Hi Niall, Thank you for encouraging and offering tips to stimulate Curiosity, consciousness/intentionality, mindfulness, and change. As a caregiver, I've reprogrammed my measures of success and productivity toward meaningful tiny moments. My mindful presence IS productivity in our setting because it's significant to each of us. Many caregivers struggle emotionally when the list of carer 'duties' is not all done or not performed to a 'standard'—guilt and frustration are common because it's in service/love of someone else.
I'm sharing this not as a comparison of importance or competition but as encouragement alongside your article to challenge the auto-pilot norm or productivity culture. Our one most expensive possession is time. Reimagining personal success aligned with meaningful values is how we can get closer to feeling purpose-filled, and that life is worth-our-while.
Hi Victoria, thank you so much for leaving this message on the post. The perspective you've gained from your responsibility as a caregiver is eye-opening, to be honest. I don't think it's widely understood how much goes into being a caregiver. I include myself in that in that lack of awareness.
Challenging the status quo of how we live is why I do this. It's heartwarming for me to connect with people who are leading that in their lives. Your last sentence is perfectly put. Keep living free :)
Thanks, Niall. I appreciate your openness and curiosity to understand ;-) -
Your response perfectly exemplifies why I built my website here in Substack (4th version) and why I like interacting with other writers. Sharing my experiences and networking with others will raise awareness and change the narrative around Care and caregiving - something easily misinterpreted and ill-perceived (pun intended!).
Also, I have my own mentoring business outside of Substack. My clients and I discuss life and challenge the status quo beyond traditional Executive 'work'. e.g. the old 'work-life balance' thinking is a myth, and now, with five generations in the workplace, new types of conflicts are appearing.
I'm glad to hear you've continued to persist with your writing. Awareness and discussion is a great starting point to change the narrative. The work landscape is evolving constantly and a "challenge the status quo" mentality is what will lead us through it.
Victoria, I took a read through your about section and can see how important community is to you. Later today, my newsletter is being sent out. It includes a section about a community interview series I'm working on. I feel like it would be a great fit for you and would provide another opportunity to bring further awareness to carers and caregiving.
Keep an eye out for that email and if it's of interest to you - get in touch :)
Thanks, Niall, I will. As you can imagine, I have more leads and ideas than time. I've one noodling in my mind after this comments exchange. Could you subscribe and note your interest in following up at a later date?
FYI, There is a thread that could also be pulled about redefining 'work' away from ££/$$ towards 'value contribution'.
I have more ideas than I can write, so if my website has prompts/thoughts/ideas that inspire you, let me know.
Niall, I appreciate your ability to reframe your perspective in an otherwise ordinary moment. Nature speaks to me like that, too: I'm stuck in my head, ruminating, and suddenly, if I look up, I notice something profound. Once, it was a sapling sprouting from the base of a rotting maple tree I'd passed over a hundred times. Once, it was the rare sighting of an Eastern screech owl in our suburban backyard. Last night, it was witnessing a brilliant full moon in a clear night sky.
I think we can discover new perspectives when we stop to notice things, just pay attention to what's around us. Then, to what's within us.
Works every time lol. There's something special about the night sky and the moon in particular that grabs my attention. I'm on the same page as you regarding pausing to gain new perspectives. Have you ever seend the illustration that has turned into a meme? It's of a bus. One guy is sat staring at the blank rockface. The other looking out the window full of colour and scenery. It's a great representation of the point you made. If we get our head out of the sand and remain open to what's around us - new ideas and perspectives will grow within.
Hi Niall, Thank you for encouraging and offering tips to stimulate Curiosity, consciousness/intentionality, mindfulness, and change. As a caregiver, I've reprogrammed my measures of success and productivity toward meaningful tiny moments. My mindful presence IS productivity in our setting because it's significant to each of us. Many caregivers struggle emotionally when the list of carer 'duties' is not all done or not performed to a 'standard'—guilt and frustration are common because it's in service/love of someone else.
I'm sharing this not as a comparison of importance or competition but as encouragement alongside your article to challenge the auto-pilot norm or productivity culture. Our one most expensive possession is time. Reimagining personal success aligned with meaningful values is how we can get closer to feeling purpose-filled, and that life is worth-our-while.
Hi Victoria, thank you so much for leaving this message on the post. The perspective you've gained from your responsibility as a caregiver is eye-opening, to be honest. I don't think it's widely understood how much goes into being a caregiver. I include myself in that in that lack of awareness.
Challenging the status quo of how we live is why I do this. It's heartwarming for me to connect with people who are leading that in their lives. Your last sentence is perfectly put. Keep living free :)
Thanks, Niall. I appreciate your openness and curiosity to understand ;-) -
Your response perfectly exemplifies why I built my website here in Substack (4th version) and why I like interacting with other writers. Sharing my experiences and networking with others will raise awareness and change the narrative around Care and caregiving - something easily misinterpreted and ill-perceived (pun intended!).
Also, I have my own mentoring business outside of Substack. My clients and I discuss life and challenge the status quo beyond traditional Executive 'work'. e.g. the old 'work-life balance' thinking is a myth, and now, with five generations in the workplace, new types of conflicts are appearing.
I'm glad to hear you've continued to persist with your writing. Awareness and discussion is a great starting point to change the narrative. The work landscape is evolving constantly and a "challenge the status quo" mentality is what will lead us through it.
Victoria, I took a read through your about section and can see how important community is to you. Later today, my newsletter is being sent out. It includes a section about a community interview series I'm working on. I feel like it would be a great fit for you and would provide another opportunity to bring further awareness to carers and caregiving.
Keep an eye out for that email and if it's of interest to you - get in touch :)
Thanks, Niall, I will. As you can imagine, I have more leads and ideas than time. I've one noodling in my mind after this comments exchange. Could you subscribe and note your interest in following up at a later date?
FYI, There is a thread that could also be pulled about redefining 'work' away from ££/$$ towards 'value contribution'.
I have more ideas than I can write, so if my website has prompts/thoughts/ideas that inspire you, let me know.
Niall, I appreciate your ability to reframe your perspective in an otherwise ordinary moment. Nature speaks to me like that, too: I'm stuck in my head, ruminating, and suddenly, if I look up, I notice something profound. Once, it was a sapling sprouting from the base of a rotting maple tree I'd passed over a hundred times. Once, it was the rare sighting of an Eastern screech owl in our suburban backyard. Last night, it was witnessing a brilliant full moon in a clear night sky.
I think we can discover new perspectives when we stop to notice things, just pay attention to what's around us. Then, to what's within us.
Works every time lol. There's something special about the night sky and the moon in particular that grabs my attention. I'm on the same page as you regarding pausing to gain new perspectives. Have you ever seend the illustration that has turned into a meme? It's of a bus. One guy is sat staring at the blank rockface. The other looking out the window full of colour and scenery. It's a great representation of the point you made. If we get our head out of the sand and remain open to what's around us - new ideas and perspectives will grow within.
No I'm unfamiliar with that meme. Is there a link to it you could include in the comments? It's difficult for me to visualize.
Just shared it with you in a direct message :)
Aw I love this🙂
Thank you Tara 🙏