Through ever-advancing technology, I've become accustomed to a personal network characterized by extreme connectedness. At any given moment in time I am generally able to reach out to to any one of the thousands of people I know, and hundreds of thousands whom I don't. At the same time, I am instantly accessible to many of that same number. Such great connectedness--while incredible--causes a problem.
I used to stick very strongly to the belief that technological communication is in the hands of the device-holder, and similarly would respond to email & voicemail on my own schedule--a very comfortable method for me. Often though, any response that was less than immediate would prove to drive the person on the other end into a state of anxiety, anger, or total confusion...which I always felt guilty about causing, even though I knew the world would not end if 1 + 2 remained = x for today. Either that or I'd thoughtfully respond only to discover that the other party found my thoughtful response to be completely un-navigable, without even giving it a chance.
30 August 2010
05 February 2010
Meetings, Meetings, Meetings
Meetings have been filling up my weeknights lately.
It's sort of odd, as I've made a conscious effort to say "no" to more and more things of late. I'm trying to discern the line between my interests and my commitments, so that I am putting my energies into the right things.
In general, I'm attempting to ALWAYS choose in favor of my Top 5 passions. It just seems there may be an excess of opportunity for me to engage in these passions right now. Granted, I took my very first Passion Test on 1 June 2009 so its probably time to take it again. I believe 6 months was the recommended re-take time. Have I really become so fulfilled in my Top 5 passions in the last 7 months that I no longer feel attention is needed in those spaces? Is it time to "lock-in" to a few things resulting from my passion-fed choices and push away some others?
The meetings are not driving me mad--yet. I enjoy all of them. What I do need to figure out is the rest plan. If I spend 11 hrs. out of 24 at my daytime job, then 3 hrs. at a meeting, and 2-3 hrs. doing a less-than-necessary amount of work to keep my head above water for my personal business, military training preparation, action-items for group involvements, and general correspondence--there's not much time left to eat, sleep, do household items, or talk to my wife or read my books.
With basic living items at the bottom of my current priority list, I know I'm not doing enough of the right stuff. A part of it is going to be purposefully skimming off further layers of my interests that are somehow disguising themselves to me as commitments. Then, I have to swap in some additional attention on my real commitments. Rediscovering clarity will be important.
For now the meetings are going to stay (the regular ones) and on those nights I have to restrict myself from additional work at home. This is going to be fun.
It's sort of odd, as I've made a conscious effort to say "no" to more and more things of late. I'm trying to discern the line between my interests and my commitments, so that I am putting my energies into the right things.
In general, I'm attempting to ALWAYS choose in favor of my Top 5 passions. It just seems there may be an excess of opportunity for me to engage in these passions right now. Granted, I took my very first Passion Test on 1 June 2009 so its probably time to take it again. I believe 6 months was the recommended re-take time. Have I really become so fulfilled in my Top 5 passions in the last 7 months that I no longer feel attention is needed in those spaces? Is it time to "lock-in" to a few things resulting from my passion-fed choices and push away some others?
The meetings are not driving me mad--yet. I enjoy all of them. What I do need to figure out is the rest plan. If I spend 11 hrs. out of 24 at my daytime job, then 3 hrs. at a meeting, and 2-3 hrs. doing a less-than-necessary amount of work to keep my head above water for my personal business, military training preparation, action-items for group involvements, and general correspondence--there's not much time left to eat, sleep, do household items, or talk to my wife or read my books.
With basic living items at the bottom of my current priority list, I know I'm not doing enough of the right stuff. A part of it is going to be purposefully skimming off further layers of my interests that are somehow disguising themselves to me as commitments. Then, I have to swap in some additional attention on my real commitments. Rediscovering clarity will be important.
For now the meetings are going to stay (the regular ones) and on those nights I have to restrict myself from additional work at home. This is going to be fun.
01 December 2009
Creative Madness
Sleepless nights--what's up with them?
Perhaps it's more restless than sleepless.
Is it the full moon that causes them? Or too many things on the mind? Why am I driven to "create" during this time, write down ideas, organize records, draw plans...
Warm blood flows in my veins, so it's not vampire (I'm told). Werewolf, perhaps? What about that moon...
I don't think I have any obscene connection to animals during such a time. Maybe a more intimate struggle against the beast within?
Yet again, the moon in certain phases seems to drive madness. A madness causing restless and sleepless night.
My acceptance is complete that in this state the air commands that I create, so I will create...
I will create.
Perhaps it's more restless than sleepless.
Is it the full moon that causes them? Or too many things on the mind? Why am I driven to "create" during this time, write down ideas, organize records, draw plans...
Warm blood flows in my veins, so it's not vampire (I'm told). Werewolf, perhaps? What about that moon...
I don't think I have any obscene connection to animals during such a time. Maybe a more intimate struggle against the beast within?
Yet again, the moon in certain phases seems to drive madness. A madness causing restless and sleepless night.
My acceptance is complete that in this state the air commands that I create, so I will create...
I will create.
09 October 2009
138g Egg in Honeyoe Falls
Smokes! A Honeyone Falls chicken farmer hobbyist found a quarter-pounder egg in his chicken coop recently. That's a big egg.
My in-laws raise chickens and I must admit that just like homegrown vegetables, backyard-raised eggs just taste better than what you can buy in the stores. Delicious!
29 September 2009
Blogging in the Bones
Well today, it happened. The number of posts on Wayne County Life and the number of posts on my personal blog are now equal at one-hundred and thirty-three apiece. My other leading blog sites--including Adirondack46er.com, Erie Canal History, and LakeBluff.info--together add up to 136 posts. Almost a trifecta.
What does this mean? Well, somehow it means that blogging and sharing stories is part of what I do. Yes, I've received income on some freelance work as well as through some ad-placement services--yet, by and large there hasn't been any financial gain to this aspect of my world yet. I find that interest in and visibility of my work expands over time, so I'm accepting T-I-M-E as a partner in my writing adventures.
I've always wanted to be a writer, yet not this kind of writer--not someone who writes quick-blurbs of news interest or event announcements or outdoor gear reviews. It seems to be part of it though. I've always accepted that to be the writer that I one day desire to be, I first have to fill all that I do with a multitude of experiences.
Part of what I've been doing over the past several months has been reading into family history and I find it interesting that as a Burgess, there's a lot of writing involved. Of particular interest to me is the Rev. A. Parke Burgess, who circulated numerous publications separate of his sermons. I've come across several of the names of these re-curring circulars, one such being--I believe--"The Watchword". A. Parke's sons, Frank D. and W.C. were themselves very into writing as the proprietors of the Gazette Press in Newark, New York--producing a print newspaper that later would become the Courier-Gazette, now owned by Messenger Post Media. I'm not sure about the quantity of my grandfather's writing; I do know that my father has been recording his whole life (and mine) in diary form.
Blogging in the bones? Nah--it's something more.
What does this mean? Well, somehow it means that blogging and sharing stories is part of what I do. Yes, I've received income on some freelance work as well as through some ad-placement services--yet, by and large there hasn't been any financial gain to this aspect of my world yet. I find that interest in and visibility of my work expands over time, so I'm accepting T-I-M-E as a partner in my writing adventures.
I've always wanted to be a writer, yet not this kind of writer--not someone who writes quick-blurbs of news interest or event announcements or outdoor gear reviews. It seems to be part of it though. I've always accepted that to be the writer that I one day desire to be, I first have to fill all that I do with a multitude of experiences.
Part of what I've been doing over the past several months has been reading into family history and I find it interesting that as a Burgess, there's a lot of writing involved. Of particular interest to me is the Rev. A. Parke Burgess, who circulated numerous publications separate of his sermons. I've come across several of the names of these re-curring circulars, one such being--I believe--"The Watchword". A. Parke's sons, Frank D. and W.C. were themselves very into writing as the proprietors of the Gazette Press in Newark, New York--producing a print newspaper that later would become the Courier-Gazette, now owned by Messenger Post Media. I'm not sure about the quantity of my grandfather's writing; I do know that my father has been recording his whole life (and mine) in diary form.
Blogging in the bones? Nah--it's something more.
08 September 2009
Pres. Obama's Male Leadership
Having just listened to the live Back-to-School address of President Barack Obama to America's public education students this day of 8 September 2009, the most pressing item it brings forth for me is Male Leadership.
What types of male leadership do we see today? There are the Brusques--committed yet ever-haunted by items of financial figures and physical pressures, there are the Jovials--accepting of everyday struggles and persistently uplifting in engagement with others, there are the Firebrands--consumed by ideals and agitators of specific interest, and there are the Ghosts--escapees of the wake of their own lives.
I suppose the male leadership we should seek is a mix of such contrasting qualities, outlined with love, strength, and purpose. Pres. Obama's willingness to step in front of our nation's children and make a fatherly statement expressing confidence in all, yet a direct challenge issuing that there is a way we ought to live--I think--is an example of such male leadership.
What types of male leadership do we see today? There are the Brusques--committed yet ever-haunted by items of financial figures and physical pressures, there are the Jovials--accepting of everyday struggles and persistently uplifting in engagement with others, there are the Firebrands--consumed by ideals and agitators of specific interest, and there are the Ghosts--escapees of the wake of their own lives.
I suppose the male leadership we should seek is a mix of such contrasting qualities, outlined with love, strength, and purpose. Pres. Obama's willingness to step in front of our nation's children and make a fatherly statement expressing confidence in all, yet a direct challenge issuing that there is a way we ought to live--I think--is an example of such male leadership.
17 August 2009
The Sharpest Tool
An unsharpened tool is yet a tool
hence value to harvest in time
'Twill do not THE job, 'tho mayhaps A job
lose Faith not ye down-trodden kind
Give fair opportun'ty to each and e'ery
in Spring when cleaning doth come
What's considered can learn
and what learns can do
foot upon stage, who knew!
hence value to harvest in time
'Twill do not THE job, 'tho mayhaps A job
lose Faith not ye down-trodden kind
Give fair opportun'ty to each and e'ery
in Spring when cleaning doth come
What's considered can learn
and what learns can do
foot upon stage, who knew!
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