Wilkie Au and Noreen Cannon Au are people who get to the heart of things. They are people of deep emotional intelligence; not “touchy-feely,” it is more that they are in touch with the emotional parts of their lives. The way they write, and the way they live their lives, helps me understand and find my way through the labyrinth of my own heart. Each of their books demonstrates their ability to get to the heart of serious research and... Read more
August 31 is the feast day of Saint Aidan, a Celtic missionary monk who journeyed from the island monastery of Iona to establish the island monastery of Lindisfarne. It is also the day on which I was received as an oblate at the Benedictine New Camaldoli Monastery and Hermitage near Big Sur, California. It takes some time for me to get to New Camaldoli. The drive is a significant part of my retreat; getting away, leaving things behind, heading into... Read more
We have come to associate good hospitality with pampering the most demanding hotel guests. Hospitality makes us think of expensive places to stay and distract ourselves with every conceivable convenience. Hospitality is an industry; people earn college degrees in hospitality management. The cultural roots of our understanding of hospitality go far deeper, though, than king-size beds covered in luxurious sheets with high thread counts. They reach back to a time when there were no hotels of any kind, high-end or... Read more
I know people all over the world online. I have friends on Facebook, followers on Twitter, and connections on LinkedIn; now I even travel in the right circles on Google+. I have meaningful conversations and meetings with people I have never actually met. Sometimes it feels harder and harder to distinguish whether what happens online or what happens to me in real life plays more of a role in shaping me. I also spend time with people face to face.... Read more
People tell me that I am a good listener. I think what they mean is that I pay attention, I try not to get distracted. I have had people tell me that I am the only person who ever listens to them. Some people think that “listening” is waiting for the person who is talking to take a breath so they can interrupt them. Listening is their opportunity to think of what they want to say next. I used to... Read more
Each month, I sponsor a Happy Hour with a Difference. I invite a knowledgeable, supportive resource person to join us, to share part of their story, and to spend time one-on-one in individual conversations with anyone who is interested. We also get to try a new restaurant each month. We have already visited a Hawaiian barbecue, a speakeasy, a Mexican restaurant, a Trappist pub, and a place serving traditional American fare. This month we try Japanese. We have an opportunity... Read more
There is nothing quite like the first thing in the morning. People, and cities, are just beginning to wipe the sleep from their eyes. The first cup of coffee tastes the best. The air is fresher. There is not as much traffic on the streets, or on the sidewalks. Walking is easier. Aromas of breakfast fill the air. The second cup is almost as delicious. Each morning is a new beginning. No matter what happened yesterday, no matter how much... Read more
My Craft Brewery Pilgrimage is moving at full speed; we have already visited four of the six stops on this year’s list, and are headed to September and October stops in San Diego County! We are pilgrims with a mission; actually, a few missions. Recognizing the strong historic connections between monastic life and brewing beer, and the significant contributions monks have made to brewing, I set out to explore those connections. I am also committed to a life of leadership, monasticism, and revelry; a... Read more
Being a leader is, in many ways, more about who you are than about what you do. Leadership is not really learned. It is most often discovered in relationship with other people; mentors, examples, fellow learners, people who recognize and follow our leadership. It is more beneficial to draw from the lessons you have learned, and allow them to shape you, than to master a specific subject area. Twitter, with its sometimes mystical messages of 140 or fewer characters, is... Read more
A coach helps you become better at doing something; knows what goes into doing something well and also knows how to bring out the best in you. A coach is not someone who does things for you, or someone who tries to motivate you by yelling. Coaching is about helping people find the insights, and develop the habits and practices, they need to do something to the best of their abilities. A coach may help you develop new skills, or... Read more
Strategic Monk
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