This dramatic sky is a perfect backdrop for Central Station, Sydney, Australia, at sunset. You can find an afternoon view here.
Satisfaction
It is satisfying to get through tasks that seemed insurmountable
Dark clouds
Cold stark towers of truth
Bear down on unwary.
Eyes downcast, mind elsewhere,
Moving forward somewhere,
About their busy ness,
Against wind, sunshine, rain;
Gloom pervading pain.
Unexpected
I was pleasantly surprised while checking my emails this morning. I received a message from a colleague congratulating me on being brave. I didn’t know what they meant.
I mentioned in my blog post Being Myself that I would add a category to this blog for personal development. At the same time I decided to participate on my workplace’s social media, hosted on Yammer. Both are part of a strategy to bring coherence to my online personas. Yammer provides me with an opportunity to give back to my workplace and to connect with colleagues I would not ordinarily come across. I started sharing articles related to personal development on Yammer.
The bravery comment was in relation to my activity on Yammer. There was also a private message via Yammer this morning from a colleague I only know from their posts. They let me know that they like the posts I’ve been making and that we may be similar in our thinking. I was blown away, it wasn’t something I was expecting and I’m thrilled that my posts are being well received.
My learning from this; the less I expect, the more thrilled I am with the unexpected.
From the bus stop
If someone had told me, when I was young, that I would one day leave the cool northern hemisphere climate, my birthplace, I wouldn’t have believed them.
Why would I want to trade in grey, cloudy skies, and drizzly rain that clings to your clothes and hair?
This morning I find myself sitting at the bus stop. Across one of the busiest roads in Sydney I see: a blue sky; lush green leafed trees; and a palm tree.
Denial
Not wanting to know my:
- Waist measurement
- Weight
- Bank balance
Fungus fright
Fergus B. Fotheringham
Feared fungus, frogs and lambs.
When excursions were planned,
Rambling ‘cross field and land,
There was ne’ery a doubt
He’d rather go without.
Xanthorrhoea
Uniquely Australian, the grass tree, Xanthorrhoea, is at home in the red sandy outback. Our neighbours in Sydney gave us a potted tree to commemorate our living in Australia for ten years. This the second time it has flowered in seven years. They typically grow around one centimetre per year, and can live for many centuries.
Further information is available here http://www.pawlan.com/monica/australia/
Perfumed pentagram
It’s spring again
We’re smiling again
There’s perfumed pentagrams
It’s spring again
Time to sing again
Jasmine from Petersham
Being myself
I recently received an email from WordPress to remind me that September is the anniversary of the birth of theINFP.com. This proved to be the catalyst for me to to reflect on why I blog, review the blog’s categories and look to the future.
In the beginning
I can clearly remember the feeling of trepidation as I clicked to share my first post with the World. It was called Memory, Motivation, Momentum, you can read it here – you will be part of a select group. So many negative thoughts ran through my mind: ‘Why would anyone be interested?’; ‘I will look like a fool’; and ‘Who do I think I am?’ When I started blogging three years ago I was unsure of why I was doing so. I half expected that it was just another phase that would wax and wane.
The path
Generally, I don’t have a lot to say; considering myself a trifle dull. I can see the interest die in the eyes of most people when I talk to them. I learned late in life that it is okay to be a shy introvert. Walking the path to rid myself of the masks, walls and perceived expectations I have buit up is not a easy as I anticipated. Being part of the blogging community has helped me along this journey. It is reassuring to know that there are people who are interested in what I have to say, even if it is only in a few words.
Significant periods in my life seem to be marked by decade long milestones. Each one signals the removal of a gossamer veil from my inner eye, one after another. My purpose in this earthly form becomes tantalisingly clearer. This often inspires me to create and share pictures, poems and posts.
The future
I plan to add a ‘personal development’ category to my blog. I will capture the articles and posts that resonate with me and explain how the concepts relate to my own experiences. The travel category will be removed.
Thank you for reading this short insight into why I blog and where I am going. I truly appreciate being part of your conversations, and you liking, commenting and following my blog.
Being myself, Robert
theINFP 