age is just a state of mind 11:07 pm on Saturday, September 27 2008

I woke up and lay in bed grateful that the weekend had arrived. I thought about my next move - getting up and getting dressed, and then I wondered what to wear. My jeans (the obvious answer) were in the laundry basket.

I got up and pulled on some clothes. I looked in the mirror and concluded that I looked like a teenager. Which at the fine old age of 32 was fine by me.

Later, I drove over to see Mum and Dad. Dad recounted some tales of late, of the dangerous drivers he's encountered. He was referring to several situations all involving pensioners - sunday drivers - oblivious roadies - like the 40 mph ones who refuse to budge out of the fast lane on the dual carriageway, and either don't indicate at all, or start to do so a mile or so before their turning. The message… beware!

Funny thing is, Dad is 72 - been a pensioner himself for several years now. But I don't see him in that bracket. Not at all. He's far too young.

Age is just a state of mind.

final thought of the day 12:17 am on Wednesday, September 24 2008

Work honestly,
Meditate everyday,
Meet people without fear,
And play.

Baba Hari Dass

the looking glass 12:05 am on Wednesday, September 24 2008

On looking at what is in the mirror in front of you, think of what is behind it.

And within it.

And beyond it

get well soon 11:28 pm on Tuesday, September 23 2008

One of my best speakers is poorly with pleurosy (no idea how you spell it, but ouch, and poor thing) so join with me reader, in wishing her a speedy recovery. Poor soul, am sending lots of get well thoughts (and texts!) and hoping her energy and vitality will soon be back.

In one of out most recent chats, I called her up because I knew I needed a natter with someone who would know how I felt at that moment - wracked with nerves! She talked good sense to me, and (importantly - and just as helpful) she had me laughing and smiling. Getting support and guidance in those eeek moments isn't just about reaching out for wisdom, it is also about reaching out and taking the power out of the fear -and oftentimes, for that purpose, laughter is indeed the best medicine.

Get well soon CB. Take the medicine you need - be that laughter, time, sleep, or something else that the doctor tells you to swallow.

springback: erwin & charlotte 11:13 pm on Tuesday, September 23 2008

Ive got a first class team on board. I am very grateful to them, for the work they do and the impact they have on young people. I have the added bonus of their friendship, which is a great gift. Heres what others have had to say in the last couple of weeks about a couple of them...

"Erwin gave us the best possible start to our programme of events this year. The audience were captivated and I have been inundated with positive feedback from the children and also had a couple of highly appreciative comments from parents, thrilled that their children wanted to discuss the prison system over the Friday dinner table rather than slope off to watch the TV. Sterling stuff as ever and I am tremendously grateful to him!"

"Dear Erwin

I wanted to express formally my gratitude to you for coming down to Guildford this morning to present such an impressive lecture to our Sixth Form.

The prison system is a topic that is rarely given the attention and the focus that it merits; from a school perspective, its profile is negligible. To combine factual information, statistics, real life, and inspiration within a talk is a real challenge; to have achieved that and engaged so readily with the audience was a real feat. It is an oft-used clich that the audience were hanging on every word, but throughout the talk it really was the case. It is only a shame that the time limitations did not allow an opportunity for questions and further discussion. It has provided our boys with real insight into the prison system without lecturing or patronising them. Already within half-an-hour of the talk - I have had a number of boys commenting on how powerful, emotive and thought-provoking the talk was and I am sure it will continue to stay in their minds in the future. Your talk has provided the boys with an increased awareness of some key issues and we are very grateful for your time and effort. I wish you all the very best in the future and hope our paths cross again."

"In haste, just a brief note to say how wonderful it was to see Charlotte again on Friday.it was so-o-o-o good of her to [travel] all the way up here The talk, as I expected, went very well indeed and the students responded magnificently to her.the message got home, at least for some of them, and the debate continues in the 6th Form Common Room where many kids have found the courage to voice the long-held opinion that having to look after some muppet who gets paralytic by 9pm really, really ruins an evening out! The first stirrings of a cultural shift? At least a start!"

If we can start the process of thinking that leads to change and the breaking of some mistaken belief systems - if we can encourage open and honest discussion, and support some lost souls - if we can inspire the next generation, we are doing the job we set out to do. Which is all that we were hoping for.

a days work 11:21 pm on Saturday, September 20 2008

I sat (motionless) on the M25, not a happy bunny. I had allowed an extra hour-and-a-bit to get there, and still it looked like I was going to be late. Not a good start to the new school year, not a way to arrive at my first talk of the term. The traffic gridlock was in addition to having sat in a queue at the toll booths where an eejit in a van messed up his payment (it was a simple matter of dropping a quid in a basket, how hard can that be?).

I got there. 5 mins late, which given the circumstances wasn't too bad, and given that i had two hours with the girls, was a minor delay. Apologetically, I got started.

It was great! A powerful experience for all, clearly. After an hour of talking, and noticing how deeply they were listening, I invited them all to stand up and have a stretch and a wriggle before we moved into the second phase. In that time I was swarmed with warmth and thanks, and some tears - not of despair but of gratitude!

We moved into q & a and time passed and had it not been for the fact that it was the end of the day and they - and I - all had to move on to some place else, it could have just run on and on.

I was out the following day, but got home to emails that make me feel so privileged

"I would just like to say a huge thank-you to Alex. You recently visited my school and everyone was so impressed with the talk. I think that you are a fantastic person for taking a negative experience in your life and turning it into a positive way of helping others. Your story was very inspirational and everyone appreciated your visit"

"I was blown away by your whole presentation. I thought you were so incredible you really inspired me anyway just wanted to say thanks and that today really had an impact on me."

Naturally I have edited a few lines for the sake of the writer, but you get the jist. I am immensely reminded of why I do what I do, and inspired by the young people I meet along the way,

here we go again! 11:15 pm on Wednesday, September 17 2008

Another school year recently began. My first school talk of the term will be tomorrow, and the following day I have been invited to speak at a conference.

Hereafter, the diary is filling up with talks and travels and new opportunities. There is much work to do. I will do my best to do it well. Its important.

funeral 11:11 pm on Wednesday, September 17 2008

It will be a day of grief, but far more so a Celebration of Her Life. I won't be here tomorrow to pay my respects and unite with those who have loved and lost but they will all be in my thoughts and prayers.

Village life can be hard work, the reputation it gets for gossip and small talk and tittle tattle is valid. But the pros so far and away out weigh the cons - the strength of spirit, the support, the unity, the kindness and love, they are the other side of the coin, and they have always had the upper hand around here. In good times, and in bad times, the village is a generous and compassionate place to be.

She lived here, she died here, and her memory will live on here. God bless her.

five short chapters 11:40 pm on Sunday, September 14 2008

Its a poem I was introduced to some years ago. I think most of us can relate to it. It is the way we can find ourselves doing things and every time I read it, I get to know it more. A friend linked to it in one of her blog-posts this week, as she acknowledged that she's not sure that (with regards to a particular situation) she is walking down a different street yet. Thats okay. Perhaps she is at chapter 3. Which is at least halfway to chapter 5.

http://www.mhsanctuary.com/healing/auto.htm

We live, we learn, we trip up, and learn some more. Sometimes we can skip amongst the clouds and sing for joy. Other times it can be too much effort to even contemplate picking ourselves up from the floor. Nobodys perfect.

sadness (part ii) 9:53 pm on Thursday, September 11 2008

I didn't know at the time, that the dear lady who the village (and the world) lost, was Chris, a wonderful mother and wife and someone who I have had the privilege to meet, but missed out on ever really getting to know.

She was a beautiful character and her spirit will live on in her family - I know them enough to know that.

Their worlds have been turned upside-down, Chris's life has been cut short far too soon - and an unlicensed, untaxed, uninsured drunk-driver was involved. It is not something any of us can contemplate. It is too tragic for words.

site admin 9:43 pm on Thursday, September 11 2008

We are getting there, the new website (same address, same contact details) is on its way I promise! It is just that like many things, its taking several moments longer than planned.

Watch this space (and bear with me!)

correction 9:39 pm on Thursday, September 11 2008

Rather than existing in the real world, The Ogre in that exists in her life, is the one inside her head. I'll keep reminding her of that, we all will, and eventually she will come to believe it.

And beyond that, with guidance, counsel and direction, we will help her to divorce it. Its name is not The Ogre. Its name is Anorexia Nervosa.

honesty 9:34 pm on Thursday, September 11 2008

Shes a client.

And she is honest.

Which with the people I have been working with, fantastically, is not unusual. I am someone with whom, for whatever reason, people who are stuck in a world of secrets, take a chance and get honest with.

I endeavour to give them every possible reason to do so. I give them my word and my trust. Nonetheless, I find this honesty admirable - I suppose that is because in my old days I never risked it. I should have.

Dont be scared of truth. It won't kill you. It might just set you free.