#Trust30 online initiative - a 30-day writing challenge - Part 8 - Five Years

Five Years by Corbett Barr

There will be an agreement in whatever variety of actions, so they be each honest and natural in their hour. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What would you say to the person you were five years ago? What will you say to the person you’ll be in five years?

(Author: Corbett Barr)

Five Years by Andrew Cairns

This is all getting a bit new-agey and hypothetical; I could write better prompts than this. The so called 'inspiring thought leaders' are having trouble moving away from clichés; this question is a bit like the classic interview question - what do you see yourself doing in 5 or 10 years time?


Still, to attempt to answer the questions such as they are... 


What would you say to the person you were five years ago? I would say continue on your path of questioning and being curious; give up bad habits when you're ready (immediately or gradually); don't get too worked up over small disappointments and injustices since in the long-term they will seem insignificant, but stand up for your rights nevertheless (in as dignified and diplomatic manner as possible); maintain valuable friendships.


What will you say to the person you’ll be in five years? You're getting old, mate !! :) Either well done on your progress on various projects, or get the finger out - you should be doing better !! (Depending on how things have gone).

#Trust30 online initiative - a 30-day writing challenge - Part 7 - Dare to be bold

Dare to be bold by Matt Cheuvront

Our arts, our occupations, our marriages, our religion, we have not chosen, but society has chosen for us. We are parlour soldiers. We shun the rugged battle of fate, where strength is born. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Next to Resistance, rational thought is the artist or entrepreneurs worst enemy. Bad things happen when we employ rational thought, because rational thought comes from the ego. Instead, we want to work from the Self, that is, from instinct and intuition, from the unconscious.
A child has no trouble believing the unbelievable, nor does the genius or the madman. Its only you and I, with our big brains and our tiny hearts, who doubt and overthink and hesitate.” - Steven Pressfield, Do the Work
The idea of “being realistic” holds all of us back. From starting a business or quitting a job to dating someone who may not be our type or moving to a new place – getting “real” often means putting your dreams on hold.
Today, let’s take a step away from rational thought and dare to be bold. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to accomplish but have been afraid to pursue? Write it down. Also write down the obstacles in your way of reaching your goal. Finally, write down a tangible plan to overcome each obstacle.
The only thing left is to, you know, actually go make it happen. What are you waiting for?
(Author: Matt Cheuvront)

Dare to be bold by Andrew Cairns

One thing I've always wanted to accomplish is the PADI diving certificate - to be able to go scuba diving, explore interesting underwater sites. Probably would go for the Open Water diver certificate - alowing you to dive to 60 feet / 18 meters (40 feet / 12 meters for 10-12 year olds) whenever you're accompanied by a fellow of the same or higher certification level (the other diver must be 18 or older for Junior Open Water divers). This would give a lot of freedom (just hire equipment and a boat with another qualified person and go wherever you want).


Obstacles are mainly just finding the time, and taking the initiative to book the training. Would like to go somewhere where you actually enjoy the training and can see stuff. I've only done scuba diving once (but it was excellent - on the great barrier reef near Cairns, Australia). Have also done a bit of snorkelling in Australia and France.


Tangible plan : just book it (and persuade my wife to come along); the timing : end of this summer ?


Anyone else up for it ?

#Trust30 online initiative - a 30-day writing challenge - Part 6 - Come Alive

Come Alive by Jonathan Mead

Life wastes itself while we are preparing to live. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you had one week left to live, would you still be doing what you’re doing now? In what areas of your life are you preparing to live? Take them off your To Do list and add them to a To Stop list. Resolve to only do what makes you come alive.
Bonus: How can your goals improve the present and not keep you in a perpetual “always something better” spiral?
(Author: Jonathan Mead)

Come Alive by Andrew Cairns

1 week left to live ? It's a bit longer than 15 minutes - see previous post (http://my-self-reliance.blogspot.com/2011/05/trust30-online-initiative-30-day.html). Would mean spending (wasting ?) less time on frivolous things like watching TV, surfing the net, and more time doing things of real value : spending time with family and friends, spending time in nature, prayer / meditation, playing and listening to good music... 
To do lists or to stop lists are very hard to keep (a bit like New Year's resolutions). Concentrating on goals that improve the present or immediate future may be useful / easier to do, although it's still a question of motivation, kicking habits / time-wasting activities. 

#Trust30 online initiative - a 30-day writing challenge - Part 5 - Travel

Travel by Chris Guillebeau

If we live truly, we shall see truly. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Not everyone wants to travel the world, but most people can identify at least one place in the world they’d like to visit before they die. Where is that place for you, and what will you do to make sure you get there?
(Author: Chris Guillebeau)

Travel by Andrew Cairns

I would like to travel to Mecca on the Hajj (Muslim pilgrimage) - see previous post. To get there, will need to save up some money for the trip and prepare (spiritually and logistically). 


I would like also like to visit Asia (the only continent I haven't visited yet, unless you count a stop-over at Singapore airport). India (Taj Mahal), Japan, Singapore / Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia. Again money and preparation required :). Maybe take a sabbatical or mini-retirement. 

#Trust30 online initiative - a 30-day writing challenge - Part 4 - How can I do work I’m passionate about?

Post-it Question by Jenny Blake

That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him. Where is the master who could have taught Shakespeare? Where is the master who could have instructed Franklin, or Washington, or Bacon, or Newton? . . . Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare. Do that which is assigned you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Identify one of your biggest challenges at the moment (ie I don’t feel passionate about my work) and turn it into a question (ie How can I do work I’m passionate about?) Write it on a post-it and put it up on your bathroom mirror or the back of your front door. After 48-hours, journal what answers came up for you and be sure to evaluate them.
Bonus: tweet or blog a photo of your post-it.
(Author: Jenny Blake)


How can I do work I’m passionate about?

See my answer in 48 hours... 

• If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well.
• Hence (a bit cynically), if a job's not worth doing, it's not worth doing well (or at all !) ;)
• Be prepared to move elsewhere (Scotland ? Medium to long term plan ?)
• Sustainable Development (see my blog : http://my-sustainable-development.blogspot.com/)
• Bottom-up: trying to adapt my experience to jobs on offer

v

• Top-down: here's my passionate ideal job - where / how can I do it ?

I am passionate about working in Sustainable Development. Since my Master's degree in this subject I've had mixed fortunes in finding related interesting work. I plan to market my skills and eventually move to Scotland (or elsewhere) where there are real opportunities and other motivated people to work with.

#Trust30 online initiative - a 30-day writing challenge - Part 3 - One Strong Belief

One Strong Belief by Buster Benson

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. - Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance
The world is powered by passionate people, powerful ideas, and fearless action. What’s one strong belief you possess that isn’t shared by your closest friends or family? What inspires this belief, and what have you done to actively live it?
(Author: Buster Benson)

My Strong Belief: Al Shahada

The Shahadah is the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of God (tawhid) and acceptance of Muhammad as God's prophet.

أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله و أشهد أن محمد رسول الله

ʾašhadu ʾan lā ʾilāha ʾilla (A)llāh, wa ʾašhadu ʾanna Muḥammada(n) rasūlu (A)llāh

"I testify that there is no god but God, and I testify that Mohammad is God's Messenger"

 I have converted (or reverted) to Islam around 4 years ago after discussing with Muslim friends and being inspired by reading the Qur'an and other books explaining Islam.

Actively living Islam involves attempting to  live by the 5 pillars of Islam :

(1) the shahadah (creed)

(2) 5 daily prayers (salat), 

(3) almsgiving (zakah), 

(4) fasting during Ramadan 

(5) the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) at least once in a lifetime

#Trust30 online initiative - a 30-day writing challenge - Part 2 - Today's sentence

Liz Danzico – Today

Your genuine action will explain itself, and will explain your other genuine actions. Your conformity explains nothing. The force of character is cumulative. – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance

If ‘the voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tracks,’ then it is more genuine to be present today than to recount yesterdays. How would you describe today using only one sentence? Tell today’s sentence to one other person. Repeat each day.

(Author: Liz Danzico)

My sentence 

The day is a sequence of efforts and rewards, or endeavours with expectations which may or not be met : wash to stay clean, eat to relieve hunger and obtain energy, travel to work (a place to obtain monetary rewards for services rendered), do certain tasks - create 'value', commit to future tasks, sell abilities to potential clients, exercise to stay fit and relax, sleep to rest and recharge... does any action - apart from unconditional love (if such a thing exists) - deviate from this rule ?