Stepping Stones » Exploring

An Awaking – the freedom road home

Brent — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:54:46 +0000

It’s been a tumultuous time lately. I am going through a major job/work/life change. I try to on a regular basis to reflect on what I am all about and why am I here in this world, I am creating conditions that I feel are going to be successful, especially in my work and I’m trying to meet my needs for companionship as well. Work goals are proceeding very well albeit some adjustments to a whole new way of thinking about work and being independent rather than an employee. On the companionship front, my life is full of new insights about my evolving understanding of who I am…..

Gosh, I won’t turn this post into an expose of my inner ruminations and reflections but I will say that I’ve discovered what my own freedom is. It’s finding my way home. Over the past few days, I see that not being free (not connected to home) is attaching myself to what I want, think, feel and expect..etc… and acting on these energies. To be living with or in freedom is to not do this. Freedom is to see, understand how I (I think we all do this) attach myself to my ideas and feelings and act on them but in seeing that path, choosing not to go down that road.

Of course this has been going on for many years and the play just keeps on repeating itself. Upon seeing this, I find myself in a new place and one that is really my home.. It’s spacious and ever changing, peaceful, beautiful, intriguing and ever powerful. I sense it as a place of freedom, where I’m not reacting to stuff, but dealing with stuff and also giving free reign to my creativity. It is what I believe many folks call the “field of now”. I like this place as it is a center where all stuff emanates from and I’m learning more and thinking less about so many trivial things.

I have known about this field of now for a long time but knowing is one thing and living in it is something that I’ve not discovered how to do.. It’s strange, it has always being there but I didn’t have touchstone or way to get to it until now… I’ll have more to say as the future unfolds.

I looked for a picture that would reflect freedom and awakening but I was mesmerized by Richie Haven’s performance of his song “Freedom” at Cannes. It will have to do..

Mixing it Up

Brent — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:34:23 +0000

`I am trying to install this muvee player but I'm having trouble with it. The widget looks like it will play your own selection of music on your blog. I'll get it right soon enough.`

Democracy in Action

Brent — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 01:56:19 +0000

Playing with Widgets – there is no end to these little creatures.

Have you ever wondered what people use as their spiritual guide. Lets find out.

{democracy:3}

Community – School – Community

Brent — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 02:31:54 +0000

It’s a time of transitions for my work and personal learning. The direction I’m going is centred more on community than deliverying transition services to youth as they exit school. My blog will be reflecting more of this focus. It’s time I was changing regardless of my shift in work bases. It’s time for me to become more directed in my growth and excersizing my personal voice. I’m looking forward to this phase in my life and my new direction for learning.

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Digital literacy: How it affects teaching practices and networked learning futures – a proposal for action research

Brent — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 04:25:59 +0000

Picked this article up from Stephen Downes Oldaily and it is a gem.

This is a major article that covers digital literacy in the Australian E-learning community. It’s breadth is wide and deep. The links given at the end are awsome as the resources cover such a range of ICT thinking and practices. Of course, I see great potential for using some of these resources in our youth community mapping research and our work in the K- 12 school system in York Region.

In this critique Leigh Blackall discusses how digital literacy affects teaching practices in Australian education. Consideration is given to understandings of digital literacy, the impact of open source software and the place of content within the worldwide rapid publishing and networked learning revolution (Web 2.0). Participatory action research is suggested as an approach to developing awareness of new models for online learning, improving digital literacy skills and enabling networked learning practices in Australian education.

“In developing this critique Leigh has collated and annotated, in a wiki, a fantastic range of links to relevant research. Scroll down to ‘A sample and remix on what has been said already’. Click to view this valuable resource.”

Letting Go

Brent — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 01:57:24 +0000

This is the start of my posting at edublogs and I am stuck. Sounds familiar. What will I use this blog for? UMmmmmm. Let’s see, I have civiblog (http://crlr.civiblog.org/) for work purposes which is a lot of my own life investments (melds together - yes); I have my Elgg account ( http://elgg.net/brent/weblog/ ) which brings me into networks with people who share similiar interests and I can build my own social play and work ground; and I have edublog for myself. This feels right but I will have many overlaps which is going to be a problem but maybe not. I’ll try it and see how it works out.

My title is the theme I have chosen to live by, at least for the past few years. Yes, it’s true, I’m a closet Budhist. What can I say, it works for me. Hanging on, seems to be a major problem for me, learning to let go always makes me more open and ready for work and dealing with what needs to be dealt with. Enough on this, Cuminch bas Alpin.