Excited to find that Jonny Baker is also exploring Ignatian Spritituality through using the Examen in his worship.

Last Friday I enjoyed a day in the company of half a dozen other people at a picturesque conference centre in Buckinghamshire. We were all people at decision points in our lives, and this was a "Whatever Next...?" Day.

With sensitive facilitation, and feedback from one another, we found new ways of looking at our situations and new ways of moving forward. The only thing we knew beforehand was that we should start by sharing our stories (therapeutic in itself), enjoy good food, and choose how the day would flow from there.

True. I recommend it.

I've discovered a new hobby - ecotherapy.

According to the latest issue of The Week, this appears to be any kind of outdoor exercise or labour. According to researchers at Essex University, after a country walk 71% of a sample said that they felt less depressed and 90% said that it had boosted their self esteem. By contrast a shopping trip can make people more depressed!

So today we enjoyed some ecotherapy, a.k.a. a walk in the pouring rain, with friends staying for the weekend, and felt much better and cleaner for it.

Two good quotes in today's The Week. The first seems to follow the pragmatism of my post about Florence Nightingale.

"The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it." Robert Peel, quoted in The Independent.

"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." Soren Kierkegaard, quoted in The Guardian.

I realise that I'm fed up with describing myself as unemployed.   more »

Today I started a Foundation Course on working for charities.   more »

Just weighing the "pro's and con's" is not the whole answer! Here's my review of Ignatius' approach from the book "Weeds among the Wheat," read during my Spiritual Direction course.   more »

Pleased to enjoy some sailing this week.   more »