic jam and look around, what do you see? Other people. They are traffic. Their journey is the root of the problem, keeping you from your important destination. Here’s the thing though. When they look around, what do they see? You. You are also traffic. You are part of the … Continue reading Traffic
You can’t pour from an empty cup
Do you know that (I think) zen story about the master pouring tea for his know-it-all pupil? The one where he keeps on pouring as the tea overflows the cup? The lesson is that in order to learn, it’s important to empty the vessel of preconceived notions and allow the tea to be poured into … Continue reading You can’t pour from an empty cup
The future’s bright
It’s a very human, very natural thing to think about the future. As far as we know, we are the only species which does so, at least to any meaningful degree. To be able to think beyond the problems of the moment (the predator approaching, the earth tremor, the next meal etc.) and imagine a … Continue reading The future’s bright
Travellers
Other people. Other people are traffic. Other people fill up the shopping centre on the weekend. Other people pack the tube train carriage. Other people make stupid decisions. They are all in my way, because my journey is the most important. They don’t understand what I’m thinking or the unique set of problems I’m dealing … Continue reading Travellers
Beliefs
Don't decry things you've believed in the past that no longer hold true for you. Don't beat yourself up for the years that you held to a different truth than that which sustains you now. Good or bad, right or wrong, those beliefs and times shaped you into who you are at this moment. And … Continue reading Beliefs
Time to stare?
There's that poem by W.H. Davies which starts, What is this life if, full of care,We have no time to stand and stare. I've always liked it, but unfortunately life these days IS just so full of care isn't it? There is pressure to be constantly "productive" and "efficient" wringing more out of the time … Continue reading Time to stare?
The cutting room floor
Everyone is a little bit messed up. Everyone. But through social media and the way it sleeps into our day-to-day lives, we think everyone else has it all together. That we're the only ones whose lives are fucked. We look at the highlight reels of others' lives, then gaze around at the mess on the … Continue reading The cutting room floor
Simple work vs. the cost of living
Back in 2020, while in the middle of a lengthy renovation of our front garden, I wrote a post about monotonous work. I found myself thinking about that again today. You see, in the kind of work that I do (professional services/management consultancy), sometimes I finish a day’s work and wonder what I have actually … Continue reading Simple work vs. the cost of living
That Richard Bloke 