Today is grocery shopping day, so I’ll have to dress properly against the cold, as reported above; however, no wind chill, unless you walk too fast. In my diary of yesterday, I forgot to mention a number of events, which I’ll mention briefly.

On Friday eve I had along conversation with Derrick, in which he explained what he is learning about a solution oriented approach when working with his clients. This sounded to me that he has gained enough confidence now to assess what will work for him. And we discussed the working of my Ajax version of the Left_Hand web posted artwork on my site, as I requested his feedback on the up coming changes.

On Sunday morning I had a long conversation with Els to inform her about my plans. She mentioned that driving is not something she likes, so that will mean more train and bus travel. We will see how it all works out, the main thing is that both of us look forward to this visit. It was in the Fall of 2005 that she was here, so it has been a while. Anyway, she now knows my dates and that gives the whole initiative some reality.

Yesterday I had coffee with Jack in the aft with much to share. I asked and he gave me some feedback about my presentation on ‘Spirituality for today’ of last January 19. After some urging on my part, he explained that the left hand artwork examples had been confusing to him and we agreed that this kind of handout is more suited for a Workshop.

The talk also seemed less clear to him than usual, but there was a fair amount of interest in the process of using this left hand technique. From this feedback I take away that handouts should be clear and the ideas simple for the short presentation time that is available and that this left hand technique must be clearly explained on my website as well.

Last night I was able to finish the Book_1 standard version for web posting, short of a few details. It will now be the turn of the Ajax version to be improved, followed by the design of the group page that will provide access to the collection of the five books together. Lots of plans!
Before getting engrossed in the writings I will go shopping first, I have decided at 9:18am. And back at 10:26am, coffee drunk, cookies - hence the shopping - eaten and the groceries ‘put away’! Now it is on to some writing under writings.

I am formulating some ideas for my next talk, which will also be on ‘spirituality’, but now emphasizing how to make a choice for yourself. My last talk spelt out some criteria and now I want to emphasize the application of these principles, with a little exercise to go along with that.

Besides the mentioned guidelines of my last talk, I want to add that discovery and expression are essential activities in this choice process and its end result. In other words, how to discover your spirituality and then express it?

The guiding principles from my last talk could be simplified as follows: First probe your choice, then relate it to tradition and thirdly make it relevant here and now.

A chosen ‘spirituality’ could be environmental goals, or the equitable balancing of living conditions, while others might be Native type world views or the monastic discipline of a traditional religion.

The reason I want to emphasize this choice process is that there must be aim and structure involved in the discovery and expression of an adopted spirituality. Without some reference framework, one is vulnerable to loosing one’s bearings and hence become a doling seeker of the unfindable, which may disguise a fear of making a commitment in such a vain search for perfection in order to place oneself beyond the reach of criticism.
<10:54am and after editing and lunch 11:47am~