If not one project, well, by golly, then another

I just can't seem to find a contractor to do all the pieces I need for the kitchen. It's just too small a job and they all have too much work. So, I've taken matters into my own hands. I got estimates and am going to install central air conditioning. I had them examine my heating system, and it is more than 20 years old, and the guys who were here were talking about how inefficient the system was at this stage of the game. They said that depending on the changes I could get up to 30% more efficiency out of the heating system. So....I'm going for it. It also means that I'm in the process of new electical system, which adds to the overall cost, but was going to have to be done regardless of the project I completed.

In addition, the truck has 170,000 miles on her. I went and test drove some cars this week.

I also ordered one of the cabinets, the floating island base. It's the cabinet that I was going to order that is on wheels. I said, "What the hell." I know where that one will fit." And next week, I'll shop for the stove. We'll see what happens.

I just had to move on something. Anything. I was in danger of simply becoming stagnant and feeling pitiful for myself. So, I did what I had control over. That makes life continue to move forward.

Stan

Lots of pictures today...productive Saturday

I start most Saturdays during the summer with a trip to the Durham Farmer's Market. It has been open for a couple of weeks. However, today was the first day of my CSA. I subscribe every year from Harland's Creek Farm. I get fresh produce once a week. So I thought I'd show you what a box of produce looks like. It's also strawberry picking time and you can see what I did with the strawberries I bought yesterday. I also forgot to share the Easter Bunny's gift this year. Take a look at some fun pictures.



 

 
 

Initiation

One of the big events this year is Initiation. Initiation is a specific rite of passage that focuses on entrance into something. In this particular case it is moving into a specific tradition. My Reclaiming Initiation is scheduled for October. I'm looking forward to connecting the lineages of this relatively new (less than 25 years), but powerful, tradition. I've had other Initiatory rites in my life. Most recently I went through a Ngondro Empowerment with the Khenpo Brothers. It was a lovely ceremony and the practices of the Nyingma Tradition are part of my own tradition. The Khenpos are also who I took refuge, White Tara and Medicine Buddha Empowerment from. The swirling energies of all these lineages through my body is quite interesting. I am simply unable to do all the different practices associated with each of them. However, they are a part of who I am and who I want to be going forward. They power associated with history and the power created by others who have channeled this very energy are part of me.

I'm in the process of forming another initiation team. Go figure! Right now, I'm having to put my dissertation team together to submit a graduate plan of study. It feels a wee bit early to do this, yet, I'm taking my first steps this summer by taking my comprehensive exams that are based on the completion of the core classes required for my PhD. An initial hurdle is done at that point.

What is it that makes initiation so powerful? For me, it is not only the mark of starting something and being a part of something, but it is also about letting something from the past go. It is difficult to say, in all instances, what that something I'm letting go is, but nonetheless, that's part of the process. What death must occur in these rites of passages? What am I letting go of? These seem like key questions to the repeated initiations I'm a part of. I also find myself being really committed to make this academic initiation a sacred event. What the hell does that look like? How can I make that happen? Stay tuned.

A bit on leadership

This weekend I went to a retreat with a group of Reclaiming witches who were interested in sharing how and why they taught Elements of Magic. On Monday evening, I went over to UNC's School of Social Work to talk to a group of students who were taking a class on Executive Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector. Both experiences have reminded me how much I love working with people around personal and professional development. I love seeing people improve their skill levels by creating a container enabling people to assess their strengths and expand their edges.

During the weekend we shared excercises with each other, but we had a good long discussion about how do we give and receive feedback that are healthy and constructive. I had a lot to say that day based on so much work I've been doing over the past 10 years. Then at UNC, I was able to reconnect with the work I had done while being an Executive Director and the positive change I created in individuals and the organization. The greatest compliment I received was after the staff had chosen to stop meeting for development/communication work and one of the employees came up to me after six months and said, "You know, I'm missing our team development sessions, I think they are helpful."  Mind you this was from one of the ones who resisted coming those first few times.  

Then there is my refuge name, Pema Sonom. It means "the lotus that brings merit to others." The Rinpoche that gave me that name was looking at the entire crowd of those of us taking refuge. He had a handful of names and their were about 15 of us taking refuge. I watched him look at everyone and sort the names. All based on intuition and energy. I feel like he nailed me in some ways.  

As I reflect on these weekend experiences and my refuge name, I think about the work I'm trying to do in studying Executive Directors and Board members of nonprofits at State. I've got alot of work to do to bridge the gap between some of these intuitive concepts that I believe are crucial for leadership and the requirement that hypotheses be tested empirically. One of the other panelists who was with me at UNC asked me if I would ever be a consultant. There is a part of me that would love to do that, but there is a part of me that loves to be in an organization,  being the pebble that is dropped in the middle of water, and watching the far reaching ripples that are created.  

And here is some recent spinning. Same sheep, different wool. This is Jacob's Wool and the Jacobs Sheep is two colors. I'm going to try my hand at creating some socks with the two colors. I love the natural look of this wool.

 

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