The Winds Of Change

The winds of change are blowing strong through my hair and the ground on which I stand seems to be constantly shifting as if it is trying to unbalance me and make me fall.


As quick as I seem to adapt and accept one shift within my life another sweeps in to ensure I do not get too comfortable within my personal and private zone.

Even my beliefs that I use as an anchor for my sanity seem to keep changing and being challenged in what seems to be a deliberate attempt to stretch my mind and beliefs and to ensure that my mind is not that of a narrow minded self-centred Narcissistic fool.

I went to church last Sunday for the first time in over 15 years ( for my sons christening ) and over 35 years since I attended Church for a Sunday service.

Why did I go after so many years you may well ask, and that would be a very justified and reasonable question as it is one I have been asking myself as well.

You see the reason I went is because I am restless, I feel as if something is missing in my life and yet I want for nothing and desire even less.

I feel shallow and directionless; I have passions but no motivation to chase them. I want companionship in my life but am also happy to be alone in my thoughts and travels.

I am not happy and yet I am not sad !

My nephew Mathew and his darling wife Lilly are THE two happiest people I have ever known in my life and always exude love and happiness when ever I see them as if they are walking on cloud nine all the time without a care in the world and I wanted to know the peace and love that these two amazing young people know.

About 3 months ago I told Mathew and Lilly how they inspired me with their inner peace, calm and contentment. I told them how I felt and openly admitted that at 44 years of age, these two amazing young adults who are only in their mid 20’s knew something I didn’t and I wanted to know what they thought was the secret to their happiness and if they would be willing to share it with me as all I truly want in life is to be happy, happy like them.

Once the initial shock of the whole conversation subdued, Lilly simply said that it was God and her Church that gave her and Mathew their love for life and with that came the inner peace of knowing God and knowing that he and the church were always there and that they never walked alone.

Please don’t think the conversation was as simple as that and many other aspects were discussed but the point of her message was that their Faith was their reason.

Well, I stated there and then that despite their young age I openly acknowledged that they certainly knew something that I did not and asked if I could please go with them to their next church service to try and find the answers that they seemed to have found for themselves.

Now as life all so often does, I was then swept away in my reactive life and it was nearly 3 months later that I got a private message on my Facebook account from Lilly asking me if I still wanted to join her and Mathew at their church and giving me the time, place and all the details to make sure I was there the following weekend. I replied to her, accepting her kind reminder and left it at that.

So 15 minutes early the next Sunday I pulled up in front of the church and eagerly waited for Mathew and Lilly to arrive.

About 5 minutes before the service was to begin they arrived much to my relief and much to their surprise and joy they realised that I had made it.

They introduced me to a few people and went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and to feel as if I was home, home with them in their house. Words can not express my love for them for that, and how much of an exemplary example of they both are of all that is good within the human race, of loving life and of faith just by being themselves.

Well, I went again today ( the following week ) and I was a big boy and went by myself today. I tried not to just stand there like a rabbit in the headlights and I very self consciously participated in the service.

Now, I’m not going to try and tell you that I have seen the light and found the way, but I have found another way, another path to the one I have been walking in circles on for the last 30 plus years and I am open to where it may take me without expectations of it taking me anywhere.

I do feel that there will be many inner questions yet to be answered as I have always been a very spiritual person but have never really been religious and the joining of the two will certainly be a challenge and an interesting path to take.

One of my all time favourite poems is by Shel Silverstein called “ Listen To the Mustn’t ”, well I guess its time that this Ol’ Uncle listened to his own advise … anything can happen Uncle, anything can be !

Listen to the Mustn’t

Listen to the Mustn’t, child,

Listen to the Don'ts

Listen to the Shouldn’t

The Impossible, the Won’ts

Listen to the Never Haves

Then Listen To Me

Anything can happen, child,

Anything can be.

Shel Silverstein

Walkabouts & Conversations

I had the opportunity to sit down and have a big chat with my sister Wendy ( Photo of Wendy and the Outlaw Mick ) the other day and as usual when Wendy and I get together and start our “ Little ” chats we end up talking for hours and in the process finding solutions to all the worlds problems.

Another magical thing happens when we get together too, I believe we open each others eyes to truths that sometimes are too close to see. To be honest, I think Wendy does the majority of the enlightening ( of me ).

Wendy and I can just sit and talk, talk like there is no tomorrow and talk in a way where there are no fences or boundaries. We can talk without fear of offending or of being judged by our comments even if politically incorrect or naive at times.

Our “ Chats ” flow like a mountain stream meandering down within a ancient rainforest, ever gathering speed and volume by connecting with other streams and topics of conversation until we are a raging river charging to the sea.

An amazing thing happens when you are blessed with the opportunity to openly discuss topics without fear or judgment or ridicule. You get to wade through the collective mud of beliefs, experiences and misinformation ( which is life ) and eventually exit the other side with the truth. A clarity which can only be achieved by carefully peeling away the prejudices and biases until you are left with nothing but the core truth.

I don’t really have words for how much I enjoy these chats with my Big Sister, I always walk away feeling relaxed, cantered but most of all I walk away feeling heard which in today’s society I find is a rare commodity.

How many times have you had a conversation or greeted someone only to get an automated reply or response, you know they hear you but they have not heard you.

When was the last time you stoped and asked someone how their day was going and actually stoped long enough to hear and care about their answer.

How often have you passed by someone and said “ Hello, how you going ? ” but then kept on walking without missing a step, not waiting for an answer or listening to it even if you hear it.

How often have you been asked how your day was and just auto replied “ all right thanks and you ! ” even though you have heaps on your mind and would love to have a receptive ear to talk to !

We rush on by with our lives in auto mode more and more these days and fail to stop and smell the proverbial Rose, but why ? is life really that urgent these days compared to parents past.

It’s the same with our kids, how often do you pick your kids up from school and ask them how their day was but not actually stop and listen to what they have to say. Especially with kids, what they say and what they are trying to say are two vastly different things and unless you actually STOP, clear your mind and listen to their meaning the whole exercise can end up a wasted effort and leave the child feeling valueless and voiceless ( same goes for adults too ).

The joy of talking to a small child is innocence, most haven’t been exposed to the prejudices of every day life to the extent that their minds are closed to the truth and to simple emotions. Barriers haven’t been built yet to guard them against the cruelty that life can at times throw your way. They still naively believe in truth, honesty, openness and dreaming.

I honestly believe as a race we are loosing the art of conversation and interacting, more and more our worlds are based around the impersonal computers technology.

Without leaving home we can now be educated, shop, pay our bills, socialise, research and the list goes on endlessly, but at what cost with the loss of the personnel interaction we have lost from the experience.

It’s time to stop and talk people, to stop and talk with 100% of our focus and involvement within the conversation.

I’m about to head off for a “ Walkabout ” with my son in two days, we are going to jump in the car and just drive with no plans or set destinations. All electronic devices are being left at home and we are just going to cruise for a week and see where life takes us.

Traditionally a “ Walkabout ” was a coming of age for the indigenous Aboriginals here in Australia, a time when a young man would walk off from his tribe to discover life and themselves. While not quite so adventurous as their efforts but I too hope that this trip will be a coming of age ( to a degree ) between my son and I. He has just turned 13 years and is more ways then I am ready for he is becoming his own man ( Attached is a clip of how HE wanted to celebrate his 13th Birthday )

I enjoy talking to my son as much as I enjoy talking to my sister Wendy, his view is unique in many ways and valid although at times vastly different to mine, we are constantly teaching each other and reminding each other of the benefits of keeping an open mind.

So here is to Long Open Debates with my sister, youthful honest conversations with my son “ Grub ” and always being able to keep an open mind and a full week of Walkabout Discovery.

Till then, thank you for taking the time to read my Blog !

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