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Where to from here?

July 17, 2018 / Rainee / 3 Comments

Which way now?

I am not sure how long I have been blogging but it goes back a few years. I am at a turning point with it and not sure which way to turn.

I still enjoy being part of the blogging ‘family’ but feel like I would like to tear mine up and start afresh. When I first started my blog I used to wear my heart on my sleeve and share my deepest thoughts. Even though I am doing that just now, I have grown less comfortable with it.

I have stopped taking new photos to add to my archives and find I am using the old ones over and over again when I do post a blog. It gets a bit boring!

Perhaps it reflects the major changes in my life since I started the blog. At the time I was working full-time in a fairly stressful job and had a busy life. I have been retired for eight years now and once again have a busy life but doing things that I love to do.

My involvement with the University of the Third Age has added a new dimension to my life. Tomorrow my ‘Let’s Talk Philosophy’ group starts. I thought there may be half a dozen people interested but I have twenty-five people enrolled and I am nervous but excited about getting started.

Getting back to the blogging ‘rock bottom’ – I am happy to hear ideas as to how to reignite my enthusiasm or change direction. I am sure I am not the first person to reach this point in my blogging journey. All ideas are welcome!

My Weekly Photo Challenge: D is for ….Delicious

July 5, 2018 / Rainee / 5 Comments

I hope to join a NEW Weekly Photo Challenge starting on Saturday … watch this space!

A budgie with big dreams!

This is my idea of comfort 🙂

My Weekly Photo Challenge: C for Close Up

June 24, 2018 / Rainee / 1 Comment

For this week I choose my microscopic photos (a close up look)!

succulent

mint leaf

Aussie bank note

blueberry

thread

microscopic silver-beet

Flower from Chilli plant

thread

woven cloth

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My Weekly Photo Challenge: B….

June 17, 2018 / Rainee / 6 Comments

I had been planning to post about Beaches or Birds but then I found my BEARS!

My Own Weekly Challenge: A is for …

June 8, 2018June 8, 2018 / Rainee / 3 Comments

Thanks Vossie for the suggestion!

A is for art and here are some samples from my home.

thyme

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How Does My Garden Grow? – Not the Weekly Photo Challenge

June 7, 2018 / Rainee / 3 Comments

Here are a few snaps from my garden 🙂

Humanities’ Search for Meaning

June 5, 2018June 6, 2018 / Rainee / 1 Comment

When I was leading a University of the Third Age (U3A) group about retirement (called Retired: Now What?) I was doing some online research on the topics I wanted to cover: how we use our time; meaning; purpose; relationships etc.

The Positive Psychology ‘movement’ (Martin Seligman PhD) has developed a model called PERMA. I was pretty excited about this formula that seemed to cover many aspects of life. PERMA is an acronym for: Positive emotions; Engagement; Relationships; Meaning; and Accomplishment.

I also came across an article of an interview where Viktor Frankl was asked how he felt about the success of his book ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’. His answer was very telling. He said (paraphrased by me) he was alarmed that the topic hit a nerve with so many people and it emphasised how much we DO search for meaning.

This awareness (of the search for meaning) is one of life’s universal experiences even if we are not consciously aware of it. I don’t ever envisage waking up one day and finding the answers but I will continue to enjoy the journey and keep asking the questions.

SO, guess what my next U3A course is going to be? It is a shift from looking at psychology to studying and discussing philosophy. I have been interested in philosophy for about fifteen years and read a few books on this very large topic! One in particular is written by Alain De Botton, The Consolations of Philosophy, and published by Penguin Books. We will be using this book as the basis for the course. Here is an excerpt from the author’s website.

The Consolations of Philosophy

In Ancient Greece or Rome, philosophers were seen as natural authorities on the most pressing questions. However, since then, the idea of finding wisdom from philosophy has come to seem bizarre. Enter a university department today and ask to study wisdom, and you will politely but firmly be shown the door. The Consolations of Philosophy sets out to refute the notion that good philosophy must be irrelevant and gathers together six great philosophers who were convinced of the power of philosophical insight to work a practical effect on our lives.

Course starts on 18 July.

Weekly Photo Challenge: All Time Favourites

June 1, 2018 / Rainee / 6 Comments

The Final Weekly Photo Challenge I will be really sorry to say goodbye to the Weekly Photo Challenges as it is about the only time I post anything on my blog these days. Maybe it can be an impetus to get me writing again – I hope so!

So here are some of my favourites from over the years …