You might recall that when I first brought home into the virtue of beauty framework, the goal was a comfortable, happy, cheerful, welcoming and calm home that reflects who we are right now. Odd now that I think of it, that I didn’t include healthy given my circumstances. Not to worry, I don’t live in a hospital thank […]
Blog
How to Make the Perfect Pizza
I thought today for something different, I would share one of the very great pleasures of being unemployed – “real” food. And as we are coming up to take out Friday, I would do this by sharing my perfect pizza recipe. I am not the only one who things my pizza is perfect – I have […]
Could You Do Fashion On a Budget?
As I mentioned in presence, clothing is an issue that has been concerning me since the transplant. As I mentioned, I had to replace all my clothes, and I went a bit nuts, just buying things that I liked the look of with no real plan of how they would work together or even how they would look […]
Amazingly Unlikely Birth and Death
As you know, I’m working in the garden. Observing birth and death, but mainly just weeding the last few days… Which led to the appalling discovery that I can’t see well enough to weed properly without my “reading” glasses. Might need to get some prescription sunglasses made up for just that purpose… Anyway, I found a […]
There was Nothing More to do…
In keeping with my intention to “stage my house for living“, I have been reviewing my email subscriptions, and I came across this one where Minimalist Joshua Fields Millburn ticked the organ donor box on his driver’s licence. As you know, I was the happy recipient of a kidney transplant in 2011. At that time, I […]
Who are the Home Grown Heroes of My Beautiful Garden?
When I first laid out my garden vision, I mentioned a need to develop habitats for native species – my home grown heroes. I went so far as to announce that I would extend my friendship to those species by supplementing their food in winter, and trying to give them a competitive advantage against the non-native […]
Dressing to Look Like you Know What You are Doing
I spent some time today sneering at the latest round of advice on write-and-secure-a-great-job-yesterday-resumes, and further revising mine for my next assault on the job market. Happily for me, there was also some substance to add because I recently had the pleasure of a few weeks paid work in an office. With a bunch of people like me – other short-term […]
Planning for the Virtue of Wealth
I don’t know about you, but I am sick of half-arsed emails and blog posts about this one’s 2015 planning , and that one’s Top Five tips for the best year ever, so let’s get this last virtue of wealth out there and get down to the business of actually living. Global events notwithstanding. Now […]
JE SUIS CHARLIE
Like many others around the world, I’ve been moved by the attack on the Charlie Hebdo office. Writers, musicians, and artists often face criticism for their work, and the thought that some of us must pay with our lives chills me to the bone.
What Does That Have to do With Wisdom?
A reader says I totally didn’t get how any of the things you were talking about had to do with WISDOM. I got the making choices thing but I am not connecting the dots on how that is wisdom… I thought that if there is one soul brave enough to ask, there must be others trying to […]
Planning for the Virtue of Wisdom
So far we’ve looked at the virtues of: beauty – living authentically and taking care of our physical well-being and surroundings (body, presence, home, and garden) friendship – treating the planet and other beings as well as we want to be treated pleasure – agreeing to seek out new experiences as well as make time to do unproductive […]
Welcome Back!
Welcome back. It’s that time again – dragged kicking and screaming back to the grindstone.
Happy Holidays 2014!
Virtue of Beauty: Body Update #1
Before I get to the body update, I’ll remind you that my planning for taking care of my body included the intentions of moving more, eating well and taking my medicine on schedule when it is due. I set an overarching goal of achieving a weight ≤62kg supported by a number of diet and exercise habits I hope […]
Planning for the Virtue of Pleasure
We’ve just wrapped up friendships, and now it’s time to take a look at the virtue of pleasure. The virtue of pleasure rises from the value of pleasant pastimes via the values rethink. It contains the elements of adventure and recharge. Pleasure I pursue activities for their own sake; meeting friends and taking international vacations, […]
Planning for the Virtue of Friendship: #4 Contribution
Before we start on planning for contribution, let’s recap. I’ve already argued that friendship is a mutually beneficial relationship, developed over time through shared experiences, though only about 10% of friends will be really special. I’ve also suggested that as well as friends and family, mutual relationships are possible with the creatures that live amongst us. I’m now proposing […]
The Wisdom of Making a Choice
Today I am taking a quick detour about expectations, reactions and free will (or choice). Toseland didn’t sleep well last night, and his dog woke him up early. So he went back to sleep and when I met him for coffee this morning, he was all end of the world doom and gloom. For example: I […]
Planning for the Virtue of Friendship: #3 Family
Before we get to planning for family let’s do a quick recap. The virtue of friendship relates to the development of excellence in relationships, and this combines aspects of household, relationships and spirit as a result of the values rethink. We’ve done some analysis and found that a friendship is a mutually beneficial relationship that has developed […]
Planning for the Virtue of Friendship: #2 Friends
Before we start planning for friends, here’s a quick recap. The virtue of friendship relates to the development of excellence in relationships, and this combines aspects of household, relationships and spirit as a result of the values rethink. We’ve done some analysis and found that a friendship is a mutually beneficial relationship that has developed over […]
Planning for the Virtue of Friendship: #1 Creatures
Before we get to planning for creatures, here’s a quick recap. The virtue of friendship relates to the development of excellence in relationships, and this combines aspects of household, relationships and spirit as a result of the values rethink. Last time I suggested that friendship is a mutually beneficial, trusting relationship that develops over a period of […]
Planning for the Virtue of Friendship
I know I promised I’d get into planning for friendship with creatures in this post, but as I got going I realised I had to talk about what friendship is before I could talk about how that relates to things that are not people (as shown in the revised virtues table shown below.) Friendship I […]
Planning for the Virtue of Beauty: #4 Garden
Before I get into planning for garden, here’s the story so far. We’re overcoming our heritage and living in the light and loveliness and magnificent splendour of the pursuit of excellence. We’re calling it Project Worthwhile Life, and starting with a 12-month program to develop virtues. In this instance, the virtue of beauty: the pursuit of excellence in aesthetics, and we’re working […]
Planning for the Virtue of Beauty: #3 Home
Before we get to planning for home, we’ll recap. We’ve agreed to overcome our heritage and live in the light and loveliness and magnificent splendour of the pursuit of excellence. We’re calling it Project Worthwhile Life, and starting with a 12-month programme to develop some virtues. In this instance, the virtue of beauty: the pursuit of excellence in aesthetics, and we’ll be […]
Planning for the Virtue of Beauty: #2 Presence
Before we get to planning for presence, let’s do a quick recap. We’ve agreed to overcome our heritage and live in the light and loveliness and magnificent splendour of the pursuit of excellence. We’re calling it Project Worthwhile Life, and starting with a 12-month programme to develop some virtues. In this instance, the virtue of beauty: the pursuit of excellence in aesthetics, […]
Planning for the Virtue of Beauty: #1 Body
I don’t know about you, but I grew up in one of those households that believed that life consisted of unrelenting and unrewarded struggle. I can’t say I remember any heavenly rewards for this toil either, but if there is no reward for that effort why would you do it? I do not want to […]