I am deeply appreciative of this sabbatical and the slowing down that has occured at all levels in my life. The challenges are many from travelling in foreign countries, being far from home and managing personal and business affairs from a distance, however the richness that is unfolding in my life is profound. There is more time to reflect, to relax and to face some of the internal noise that was humming away in the background of my life when I was at home.

This following notice made me smile. I found it on  a small community noticeboard in New Zealand when we were there in December.

How to Build Community (author unknown)

• Turn off your TV
• Leave your house
• Know your neighbors
• Look up when you are walking
• Greet people
• Sit on your stoop
• Plant flowers
• Use your library
• Play together
• Buy from local merchants
• Share what you have
• Help a lost dog
• Take children to the park
• Garden together
• Support neighborhood schools
• Fix it even if you didn’t break it
• Have pot lucks
• Honor elders
• Pick up litter
• Read stories aloud
• Dance in the street
• Talk to the mail carrier
• Listen to the birds
• Put up a swing
• Help carry something heavy
• Barter for your goods
• Start a tradition
• Ask a question
• Hire young people for odd jobs
• Organize a block party
• Bake extra and share
• Ask for help when you need it
• Open your shades
• Sing together
• Share your skills
• Take back the night
• Turn up the music
• Turn down the music
• Listen before you react to anger
• Mediate a conflict
• Seek to understand
• Learn from new and uncomfortable angles
• Know that no one is silent though many are not heard - work to change this.