I'm back

Many years later.  I am back.  What took me so long.  Perhaps 5 grand children, about 800 rounds of golf.  Fitness and exercise and a trip to the lake and back.  - Urr.  Just part of life. 

Lethargic Start to a Blog

Haven't written in a long time.

 

Vapassana is coming soon.  Am I ready?

Teamwork and Leadership Seeds

I led a team session last week and modified an icebreaker to reflect where team members leadership seeds came from.  The question I asked: "What was the most important leadership lesson you learned before you were eighteen years old? "  Everyone took a turn.  The results were incredibly powerful.  This set the stage for a very successful team building.

Here is a poem from my best man friend:

Up at 6

Shovel

Warm fingers

Shovel

Warm fingers

Shovel

Warm fingers

Shovel for the last time this am

Look forward to doing it again tomorrow

And a poem from a Southern man friend:

same thing here
up at 6
swing
sun
swig
swing
sun
swig
swing
look forward to doing it again tomorrow

SHOVEL SNOW

Imagine, water molecules so solid enough to build piles up to six feet  high in your driveway.  Shovelling snow seems so ordinary, but just stop to grasp the wonder of it. 

The plain is soft and covered.
Nature's air sprinkled water.
Rolling mounds of white, cold, crumbly, crystals.
Cosy for mother earth.
Nature's water covers earth.
Man shovels snow.
Nature's fire transforms it all.

No Such Thing As Coincidence

 Just minding my own business then ZAP, a number of things collide and then I utter - coincidence.  What is called coincidence occurs but is it coincidence?

It started last week.  I was working out at the gym.  A blind man came in with his dog and disappeared into the wild world of weights, machines and work out gear.  I noted the professionalism of his guide dog.  Dog seemed to be aware of one thing only, guiding his master.  I started my circuit training and got to business as usual.  Walk five km, do some squats, some stretches and lift some weights.  As I grabbed two bar bells and started my methodical ascending and descending movements, I was surprised to see, at my feet, the beautifully trained black Dog seen earlier.  Being black, Dog blended in with the back rubber floors in the weight area. Dog's master was close by.  Quickly I stepped back and apologized to Dog.  Again, I was captured by the calm, assured and professional demeanor of Dog.  He was a true working dog.  Dog's  trainer obviously was marvelous.  

Today, a long time business acquaintance whom I have not heard from since about 2005, called me to ask if I would do some facilitation work for an association that develops guide dogs.  Coincidence?

It doesn't stop there. The name that came up on the call display when she called me was a name of another business acquaintance.  It's at least three years since I talked to him.  I quickly learned that these two formerly totally unrelated business acquaintances are now together and share an interest in training guide dogs. Coincidence?

I love when this happens!  Also check out this link to Dogs with Wings. http://www.dogswithwings.ca/

 

Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah

Having coffee with my friend Peter the other morning we talked about the youngest generation.  They have opinons and comments for everything tweeted to them.  What kind of a person will develop out of this behaviour?  A tweet comes in blah, blah, blah, blah.  (The response tweet -) Thumbs up or more blah, blah, blah. 

Tweet:  Having coffee at Second Cup   >> thumbs up >> Good for you >>  Starbucks objects.   And on and on it goes.  Nothing important to say... just blah, blah, blah.  What kind of person will develop?  Opinionated?  Full of themselves? Unable to make sentences?  I'm feeling really like I need to refresh.

This is today's world and I don't understand it - YET!  I am refreshing and learning about the new world outside of work.