Tag Archives: writingandreflecting

Jeff Flesch 3:00 pm on July 18, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , , japan, london, , UK, update, , website, writingandreflecting   

A Blogger’s Diary 7/18/21: On the Week, Writing and Reflecting, Veggies and Blueberries, and Updating the Site and Traveling

The Week

Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash

It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted a diary entry. I am excited about this entry, as I’ve got a couple of veggie pics, a blueberry picking adventure, and some news about traveling. Fun.

Last week, the team and I completed the team building I wrote about in my last diary entry. It went well. The theme of the team building was Back to the Future; yes, termed such after the movie, and the concepts we discussed were connection, continuity, and change.

We discussed these concepts because we know that there will be more change, there always is, every moment something is changing, we are all changing, yet, we also know that within this change, there is also continuity and continued connection. 

An important paradox to understand and be at ease with. 

Writing and Reflecting

The past couple of weeks, I’ve been reflecting a lot upon the internal work I’ve been engaged in these past 4 years, and how this work has shaped the man I am today. Transformational is the concept that comes to mind.

Transformational because when we look at the pain we carry, get in touch with it, work through it, we get back so much more. The only way to let go of something is to actually be in touch with it first, and to then work through it. Then, we can let it go. 

I imagine my poetry will always be shaped by these experiences, because they are not static, they continue today.

Veggies and Blueberries

The garden is healthy and well, and is producing, and will produce even more in the next month. Exciting.

Here are a couple of pics.

Justin and I went to a local blueberry farm last weekend, and picked almost 40 pounds of blueberries, which are one of my favorites. I eat them everyday, and enjoy them most in my evening smoothies. Delicious.

Here are a couple pics of that trip.

Updating the Site and Traveling

Photo by Luke Stackpoole on Unsplash

As I wrote about a few months ago, I will make some changes to the site this summer. I’ve already removed the videos page, as it is very outdated, and am creating a couple of new pages, and condensing some of the other pages.

At this time, I am not planning on changing the overall site theme, yet, you never know. As I work through these changes over the next two months, if something occurs differently for you, or becomes difficult for you on the site, I would love it if you would let me know. You can get my email from the contact page. Thank you.

As I’ve written about before, I am excited to travel in the coming years; and, I’m excited to share that I’ve booked my first trip. It will be to London, next May. Since I’ve been at my current job, I’ve not taken off more than a few days here and there, and am excited to be in London for 12 nights. 

That will be the 2022 trip, and in 2023? India; and, then in 2024, Japan. That’s the plan anyway. We all know that plans change, yet, having a plan is important. And, then? Let the change come. It’s all okay.

Alright, that’s all for this week.

Wishing you all a beautiful coming week.

#blog, #blogger, #bloggersdiary, #blogging, #community, #diary, #gardening, #japan, #london, #travel, #uk, #update, #vegetables, #website, #writingandreflecting

Jeff Flesch 12:06 pm on May 23, 2021
Tags: , , , , , , , , , silver falls state park, , writingandreflecting   

A Blogger’s Diary 5/23/21: On the Week, Writing and Reflecting, Hiking, and Beauty

This Week

This week was full of preparation for the next fiscal year; and, continuing to reflect upon all of the beauty that surrounds us – really, both are equally true of this past week.

Before I write more about the latter, let’s take a look at the writing that occurred this week.

Writing and Reflecting

Photo by Kazi Mizan on Unsplash

The poem Beyond Time was a reflection on the internal work I’ve been engaged in these past four years. Continuing to be present to my emotions as they arise, and then following those back to the experiential seed.

The poem is also a reflection upon stillness of mind, which can and does occur, and the fact that, in those moments there is no time; it simply does not exist. Beautiful.

Writing the poem Atop, which was inspired by the WDYS #82 prompt, from Keep it Alive, by Sadje, was an interesting process. Initially, I had one idea, even wrote two stanzas, and then as I contemplated the two stanzas, another insight occurred, which is the poem in its present state.

Simply, the world exists in its present condition, when we view it as such. New experiences occur, and the world comes into view. As I’ve written about previously, the view we experience is based upon the concepts we hold about the world; and, this is only one way to view the world. 

As I’ve found out about, and experienced, there are many other ways to view the world, which is, well, quite freeing. 

Hiking

As you all know, I have a new series, Willamette Valley Wanderings and Wonderings, which now has two installments. This week, I hiked Silver Falls State Park, which was absolutely amazing.

I will save the details of the hike for the next installment of the Willamette Valley Wanderings and Wonderings series, however, I just had to include a few more pics in this diary entry.

Beauty

Photo by Matthias Oberholzer on Unsplash

As I walked around campus this week, and contemplated the hike I was going to take on Saturday, I was present to all of the beauty that surrounds us. A flower blooming, a bird calling, a leaf dancing in the wind, a stranger helping another, there are so many things right in front of us, when we pay attention.

Part of my internal work, as you know, also includes my meditation practice, which has been transformational in my life. Being fully present is a gift, and we all have this gift within us.

When we let go of the concepts that typically drive our reactions, pause, reflect and contemplate our life, we learn stillness; and, it is in this stillness where presence to all that is within us, and without us lives. Beautiful.

As you walk through your week, notice the flowers, the trees, the people, and how that makes you feel. It is a tremendous experience.

Alright, that’s all for this week, my friends.

Be well, and have a lovely week.

#beauty, #blog, #blogger, #bloggers-diary, #blogging, #contemplation, #hiking, #introspection, #presence, #silver-falls-state-park, #willamettevalleyhiking, #writingandreflecting

Jeff Flesch 8:00 am on May 16, 2021
Tags: , , , , , creatingpossibility, , difficultsituations, , , listenandlearn, navigating, noncreditclasses, summerschedule, writingandreflecting   

A Blogger’s Diary 5/16/21: On the Week, Writing and Reflecting, Summer Schedule, and Navigating Difficult Situations

The Week

This past week was, well, like many of the weeks that preceded it, in this year of pandemic. Meaning, my days, for now, look similar from week to week. Work, eat, meditate, write, sleep. Not in that order, or, rather, sometimes, yet not always.

Yet, as you know, there is a trip coming to Los Angeles. Only a couple more weeks, and I’ll board an airplane for the first time in over 15 months. Pretty wild.

Anyway, let’s take a look at some of the writing that occurred this week.

Writing and Reflecting

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

This past week, I completed the second installments in both the Willamette Valley Wanderings and Wonderings series, and the Community Gardening series. The latter has already been published, and the former will be published next week. Super fun.

I am enjoying being out in the sun right now, and am looking forward to more sun as we move towards summer. Yes, I love the sun and the heat. As I lived most of my life in LA, where it is sunny, well, almost all of the time, I have a special affinity for sunshine.

Being out on hikes and working in the garden when it is sunny, is especially lovely.

Summer Schedule 

Linn-Benton Community College, Albany, Oregon

As I wrote in last week’s entry, the Summer Schedule is out and registration starts Monday, May 17. Our summer offerings are on the small side, yet, we have plans for a large fall term. Exciting.

The team and I are also now talking about introducing more in-person classes, as possible, this fall. As I’ve written before, I see the next 15 to 18 months as a slow reintroduction to in-person classes, while also continuing to offer remote classes. 

With the reintroduction of in-person classes, including the team back in the office beginning this summer, will come mixed emotions for, well, everyone, me included. Exciting, yes, and also anxiety producing. Normal.

That, as a team, we are aware of this truth, simply means we can talk through these emotions as they arise and work through them together. Lovely.

Navigating Difficult Situations

Photo by Sharon Pittaway on Unsplash

Invariably, you have, and will continue to be presented with difficult situations; we all have and will. It’s part of being a human being. I was presented with a couple this past week. Both of these situations are work related, and are, well, navigable. Just like all difficult situations.

When we stay present to what is known, and get clear on what caused the difficult situation to arise in the first place, we make a space to create new possibilities.

In both of the situations I was presented this past week, I, first, listened, then did my research, and learned. Once I was clear on what was happening, I was ready to create.

And, you know what?

From the space of clarity, anything is possible. Both of these situations presented me with challenges, and, at times, felt, well, not so great. Yet, once worked through, I was able to create new ways forward.

When you are presented with difficulties, remember to stay present, listen, learn, and then create. 

From the space of clarity, we get to then stand in the current reality. And, on a team, or in a family, when we are all clear and understand the current reality, no matter what the reality is, we can all work together to move forward. Beautiful.

Alright, that’s all for this week.

Have a lovely week, my friends.

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