+ “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert
A walk beyond your front door is travel. The only thing you need for any trip is an open heart and a healthy dose of curiosity.
Very soon I’ll depart Melbourne for another, very brief, sojourn abroad. This trip to Nusa Dua, Bali is an opportunity to be curious about new starts and one’s inner true north.
I’m sharing this because I encourage everyone to listen to their inner true north and honour the direction of this passion, this purpose that burns from deep inside your heart. Never deny the power of your spirit within and embrace the privilege of living this glorious life.
You should never forget that everything about you is ‘alive’, honour your own energy and continue to create your own meaning.
A new year is a time to make fresh beginnings as you commence the next chapter of your life.
May the new year give you the strength to face the challenges of life and the courage to adjust the sail so as to take every situation in your stride.
In this new year take the plunge into the ocean of livinghope and optimism and free yourself from all your burdens, grudges and residual from your past.
May this new year all your endeavors bear their fruits and fill your life with their sweetness from every bite, every experience and every encounter with self, place and the other.
Fill up the pages of your remarkable story with new beautiful verses born from moments of inner true north discovery and affirming self talk.
May 2019 give you loads of reasons to celebrate your life’s journey, filled with good humor, good health and the honouring of your true north.
As the sun rises each day, remember to live a life that cherishes love, faith, learning and all that life offers. Think big. Dream large. Give love. Believe you are enough. Be grateful. Be bold and create many moments to simply laugh.
I remain a strong advocate for the notion that the more visible we [as educators] are, the greater the opportunity to influence the educational environment around us for the better.
Not every teacher or educational leader wants to be a public intellectual, I get that. However for those of us who want our thinking to spread and who actually want to influence governments, policy makers and educational systems, participating in online spaces is more and more fundamentally important. We can’t ignore the reach of social media. Social media platforms allows educators to influence and even change the “learning” conversation.
Many teachers still are slow to realise the possibilities that accompany our new digital platforms. One of the reasons that I think many teachers and educational leaders are hesitant to participate in social media spaces is that we incessantly hear about the negative aspects of many digital platforms. Remember the bully pulpit does not belong to you.
Having said that we have the power to shift the conversation and use these digital platforms for positive social change. I personally have only ever found Twitter, LinkedIn et al profound platforms for engaging, connecting, sharing, fostering collective efficacy and building community. Community that has the power to create a revolution in educational change.
What some teachers often fail to recognise is that if we don’t engage on social media, we cede conversational ground, policy influence, and new thinking around innovative educational practices to others who are willing to chime in, regardless of how inaccurate or harmful their contributions are.
Traditional mechanisms for getting the word out about our work limit our overall visibility and impact. For instance, publishing an article in a peer-reviewed journal may move us closer to an enhanced academic reputation but prevents most practitioners from accessing our work because of paywall and other barriers. Similarly, presenting at an educational conference may bump up our visibility and overall standing with colleagues but has little to no impact on policymaking or practice outside of that event or our closely-defined academic circle. For those educators or schools who are doing great work but are not publishing or presenting, the opportunities to have a larger impact may seem few and far between. Of course journals and conferences have their place, but the effective communication paradigm is shifting - becoming more immediate, current, impactful and timely because of social media. A huge number of resources and relevant blog posts are shared every day and there are always plenty of interesting education based conversations to join. One can no longer ignore this constant exchange of ideas.
All educators recognise the tremendous power that is at our fingertips if we choose to take advantage. A few minutes of our time and we have the ability to potentially reach many thousands or millions of people. Giving from that deeper place, where you seek to benefit a larger community beyond your classroom or learning community, is a wonderfully powerful experience.
Short sound bites or small blocks of text that focus on a particular idea, a quick reflection or information about an emerging innovation… all of these can help us learn, unlearn and relearn and also impact and influence the thinking of others.
It is time all educators join social media platforms and enliven the education debate. Actively engage in a movement dialogue to shift from traditional schooling to one that truly inspires each young person to unlock their possibility.
Albert Einstien famously said, “a life lived in the service of others is worth living.” Passing on your knowledge and experience to others that otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do so is a gift of service all educators should take seriously.
Sure all educational leaders need to be cognisant of the reach and impact of their words. Nonetheless we need to be open to connecting to a global network of educators to share and influence a wide range of educational challenges. And above all - we need to use social media to advocate for and celebrate the greatest vocation in the world - teaching!
+ “In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.” ~ Abraham Maslow
Esto Perpetua Part VIII
Will you retreat into the mediocrity of your comfort zone or will you embrace an alternative perspective that forces you to live your dreams as a hope-filled individual.
What do you want to do, but tell yourself is impossible? What do others tell you is impossible and you’ve found yourself believing?
Often the fear of failure is one of those excuses. Instead of viewing all challenges as barriers in the way, foes to conquer, or stressors to be endured, why not see them as opportunities to experience? Don’t think pressure, think perspective. Think hope.
We often complain that we don’t have enough time, that a 24hour day is never enough. Then allow our daily routine and circumstance to be our prevailing construct. Mediocrity is a result of living this type of distracted life. Most people allow their circumstance, their distractions to dominate their existence. If we prioritise distractions, we will miss out on our dreams and life with inevitably feel hope-less.
Life’s puzzle of choices can be a challenge. Sometimes the pieces fit straight in, some don’t fit in and mostly we struggle to make sense of the task ahead by not seeing our own bigger picture.
It always seems impossible and hopeless until it’s not. This philosophy came from a man imprisoned for 27 years for opposing a racist regime. Nelson Mandela went on to become the first black president of South Africa. He brought about a peaceful transition from the white dominated government to a multiracial democracy. He stood for something very simple – equality and fairness. He stood for hope.
Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. Her message was profound to all the girls who have faced injustice and been silenced. She stood for hope.
“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights” ~ Muhammad Ali
What a powerful quote from arguably the greatest athlete the world has ever witnessed. A man that overcame prejudice to be a voice of a generation. A man that believed in self and the integrity of his intent and action. A man that did his greatest work outside the ring, motivating self and others. A man that stood for hope.
One of the best ways we can get the most from the energy we have is therefore to focus it. We need to focus our conscious mind on stepping forward and moving from our fears, which manifest themselves in our daily lives as distractions.
Joy is found not in finishing a task, but living life, actually doing it. We actively commit to enriching our inner lives, when we focus on being more rather than simply having more. We become beacons of internal hope.
There is one irrefutable law of the universe: we are each responsible for our own life. If you’re holding anyone else accountable for your happiness, you’re wasting your time. You must be fearless enough to give yourself the power of unconditional love and profoundness of hope.
The most valuable possession we’ll ever own is ourself, and that’s where you should invest. It starts with a focus on living in stead of simply existing.
We are in charge of making our own happiness through the power of our choices and our perspective. The great thing is each choice holds its own amazing adventure. It is time that each of us has the courage to explore the world, our inner world, our inner hope.
Honour this truth by flying away from mediocrity. It is time to go out there and create living, life and love for ourself and in the service of the other.
“Always go a little further into the water than you feel you’re capable of being, go a little bit out of your depth, and when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom you’re just about at the right place to do something exciting.” ~ David Bowie
All revolutionary ideas begin with a farfetched dream, grown from the hope for a better world someday, somewhere. When you’re looking into the night sky feeling hopeless, overwhelmed or fearful of your next step, remember that there are footprints on the moon.
As we approach this new year be filled with your own living Hope. Believe you are possible. Believe you are enough. Simply believe.
+ “Live your truth. Express your love. Share your enthusiasm. Take action towards your dreams. Walk your talk. Dance and sing to your music. Embrace your blessings. Make today worth remembering.” ~ Steve Maraboli
Today my Tumblr blog turns six. It has been a place that has become a powerful depository of musings and memory. A place where I have been amble to share my encounters with faith, learning and life. A place for my true north, my inner truth.
Live your purpose. Follow your light. Love in your truth. And always remember permission is triumph.
+ Penny Marshall died in Los Angeles from complications of diabetes at the age of 75.
Marshall was a trailblazer. She was the co-star of the famous sitcom Laverne & Shirley as the iconic Laverne. The show was a ratings success that centered on the adventures of two roommates who worked at a beer bottling plant in Milwaukee. I fondly remember laughing with every episode.
Then she truly broke the mold with her directing. Memorable films that ensured Marshall becoming the first woman to direct a movie that grossed $100 million at the U.S. box office.
Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Big. Awakenings, A League of Their Own, Preacher’s Wife & Riding in Cars with Boys
Marshall was a funny, unique, versatile talent. She will be missed.
I’ll leave you with a quote from her former co-star Ron Howard:
“She was funny and so smart. She made the transition from sitcom star to A List movie director with ease and had a major impact on both mediums. All that and always relaxed, funny and totally unpretentious. I was lucky to have known and worked with her.”
+ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
My 2018 Christmas Message
Currently a group of Marcellin students and staff are participating in our annual Marist Solidarity Immersion to Cambodia. It is an opportunity for members of our inclusive faith learning community to live and work in solidarity with a Marist project in Pailin, supporting young children and the work of the Marist Brothers.
A Marist Solidarity Immersion is about connectedness and relationships, about choices and about an encounter with us, each other, place and ultimately with God. It is first a matter of being with people, of listening with care and sharing with them. With a clear understanding that each of us is destined to be a person enlivened by the spirit. And each of us is called to be messengers of God’s spirit which inspires us to do something for the other.
During the immersion to Cambodia every evening the pilgrims gather in prayer and reflection. Each night they light a candle. The symbolic lighting of the candle is about the kindling of our hearts and minds. Their nightly reflections are moments of unique encounter and sharing for each pilgrim. Their daily journal entries were chances to share observations, struggles and hopes, each word becoming an important depository to memory.
As each day ended, a multitude of experiences happen, a volume of words is spoken born of many thoughts and an array of emotions. Each blog post throughout the Cambodia immersion is not only a way of sharing the events of the day, but an insight in to how each pilgrim sees the world; sees each other and a deep inward reflection of self. This immersion allowed the pilgrims to gather as a Marist Community in hope and solidarity with the people of Cambodia.
Thank you to our pilgrims in Cambodia for sharing their gift of generosity, love and possibility with the world. Each pilgrim will leave an indomitable footprint on the hearts of everyone they encounter in Cambodia.
You have often heard me say that life is far more about preparation than planning. I am not here to say that planning is not an important part of life. However, due to many different unforeseen circumstances our plans can often be thrown into disarray. Whereas if we live our lives in a constant state of preparation, we can become more agile, flexible and adaptable people who can meet new challenges and opportunities.
This period of time in our Church Calendar is known as Advent. The time of waiting and the time of preparation. But what exactly are we preparing and waiting for? Not presents, Christmas dinner or holidays. We are waiting and preparing for the arrival of a child named Jesus whose present to us is hope, life and love. So perhaps over the next couple of weeks you might take a moment to stop and reflect on how you might prepare for such an arrival.
“To Christians, the future does have a name, and its name is Hope. Feeling hopeful does not mean to be optimistically naïve and ignore the tragedy humanity is facing. Hope is the virtue of a heart that doesn’t lock itself into darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow.“ ~ Pope Francis
Our collective future is in our hands, through our collective capacity to be advocates for the voiceless and oppressed. May you use the festive season to awaken the light within you. Be gentle with what you discover through encounter. Be true to this calling to serve the other. Become beacons of light for those encountering much darkness and despair.
Don’t miss the opportunity to be stretched in your faith as are our pilgrims in Cambodia. This Christmas go deeper into your relationship with Jesus and become the face of Christ for all that you encounter. Become a bearer of great possibility, compassion and unconditional love. Become the face of Living Hope.
+ Here we go, my #Bestof2018 countdown. Below are my top 5 travel moments of this year:
5. Agra, India 🇮🇳 - I’ve listed this city only because of the majestic and breathtaking Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal is a brilliant piece of Mughal architecture and it is simply one of the most stunning monuments ever built. The Taj Mahal is one of the seven wonders of the world and has been enlisted by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and a must see.
4. Jaipur, India 🇮🇳 - In early April I travelled to India to experience the “Golden Triangle” and for me, apart from the awesome Taj Mahal, the city of Jaipur was the highlight. Blog extract: So consider taking a trip down the cobbled roads of Jaipur to discover this impressive Indian cultural destination. Although parts of the city would benefit from a good scrub, the age-old structures and many palaces throughout Jaipur, have kept the old world charm intact and still reverberate with grandeur.
3. Kathmandu, Nepal 🇳🇵 - During the Easter term break I travelled to Nepal and had an encounter with the craziness of Kathmandu. Blog extract: Modern day Kathmandu inhabits 1.4 million souls living in one of the most insanely chaotic places on earth. I’ve been to a lot of chaotic cities, though Kathmandu ranks up there in terms of how hectic it is, something I wasn’t expecting. However I loved its energy, pace and verve.
2. Tulum, Mexico 🇲🇽 - In January I returned to Mexico, a fav destination of mine, to this time encounter Tulum. What an adventure Mexico was and Tulum, you did not disappoint. Blog extract: Tulum is the perfect place to relax, recharge and centre yourself. Bohemian Tulum is a town I look forward to returning too. I will miss the sunsets. The impossibly clear cenotes. Mayan pyramids engulfed by the jungle. The ever-changing array of jewel-like tones of the Caribbean Sea, with that most brilliant turquoise.
1. New York, USA 🇺🇸 - In late December (2017) and the first 10 days in January this year I travelled to this amazing metropolis. Blog extract: New York has something for everyone and it has always granted me the time to pause and allow my attention to simply linger at its magnificence. New York remains the quintessential urban encounter in a contemporary world. Savour each moment with this grand destination.
“Our lives are a catalogue of random occurrences that hew us into who we are. We drift from circumstance to circumstance, pointing to the attributes that result from our adaptations and say: This is who I am.” ~ Manjushree Thapa
My appetite to wander and observe greatly satisfied with each new place I experience. I was born with a vast, voracious appetite for learning. And travel allows for this natural curiosity to be heightened through savouring each blessed opportunity to grow through encounter. Always make time to see the world. Allow your eyes to surrender to new wonders. Be in awe of the beauty of nature, culture, language and people. Never allow life to escape from you.
+ “To be a teacher is to be a prophet. We are not educating students for the world we grew up in, not even for the world that exists today, but for the future they will live into, a future that we can barely imagine” ~ Gordan Brown former Dean, School of Engineering, MIT
Polarisnoun | poh-lair-is | stella polāris
In ancient days of star navigation, sailors found their ways in uncharted territories by first locating the North Star. Ancient peoples found destinations relying solely on observations from their environment versus complicated instrumentation that was yet to be invented. The North Star provided an internal compass—that which was unmoving amidst the ever-rotating star-field. From the North Star, the course was mapped and arrival certainly promised—as long as True North was kept ever in sight.
Each of us has an internal compass or instinct that points us in the direction of equilibrium. Our inner compass warns us when we are off course and when we are on the right track. What is your North Star, that which is a priority and supreme motivator above all else? Your core values are your North Star(s). They’re often very universal and when held in sight, have incredible power to direct and focus our lives.
It can take some deep exploring to discover our True North. True North points in the direction we wish to go toward – it becomes our guiding light, not our destination. The North Star is the one constant in an ever-changing world.
We need to remember that the opportunity for transformation is present always. Marcellin College, our Village on the Hill, could become a North Star in education and schooling – a shining light of what’s possible - Polaris.
+ “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9
On Friday 26 October Marcellin College hosted its Valedictory Mass of Thanksgiving and Dinner. During the dinner we presented our three College Captains a framed gift in recognition of their outstanding service.
James (Vice Captain), Lewis (Captain) and Gerard (Vice Captain) are three wonderful young men that have immersed themselves in the full life of the College. Each contributing to co-producing our faith learning community through their active participation, compassion and leadership. Each are highly relational, inclusive and hope-filled. Each love the Nest.
I’m unsure what the future holds for Lewis, Gerard and James however I’m confident they collectively have a call to lead and serve the other. It’s been a privilege to walk alongside these three student leaders. I have watched them grow into exceptional young men.
Thank you for your personal friendship gentlemen and for your huge contributions to the Marcellin community. Go in peace.
+ “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” - Albert Einstein
On Friday was my final class with this bunch of amazingly talented, fun and highly relational VCE Visual Communication Design young men!
This group of young men remind me every day that I don’t teach a subject, I teach people. We’ve experienced so much as a group over the past two years - family loss, separation, hospitalisation, self-doubt, joy, elation, success and most importantly trusting friendship. Collectively we contributed to a culture of care and encouragement. Each growing equally as accomplished design students and as fine young men.
The power of design thinking has allowed each young man to develop mastery and skill attainment in this class. Each was prepare to trust in me, as together, we witness great growth and commitment to being better then we were yesterday. Creative and design thinking can be a game-changer. Creativity is a key component for survival, advancement and resilience. Think of the ideas and inventions that have contributed to human evolution and that have enabled people to move forward and flourish. Advances in technology, medicine, engineering, sciences, and every other field of endeavor would not have been possible without someone taking initiative and persisting in pursuing a creative notion.
Sir Ken Robinson defines creativity as “the process of having original ideas that have value.” These young men represent our collective creative future. I encourage them all to never stand still, be open to the other and continue to find opportunities to share their gift with the world.
These boys drove me crazy over the past two years, but the right type of crazy. They will forever have a special place in my heart.
To each of these young men forever have in your hearts ~ Virtute Ad Altissima.
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