Insanity!

It is an interesting time to be alive. As I sit and listen to people who come to The Cliffs for accompaniment, a common theme underpinning many conversations at the moment is the state of the world. Is the world any worse than it used to be? As we continue to witness what is going on in the world, what can I do? These are hard questions to answer. How then do we function when so much of what we see and hear is anxiety provoking without the opportunity to do anything about it?

I have come across two resources which have really encouraged me.

The first is a podcast "On The Way". These guys work out of Brisbane Anglican Cathedral, and they are most definitely my tribe. I encourage you to listen to one particular interview with Meg Wheatley. If you are as old as I am, and the name sounds familiar, you may know her as leadership guru Margaret Wheatley. I have begun reading her latest book "Restoring Sanity" and am considering taking up the training to become a 'warrior of the human spirit' and offer The Cliffs as an 'island of sanity'. I think we pretty much fit the bill already, and this could be our next step. Let me know if you are interested in joining me!

The other resource is a newsletter 'The Imperfectionist' from Oliver Burkeman. This week he describes the practice of 'seeing the actions you take from hour to hour through the day as a matter of threading beads onto a string, as if you were making a necklace'. He is quoting Paul Loomans, a Zen monk who mentions this practice in his book 'Time Surfing'.

“If you look at the day’s activities as a string of beads,” Loomans writes, “you will see it’s made up of all different kinds: large, weighty beads and small, carefully painted ones; eye-catching multicoloured ones and unassuming, softly coloured ones.” Your morning shower is a bead; so is a client meeting or writing a couple of paragraphs; so is playing with your kids or making dinner. And “when viewed from the broad perspective of time, all beads are equally important. They’re all pieces of our lives.”

Burkeman says, "When you’re contemplating which bead to add next to your metaphorical string, you’re inevitably in the world of things that can genuinely be done, things that are in your gift to do. You might choose something directly connected to world events: volunteering your time, giving money, making your voice heard, or even something big, like planning a run for office. Or you might not — because the kids’ packed lunches need making; or because writing your novel is also important to you; or because you have a plan to meet a friend for coffee, and things like friends meeting for coffee is a fundamental component of how the world should be. The point is that whatever you do, you’ll be acting in the world you can affect, not the entirely conceptual one that leaves you only anxious and frustrated." Great advice.

If you are looking for a retreat in the near future, we will be running a 3 day in-person, residential and non-residential retreat, "Everyday Mystics". This is based on the book of the same name by Judith Scully. Judith will be joining us for the retreat which will commence at 2.00pm on Thursday 20th November 2025. The book has been in our cabins for about a year and receives rave reviews. I'm excited that we will get the opportunity to work with Judith this year. If you wish to join us please email me clareshinner@gmail.com