I have been reading Rob's wonderful writing for years. And I've always appreciated his ability to take a seemingly customary occurrence and put into words his own profound interpretation of it. His doing so has inspired me to reflect more on my experiences/encounters with others that I cross paths with, and to then consider new perspectives that may be evident through these small moments or connections, as sometimes they reveal a new learning to ponder. Thank you, Rob. I wish the woman you met on the plane that day could read this.

- Amanda

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I loooooove Rob’s interpretation of the intention of the Universe shifting from a warning to an invitation. I very much feel the window to shift one’s route is still open. And it’s like there’s a magnet out there pulling me toward it. I don’t think I’m alone in this feeling…

My calling to change course has moved me into a much more corporate job; something I never would have imagined being interested in before. It’s most certainly NOT, as Rob says, the oxymoronic “new normal” — which might suggest something with 10% new parts and 90% last year’s model. For me it’s (almost) entirely “new”.

- Corey

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Rob’s discovery of his own perceived “creative cliff”, and architecture of a bridge to the other side, is inspiring to me. It makes me wonder how many times I’ve hit a "creative false wall", which I mistook as real. Maybe next time I’ll take a few more minutes to tap around, and perhaps discover a hidden passageway to a new set of ideas.

- Corey

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There are so many golden threads in Rob’s piece today, writing this lead-in isn’t easy! His writing brings up for me a question that I think Corey’s “Living in the Bardo” piece also raised - how do we plan for an uncertain and chaotic future? Especially plan something that is meaningful to us?

The answer? We take things one step at a time. My favorite line in Rob’s piece is at the very end: "I feel confident I can create a future I want to be part of.” I had to stop myself and think for a minute when I read this. How absolutely true…just because the future is uncertain does not mean we can't each still play a part in building it.

This is all very much just a sub-header or the entire piece though - I hope you get as many nuggets of knowledge reading this as I did!

-Lauren

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One word started ringing in my mind as I was reading Rob's piece below. Detachment. After finishing Michael Singer's "The Untethered Soul," I've found myself repeatedly coming back to many of its lessons and notions of wisdom that have stuck with me, and I've felt so constantly grounded in these ideas over time. Rob's intriguing words and analysis of the depth that the word "patience" may hold reminds me of the power of letting go from this transformative book, and not feeling too attached to anything... to simply let more flow through and not let energy become blocked in one space, or an energy center... the chakra. Michael Singer wrote, "You either let go or you don't. There really isn't anything in between so let all of your blockages and disturbances became the fuel for the journey. That which is holding you down can become a powerful force that raises you up."

Thank you for this powerful share, Rob. You've provoked so many thoughts.

- Amanda

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Rob's piece brings me peace for many different reasons. But his mentioning of the open vs. closed mind really resonates in that it mirrors a concept presented in Michael Singer's The Untethered Soul about transcending the "tendency to close". It emphasizes that when you have an open mind, you will be free to experience the joy and expansiveness that exists inside. I definitely believe in taking some time during this crisis to re-center my consciousness and let energy flow in a less structured way that benefits my own productivity and well-being, in whatever form that may take. Thank you, Rob.

- Amanda

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Happy Valentines Day! Here is a very special treat from Rob, which reminds me of the idea of "clinging" too strongly to my perceptions and assumptions, and how that could impact productivity. Sometimes it's best to simply let go - a huge philosophy in the spirituality book I'm reading right now. And I love it.. just definitely still need to work on that practice more and more each day ;) Thank you for this Rob!

-Amanda

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Rob sent me what he wrote below in response to my ask for something he was grateful for for the CFC Gratitude Share Out. I was moved by his unique perspective and thoughts about this topic.

I was also reminded of what happened yesterday after a distant relative shared something on his Facebook about homeless people that really triggered me, and though I'm not one to use social media as a platform for promoting my beliefs, I was irked by the hyperbolic message he was putting out there and I decided to quickly comment something that was a little (I admit) sassy. I felt he was coming off as incredibly desensitized and felt the need to put my two cents in. A few moments later, I saw he commented back, and I expected it to be a very defensive remark. However, I was actually pleased to see he responded with a question for me. And though I realize our values are fundamentally different, I appreciated that he challenged me to not cling to my mindset so tightly and just engage in conversation. I'm grateful for the rise of diverging human lenses that encourage me to grow and think more deeply about controversial issues.

- Amanda

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Rob's piece gave me flashbacks to my childhood when my friends would come over and it'd seem we had the world at our fingertips. What to do? Play basketball in the driveway, make up a game with chalk, build forts in the basement, play school with my huge whiteboard, make up a dance routine, go night swimming...? The possibilities were endless! And the course of action was rarely discussed beforehand through a phone call or text. I definitely see what Rob is noting here - how technology has seemingly reduced the will for spontaneity because everything can so easily be planned or communicated with such little effort.

I also love the notion that spontaneity is linked to creativity. This actually reminds me of something that happened to me recently. I am doing an internship right now working with young adults with disabilities out in nature. My co-interns and I struggled last week to all meet up to plan out our next lesson, step by step, like usual. So we showed up to the event with a very short lesson plan. But we found that because we didn't over-plan, the environment and structure of the event was actually slightly more relaxed and therefore more enjoyable. We instead used our creativity to fill the gaps in the lesson and the rest of it came together on its own, with participants picking up pinecones and flowers and using their senses to just observe and be fully present. Engaging conversations and meaningful teachings even came up which we did not at all foresee. This was awesome. Thank you for bringing these ideas to light, Rob!

- Amanda

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Rob has this awesome way of enlightening me with terms I have never heard of before, but am so glad I now know. He does this so frequently with his powerful writing. The term he talks about in this piece is very interesting, and reminds me of why, as I study to become an educator for children with special needs, it is so important to help foster intrinsic rather than extrinsic motivation. In other words, our drive and enthusiasm must come more from within us in a way that is naturally satisfying, rather than from external rewards that are given to us. Thanks for sharing, Rob!

- Amanda

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I find this post so intriguing, exciting, and true! I think surprises are awesome and everyone involved gets to feel a sense of joy. And I think the research Rob presents is fascinating, yet not astonishing to me. My boyfriend Chad and I always surprise each other with small treats like a certain favorite drink, ice-cream, or a short hand-written note. And reflecting back on all of the unexpectedness that occurs in our relationship, I realize that some of the overall most memorable and joyful aspects of it are coming home to my room unexpectedly being straightened up and my plants placed in the sunny window.. or a little note on the mirror that doesn't say that much but yet reflects back endearment and euphoria in its brief words. Have I mentioned how much I love surprises .. :)

- Amanda

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Wow.. I love this analogy. What a creative new way to look at and steer a popular saying towards a new direction that one might not normally consider - very thought provoking and something I will take with me in my own education career. Thank you Rob!

- Amanda

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Rob, I just love your ability to so profoundly bring me on a journey, or adventure perhaps, through your writing. I start off somewhere familiar in the beginning, then travel elsewhere so unexpectedly, and then back to where I began. I have felt this trend in a few of your pieces. And I so wholeheartedly enjoy these little entrancing experiences you create with your words.

Oh! And a wonderful happy birthday to Pip! I hope you choose your own enjoyable adventure today too. :)

- Amanda

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This piece made me think about the call I had last week with my life coach. We ended up on the topic of my posture and how I'd like to practice keeping my shoulders back more. So she told me to stand up and to lift them really high to my ears, and then to deeply exhale as I roll them all the way back down. She inspires me to think more deeply about my daily, subconscious actions, and what I perhaps need to wake up to more. And Rob, your blogmade me consider what the underlying unknown known is to why I have tense, raised shoulders. Like what do I do on a daily basis that contribute to this habit? What are my everyday patterns, that perhaps I refuse to truly know, that are unproductive and stress-inducing? Thank you, Rob, for inspiring a greater hunger for awareness that I can consider as I strive for more healthful and peaceful actions.
- Amanda

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I actually went to a couple magic shows this month on a cruise, and while the magician was "slicing" his hand and "changing" the faces of the cards and "catching" a bubble he had just blown, my sisters and I were trying to intentionally figure out how it was all possible and what slick processes he was using. But the next day we ended up concluding that there was no real explanation. Instead, we just realized that it was about accepting what our brain was naturally seeing due to the clever psychology behind the magician's practices. These astounding practices were exploiting limitations in how our brains work... and rather than forcefully trying to find out the answers or the steps behind it all, at the next show, we just allowed it to happen and allowed our brain to be enthralled by these illusions. And I tooo think this notion can be applied to countless areas of life. Thanks Rob!

- Amanda

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I spent three days a week last semester tutoring a kindergartener, who was retained, learn to read. She was considered behind for her age, and would always be reluctant and unamused to open up a book or try tackling new words. I knew she was an intelligent little girl, but she was lacking the actual motivation and interest to read. So rather than only helping her with letter sounds and syllables and blends and digraphs, I put some time and energy into getting her genuinely excited to read and WHY it was important (the major change needing to be made) by showing her fun magazines and the backs of DVD cases of her favorite movies.. all cool things that had writing on them. These were tangible things that pertained more to her interests and that would help her ignite a change in her life. I wanted to demonstrate to her how the ability to read opens up a new world of information and fun topics to explore. As you said Rob, I wanted to lead her to actually will the ability to make her own powerful change. I wanted to inspire her to understand how this transformation would move her way forward.

So thank you Rob! Your piece really resonated with me in a unique way.

- Amanda

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Thanks for sharing this new word with me, Rob. I've started writing in my gratitude journal more, where I write about the things in my day I was grateful for. I can now add events/activities to it where I've felt a bit of hygge. When I interned at a nature-based education center for young children, sometimes during lunch we would sit in the grass and meditate, focusing on our breathing and all the little sounds of the environment around us. During those periods of time, I felt some huge hygge ;) And I love looking back on it. Thanks again Rob! What a fun new insight for a Monday morning.

- Amanda

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So just now I was torn between staying in my room to finish an assignment, or heading to the farmer's market for some vegan food and ice-cream. I think I'm gonna go with "nah" to the first thing and "hell yeah" to the second. Cool. Thanks Rob!

- Amanda

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When I write objectives on lesson plans for the kindergarteners I work with I make sure to write them in a way that every student of all achievement capabilities will be able to reach the goal with complete understanding of the material. Thank you Rob for reminding me in your piece that the classroom is a team and that every students' success truly matters to move forward to new concepts!

- Amanda

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Thank you Rob for so elegantly highlighting the value of putting forth energy to nourish and embrace even the smallest of details and efforts to make work and output outstanding. I think this is actually a great piece for today, Valentine's Day--I think perhaps not only can I engage more consciously with my daily tasks, but also with the efforts I activate and give to others. Happy Valentine's Day!

- Amanda

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