From the heart

Posted on by View from the ground

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I would like to share a blog that I posted earlier in the year when View From The Ground was published on a separate blog site. I have been in a reflective mood of Kate and this blog means a lot to me. I hope you enjoy it.

From the heart

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein

A quote I love, and something I feel we could all learn from.

I always write from the heart and my hope / desire / mission is to reach out to as many people as possible. As I’ve already talked about in earlier blogs, I am exploring self love and self belief this year and I would love as many people as possible to join me on this mission.

Part of this work though is looking at where I feel we as a collective need to focus effort to help as many as we can. The last blog followed an article I saw about how too many young people are being prescribed anti-depressants. It could be argued that too many people are being prescribed them – full stop! Who benefits? Clearly, the medication numbs the depression of the person. This isn’t an ill informed comment. Having being prescribed anti-depressants 12 years ago, I am fully aware of their effects, have used them for a period of time. I talk about this in more detail in the book, View From The Ground, which continues to take shape.

But, who else benefits? The global pharmaceutical industry of course. I’ll avoid going off on a rant, on this occasion at least.

Of course, there are alternative solutions. But where will the money come from the implement a fully effect, alternative solution? Will a government be brave enough? I’ll let you decide.

Anyway, I’ve been reading, again. I saw an article advising that there have been calls for mindfulness training to be introduced in schools in the UK. In October, a Mindfulness All-Party Parliamentary Group said the practice should be made more widely available and recommended the Department for Education designate three schools to “pioneer mindfulness teaching and disseminate best practice”. Only three? Surely this rather important initiative warrants being ‘pioneered’ in a broader range of schools – a selection of schools spanning the whole of the U.K., and a selection of schools spanning the different socio economic groups + ensuring that it touches the incredible range of our diverse cultures.

Political author and former head of Wellington College Anthony Seldon has called for daily “stillness sessions” in schools.

I’m not sure the name,”stillness sessions” will necessarily grab the attention of the desired audience, but in theory this could be awesome.

The Dalai Lama was absolutely right when he said “If every 8 year old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.”

So can mindfulness meditation really help pupils concentrate amid the distractions of 21st Century living?

In my humble opinion, it absolutely could. If delivered correctly, and with appropriate time being given to the programme (or program to our American friends). We are blessed to have in our midst some friends who are already working with young children on such a concept, but if that could be taken into schools and colleges to older students, it could be incredible.

Now, considering the concerns raised in my last blog – as detailed above – if mindfulness was rolled out, and given the attention that it deserves, this could really help young people clear their heads, even if it is just a bit at a time. Just image the effect. In this crazy world that we have created, with 24/7 news blasting people with negativity – war, debt, death, Trump, Cameron, North Korea, bombs, etc – it’s no wonder people are fed up.

In all honesty, mindfulness to the corporate world would be a massive step forwards. I hear, see, read about so many people struggling with the pressures that they face in life (including when I look in the mirror), if businesses allowed time for employees to attend mindfulness sessions, or meditation groups, the results could be amazing. I know some companies already do this, but with a bit of encouragement from the governments, surely this could be launched on a much bigger scale. I would certainly attend!

These, of course, are just my observations but it feels like we could all benefit from a bit of mindfulness. It could be good for the heart, for the age of the heart.

And talking of the heart, I would like to end this short blog with a story from the weekend.

As is my Saturday routine, I undertake the weekly grocery shop at our local supermarket. Being a creature of habit, I always look to see if my favourite person is working the checkout. She is a beautiful soul, so friendly, and always willing to talk and help me to understand about her Sikh religion. I love learning about other cultures and we are blessed in the UK to have such a diverse population.

I was sad to learn that the lady’s sister had recently passed away, but she talked about how she praises and still talks to her sister. She also told be that her sister had left her the words for several songs, that she now sings so that she feels that her sister is with her.

At that point, whilst helping to pack my bags, she started to sing to me – holding regular eye contact, and it was as if she was in another world. That’s when it sunk in, she probably was. In a serene place where her sister’s spirit exists, whilst also being with me, and the hundreds of others in the supermarket. Incredible, beautiful, magically, inspirational. A lesion in love and true belief. A lesson in having unconditional belief that her sister was in her heart.

As I said, I love to learn.

And, so another short blog draws to an end. A slightly different format but, as always, written from the heart. I hope it resonates. In this messed up world, we all need to feel some love. Apologies for any occasional typos. It makes the blogs real. Not editorial support at this stage.

Take care. Keep the faith, and spread the word.
Jon

The journey ………. so far

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View From The Ground

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“I try to stay in a constant state of confusion just because of the expression it leaves on my face.”
― Johnny Depp

Welcome to the latest view from the ground. I hope you don’t mind, but this is personal.

There’s a lot of horrible stuff going on around us at the moment. War – senseless; murder – senseless; starvation – senseless; homeless refugees – senseless; homeless people on the streets – senseless. And that’s just the start. The world’s a mess, and it’s a mess created by the human race.

Why?

There’s a lot of people awakening to this mess and there is an awareness that something must be done. There’s a collective of people rising, and as a collective what we have is special. But I’m troubled. Deeply troubled. Something on a personal level is stuck.

I was lucky to have started my journey something like 2 1/2 years ago with Viv. As those who have read my blogs – probably 30+ blogs now – I was lucky enough to contribute to Viv’s book, These Wings Can Fly, and that’s where View From The Ground started.

Viv and I have always had a different view on our road of discovery – Viv from a deeper perspective, whereas I see things, as the blog page suggested, from the ground. It works.

Over the last 2 1/2 years, Viv has developed a strong understanding of her development and has grown incredibly – as a Shaman, a Reiki Master, and a healer, to name just a few. I’m proud of her and I know she will continue to grow.

My development is different. I know I have my own role to play, as an interpreter of what I see and hear. To seek to encourage others to find answers as to how we / they can heal our/themselves and in turn, heal each other, our communities, and the world.

I know that part of my role in life is to come out from behind the shadows of others and to make my own steps forward.

Through my blogs, I seek to connect with others, so that we can join hands and walk together. Through the blogs, I seek to reach out to as many as possible and encourage people to share their experiences and thus show we are not on our own. This is why I ask for the blogs to be shared. I would love to read posts from others.

For certain, as a collective, what we have – or is it, what we could have? – is special.

But, I am troubled. Maybe by the need to hear from others? Maybe by the question – is it just me? Maybe, and this is literally coming to me as I write, is it by the fact that I am looking to others? Maybe that’s just it, my belief that I need others.

In reality, I should be seeking to inspire others. To encourage others to find each other; to join hands with each other. Whereas I need to keep moving forward, interpreting what I see and hear, sharing that information and then moving on again. Not waiting for others to join me.

Maybe, that is the role of View From The Ground.

I’ve used this analogy with Viv. I need to see it that I’m in my boat on a river. There are people on the river bank. But I need to allow them to find their own boat and decide whether they want to follow me. Not wait to see if they want to get in my boat. We can all sail on the same river but we need to have the ability to sail at our own pace and maybe take a break every now and again.

And, again, this is coming to me as I type this blog and it is proving to be therapeutic, this is why I maybe shouldn’t be troubled. People have found their boats, and are sailing along. And that’s just great!

Maybe, just maybe, I shouldn’t be troubled. I should just celebrate that, as we all sail along in our own little boats, what we have really is special. And, at times maybe I just need to rest from my development. Maybe I expect too much of myself. Maybe I should just let it flow.

And there ends a rather personal blog. Thanks for bearing with me. I hope it makes a bit of sense. Just a confusing time for a lot of us.

Take care.

Jon

Mum’s the word

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View from the ground

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“I’m gonna make a change, for once in my life. It’s gonna feel real good. Gonna make a difference. Gonna make it right.” – Man In The Mirror by Michael Jackson.

Words are good, but unless they are accompanied by actions they can, at times, be worthless. There is a lot of talk on social media about the need for people to make a change and I am not short of desire to change my path. But are we doing it?

Across the globe there are significant decisions that people need to make this year – as a collective. A couple of examples are the presidential election in the USA and the referendum in the UK as to whether to stay in the European Union or whether to go it only and return to being little islanders. The outcome of these events could result in significant change. Maybe, just maybe, sometimes change might not always be a good thing.

So, welcome to the latest view from the ground. It’s taken a bit of time to put this blog together. I started a few weeks ago but it’s not being easy. I’m not sure why as, like a lot of my thinking, the core theme is mindfulness. What? Again! Yes, indeed. There are 2 reasons. 1) It’s a subject I have a true passion for; and 2) The more people I talk to; people who are really struggling with where they are at the moment; the more I truly believe mindfulness is an answer to a lot. Perhaps, it could be said, it is THE answer.

As usual, I’ve been looking at various definitions of mindfulness. Here’s the latest one: –

“Mindfulness is the practice of bringing one’s attention to the internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment, which can be developed through the practice of meditation. The term “mindfulness” is a translation of the Pali-term sati, which is a significant element of some Buddhist traditions.”

Interesting, in that this definition suggests mindfulness can be developed through meditation. I can see that and meditation is a wonderful practice and something I enjoy. However, is it essential in order to achieve a state of mindfulness? Could the thought of meditation – certainly in the first stages of achieving mindfulness – be something that could prevent those who truly NEED to find a state of mindfulness?

I talk to so many people these days who are stressed / anxious / depressed and who struggle to achieve that place of being able to live in the moment, because of events from yesterday or worries about tomorrow. There is no one group of people – it could be men or women who are under considerable and, it could be argued, unreasonable pressure at work, it could be teenagers under considerable and, there’s no argument about this, unreasonable pressure to achieve at school or college. There are a whole range of situations that cause us to struggle with what life throws at us.

This all got me thinking. Think back to your childhood. Who would you turn to when you were struggling, or upset about something. Mum! Those of us lucky enough to have a loving, caring mum always knew she was there. Mum’s definitely the word.

And then, that got my thinking about linking our reliance on mum when we were young, or maybe not so young, and on achieving that state of mindfulness – on achieving a state of living in the present. On always having a trigger, when we are feeling low or vulnerable.

Make Use (of) Mindfulness – MUM.

To be fair, this started out as being called My Understanding (of) Mindfulness. As I’ve talked about above, I’ve looked at a lot of definitions of mindfulness. Ultimately, they are other people’s definitions. This should be about what mindfulness means to you and how you can use it to help you. How you can live for today, to live in the present moment without feeling the pressures of what happened yesterday and without worrying about what you think might happen tomorrow.

Now, those who know me will look with some scepticism about me talking about not getting wound up about what happened yesterday and not worrying about what might happen tomorrow. However, I would question whether those same people actually know me. Whether they know the battle that I am winning in my personal plight to use mindfulness in its full glory to focus on living for today. That is why I write these blogs, to share my experiences and to hopefully help others realise that they are not on their own.

It’s now 11 1/2 years since I accepted that my state of stress and anxiety was an illness and needed to be fixed. I have spent too long worrying about events from years previous and how they could be repeated in future. Basically, not living in the moment. I will talk about this in more, candid, depth in the View From The Ground book. The book now has a name ‘Round The Bend Or Turning The Corner’. The book has 64,000 words. I just need my balcony in Spain to create the final version of the magic.

Ultimately, we all need to decide on how mindfulness works best for us on an individual level and then to share that learning with others.

But, when we are struggling with yesterday or worrying about tomorrow – we should Make Use (of) Mindfulness. Mum’s the word.

To close, as with the start, in the words of Michael Jackson, “Stand Up and lift yourself, now! ………………. Make that change”.

I hope this blog has helped. I dedicate it to all of those people who have just found things a little tough, a little overwhelming. When you struggle, it’s not because you are weak, it’s because something needs fixing. Keep strong, keep believing, and focus in living in the glorious moment of right now.

Take care. If you want to share your thoughts, please contact me through jonlduke@icloud.com.
Jon

You are not alone

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View from the ground

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“What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow. Our life is the creation of our mind.” – Buddha

“When we are mindful, deeply in touch with the present moment, our understanding of what is going on deepens, and we begin to be filled with acceptance, joy, peace and love.”

I dedicate this blog to anyone who, by living in the present moment, is wondering what the hell is going on? Thinking, where has the energy, motivation, positivity gone? Thinking, why are so many people blaming each and everyone else for what ever is going on?

Rest assured, you are not alone.

As with last week, when I started to think about a blog, I had set out on a different direction. In fact, I had intended to complete the blog I started last week, but, for many, many reasons, I have not drive to finish that blog – yet. It actually feels quite sacred and, I feel, some clearing needs to be completed before I finish it. Watch this space. There is a lot of clutter to throw out first.

Do you find yourself questioning everything? Well, it would appear something amazing is happening. Really? Well, having read an article on http://www.collectivelyconscious.net it would appear so.

Obviously, I enjoy reading and I like to use the blog to share things I find. Hopefully, it helps others who may be experiencing the same feels but, equally, with the passion to arrive at that Utopia place of self belief and self love.
This article was written by Gustavo Tanaka of http://www.medium.com and I intend to reflect on some of it for this blog.

Gustavo has clearly had an awakening and broken free from the rules that bind most of us to our day to day ‘routine’. His has allowed him the freedom to look at things from a different perspective and it’s that which I find fascinating.

Now, at this point, if Viv is reading this, she will be screaming that this is exactly what she has been talking about for months. I know but, as Viv also understands (to her frustration 😀) I like things to be validated through my own readings. So, here I am, some months later, acknowledging that I get it.

The world is changing it’s just most of us maybe haven’t been aware.

Gustavo has highlighted 8 reasons that lead him to believe the world is changing and I would like to share some of them with you. To see all 8 please visit the above shown website.

I share these in the spirit of information share. I’ll just put them out there and you decide on whether you can relate to them.

 
1. No one can stand the employment model any longer. Now, I think this is a sweeping statement from Gustavo and would question whether that the observation extends to everyone. However, there is no doubt that there are a growing number of people employed in the corporate work who are disillusioned and struggling to exist within a very strained environment.

Stress at work has been a problem for a long time and statistics suggest it remains. Gustavo also that people are feeling a growing lack of purpose. I’ll let you decide from your own experiences whether he is right but, it makes you think. I think the important thing for anyone feeling like this is to be aware that you are not alone.

2. The rise of collaboration. This is a refreshing observation by Gustavo although the world of collaboration is not new to me. This is the world Viv lives in. If you want to find out more please have a look at www.emeraldfield.org. Gustavo observes that many people have come to the conclusion that it doesn’t make any sense to go on by yourself. Many people have awakened from the “every man for himself” state of mind. He also, quite rightly, reflects that the human race seem to be drifting apart from each other.

I personally link this very much to the above comments about the corporate world. I sadly believe that, despite all of the technology, the ability to communicate, the ability to travel, we have grown apart and that we look at each other with suspicion. Sad!

However, things are changing. Sharing, collaborative economy concepts are being implemented, and it points towards a new direction. The direction of collaborating, of sharing, of helping, of togetherness. Again, I ask that you visit www.emeraldfield.org to have a look at the sharing economy society that Viv and her associates are driving towards. It’s a new world for many to grasp, but it can and it will be THE new world for us all. We just need to embrace it.

3. We are finally figuring out what the Internet is. Now, this observation is an interesting one. Gustavo reflects that the major media groups, who have controlled news by how it best serves the message that they want to get out, are no longer the sole owners of information. We go after the information we want and we look for that information where we want.

I would question, however, who controls the Internet and do we truly have the freedom of information? Certainly, things are more free flowing and we have AN ability to find information but I question whether that it total ability.

That said, as Gustavo states, nations saw true revolutions that used the Internet as the primary catalyst, such as the Arab Spring. And, of course, with the Internet, the small are no longer speechless. There is a voice. I use it for these blogs. I’ll use it to get View From The Ground – the book – out as an e-book. So, the Internet is bring the world together and, I hope, it can help us unite.

4. The awakening of spirituality. The ‘S’ word! I’ve written about this before but I truly believe that, at last, there really is an awakening towards spirituality. Spiritual people are not these weird, tree hugging, daisy chain wearing characters that many believe. How many people do we know who use yoga to get in touch with their inner peace? How many people do we know who mediate?

As many readers will know, spirituality  is, in general, a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, and it typically involves a search for meaning in life.

Attitudes are changing and people are talking openly about spirituality, as they can see the link to meditation and to the search for something bigger; something unexplained.

I also agree with Gustavo’s observation that people want to understand how many things work — how life operates, what happens after death, what is this energy thing people talk about so much, what is quantum physics, how thoughts can be materialised and create our sense of reality, what is coincidence and synchronicity, why meditation works, how it’s possible to cure some ailments using nothing but bare hands, how those alternative therapies not always approved by regular medicine can actually work sometimes.

As I’ve said in previous blogs, some forward thinking companies are providing meditation to their employees. I truly wish this could become the norm, not the exception. Some schools are teaching the young how to meditate. What a beautiful thing to do!

It’s a quiet revolution. There is an awakening, and through that awakening hopefully a peaceful revolution against the madness of modern society. I just ask that we spread the world and start building a true gathering.

So, there you have it. To learn more, visit Gustavo Tanaka on http://www.medium.com.

I hope this has been of interest. If you are asking yourself what the hell us going on, you are definitely not alone. But the world us changing so let’s get involved in that change.

Have a great week. If you’ve spotted a typo above, I do it on purpose really 😀.
Jon

What’s my age?

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View from the ground

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“I’m happy to report that my inner child is still ageless.” – James Broughton

Well, I’m happy to report it’s raining outside …….. again. When I say happy, I’m happy that I can report it’s raining outside. That means: –

* I woke up;
* I’m inside being able to look outside;
* I have vision to see the rain;
* I don’t have to go outside in the rain;
* I have the technology to report it’s raining; and
* I am very grateful that at least one person is reading this.

I am grateful / thankful for all of the above.

Welcome to my latest view from the ground. I sometimes wonder if I should call the blogs ‘view from the comfy chair’, as I tend to write the blogs whilst sitting in the living room (lounge). Usually there is music playing. Today, I have the delights of Ben playing FIFA on his Play Station 4. Love his company. I’m grateful. Maybe I’ll set up a new group. Who knows.

Those who have visited recent blogs will have observed that my current path has taken me to focus on living in the present. The last blog, ‘a view from the ground look at mindfulness‘ very much dealt with how looking at enjoying the present can help our mind not to regret yesterday or worry about tomorrow.

I guess I am focussing on how to just enjoy life. I’ve talked to a lot of people recently who are struggling with how they feel at present. They are full of regret, worry, and an overall heaviness. It’s the latter that causes the worry because, in many cases, they don’t know why they feel heavy / overwhelmed by a sense of darkness.

There’s no doubt, from a personal perspective, my moods have been, at best, erratic (I had to make sure that hadn’t spell checked as erotic. This blog site isn’t a place for sharing those thoughts. Please visit ………….. only joking!). Worry about past mistakes, worry about tomorrow’s events, worry full stop. I need to take my own advice. Live in the present.

Now, living in the present is, there is no doubt, the best place to be. But, then, even then, have you looked in the mirror and though ‘where did all that time go’? We suddenly feel our AGE.

Well, a recent blog by the great Dr. David Hamilton gave me a well timed slap in the face. The blog, How To Slow Ageing – was an excellent read. I love his books – very inspirational and last year’s ‘I ❤️ Me’ put me on my road towards understanding self belief and self love.

I was interested in the blog that Dr. David said that we have two ages. The chronological age, which is the number of years we have lived, and. the physiological age, which is the age of the body, and that depends to a large extent on diet, exercise and attitude. By doing the right things, the physiological age can go backwards.

With regards to the chronological age, I looked up one of many definitions of age – “the amount of time during which a person or animal has lived. Or, the amount of time during which a thing has existed. Or, the time of life when a person does something or becomes legally able to do something.”

Okay, simply put, not a great deal that we can do about that.

So, back to the physiological age. Dr. David quotes  a study that, in part, concluded that attitude was more influential on the ageing process than blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking, body weight and even exercise levels in how long a person lived.

This really resonated (one of my favourite words). As he say, attitude really counts, no matter what number we attached to ourselves from a chronological perspective. If we have a negative preconceived idea of limitations of age, then will just live in accordance to that thought process. If, however, we program ourselves with a positive attitude, with the right mindset and, in the words of another author I love, John C Parkin, shout F**K IT, we give ourselves every chance of slowing the ageing process.

Another suggestion – as written about by Vivienne Duke, in These Wings Can Fly – is to release that inner child. I’ve use the expression in an earlier blog about it being TIME TO DANCE. But, as it observes in the book, children have no inhibitions. They view the world almost with awe. They don’t allow themselves to be aged by worry, worry, worry.

Too many people worry about ‘getting old’. One thing’s for sure, if you think about / worry about getting old, guess what? You’ll start to feel like you’re getting old. It’s not rocket science. It’s a mind over matter process. Think young, act young, feel young!

I love being daft, teasing people and generally being what some would regard as being immature.

The definition of immature – “having or showing an emotional or intellectual development appropriate to someone younger.” Well, if that’s as bad as it gets bring it on!

The definitions of all words are created by us, to suit us. So, I’m going to recreate the definition for immature “a person willing to let go of life’s preconceived views of how they should behave and who wants to have fun with as many people as they can. A person who wants to bring sunshine into someone’s life when they might be having a cloudy day. A person who wants to life in the present”.

To use a quote featured in These Wings Can Fly and used in part in a previous blog: –

“Dance like there’s nobody watching you
Love like you’ll never be hurt
Sing like there’s nobody listening
And live like it’s heaven on earth”
William W Purkey

So, if you see me walking down the street, don’t walk on by. Don’t ask my age. Let’s have a little sing and dance.

And this is where I will close. I might just put a bit of lively music on for a quick jig in the kitchen. Come and join me. Let’s dance!

Take care of yourself. Take care of your family and friends. Take care of those who need a hand to hold. Take care of our beautiful planet.

As usual. Apologies for any typos. I’m open to applications for proof reading. Payment by means of gratitude.
Jon

A view from the ground look at mindfulness

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“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” ― Mother Teresa.

At this moment, as I sit revving up for another great day ahead, I’m happy. Why? I woke up; it’s the weekend; we had a great time with friends last night; and I’m drinking a smoothie consisting of kale, 6 different fruits, almonds and goji berries – rather than a bacon and black pudding sandwich. Clearly, I chose the correct option for breakfast. To be fair, the decision was easy. I love smoothies and we don’t have any bacon or black pudding. But I still feel happy.

Welcome to a new blog. Welcome to a new day. Welcome to the moment.

Anyone who has read the last blog – Live for the moment ……….. but please throw my mouse – will already know that I working hard on living in the moment; the present. I’ve spent too much time worrying, worrying, worrying.

Worrying about yesterday. What could I have done better?

Worrying about tomorrow. What’s going to happen? Is it going to be good? What’s going to go wrong?

Worrying about what people think of me, of my blogs, of my personal development. Why have some people suddenly become invisible? Is it because I / we openly express our views, which may not be the same as others?

But, I’ve realised this has to stop. I’m understanding the importance of enjoying ‘the now’. And since I’ve start to enjoy the now, the yesterday and the tomorrow have started to fade. Of course, I still reflect on what has gone before but nothing like as much. I know I am at the early stages of my path towards purely focussing on living in the present but I’m enjoying it so far.

So – mindfulness. A subject that has been at the core of my thinking for a long time now. It’s a word that is becoming more common in every day language.

Mindfulness – “the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.”

Or, putting it another way, mindfulness – “a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.” Now we’re talking.

I read any article that the wonderful Jean Garrod shared on Facebook recently, called ‘A Mindful Day At Work, by Dr. Takesha Cox.

Dr. Cox is a school social worker at a high school in Washington DC. Many of the students at the school deal with neighbourhood violence, grief and loss, poverty, below average reading and math skills, abuse and neglect from their families, abandonment, teen pregnancy and parenting, and the lack of resources that they need to be successful socially, emotionally, and academically.

Dr. Cox is a mindfulness practitioner and she has delivered a lesson called “Heartfulness” to great effect.

There was another article recently about some Canadian police meditating.

Just thinking about all of this gave me real hope. Mindfulness, heartfulness, meditation – basically all practices that work towards a “a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations”.

A lot of us want to achieve this basic awareness on the present moment, but we spend too much time working about yesterday and / or fretting about what might happen tomorrow. As I write this I am facing a battle to stop thinking about what tomorrow might bright. However, the great thing with writing is that it helps me to concentrate on the exact thing I am talking about – living in the now.

Here’s a broad statement. There’s too much anger in the world. In fact, there’s just too much anger – full stop. We spend too much time angry. When I say ‘we’, I am just speaking broadly. That anger comes out of worrying about yesterday and how that might develop into tomorrow. But, what about today? Today? If we could just grasp the concept of dealing with today – with a smile, a laugh, a dance, and a lot of gratitude, sure when tomorrow becomes today we can do the same all over again?

Am I simplifying things? I hope not. I’m just seeking a state of mind for me, and everyone else who wants to join me, where we just enjoy the now. And by practicing mindfulness, we can take a massive step towards that state of mind.

Of course, we could move on to talking about meditation. I’ve covered that in earlier blogs and do intend to re-explore the joy of meditation because I still love just zoning out and just disappearing into my peaceful place. That place when even living in the now feels a bit too much. I’ll leave it there for now, but am happy to discuss my views on meditation with anyone and everyone.

And that’s where I’ll close. A quick quote – “Life is a dance. Mindfulness is witnessing that dance.”
― Amit Ray,

Enjoy the dance.

Jon

Ps – sorry for the typos. I need a proof reader!

 

 

Let’s make a song and dance about it aka time to dance

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View from the ground

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“Music was my first love
And it will be my last
Music of the future
And music of the past

To live without my music
Would be impossible to do
In this world of troubles
My music pulls me through”

The words of John Miles from 1976. Still a song that I have whirling through my mind. Partly because it’s very good, but mainly because those few words really resonate.

So, welcome to the latest grounded view.

What a week! Well, when I say what a week I am referring to my observations of the broadcasted news. When I say broadcasted news I am referring to what we are being told. When I say what we are being told, I mean I believe we are being fed what the broadcast company owners WANT us to know. When I say ………………… I’m sure you get the message.

Conspiracy theorist? Not at all. I just like to reflect on what I feel, in the hope that it inspires others to think and form their own thoughts around what is going on.

As for the news we have been fed this week, it really makes you wonder how much longer it will be before the masses gather and say – as one united voice – ENOUGH. As I write this paragraph I have the displeasure of listening to one political voice concentrating his diatribe against the UK Prime Minister rather than focussing on what the government can and will do – together! – to improve things for the population. I’ll refrain from commenting about the UK Prime Minister. Words aren’t needed or appropriate.

Naive? I don’t think so? Just a hope that the politicians that we put in positions of power did the job that we elect them to do rather than continually criticising each other time and time again. No wonder the world is in decline. They haven’t got a clue!

Anyway, as usual, I have strayed into a subject which wasn’t meant as the basis of the blog. However, there is a tenuous link as I have been doing a lot of thinking about escapism. Escapism? Yes, escapism. I’m sure there are millions of people who feel that their day is just a blur of routine. Usually following: –

* Alarm wakes up
* Wash, dress, feed and ready for work / the day
* Travel to work
* Work, work, work
* Travel home from work
* Cook / watching someone cooking
* Eat, talk, reflect
* Relax
* Bed
* ……… And do it again tomorrow

Now, of course, when you are working through your day, don’t forget to do your gratitudes. I’ve written many blogs on gratitude – these are still on the View From The Ground section on www.thesewingscanfly.wordpress.com. I’m rather proud of them.

And – key gratitudes are being alive, having a house, having clothes, having food, having a job, having a family to talk to …………… and that’s just starting! So, please don’t read that I am taking the above for granted.

But, we have it in our power to break the routine., shake off those chains of monotony, to say this is my one chance so (in this life anyway) TIME TO DANCE!

Mmmmmm – where is this going? Those who know me know I am not a gifted mover – unless last orders are called at the pub. But here’s the big but (note the spelling, so I’m not referring to my expanding rear) – we, my friends, don’t need to be gifted movers. We just need to move. As if the prove a point, I’ve just played Mr. Blue Sky by the awesome ELO (more on them in a bit) and found myself jigging in the kitchen. I love it. The release of music. Finding a great song gives you licence to say TIME TO DANCE.

Just think about the effect music can have on us. I’ve mentioned above ELO. Viv and I were fortunate – blessed it could be said – to see Jeff Lynne’s ELO last night at the magnificent Leeds Arena (one of the best venues I have been to). I’ve seen 200+ concerts, but last night was the best. The anticipation was phenomenal. Maybe because ELO are one of my all time favourite bands. But it was the collective excitement. And, then, the intro music and it was TIME TO DANCE.

I was surprised how many people stayed seated. Obviously they were enjoying the show. But, for 90 minutes, this was a chance for escapism; it was living in the moment (that’s a subject for a future blog); or in the words of Jeff Lynne, it was a living thing. Some people may have turn(ed) to stone but, it might have been some secret messages which just made us walk the tightrope and dance. If you don’t know ELO, I will apologise for those song references. They just came to me out of the blue.

But, that’s just it – music gives you chance to lose yourself, and to dance like you don’t. You can release your inner child and, before you know it, what ever was bothering you a minute previously has gone.

Well, Viv and I definitely lost ourselves in the magic of the concert. It has to be said, a couple of glasses of red wine helped me to dance like no one was watching. To be fair, they weren’t. What was going on in front, on the stage was the focus – although those seated behind us may question that.

What’s wrong with a couple of red wines to loosen things up though? A glass of red is another one of life’s pleasures. It’s certainly something a lot of us enjoy. I’ve recently heard it suggested that people have a drink when they get home from work as it could be regarded as a norm in society. I beg to differ. I have a drink when I get home because I enjoy a glass of red wine, and that’s the end of it. And I certainly enjoyed the red wine, the music and the dancing at Jeff Lynne’s ELO concert.

Still on the subject of music. How many of us sit in the car, something has been bothering us and then – bang – a great song comes on your CD, iPlayer, the radio etc, and we just lose ourselves in the moment, the magic. We sing, we wiggle, we release the inner child again.

We need to use music more to release ourselves from the routine; to dance like no one is watching. Who cares!

How about trying this technique the next time that you are wound up, or getting frustrated about something; remove yourself from the situation, find a room, put on some music or think of a song and then it’s TIME TO DANCE. Release your frustration. Slightly left of centre thinking, but try it. Might even be worth a try at work. If you do, let me know how it goes.

Music and dance can be used in so many situations to lift the spirits, and at this moment in time there are many people who need to do that. So, my feeling is we should lose ourselves in the music and use it as the here and now.

So, let the music play, have fun, be yourself and don’t be dictated to. This is your life to enjoy. I’d love to heard stories where perhaps your have had a dance like no one is watching. Please share your stories. I would love to post them on the blog site.

Until the next time. And if you spot the odd typo, sorry, I was dancing.

Jon

Please can I go out to play

Posted on by View from the ground

View from the ground

image

Hi and welcome to the latest view from the ground. Welcome to the new www.viewfromtheground.co.uk blog site. There’s still work to be done but I’m pleased to have my own space for these blogs. That said, whilst we go through a transitional phase I will be reposting the blogs on www.thesewingscanfly.wordpress.com for a short time. But the View From The Ground blogs needed their own place as my path has evolved in a different direction. Spiritual? I would say so. But very much rooted at a level where I want to help as many people as possible understand changes they are feeling and seeing, but without scaring them. The word ‘spiritual’ can scare people a bit but then when you look at a definition – ‘relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things’ hopefully this can be related to be many of us?

There is no doubt that times they are ‘a changin’, as Bob Dylan prophesied many years ago. Interesting! I had a Facebook message exchange yesterday and reflected on changing times and that has stuck in my head. They are changing on a global level, on a national level, on a local level and, definitely, on a personal level.

With that thought in mind I looked up the lyrics to ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’ and was struck by how appropriate they are for today, so I wanted to share them: –

“Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin’

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside ragin’
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is rapidly agin’
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'”

It certainly made me think. However, those who have followed my on the winding road from my view from the ground will know, I do a lot of thinking. My life purpose, I am told, is as interpreter. It’s a grander title but, basically, I look to interpret what I see and hear into plain speak. Some people like to talk in riddles and, perhaps, be seen as a higher source of information / knowledge. I look to filter what I hear and turn it into something a little more understandable.

To be fair, when I set out to put this blog together, as is the usual case, my thinking had been around a different place.

In this intense world that we seem to be operating in, our whole focus is on work – be that employed / self employed work, family work, home related work – we have little time to rest and certainly no time to play.

Play? Exactly. Play! I believe many of us have forgot to play. In fact, we’ve forgotten how to play. As I read recently (sorry, yes, I’m reading again) play is not just important for children, it is an important source of relaxation and stimulation for us adults as well. Playing with your significant other (assuming they agree!), friends, colleagues, pets (I can say that now we have our beautiful cat), and your children is a perfect way to stimulate way your imagination, your creativity and, most importantly, your emotional well-being. On top of all of that, it is fun! So, why have so many of us forgotten how to play?

I had a think about my typical working day. Out of bed, prepare and consume breakfast; prepare lunch; feed the cat; get dressed etc. Into work by 8:00 am. At the office until circa 6:00 pm, home b circa 6:45 pm. Sit down to eat by 8:00 pm (having cooked or assisted). If I’m lucky, out for a quick walk at 9:00 pm, and back in time for a bath at about 10:15 pm. And the day is done ……………… until tomorrow.
Where is the time for play? Okay, a talk during the evening meal (assuming I have company); a walk and talk; throwing the sponge mouse for the cat to retrieve, as she thinks she’s a dog, could be classed as play. However, it’s not good old fashioned play. Active play.

We need to try and remember what play used to be. Throwing a ball around in the garden? Sitting around a table having a laugh. Playing a board game. Going out for a bike ride, or a long walk whilst it is daylight. Basically, something that allows your brain to switch off from that thing that we call life. You could say, something that allows you to go back to that state your could enjoy as a child – not having a worry in the world. Unconditional fun!

Just think about the possible benefits of playing – particularly when it involves some else, or a pet. This can add to your joy of life, and theirs.
The clearest benefit of play is stress relief. Play is fun and it’s an escape, a distraction. It can trigger the release of endorphins, promoting an overall sense of well-being. Play can also enhance brain function. Activities such as completing crosswords, puzzles etc, playing chess or some other ‘play’ activities that challenge the brain can help prevent memory problems and improve brain function. It’s like any form of positive exercise. The more you do it, the stronger you can make what you exercising.

Sitting around the table, talking or playing with family and friends can also help ward off stress and depression. Again, distraction? Or, actually, is the play and interaction actually reality? Is all of the other stuff the distraction? I’ll leave that thought with you.

And, another, important reason for play is to allow it to help keep you feeling young and energetic. As George Bernard Shaw says right at the start of this blog, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” Age is a number, and is inevitable. However, ageing is a choice – or at least the speed at which we age is.

One thing for certain is that times, they are a-changin. Our ability to deal with the changing times will be enhanced through maintaining a high level of of energy and a high level of happiness.

I would like to finish with my favourite John Lennon quote: –

image

Take care of yourselves. Now, get outside and start playing. And, please, be happy.

Speak soon. If you want contact me direct, and me an email – jonlduke@icloud.com. Alternatively, I’m on Facebook, as Jon Duke (never one for being overly creative). In addition, there’s a View From The Ground Facebook page + I’m on Twitter as @viewftg. It would be good to hear from you.

Finally, my usual disclaimer for any typos. This is all written from the heart.
Jon

A new beginning

Posted on by View from the ground

Jon's phone - jan - feb 2016 056

Welcome to the first View From The Ground blog on the new View From The Ground blog site. It’s a first and very new! Have I already said that?

It’s definitely a new beginning and I hope that you will join me on my continued development. I’m not going to call it a journey. That’s Corporate, 20th century speak. So, we’ll call it a development. It’s a development in self belief, self love, continued focus on gratitude, and overall mindfulness.

Anyway – welcome.

For the last 20 months I’ve been publishing blogs on the These Wings Can Fly blog site. All have been published as View From The Ground, and you may want to take a peek – http://www.thesewingscanfly.wordpress.com.

To be honest, this is a test blog to see how it works but what I would love to do is share one of my favourite blogs from the past. So, please read on – I’ve copied it below. I hope you enjoy it and I hope you will join me on this path of development. It will be fun – honest.

So, here we go, word for word – including links to previous blogs: –

1. 5.10. Make it count – A view from the ground

A View from the Ground – The Journal from Jon

After a recent View From The Ground blog – ‘My life purpose. Revealed’ – I was flattered and touched by some truly incredible feedback. It’s been wonderful to see how many people have taken time to read my blogs, as I do really enjoy writing them. When I say ‘writing’, it is more a case of having an inspired moment and then I let my fingers do the work. I won’t continue on that theme, to avoid going in an entirely inappropriate direction.

On the basis that my life purpose has been published, along with the transcript from Viv’s shamanic meditation, I am pretty much an open book. Those that know me will understand how (on the face of it) uncomfortable that makes me feel. I have already stated that I am a private person, and yet now I have revealed that I am the Interpreter for Healing and Humanity. Perhaps I should get a tee-shirt with that on. Over the coming weeks, I expect the actual depth of this role will become more apparent. I look forward to finding out more and will share my learnings on future blogs.

I have thought further about being told in the meditation that I should loosen my tie. Well, I’ve taken this by the neck (get the anatomical humour!) and in the last week I have had 2 days in the office week without a tie on. I was worried that I might get told off. No!!! There I go worrying again (you need to read the above mentioned blog to understand that reference).

In reality, the loosen the tie reference is an instruction for me to relax, be less formal and, I guess, open my mind a little more. Whilst I have been on this journey with Viv there is no doubt that I have become more open minded. However, I do sometimes have momentary lapses of bloody-mindedness. Where I have an opinion and that is it. However, to fulfil the role as the Interpreter for Healing and Humanity, I need to open my mind to everything.

Now, as I type this, sitting home alone on a Sunday afternoon – glass of red wine in front of me; bracelet on a different wrist due to having a minor bout of road rage earlier (see the blog Red Raw Wrist) – this was justifiable as some Muppet didn’t realise a green traffic light signals time to move; Niall playing on the IPod (check him out at www.niallmusic.co.uk and on Twitter – @worldmusicniall. He has an excellent new CD – Total Serenity); I feel the need for a meditation, so will be back soon.

20 minutes later – wow! Very relaxed, having used one of the tracks from Niall’s new CD. At risk of repeating myself from earlier blogs, if someone had told me I would meditate most days 2 years ago I would have laughed out loud.

I find meditation an incredible practice and one at which I am very much a learner. It is becoming apparent that a lot more people meditate than I realised. I read a great Dalai Lama quote “If every 8 year old in the world is taught to meditate, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation”. I find this amazing. Just think. Is it really that difficult to imagine teaching every 8 year old to meditate?

This brings me onto the title for this blog – ‘1 5 10’. It kind of goes hand in hand with the Dalai Lama quote but I guess I am thinking of starting on a small scale. My thinking is what difference could we make to the community / the world by starting with a 1 percent shift in how we think; how we behave; how we treat each other.

Think about it. If tomorrow, you smiled at everyone you see. Accepting that there will be a small group of people who will think you are weird (definition – very strange and unusual, unexpected, or not natural. See my previous blog for more on this subject), but the majority of people will walk away feeling a little bit happier. They in turn may then smile at people they see and, within minutes your act of happiness spreads throughout your community. That one act by you may cause a one percent shift in your community.

It’s all about taking progressive steps – start at a one percent shift, move to five percent (accepting that is a 500% increase in effort), and then step up to a ten percent short (and that is only a 200% increase).

I look back on my personal journey and would like to think that by sharing what I have learned – mainly through Viv – can help others step forward and start improving their own lives, through positive thinking, through being grateful for life, and through feeling love.

That moves me, seamlessly, onto a learning from my shamanic meditation. I was told I am to “Love everyone as you love Vivienne, Benjamin and Livia. Think of all your thoughts and feelings for Vivienne, Benjamin and Livia. Spread this out to humanity.”

Those who know me know I am a very private person, not in the slightest tactile, and am overall limited in how I show my affection. So, to be told my role is to love everyone as I do my nearest and dearest placed me in a bit of a dither.

However, this part of the role also links to a wider definition to ‘loosen the tie’. As I have said before, I always thought my life purpose was to protect Viv, Ben, and Liv. However, the meditation has told me to loosen that tie and love everyone, to protect everyone.

It was a big eye opener and I take the message as one of taking the care and kindness that I show to Viv, Ben and Liv out into the wider community. Ultimately, if we all cared for each other just ten percent more, imagine what a positive effect that would have. So, if my role is to take the baton and start the race towards a more caring, loving society – bring it on (but, my only request is for some leniency on Mondays).

It is an interesting aspect of my personal role and something that has caused me further reflection. In reality, I am a naturally caring person – but perhaps I have limited the caring to my family and friends. I would like to think I am caring within the work environment, but some may argue that point. I now see that I must open my eye, loosen the tie, and be aware of the wider need to love everyone. Updates will follow on how this progresses.

So, there it is. As I said in the ‘My life purpose. Revealed’ blog, I accept the role I have been granted, and promise that I will do all within my power to succeed. I will tackle it in sensible stages – and will make a one percent difference; five percent difference; and ten percent difference. My challenge to everyone who reads this – do the same. Please join me on this quest, this journey. I would love to hear about what you are doing.

And – look at that, this is the first blog that I have managed to complete without a single plug for the magnificent, 5 star rated, book – These Wings Can Fly. On the basis of my success, you might like to celebrate with me by going to Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com and having a look at how you can obtain a copy of the book. Whilst you are there, I would strongly recommend that you continue celebrating by having a look at Vivienne Duke’s second book,  Awaken Your Inner Hero.

Love life; it’s yours to enjoy. Help your neighbours, you never know just how grateful they may be. Laugh a lot, you may just cheers someone up who is feeling a little sad.

Love and peace to all.

Jon