A Year in a Life

It's been almost a year since I posted. I must admit, I've missed writing. It had become a part of my practice in ways that have taken time understand. Further, I've missed all of you who chose to share in this experience with your insights both supportive and challenging. All of this is to say, I think you'll be hearing from me regularly again and I hope you find that a good thing as time goes by.

Probably the best place to start is with an update on life for the past year. This way you'll understand some of the posts that are to come. It's been a busy year. The electronics recycling company for which I was Director of Marketing was bought out and my position was transferred to a new person at their headquarters in Canada. Fortunately, before that happened, I had already started my own company, DonateIT which raises money for non-profits, churches, and schools. I'm now putting my efforts full-time with this.

When I first started DonateIT in May 2006 there were all sorts of challenges, but there is now light at the end of the tunnel and I think I'm building a company of which I can really be proud. Ninety percent of success is perseverance, right? Right now, I'm searching for investment so I can rent a new warehouse, install a new inventory system, and really grow. I learned that being underfunded in your business is a good way to mess things up. I don't want to do that anymore. It's a lot more fun to run like a well oiled machine and have customers who want you to join their family. I have a few customers like that, but I also have a few from last year that probably wanted to pat me on the head and say "Moron." Fortunately, I fixed most of what led to those moments. A few more tweeks and I hope to be called brilliant. I probably have to keep hoping for that one.

Outside of business, I've gotten involved in a host of community concerns which makes my life feel more meaningful. I now sit on the Advisory Council of the Dallas Center for Survivors of Torture, the Advisory Council of the Adobe Alliance, The Advisory Council of LaReunion Texas, and sit on the Board of Dallas County Young Democratics. It sounds like a full slate, but the bulk of my extracurricular time has been spent on Quaker issues traveling to Development & General Committee Meetings of Friends General Conference. I've also learned I'll be involved in a new Quaker outreach effort, but more on that when the time is right.

I've also realized there is no replacement for a regular spiritual practice. I've neglected it this past year (with the excuse that I was too busy) and there is no doubt that I've lacked the same sense of clarity, connectedness and insight that I feel when I practice everyday. In fact, some of what I want to write about now is everyday practice. I used to think there was my spiritual life and then there was everything else. Now I know there is only your spiritual life and everything you create stems from it. There's no closet in which to store God while you're doing other things. All you can do is forget or deny that you're life is spiritual and then deal with the train wrecks that ensue. In fact, if what I'm saying is really true then I wonder if a person's whole life can be lived from a centered place. Everything is one piece. I know many Quakers have traditionally considered everything and every moment sacred. I know that Sufi's and Buddhists also talk about this. I marvel at what that would feel like. Maybe if I'm lucky and diligent, I'll find out. If you've already experienced that or have tips for the road, feel free to share. I think that's the point of fellowship and it's important for people to understand that more is possible.

Cheers...