#slowingdown — Public Fediverse posts

Steps to Cultivate a Mindful, Intentional Life

The benefits of intentional living are numerous and can significantly improve one’s overall well-being. By slowing down and appreciating the present moment, we reduce stress, increase mindfulness, and improve our relationships with others. Additionally, slow living can lead to greater purpose and fulfillment as we learn to prioritize what truly matters and let go of society’s unnecessary distractions and pressures. Embracing slow living can lead to a happier, healthier, and more meaningful life.

Slowing Down My Mornings

I’ve been starting some of my mornings sitting in my backyard, gazing off into the woods

Listening to the birds, crickets, and other insects is a symphony of nature’s silence in its splendor

The gentle breeze stirs the leaves on the tree, as sunlight infuses them with a golden light, slowly shifting towards verdant green hues

I feel the soft breeze on my skin; a hint of coolness, subtleties of spring

My awareness rests upon delicate spiderwebs that shimmer as the sun catches and reflects minuscule worlds in each droplet of dew

I hear a hawk, more near now, searching for prey, as it glides silently above

There is so much promise in the morning light

Intentional Living

Living intentionally is a lifestyle that requires purposeful actions, thoughts, and feelings. It is a conscious effort to make choices that align with your values and goals. When you practice intentional or mindful living, you can significantly reduce stress, increase happiness, and improve relationships. To achieve this balance, you must set clear intentions, develop a holistic daily routine, practice mindfulness, and reflect on your actions and decisions. By doing so, you can create a more meaningful and satisfying life. Intentional living is a powerful tool that can help you attain balance and fulfillment in all aspects of your life.

Steps to Begin Living an Intentional Life

1. Define Your Values
   Identify what truly matters to you in life. Consider areas such as family, health, career, and personal growth.
2. Set Clear Intentions
   Establish specific, meaningful goals that align with your core values. Write them down to solidify your commitment.
3. Prioritize Your Time
   Focus on activities that support your intentions. Create a schedule that dedicates time to these priority tasks while eliminating distractions.
4. Practice Mindfulness
   Incorporate mindfulness techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or journaling into your daily routine to enhance self-awareness.
5. Reflect Regularly
   Take time each week to reflect on your actions and decisions. Assess whether they align with your intentions and values, and make necessary adjustments.
6. Cultivate Gratitude
   Maintain a gratitude journal where you acknowledge positive aspects of your life. This practice helps you stay motivated and engaged.
7. Embrace Flexibility
   Understand that living intentionally is a journey. Be open to adapting your goals and routines as needed to stay aligned with your evolving self.
8. Seek Support
   Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who inspire and encourage your intentional living journey. Engage in communities that share your values.

By following these steps, you can start to live a more purposeful and fulfilling life.

Personal Experience

I have been practicing intentional living on and off for decades; however, it is in the last 4.5 years that this practice has truly become an integral part of my daily life. The major shift that prompted this transformation occurred when I made the life-changing decision to stop drinking. Since then, I have embraced a way of being that is both deliberate yet yielding, allowing me to navigate life with a newfound sense of flexibility. There has been a softening in my approach to life that I’ve come to cherish deeply. I am more centered in my values, having gained a clearer understanding of the importance of setting healthy boundaries while also being open to new experiences. This has fostered a more lighthearted attitude, enabling me to fully live in the moment without the weight of past habits. I find renewed joy in the little things and an appreciation for the journey rather than just the destination.

Embracing Intentionality

I tend to reevaluate my values and intentions seasonally. The natural shift blends seamlessly with how I need to view life as an ever-changing flow of experiences and lessons. This past season, I carefully examined the time I spent on various tasks and habits throughout the day. How much time I was spending on my phone was disquieting, as it became a barrier to deeper interactions and meaningful activities.

A shift towards intentionality was required to regain focus on what truly matters. I decided to read more instead of scrolling or playing mindless games on the phone. To accomplish this, I installed the app Opal on my phone, which allows me to limit the time I spend on the phone or certain apps, transforming my relationship with technology. I went from an average of 7 hours a day on the phone down to 3.3 hours a day on average, gaining back years of my life. Now I have reclaimed time for hobbies, self-improvement, and spending quality moments with loved ones.

Naturalness

These small shifts can have a significant impact over time. When we practice intentional living, we align with our true nature. We begin to remember that we are a part of the Earth and her cycles, and we learn to flow with the pace of nature: patience.

What small steps can you take to move towards a more deliberate life, one open to experience, yet focused by healthy boundaries?

Meditation for Slowing Down

Try a delightful Morning Meditation. It cultivates a sense of calm and tranquility, helping you to gently ease into your day.

Additionally, if you wish to delve deeper into your meditation journey, you might find the Body Scan Meditation incredibly helpful for harmonizing your mind, body, and spirit. I hope this guides you toward peace and mindfulness throughout your day!

Steps to Cultivate a Mindful, Intentional Life

The benefits of intentional living are numerous and can significantly improve one’s overall well-being. By slowing down and appreciating the present moment, we reduce stress, increase mindfulness, and improve our relationships with others. Additionally, slow living can lead to greater purpose and fulfillment as we learn to prioritize what truly matters and let go of society’s unnecessary distractions and pressures. Embracing slow living can lead to a happier, healthier, and more meaningful life.

Slowing Down My Mornings

I’ve been starting some of my mornings sitting in my backyard, gazing off into the woods

Listening to the birds, crickets, and other insects is a symphony of nature’s silence in its splendor

The gentle breeze stirs the leaves on the tree, as sunlight infuses them with a golden light, slowly shifting towards verdant green hues

I feel the soft breeze on my skin; a hint of coolness, subtleties of spring

My awareness rests upon delicate spiderwebs that shimmer as the sun catches and reflects minuscule worlds in each droplet of dew

I hear a hawk, more near now, searching for prey, as it glides silently above

There is so much promise in the morning light

Intentional Living

Living intentionally is a lifestyle that requires purposeful actions, thoughts, and feelings. It is a conscious effort to make choices that align with your values and goals. When you practice intentional or mindful living, you can significantly reduce stress, increase happiness, and improve relationships. To achieve this balance, you must set clear intentions, develop a holistic daily routine, practice mindfulness, and reflect on your actions and decisions. By doing so, you can create a more meaningful and satisfying life. Intentional living is a powerful tool that can help you attain balance and fulfillment in all aspects of your life.

Steps to Begin Living an Intentional Life

1. Define Your Values
   Identify what truly matters to you in life. Consider areas such as family, health, career, and personal growth.
2. Set Clear Intentions
   Establish specific, meaningful goals that align with your core values. Write them down to solidify your commitment.
3. Prioritize Your Time
   Focus on activities that support your intentions. Create a schedule that dedicates time to these priority tasks while eliminating distractions.
4. Practice Mindfulness
   Incorporate mindfulness techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or journaling into your daily routine to enhance self-awareness.
5. Reflect Regularly
   Take time each week to reflect on your actions and decisions. Assess whether they align with your intentions and values, and make necessary adjustments.
6. Cultivate Gratitude
   Maintain a gratitude journal where you acknowledge positive aspects of your life. This practice helps you stay motivated and engaged.
7. Embrace Flexibility
   Understand that living intentionally is a journey. Be open to adapting your goals and routines as needed to stay aligned with your evolving self.
8. Seek Support
   Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who inspire and encourage your intentional living journey. Engage in communities that share your values.

By following these steps, you can start to live a more purposeful and fulfilling life.

Personal Experience

I have been practicing intentional living on and off for decades; however, it is in the last 4.5 years that this practice has truly become an integral part of my daily life. The major shift that prompted this transformation occurred when I made the life-changing decision to stop drinking. Since then, I have embraced a way of being that is both deliberate yet yielding, allowing me to navigate life with a newfound sense of flexibility. There has been a softening in my approach to life that I’ve come to cherish deeply. I am more centered in my values, having gained a clearer understanding of the importance of setting healthy boundaries while also being open to new experiences. This has fostered a more lighthearted attitude, enabling me to fully live in the moment without the weight of past habits. I find renewed joy in the little things and an appreciation for the journey rather than just the destination.

Embracing Intentionality

I tend to reevaluate my values and intentions seasonally. The natural shift blends seamlessly with how I need to view life as an ever-changing flow of experiences and lessons. This past season, I carefully examined the time I spent on various tasks and habits throughout the day. How much time I was spending on my phone was disquieting, as it became a barrier to deeper interactions and meaningful activities.

A shift towards intentionality was required to regain focus on what truly matters. I decided to read more instead of scrolling or playing mindless games on my phone. To accomplish this, I installed the app Opal on my phone, which allows me to limit the time I spend on the phone or certain apps, transforming my relationship with technology. I went from an average of 7 hours a day on my phone down to 3.3 hours a day on average, gaining back years of my life. 3.5 hours may appear to be quite a bit of time; however, Opal breaks it down simply. This time includes navigation for my commute each day (1 hour round trip), as well as time spent being productive, such as conducting research versus frivolous time-wasters like social media. Now I have reclaimed time for hobbies, self-improvement, and spending quality moments with loved ones.

Naturalness

These small shifts can have a significant impact over time. When we practice intentional living, we align with our true nature. We begin to remember that we are a part of the Earth and her cycles, and we learn to flow with the pace of nature: patience.

What small steps can you take to move towards a more deliberate life, one open to experience, yet focused by healthy boundaries?

Meditation for Slowing Down

Try a delightful Morning Meditation. It cultivates a sense of calm and tranquility, helping you to gently ease into your day.

Additionally, if you wish to delve deeper into your meditation journey, you might find the Body Scan Meditation incredibly helpful for harmonizing your mind, body, and spirit. I hope this guides you toward peace and mindfulness throughout your day!

Steps to Cultivate a Mindful, Intentional Life

The benefits of intentional living are numerous and can significantly improve one’s overall well-being. By slowing down and appreciating the present moment, we reduce stress, increase mindfulness, and improve our relationships with others. Additionally, slow living can lead to greater purpose and fulfillment as we learn to prioritize what truly matters and let go of society’s unnecessary distractions and pressures. Embracing slow living can lead to a happier, healthier, and more meaningful life.

Slowing Down My Mornings

I’ve been starting some of my mornings sitting in my backyard, gazing off into the woods

Listening to the birds, crickets, and other insects is a symphony of nature’s silence in its splendor

The gentle breeze stirs the leaves on the tree, as sunlight infuses them with a golden light, slowly shifting towards verdant green hues

I feel the soft breeze on my skin; a hint of coolness, subtleties of spring

My awareness rests upon delicate spiderwebs that shimmer as the sun catches and reflects minuscule worlds in each droplet of dew

I hear a hawk, more near now, searching for prey, as it glides silently above

There is so much promise in the morning light

Intentional Living

Living intentionally is a lifestyle that requires purposeful actions, thoughts, and feelings. It is a conscious effort to make choices that align with your values and goals. When you practice intentional or mindful living, you can significantly reduce stress, increase happiness, and improve relationships. To achieve this balance, you must set clear intentions, develop a holistic daily routine, practice mindfulness, and reflect on your actions and decisions. By doing so, you can create a more meaningful and satisfying life. Intentional living is a powerful tool that can help you attain balance and fulfillment in all aspects of your life.

Steps to Begin Living an Intentional Life

1. Define Your Values
   Identify what truly matters to you in life. Consider areas such as family, health, career, and personal growth.
2. Set Clear Intentions
   Establish specific, meaningful goals that align with your core values. Write them down to solidify your commitment.
3. Prioritize Your Time
   Focus on activities that support your intentions. Create a schedule that dedicates time to these priority tasks while eliminating distractions.
4. Practice Mindfulness
   Incorporate mindfulness techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or journaling into your daily routine to enhance self-awareness.
5. Reflect Regularly
   Take time each week to reflect on your actions and decisions. Assess whether they align with your intentions and values, and make necessary adjustments.
6. Cultivate Gratitude
   Maintain a gratitude journal where you acknowledge positive aspects of your life. This practice helps you stay motivated and engaged.
7. Embrace Flexibility
   Understand that living intentionally is a journey. Be open to adapting your goals and routines as needed to stay aligned with your evolving self.
8. Seek Support
   Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who inspire and encourage your intentional living journey. Engage in communities that share your values.

By following these steps, you can start to live a more purposeful and fulfilling life.

Personal Experience

I have been practicing intentional living on and off for decades; however, it is in the last 4.5 years that this practice has truly become an integral part of my daily life. The major shift that prompted this transformation occurred when I made the life-changing decision to stop drinking. Since then, I have embraced a way of being that is both deliberate yet yielding, allowing me to navigate life with a newfound sense of flexibility. There has been a softening in my approach to life that I’ve come to cherish deeply. I am more centered in my values, having gained a clearer understanding of the importance of setting healthy boundaries while also being open to new experiences. This has fostered a more lighthearted attitude, enabling me to fully live in the moment without the weight of past habits. I find renewed joy in the little things and an appreciation for the journey rather than just the destination.

Embracing Intentionality

I tend to reevaluate my values and intentions seasonally. The natural shift blends seamlessly with how I need to view life as an ever-changing flow of experiences and lessons. This past season, I carefully examined the time I spent on various tasks and habits throughout the day. How much time I was spending on my phone was disquieting, as it became a barrier to deeper interactions and meaningful activities.

A shift towards intentionality was required to regain focus on what truly matters. I decided to read more instead of scrolling or playing mindless games on the phone. To accomplish this, I installed the app Opal on my phone, which allows me to limit the time I spend on the phone or certain apps, transforming my relationship with technology. I went from an average of 7 hours a day on the phone down to 3.3 hours a day on average, gaining back years of my life. Now I have reclaimed time for hobbies, self-improvement, and spending quality moments with loved ones.

Naturalness

These small shifts can have a significant impact over time. When we practice intentional living, we align with our true nature. We begin to remember that we are a part of the Earth and her cycles, and we learn to flow with the pace of nature: patience.

What small steps can you take to move towards a more deliberate life, one open to experience, yet focused by healthy boundaries?

Meditation for Slowing Down

Try a delightful Morning Meditation. It cultivates a sense of calm and tranquility, helping you to gently ease into your day.

Additionally, if you wish to delve deeper into your meditation journey, you might find the Body Scan Meditation incredibly helpful for harmonizing your mind, body, and spirit. I hope this guides you toward peace and mindfulness throughout your day!

Steps to Cultivate a Mindful, Intentional Life

The benefits of intentional living are numerous and can significantly improve one’s overall well-being. By slowing down and appreciating the present moment, we reduce stress, increase mindfulness, and improve our relationships with others. Additionally, slow living can lead to greater purpose and fulfillment as we learn to prioritize what truly matters and let go of society’s unnecessary distractions and pressures. Embracing slow living can lead to a happier, healthier, and more meaningful life.

Slowing Down My Mornings

I’ve been starting some of my mornings sitting in my backyard, gazing off into the woods

Listening to the birds, crickets, and other insects is a symphony of nature’s silence in its splendor

The gentle breeze stirs the leaves on the tree, as sunlight infuses them with a golden light, slowly shifting towards verdant green hues

I feel the soft breeze on my skin; a hint of coolness, subtleties of spring

My awareness rests upon delicate spiderwebs that shimmer as the sun catches and reflects minuscule worlds in each droplet of dew

I hear a hawk, more near now, searching for prey, as it glides silently above

There is so much promise in the morning light

Intentional Living

Living intentionally is a lifestyle that requires purposeful actions, thoughts, and feelings. It is a conscious effort to make choices that align with your values and goals. When you practice intentional or mindful living, you can significantly reduce stress, increase happiness, and improve relationships. To achieve this balance, you must set clear intentions, develop a holistic daily routine, practice mindfulness, and reflect on your actions and decisions. By doing so, you can create a more meaningful and satisfying life. Intentional living is a powerful tool that can help you attain balance and fulfillment in all aspects of your life.

Steps to Begin Living an Intentional Life

1. Define Your Values
   Identify what truly matters to you in life. Consider areas such as family, health, career, and personal growth.
2. Set Clear Intentions
   Establish specific, meaningful goals that align with your core values. Write them down to solidify your commitment.
3. Prioritize Your Time
   Focus on activities that support your intentions. Create a schedule that dedicates time to these priority tasks while eliminating distractions.
4. Practice Mindfulness
   Incorporate mindfulness techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or journaling into your daily routine to enhance self-awareness.
5. Reflect Regularly
   Take time each week to reflect on your actions and decisions. Assess whether they align with your intentions and values, and make necessary adjustments.
6. Cultivate Gratitude
   Maintain a gratitude journal where you acknowledge positive aspects of your life. This practice helps you stay motivated and engaged.
7. Embrace Flexibility
   Understand that living intentionally is a journey. Be open to adapting your goals and routines as needed to stay aligned with your evolving self.
8. Seek Support
   Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who inspire and encourage your intentional living journey. Engage in communities that share your values.

By following these steps, you can start to live a more purposeful and fulfilling life.

Personal Experience

I have been practicing intentional living on and off for decades; however, it is in the last 4.5 years that this practice has truly become an integral part of my daily life. The major shift that prompted this transformation occurred when I made the life-changing decision to stop drinking. Since then, I have embraced a way of being that is both deliberate yet yielding, allowing me to navigate life with a newfound sense of flexibility. There has been a softening in my approach to life that I’ve come to cherish deeply. I am more centered in my values, having gained a clearer understanding of the importance of setting healthy boundaries while also being open to new experiences. This has fostered a more lighthearted attitude, enabling me to fully live in the moment without the weight of past habits. I find renewed joy in the little things and an appreciation for the journey rather than just the destination.

Embracing Intentionality

I tend to reevaluate my values and intentions seasonally. The natural shift blends seamlessly with how I need to view life as an ever-changing flow of experiences and lessons. This past season, I carefully examined the time I spent on various tasks and habits throughout the day. How much time I was spending on my phone was disquieting, as it became a barrier to deeper interactions and meaningful activities.

A shift towards intentionality was required to regain focus on what truly matters. I decided to read more instead of scrolling or playing mindless games on the phone. To accomplish this, I installed the app Opal on my phone, which allows me to limit the time I spend on the phone or certain apps, transforming my relationship with technology. I went from an average of 7 hours a day on the phone down to 3.3 hours a day on average, gaining back years of my life. Now I have reclaimed time for hobbies, self-improvement, and spending quality moments with loved ones.

Naturalness

These small shifts can have a significant impact over time. When we practice intentional living, we align with our true nature. We begin to remember that we are a part of the Earth and her cycles, and we learn to flow with the pace of nature: patience.

What small steps can you take to move towards a more deliberate life, one open to experience, yet focused by healthy boundaries?

Meditation for Slowing Down

Try a delightful Morning Meditation. It cultivates a sense of calm and tranquility, helping you to gently ease into your day.

Additionally, if you wish to delve deeper into your meditation journey, you might find the Body Scan Meditation incredibly helpful for harmonizing your mind, body, and spirit. I hope this guides you toward peace and mindfulness throughout your day!

Steps to Cultivate a Mindful, Intentional Life

The benefits of intentional living are numerous and can significantly improve one’s overall well-being. By slowing down and appreciating the present moment, we reduce stress, increase mindfulness, and improve our relationships with others. Additionally, slow living can lead to greater purpose and fulfillment as we learn to prioritize what truly matters and let go of society’s unnecessary distractions and pressures. Embracing slow living can lead to a happier, healthier, and more meaningful life.

Slowing Down My Mornings

I’ve been starting some of my mornings sitting in my backyard, gazing off into the woods

Listening to the birds, crickets, and other insects is a symphony of nature’s silence in its splendor

The gentle breeze stirs the leaves on the tree, as sunlight infuses them with a golden light, slowly shifting towards verdant green hues

I feel the soft breeze on my skin; a hint of coolness, subtleties of spring

My awareness rests upon delicate spiderwebs that shimmer as the sun catches and reflects minuscule worlds in each droplet of dew

I hear a hawk, more near now, searching for prey, as it glides silently above

There is so much promise in the morning light

Intentional Living

Living intentionally is a lifestyle that requires purposeful actions, thoughts, and feelings. It is a conscious effort to make choices that align with your values and goals. When you practice intentional or mindful living, you can significantly reduce stress, increase happiness, and improve relationships. To achieve this balance, you must set clear intentions, develop a holistic daily routine, practice mindfulness, and reflect on your actions and decisions. By doing so, you can create a more meaningful and satisfying life. Intentional living is a powerful tool that can help you attain balance and fulfillment in all aspects of your life.

Steps to Begin Living an Intentional Life

1. Define Your Values
   Identify what truly matters to you in life. Consider areas such as family, health, career, and personal growth.
2. Set Clear Intentions
   Establish specific, meaningful goals that align with your core values. Write them down to solidify your commitment.
3. Prioritize Your Time
   Focus on activities that support your intentions. Create a schedule that dedicates time to these priority tasks while eliminating distractions.
4. Practice Mindfulness
   Incorporate mindfulness techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or journaling into your daily routine to enhance self-awareness.
5. Reflect Regularly
   Take time each week to reflect on your actions and decisions. Assess whether they align with your intentions and values, and make necessary adjustments.
6. Cultivate Gratitude
   Maintain a gratitude journal where you acknowledge positive aspects of your life. This practice helps you stay motivated and engaged.
7. Embrace Flexibility
   Understand that living intentionally is a journey. Be open to adapting your goals and routines as needed to stay aligned with your evolving self.
8. Seek Support
   Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who inspire and encourage your intentional living journey. Engage in communities that share your values.

By following these steps, you can start to live a more purposeful and fulfilling life.

Personal Experience

I have been practicing intentional living on and off for decades; however, it is in the last 4.5 years that this practice has truly become an integral part of my daily life. The major shift that prompted this transformation occurred when I made the life-changing decision to stop drinking. Since then, I have embraced a way of being that is both deliberate yet yielding, allowing me to navigate life with a newfound sense of flexibility. There has been a softening in my approach to life that I’ve come to cherish deeply. I am more centered in my values, having gained a clearer understanding of the importance of setting healthy boundaries while also being open to new experiences. This has fostered a more lighthearted attitude, enabling me to fully live in the moment without the weight of past habits. I find renewed joy in the little things and an appreciation for the journey rather than just the destination.

Embracing Intentionality

I tend to reevaluate my values and intentions seasonally. The natural shift blends seamlessly with how I need to view life as an ever-changing flow of experiences and lessons. This past season, I carefully examined the time I spent on various tasks and habits throughout the day. How much time I was spending on my phone was disquieting, as it became a barrier to deeper interactions and meaningful activities.

A shift towards intentionality was required to regain focus on what truly matters. I decided to read more instead of scrolling or playing mindless games on the phone. To accomplish this, I installed the app Opal on my phone, which allows me to limit the time I spend on the phone or certain apps, transforming my relationship with technology. I went from an average of 7 hours a day on the phone down to 3.3 hours a day on average, gaining back years of my life. Now I have reclaimed time for hobbies, self-improvement, and spending quality moments with loved ones.

Naturalness

These small shifts can have a significant impact over time. When we practice intentional living, we align with our true nature. We begin to remember that we are a part of the Earth and her cycles, and we learn to flow with the pace of nature: patience.

What small steps can you take to move towards a more deliberate life, one open to experience, yet focused by healthy boundaries?

Meditation for Slowing Down

Try a delightful Morning Meditation. It cultivates a sense of calm and tranquility, helping you to gently ease into your day.

Additionally, if you wish to delve deeper into your meditation journey, you might find the Body Scan Meditation incredibly helpful for harmonizing your mind, body, and spirit. I hope this guides you toward peace and mindfulness throughout your day!

Sunday afternoon, 2:44 p.m. 🕰️
Just change your perspective, let the wind blow through your hair, and feel the sand beneath your feet. The view through the dunes toward the beach chair is exactly the kind of relaxation you need for the rest of the Sunday. 🌾🌊

📷 You can see the full-size version of the photo over on my Pixelfed:
👉 https://pixelfed.social/p/Tokiel/956534907075914716

How are you spending your afternoon today? Out by the water or cozying up on the couch?

#Sunday #Weekend #Coast #Beach #Dunes #SlowingDown #Nature #Photography #Pixelfed #FediFirst

Sunday afternoon, 2:44 p.m. 🕰️
Just change your perspective, let the wind blow through your hair, and feel the sand beneath your feet. The view through the dunes toward the beach chair is exactly the kind of relaxation you need for the rest of the Sunday. 🌾🌊

📷 You can see the full-size version of the photo over on my Pixelfed:
👉 https://pixelfed.social/p/Tokiel/956534907075914716

How are you spending your afternoon today? Out by the water or cozying up on the couch?

#Sunday #Weekend #Coast #Beach #Dunes #SlowingDown #Nature #Photography #Pixelfed #FediFirst

Sunday afternoon, 2:44 p.m. 🕰️
Just change your perspective, let the wind blow through your hair, and feel the sand beneath your feet. The view through the dunes toward the beach chair is exactly the kind of relaxation you need for the rest of the Sunday. 🌾🌊

📷 You can see the full-size version of the photo over on my Pixelfed:
👉 https://pixelfed.social/p/Tokiel/956534907075914716

How are you spending your afternoon today? Out by the water or cozying up on the couch?

#Sunday #Weekend #Coast #Beach #Dunes #SlowingDown #Nature #Photography #Pixelfed #FediFirst

Sunday afternoon, 2:44 p.m. 🕰️
Just change your perspective, let the wind blow through your hair, and feel the sand beneath your feet. The view through the dunes toward the beach chair is exactly the kind of relaxation you need for the rest of the Sunday. 🌾🌊

📷 You can see the full-size version of the photo over on my Pixelfed:
👉 https://pixelfed.social/p/Tokiel/956534907075914716

How are you spending your afternoon today? Out by the water or cozying up on the couch?

#Sunday #Weekend #Coast #Beach #Dunes #SlowingDown #Nature #Photography #Pixelfed #FediFirst

Sunday afternoon, 2:44 p.m. 🕰️
Just change your perspective, let the wind blow through your hair, and feel the sand beneath your feet. The view through the dunes toward the beach chair is exactly the kind of relaxation you need for the rest of the Sunday. 🌾🌊

📷 You can see the full-size version of the photo over on my Pixelfed:
👉 https://pixelfed.social/p/Tokiel/956534907075914716

How are you spending your afternoon today? Out by the water or cozying up on the couch?

#Sunday #Weekend #Coast #Beach #Dunes #SlowingDown #Nature #Photography #Pixelfed #FediFirst

The Importance of Pausing: Finding Beauty Along the Way

I met Dave on a bridge.

I had stopped there during a walk along one of my usual paths. The bridge overlooked a small stream, and something unusual had caught my attention: three deer were playing in the water, jumping back and forth, while a few others grazed quietly in the nearby bushes.

The air was cool, the sky overcast, and everything felt still in a way that invited me to linger.

It was a rare moment, being that close to something so calm and wild at the same time, so I paused to take it in.

That’s when Dave walked up.

A Moment That Could Have Been Missed

He approached from the side, slowing down as he tried to figure out what had captured my attention. I pointed toward the stream and the bushes, showing him the deer.

His face lit up.

He told me there’s a group of about twelve deer that lives in the park. Then he pulled out his phone to show me a picture of a baby deer he had seen just a few days before.

For a few minutes, we stood there together, two strangers, watching the same quiet scene. He shared other wildlife sightings, bits of knowledge about the animals, and the small joys he had noticed in this place.

Eventually, we introduced ourselves, smiled, and continued on our separate ways.

A brief encounter. Nothing dramatic.

And yet, something about it stayed with me.

The Gift of Pausing

That moment only happened because I stopped.

If I had kept walking, focused only on finishing my route, getting my steps in, or moving on to the next part of my day, I would have missed it entirely.

I wouldn’t have noticed the deer.
I wouldn’t have met Dave.
I wouldn’t have shared in that small, meaningful exchange.

Pausing created space.

Space to notice.
Space to appreciate.
Space to connect.

Living at a Slower Pace

So often, we move through life with a destination in mind.

We walk to get somewhere.
We work to complete something.
We fill our time with the next task, the next obligation, the next goal.

And in doing so, we can miss the quiet moments that exist along the way.

But when we pause, even briefly, we begin to see differently.

We notice beauty we would have otherwise overlooked.
We become open to unexpected interactions.
We create room for experiences that can’t be planned.

An Invitation to Pause

There is a quiet richness in everyday life that reveals itself when we slow down.

Sometimes it looks like deer in a stream.
Sometimes it looks like a conversation with a stranger.
Sometimes it’s simply a moment of stillness in the middle of a busy day.

This week, consider taking a moment to pause when something catches your attention.

Stay a little longer than you normally would.
Look a little closer.
Be open to what might unfold.

You may not meet someone like Dave. Or you might. Either way, you’ll begin to notice something deeper, the beauty that has been there all along, waiting for you to stop long enough to see it.

The Importance of Pausing: Finding Beauty Along the Way

I met Dave on a bridge.

I had stopped there during a walk along one of my usual paths. The bridge overlooked a small stream, and something unusual had caught my attention: three deer were playing in the water, jumping back and forth, while a few others grazed quietly in the nearby bushes.

The air was cool, the sky overcast, and everything felt still in a way that invited me to linger.

It was a rare moment, being that close to something so calm and wild at the same time, so I paused to take it in.

That’s when Dave walked up.

A Moment That Could Have Been Missed

He approached from the side, slowing down as he tried to figure out what had captured my attention. I pointed toward the stream and the bushes, showing him the deer.

His face lit up.

He told me there’s a group of about twelve deer that lives in the park. Then he pulled out his phone to show me a picture of a baby deer he had seen just a few days before.

For a few minutes, we stood there together, two strangers, watching the same quiet scene. He shared other wildlife sightings, bits of knowledge about the animals, and the small joys he had noticed in this place.

Eventually, we introduced ourselves, smiled, and continued on our separate ways.

A brief encounter. Nothing dramatic.

And yet, something about it stayed with me.

The Gift of Pausing

That moment only happened because I stopped.

If I had kept walking, focused only on finishing my route, getting my steps in, or moving on to the next part of my day, I would have missed it entirely.

I wouldn’t have noticed the deer.
I wouldn’t have met Dave.
I wouldn’t have shared in that small, meaningful exchange.

Pausing created space.

Space to notice.
Space to appreciate.
Space to connect.

Living at a Slower Pace

So often, we move through life with a destination in mind.

We walk to get somewhere.
We work to complete something.
We fill our time with the next task, the next obligation, the next goal.

And in doing so, we can miss the quiet moments that exist along the way.

But when we pause, even briefly, we begin to see differently.

We notice beauty we would have otherwise overlooked.
We become open to unexpected interactions.
We create room for experiences that can’t be planned.

An Invitation to Pause

There is a quiet richness in everyday life that reveals itself when we slow down.

Sometimes it looks like deer in a stream.
Sometimes it looks like a conversation with a stranger.
Sometimes it’s simply a moment of stillness in the middle of a busy day.

This week, consider taking a moment to pause when something catches your attention.

Stay a little longer than you normally would.
Look a little closer.
Be open to what might unfold.

You may not meet someone like Dave. Or you might. Either way, you’ll begin to notice something deeper, the beauty that has been there all along, waiting for you to stop long enough to see it.

The Importance of Pausing: Finding Beauty Along the Way

I met Dave on a bridge.

I had stopped there during a walk along one of my usual paths. The bridge overlooked a small stream, and something unusual had caught my attention: three deer were playing in the water, jumping back and forth, while a few others grazed quietly in the nearby bushes.

The air was cool, the sky overcast, and everything felt still in a way that invited me to linger.

It was a rare moment, being that close to something so calm and wild at the same time, so I paused to take it in.

That’s when Dave walked up.

A Moment That Could Have Been Missed

He approached from the side, slowing down as he tried to figure out what had captured my attention. I pointed toward the stream and the bushes, showing him the deer.

His face lit up.

He told me there’s a group of about twelve deer that lives in the park. Then he pulled out his phone to show me a picture of a baby deer he had seen just a few days before.

For a few minutes, we stood there together, two strangers, watching the same quiet scene. He shared other wildlife sightings, bits of knowledge about the animals, and the small joys he had noticed in this place.

Eventually, we introduced ourselves, smiled, and continued on our separate ways.

A brief encounter. Nothing dramatic.

And yet, something about it stayed with me.

The Gift of Pausing

That moment only happened because I stopped.

If I had kept walking, focused only on finishing my route, getting my steps in, or moving on to the next part of my day, I would have missed it entirely.

I wouldn’t have noticed the deer.
I wouldn’t have met Dave.
I wouldn’t have shared in that small, meaningful exchange.

Pausing created space.

Space to notice.
Space to appreciate.
Space to connect.

Living at a Slower Pace

So often, we move through life with a destination in mind.

We walk to get somewhere.
We work to complete something.
We fill our time with the next task, the next obligation, the next goal.

And in doing so, we can miss the quiet moments that exist along the way.

But when we pause, even briefly, we begin to see differently.

We notice beauty we would have otherwise overlooked.
We become open to unexpected interactions.
We create room for experiences that can’t be planned.

An Invitation to Pause

There is a quiet richness in everyday life that reveals itself when we slow down.

Sometimes it looks like deer in a stream.
Sometimes it looks like a conversation with a stranger.
Sometimes it’s simply a moment of stillness in the middle of a busy day.

This week, consider taking a moment to pause when something catches your attention.

Stay a little longer than you normally would.
Look a little closer.
Be open to what might unfold.

You may not meet someone like Dave. Or you might. Either way, you’ll begin to notice something deeper, the beauty that has been there all along, waiting for you to stop long enough to see it.

The Importance of Pausing: Finding Beauty Along the Way

I met Dave on a bridge.

I had stopped there during a walk along one of my usual paths. The bridge overlooked a small stream, and something unusual had caught my attention: three deer were playing in the water, jumping back and forth, while a few others grazed quietly in the nearby bushes.

The air was cool, the sky overcast, and everything felt still in a way that invited me to linger.

It was a rare moment, being that close to something so calm and wild at the same time, so I paused to take it in.

That’s when Dave walked up.

A Moment That Could Have Been Missed

He approached from the side, slowing down as he tried to figure out what had captured my attention. I pointed toward the stream and the bushes, showing him the deer.

His face lit up.

He told me there’s a group of about twelve deer that lives in the park. Then he pulled out his phone to show me a picture of a baby deer he had seen just a few days before.

For a few minutes, we stood there together, two strangers, watching the same quiet scene. He shared other wildlife sightings, bits of knowledge about the animals, and the small joys he had noticed in this place.

Eventually, we introduced ourselves, smiled, and continued on our separate ways.

A brief encounter. Nothing dramatic.

And yet, something about it stayed with me.

The Gift of Pausing

That moment only happened because I stopped.

If I had kept walking, focused only on finishing my route, getting my steps in, or moving on to the next part of my day, I would have missed it entirely.

I wouldn’t have noticed the deer.
I wouldn’t have met Dave.
I wouldn’t have shared in that small, meaningful exchange.

Pausing created space.

Space to notice.
Space to appreciate.
Space to connect.

Living at a Slower Pace

So often, we move through life with a destination in mind.

We walk to get somewhere.
We work to complete something.
We fill our time with the next task, the next obligation, the next goal.

And in doing so, we can miss the quiet moments that exist along the way.

But when we pause, even briefly, we begin to see differently.

We notice beauty we would have otherwise overlooked.
We become open to unexpected interactions.
We create room for experiences that can’t be planned.

An Invitation to Pause

There is a quiet richness in everyday life that reveals itself when we slow down.

Sometimes it looks like deer in a stream.
Sometimes it looks like a conversation with a stranger.
Sometimes it’s simply a moment of stillness in the middle of a busy day.

This week, consider taking a moment to pause when something catches your attention.

Stay a little longer than you normally would.
Look a little closer.
Be open to what might unfold.

You may not meet someone like Dave. Or you might. Either way, you’ll begin to notice something deeper, the beauty that has been there all along, waiting for you to stop long enough to see it.

The Importance of Pausing: Finding Beauty Along the Way

I met Dave on a bridge.

I had stopped there during a walk along one of my usual paths. The bridge overlooked a small stream, and something unusual had caught my attention: three deer were playing in the water, jumping back and forth, while a few others grazed quietly in the nearby bushes.

The air was cool, the sky overcast, and everything felt still in a way that invited me to linger.

It was a rare moment, being that close to something so calm and wild at the same time, so I paused to take it in.

That’s when Dave walked up.

A Moment That Could Have Been Missed

He approached from the side, slowing down as he tried to figure out what had captured my attention. I pointed toward the stream and the bushes, showing him the deer.

His face lit up.

He told me there’s a group of about twelve deer that lives in the park. Then he pulled out his phone to show me a picture of a baby deer he had seen just a few days before.

For a few minutes, we stood there together, two strangers, watching the same quiet scene. He shared other wildlife sightings, bits of knowledge about the animals, and the small joys he had noticed in this place.

Eventually, we introduced ourselves, smiled, and continued on our separate ways.

A brief encounter. Nothing dramatic.

And yet, something about it stayed with me.

The Gift of Pausing

That moment only happened because I stopped.

If I had kept walking, focused only on finishing my route, getting my steps in, or moving on to the next part of my day, I would have missed it entirely.

I wouldn’t have noticed the deer.
I wouldn’t have met Dave.
I wouldn’t have shared in that small, meaningful exchange.

Pausing created space.

Space to notice.
Space to appreciate.
Space to connect.

Living at a Slower Pace

So often, we move through life with a destination in mind.

We walk to get somewhere.
We work to complete something.
We fill our time with the next task, the next obligation, the next goal.

And in doing so, we can miss the quiet moments that exist along the way.

But when we pause, even briefly, we begin to see differently.

We notice beauty we would have otherwise overlooked.
We become open to unexpected interactions.
We create room for experiences that can’t be planned.

An Invitation to Pause

There is a quiet richness in everyday life that reveals itself when we slow down.

Sometimes it looks like deer in a stream.
Sometimes it looks like a conversation with a stranger.
Sometimes it’s simply a moment of stillness in the middle of a busy day.

This week, consider taking a moment to pause when something catches your attention.

Stay a little longer than you normally would.
Look a little closer.
Be open to what might unfold.

You may not meet someone like Dave. Or you might. Either way, you’ll begin to notice something deeper, the beauty that has been there all along, waiting for you to stop long enough to see it.

#slowingdown #meditation

https://dandeliondoorways.com/2026/02/02/the-power-of-slowing-down-reclaiming-peace/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into DANDELION DOORWAYS @dandelion-doorways-Dandelion_19

#slowingdown #meditation

https://dandeliondoorways.com/2026/02/02/the-power-of-slowing-down-reclaiming-peace/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into DANDELION DOORWAYS @dandelion-doorways-Dandelion_19

#slowingdown #meditation

https://dandeliondoorways.com/2026/02/02/the-power-of-slowing-down-reclaiming-peace/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into DANDELION DOORWAYS @dandelion-doorways-Dandelion_19

Slowing down, elsewhere. Backdoor, meadows, creek and listening to the world in between the hills. Time moved on, yet grateful for everything that remained unchanged out here. Reaching for this nights stories, eyes in the sky and waiting for stars and constellations to grant a sense of location and direction at larger scale. Thinking, overthinking, at the same time feeling bad for wasting brain cycles on pointless mental endeavours. Sleep tight everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #the village and the hills #slowing down #what the hours left behind

Slowing down, elsewhere. Backdoor, meadows, creek and listening to the world in between the hills. Time moved on, yet grateful for everything that remained unchanged out here. Reaching for this nights stories, eyes in the sky and waiting for stars and constellations to grant a sense of location and direction at larger scale. Thinking, overthinking, at the same time feeling bad for wasting brain cycles on pointless mental endeavours. Sleep tight everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #the village and the hills #slowing down #what the hours left behind

Slowing down, elsewhere. Backdoor, meadows, creek and listening to the world in between the hills. Time moved on, yet grateful for everything that remained unchanged out here. Reaching for this nights stories, eyes in the sky and waiting for stars and constellations to grant a sense of location and direction at larger scale. Thinking, overthinking, at the same time feeling bad for wasting brain cycles on pointless mental endeavours. Sleep tight everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #the village and the hills #slowing down #what the hours left behind

Slowing down, elsewhere. Backdoor, meadows, creek and listening to the world in between the hills. Time moved on, yet grateful for everything that remained unchanged out here. Reaching for this nights stories, eyes in the sky and waiting for stars and constellations to grant a sense of location and direction at larger scale. Thinking, overthinking, at the same time feeling bad for wasting brain cycles on pointless mental endeavours. Sleep tight everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #the village and the hills #slowing down #what the hours left behind

Windowpane meditations. Watching the self watching the city and suspecting the city to stare back.

vill4in.bandcamp.com/album/voi…

#bandcamp #music for evenings #anubis xiii #slowing down #vaporwave

Windowpane meditations. Watching the self watching the city and suspecting the city to stare back.

vill4in.bandcamp.com/album/voi…

#bandcamp #music for evenings #anubis xiii #slowing down #vaporwave

Windowpane meditations. Watching the self watching the city and suspecting the city to stare back.

vill4in.bandcamp.com/album/voi…

#bandcamp #music for evenings #anubis xiii #slowing down #vaporwave

Windowpane meditations. Watching the self watching the city and suspecting the city to stare back.

vill4in.bandcamp.com/album/voi…

#bandcamp #music for evenings #anubis xiii #slowing down #vaporwave

Windowpane meditations. Watching the self watching the city and suspecting the city to stare back.

vill4in.bandcamp.com/album/voi…

#bandcamp #music for evenings #anubis xiii #slowing down #vaporwave

Late hours once more. The silent world unfolding below. The silent sky spreading across houses parks rivers, just like it always did. Resting in that moment to consciously feel like a small part of all that, waiting for thoughts to settle. Not yet ready for the night. Sleep well everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #concrete city #evening deviations #slowing down #stories of hours in between and left and right

Late hours once more. The silent world unfolding below. The silent sky spreading across houses parks rivers, just like it always did. Resting in that moment to consciously feel like a small part of all that, waiting for thoughts to settle. Not yet ready for the night. Sleep well everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #concrete city #evening deviations #slowing down #stories of hours in between and left and right

Late hours once more. The silent world unfolding below. The silent sky spreading across houses parks rivers, just like it always did. Resting in that moment to consciously feel like a small part of all that, waiting for thoughts to settle. Not yet ready for the night. Sleep well everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #concrete city #evening deviations #slowing down #stories of hours in between and left and right

Late hours once more. The silent world unfolding below. The silent sky spreading across houses parks rivers, just like it always did. Resting in that moment to consciously feel like a small part of all that, waiting for thoughts to settle. Not yet ready for the night. Sleep well everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #concrete city #evening deviations #slowing down #stories of hours in between and left and right

2025 Year-Ender

Another year is passing, the tenth which I have ended with a blog post. This was a year of transition and activities outside of the history and archaeology I talk about on this blog. So sit down with a mug of something warm (or a glass of something cool for readers in the Antipodes) while I talk about this past year.

What I Wrote

Much of my writing this year was either for volunteer projects which I won’t talk about here, or editing my second book. I finally managed to stick to one post per month beginning in July 2025. I created a small page on My Pleiades Contributions. No magazine articles or academic articles came out this year.

I helped Martin Rundkvist with a question about swords, had a back and forth with Bret Devereaux about the hoplite wars, and traded casuistry with the very polite head of a very bad organization.

People on Mastodon enjoyed my links to Wikipedia’s guide to spotting chatbot slop and the tree of Ténéré in Niger.

Two of my blog posts reached wide audiences: my list of reasons why knowing things is hard, and my warning about academia.edu changing its terms of service in a way that suggests they want chatbots to talk about papers using the voice and face of their users. I got links from Bruce Sterling and Bret Devereaux. My meaty review of Brad DeLong’s book was a flash in the pan, although to my knowledge I am the only reviewer who had the respect to fact-check it. I won’t try to track statistics because the swarms of scrapers feeding chatbots (and my newly built defenses against those scrapers) interfere with the count. The most important statistic is that when I meet someone with similar interests, they have usually heard of and respect my writing. I have a very engaged audience which is very offline.

How I Pay for It

Unlike most bloggers I neither have an indulgent professional job nor independent wealth nor a thicket of ads and digital goods to sell. I have a mundane part-time job. My main sources of freelance income in 2024 have dried up so I spent a great deal of time and money this year retraining and obtaining treatment for one of my disabilities. My income was higher than any year since 2018, but lower than in any of my first five years after graduating with a BSc. If any of my gentle readers know anyone who needs an experienced editor of nonfiction, business writing, and marked-up web content please put me in touch with them! (My first profession was software development but that is a hirer’s market right now across most of the world so it would take local networking to get back in to if I choose that path). I tried some teaching and found that I need to retrain my voice for the COVID era. Look out for more on that in 2026.

Writers and artists have had to get serious about making money from their Internet presence because the industries which used to pay them for their skills have been devastated. The Internet ads which paid for the first webcomics and blogs stopped paying long ago. Some very popular things online generate no revenue, and some casual creations make it hand over fist. So if you know of small projects which you value, its very important to support them.

Everything Else

This year I joined three volunteer projects, one international and online, one in BC which was very active, and one in British Columbia where I am still coming onboard. I have not been a board member since my days in Innsbruck so this is a new experience. I helped pick English ivy and other invasive weeds from local sites and started a small garden of strawberries and marigolds and herbs. Strawberries in a sheltered area try to fruit as late as December here although they don’t get very sweet. Next year I will try planting some of the annuals farther apart and try some lavendula in a dry sunny space. Its an Eurasian species but it does well in our current climate and bees like it but deer do not.

In spring and summer I got back into archery with a fibreglass mock-Mongolian from Alibow in China. I had not drawn a bow for many years. I have not been able to connect with either of the local archery clubs but maybe that will be possible in 2026.

I attended the Victoria Gem Show, saw some samples of pigment minerals like orpiment and realgar and malachite, and had a nerdy conversation with a young couple from UBC with some samples of Tuscan marble. I am glad that someone else takes on the risk of storing toxic light-sensitive minerals in unsealed transparent containers. Although I am trying to shrink Mt Tsundoku, I picked up a few used books at the Russell Books warehouse sale in James Bay.

My only sewing project was blanket-stitching the edges of a piece of Italian worsted to make it into a short cloak to wear around the house on cold nights. I have a few shields to gesso and paint this winter.

While time and money for live performances were limited, in December I attended a concert at Alex Goolden Hall. I watched The Godfather at Cinecenta with some friends. I finally visited Abkhazi Garden built by a Georgian prince and a moneyed British woman after they got out of internment camps and occupied Paris. I met German librarian Lambert Heller and some interesting but less academic people.

This year I offended one local friend and one local acquaintance who dropped out of contact. In both cases, we were mostly communicating electronically.

My health and ability to concentrate are not where I wish they were. The world situation is not what I wish it is. Whereas the internet was once a refuge where I could find scholarly and practical people, social media became crazier and more hostile and dogmatic than face-to-face communities. I foresaw the doom which was coming to those sites so I don’t understand why so many people flocked to them. As a highly educated introvert who grew up reading classic American science fiction, reading the news gives me vertigo, because a handful of people with far too much power read the same stories I did but did not get the same messages.

Outside the Abbey Walls

do not depend on the hope of results. When you are doing the sort of work you have taken on, essentially an apostolic work, you may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea you start more and more to concentrate not on the results but on the value, the rightness, the truth of the work itself. And there too a great deal has to be gone through, as gradually you struggle less and less for an idea and more and more for specific people. The range tends to narrow down, but it gets much more real. In the end, as you yourself mention in passing, it is the reality of personal relationships that saves everything.

Thomas Merton, OCSO, letter to Jim Forrest, 1966 (source)

My friends who stopped worrying about indoor air quality are not getting as sick as often as last year, but the state of the world and the state of the web are still gloomy. In my view, it is urgent for us in the free world to disconnect from big-spending American institutions, while just as urgently connecting with American people. While we cannot accept the lie that the United States is isolated behind a wall from the outside world and its concerns, trying to work with Amazon or Automattic or the American public-health authorities will just drag us down into darkness. However, trying to talk about these things with a global network interested in books and swords is a distraction from acting close to home.

A second friend this year suggested that I should stop worrying about the news and social media. I think he has a point at least as far as US, UK, and corporate social media go. I have met people who don’t know the things I know about the corporate web so have not drawn the conclusions I draw from them, but the people I know tend to be smart people who can learn when they try something and it goes wrong.

I wish I knew how to fix the things in our culture that produce podcast-addled premiers. I wish that when the self-indulgent folly of rich people and their flatterers lead to destruction in the depths of the Atlantic or the heights of the atmosphere, nobody else was hurt. And I wish that people would not pay all they had for comforting lies, and not a penny for the painful truth. But I cannot change those things. The task ahead for us in our local communities is to build things which can survive the crash and the death-throes which will follow, and create low-bandwidth means of communication with the other islands of flickering light beneath a starless sky.

So in 2026, I will blog once or twice a month, while working on print publications, my day job, and my local volunteering. This is not the world I wish I was in. My efforts to sustain communities and influence their direction have often failed. However, it is what I can do with the resources available to me.

Handing Doris the light, he let her take his left arm. Together, they left the room and went down the hallway to the stairs and the long walk to the darkened street below, into a city that had suddenly been cut off from its very life-energy. A city that had put all its eggs in one basket, and left the basket in the path of any blundering foot.

H. Beam Piper, “Day of the Moron” (1951)

(scheduled 27 December 2025)

Edit 2025-12-28: edited paragraph beginning “A second friend this year”

Edit 2025-12-29: mention The Godfather

2025 Year-Ender

Another year is passing, the tenth which I have ended with a blog post. This was a year of transition and activities outside of the history and archaeology I talk about on this blog. So sit down with a mug of something warm (or a glass of something cool for readers in the Antipodes) while I talk about this past year.

What I Wrote

Much of my writing this year was either for volunteer projects which I won’t talk about here, or editing my second book. I finally managed to stick to one post per month beginning in July 2025. I created a small page on My Pleiades Contributions. No magazine articles or academic articles came out this year.

I helped Martin Rundkvist with a question about swords, had a back and forth with Bret Devereaux about the hoplite wars, and traded casuistry with the very polite head of a very bad organization.

Two of my blog posts reached wide audiences: my list of reasons why knowing things is hard, and my warning about academia.edu changing its terms of service in a way that suggests they want chatbots to talk about papers using the voice and face of their users. I got links from Bruce Sterling and Bret Devereaux. My meaty review of Brad DeLong’s book was a flash in the pan, although to my knowledge I am the only reviewer who had the respect to fact-check it. I won’t try to track statistics because the swarms of scrapers feeding chatbots (and my defenses against those scrapers) interfere with the count. The most important statistic is that when I meet someone with similar interests, they have usually heard of and respect my writing. I have a very engaged audience which is very offline.

How I Pay for It

Unlike most bloggers I neither have an indulgent professional job nor independent wealth nor a thicket of ads and digital goods to sell. I have a mundane part-time job. My main sources of freelance income in 2024 have dried up so I spent a great deal of time and money this year retraining and obtaining treatment for one of my disabilities. My income was higher than any year since 2018, but lower than in any of my first five years after graduating with a BSc. If any of my gentle readers know anyone who needs an experienced editor of nonfiction, business writing, and marked-up web content please put me in touch with them! (My first profession was software development but that is a hirer’s market right now across most of the world so it would take local networking to get back in to if I choose that path). I tried some teaching and found that I need to retrain my voice for the COVID era. Look out for more on that in 2026.

Writers and artists have had to get serious about making money from their Internet presence because the industries which used to pay them for their skills have been devastated. The Internet ads which paid for the first webcomics and blogs stopped paying long ago. Some very popular things online generate no revenue, and some casual creations make it hand over fist. So if you know of small projects which you value, its very important to support them.

Everything Else

This year I joined three volunteer projects, one international and online, one in BC which was very active, and one in British Columbia where I am still coming onboard. I have not been a board member since my days in Innsbruck so this is a new experience. I helped pick English ivy and other invasive weeds from local sites and started a small garden of strawberries and marigolds and herbs. Strawberries in a sheltered area try to fruit as late as December here although they don’t get very sweet. Next year I will try planting some of the annuals farther apart and try some lavendula in a dry sunny space. Its an Eurasian species but it does well in our current climate and bees like it but deer do not.

In spring and summer I got back into archery with a fibreglass mock-Mongolian from Alibow in China. I had not drawn a bow for many years. I have not been able to connect with either of the local archery clubs but maybe that will be possible in 2026.

I attended the Victoria Gem Show, saw some samples of pigment minerals like orpiment and realgar and malachite, and had a nerdy conversation with a young couple from UBC with some samples of Tuscan marble. I am glad that someone else takes on the risk of storing toxic light-sensitive minerals in unsealed transparent containers. Although I am trying to shrink Mt Tsundoku, I picked up a few used books at the Russell Books warehouse sale in James Bay.

My only sewing project was blanket-stitching the edges of a piece of Italian worsted to make it into a short cloak to wear around the house on cold nights. I have a few shields to gesso and paint this winter.

While time and money for live performances were limited, in December I attended a concert at Alex Goolden Hall. I finally visited Abkhazi Garden built by a Georgian prince and a moneyed British woman after

This year I offended one local friend and one local acquaintance who dropped out of contact. In both cases, we were mostly communicating electronically.

My health and ability to concentrate are not where I wish they were. The world situation is not what I wish it is. Whereas the internet was once a refuge where I could find scholarly and practical people, social media became crazier and more hostile and dogmatic than face-to-face communities. I foresaw the doom which was coming to those sites so I don’t understand why so many people flocked to them. As a highly educated introvert who grew up reading classic American science fiction, reading the news gives me vertigo, because a handful of people with far too much power read the same stories I did but did not get the same messages.

Outside the Abbey Walls

do not depend on the hope of results. When you are doing the sort of work you have taken on, essentially an apostolic work, you may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea you start more and more to concentrate not on the results but on the value, the rightness, the truth of the work itself. And there too a great deal has to be gone through, as gradually you struggle less and less for an idea and more and more for specific people. The range tends to narrow down, but it gets much more real. In the end, as you yourself mention in passing, it is the reality of personal relationships that saves everything.

Thomas Merton, OCSO, letter to Jim Forrest, 1966 (source)

My friends who stopped worrying about indoor air quality are not getting as sick as often as last year, but the state of the world and the state of the web are still gloomy. In my view, it is urgent for us in the free world to disconnect from big-spending American institutions, while just as urgently connecting with American people. While we cannot accept the lie that the United States is isolated behind a wall from the outside world and its concerns, trying to work with Amazon or Automattic or the American public-health authorities will just drag us down into darkness. However, trying to talk about these things with a global network interested in books and swords is a distraction from acting close to home.

I wish I knew how to fix the things in our culture that produce podcast-addled premiers. I wish that when the self-indulgent folly of rich people and their flatterers lead to destruction in the depths of the Atlantic or the heights of the atmosphere, nobody else was hurt. And I wish that people would not pay all they had for comforting lies, and not a penny for the painful truth. But I cannot change those things. The task ahead for us in our local communities is to build things which can survive the crash and the death-throes which will follow, and create low-bandwidth means of communication with the other islands of flickering light beneath a starless sky.

So in 2026, I will blog once or twice a month, while working on print publications, my day job, and my local volunteering. This is not the world I wish I was in. My efforts to sustain communities and influence their direction have often failed. However, it is what I can do with the resources available to me.

Handing Doris the light, he let her take his left arm. Together, they left the room and went down the hallway to the stairs and the long walk to the darkened street below, into a city that had suddenly been cut off from its very life-energy. A city that had put all its eggs in one basket, and left the basket in the path of any blundering foot.

H. Beam Piper, “Day of the Moron” (1951)

(scheduled 27 December 2025)

2025 Year-Ender

Another year is passing, the tenth which I have ended with a blog post. This was a year of transition and activities outside of the history and archaeology I talk about on this blog. So sit down with a mug of something warm (or a glass of something cool for readers in the Antipodes) while I talk about this past year.

What I Wrote

Much of my writing this year was either for volunteer projects which I won’t talk about here, or editing my second book. I finally managed to stick to one post per month beginning in July 2025. I created a small page on My Pleiades Contributions. No magazine articles or academic articles came out this year.

I helped Martin Rundkvist with a question about swords, had a back and forth with Bret Devereaux about the hoplite wars, and traded casuistry with the very polite head of a very bad organization.

Two of my blog posts reached wide audiences: my list of reasons why knowing things is hard, and my warning about academia.edu changing its terms of service in a way that suggests they want chatbots to talk about papers using the voice and face of their users. I got links from Bruce Sterling and Bret Devereaux. My meaty review of Brad DeLong’s book was a flash in the pan, although to my knowledge I am the only reviewer who had the respect to fact-check it. I won’t try to track statistics because the swarms of scrapers feeding chatbots (and my defenses against those scrapers) interfere with the count. The most important statistic is that when I meet someone with similar interests, they have usually heard of and respect my writing. I have a very engaged audience which is very offline.

How I Pay for It

Unlike most bloggers I neither have an indulgent professional job nor independent wealth nor a thicket of ads and digital goods to sell. I have a mundane part-time job. My main sources of freelance income in 2024 have dried up so I spent a great deal of time and money this year retraining and obtaining treatment for one of my disabilities. My income was higher than any year since 2018, but lower than in any of my first five years after graduating with a BSc. If any of my gentle readers know anyone who needs an experienced editor of nonfiction, business writing, and marked-up web content please put me in touch with them! (My first profession was software development but that is a hirer’s market right now across most of the world so it would take local networking to get back in to if I choose that path). I tried some teaching and found that I need to retrain my voice for the COVID era. Look out for more on that in 2026.

Writers and artists have had to get serious about making money from their Internet presence because the industries which used to pay them for their skills have been devastated. The Internet ads which paid for the first webcomics and blogs stopped paying long ago. Some very popular things online generate no revenue, and some casual creations make it hand over fist. So if you know of small projects which you value, its very important to support them.

Everything Else

This year I joined three volunteer projects, one international and online, one in BC which was very active, and one in British Columbia where I am still coming onboard. I have not been a board member since my days in Innsbruck so this is a new experience. I helped pick English ivy and other invasive weeds from local sites and started a small garden of strawberries and marigolds and herbs. Strawberries in a sheltered area try to fruit as late as December here although they don’t get very sweet. Next year I will try planting some of the annuals farther apart and try some lavendula in a dry sunny space. Its an Eurasian species but it does well in our current climate and bees like it but deer do not.

In spring and summer I got back into archery with a fibreglass mock-Mongolian from Alibow in China. I had not drawn a bow for many years. I have not been able to connect with either of the local archery clubs but maybe that will be possible in 2026.

I attended the Victoria Gem Show, saw some samples of pigment minerals like orpiment and realgar and malachite, and had a nerdy conversation with a young couple from UBC with some samples of Tuscan marble. I am glad that someone else takes on the risk of storing toxic light-sensitive minerals in unsealed transparent containers. Although I am trying to shrink Mt Tsundoku, I picked up a few used books at the Russell Books warehouse sale in James Bay.

My only sewing project was blanket-stitching the edges of a piece of Italian worsted to make it into a short cloak to wear around the house on cold nights. I have a few shields to gesso and paint this winter.

While time and money for live performances were limited, in December I attended a concert at Alex Goolden Hall. I finally visited Abkhazi Garden built by a Georgian prince and a moneyed British woman after

This year I offended one local friend and one local acquaintance who dropped out of contact. In both cases, we were mostly communicating electronically.

My health and ability to concentrate are not where I wish they were. The world situation is not what I wish it is. Whereas the internet was once a refuge where I could find scholarly and practical people, social media became crazier and more hostile and dogmatic than face-to-face communities. I foresaw the doom which was coming to those sites so I don’t understand why so many people flocked to them. As a highly educated introvert who grew up reading classic American science fiction, reading the news gives me vertigo, because a handful of people with far too much power read the same stories I did but did not get the same messages.

Outside the Abbey Walls

do not depend on the hope of results. When you are doing the sort of work you have taken on, essentially an apostolic work, you may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea you start more and more to concentrate not on the results but on the value, the rightness, the truth of the work itself. And there too a great deal has to be gone through, as gradually you struggle less and less for an idea and more and more for specific people. The range tends to narrow down, but it gets much more real. In the end, as you yourself mention in passing, it is the reality of personal relationships that saves everything.

Thomas Merton, OCSO, letter to Jim Forrest, 1966 (source)

My friends who stopped worrying about indoor air quality are not getting as sick as often as last year, but the state of the world and the state of the web are still gloomy. In my view, it is urgent for us in the free world to disconnect from big-spending American institutions, while just as urgently connecting with American people. While we cannot accept the lie that the United States is isolated behind a wall from the outside world and its concerns, trying to work with Amazon or Automattic or the American public-health authorities will just drag us down into darkness. However, trying to talk about these things with a global network interested in books and swords is a distraction from acting close to home.

I wish I knew how to fix the things in our culture that produce podcast-addled premiers. I wish that when the self-indulgent folly of rich people and their flatterers lead to destruction in the depths of the Atlantic or the heights of the atmosphere, nobody else was hurt. And I wish that people would not pay all they had for comforting lies, and not a penny for the painful truth. But I cannot change those things. The task ahead for us in our local communities is to build things which can survive the crash and the death-throes which will follow, and create low-bandwidth means of communication with the other islands of flickering light beneath a starless sky.

So in 2026, I will blog once or twice a month, while working on print publications, my day job, and my local volunteering. This is not the world I wish I was in. My efforts to sustain communities and influence their direction have often failed. However, it is what I can do with the resources available to me.

Handing Doris the light, he let her take his left arm. Together, they left the room and went down the hallway to the stairs and the long walk to the darkened street below, into a city that had suddenly been cut off from its very life-energy. A city that had put all its eggs in one basket, and left the basket in the path of any blundering foot.

H. Beam Piper, “Day of the Moron” (1951)

(scheduled 27 December 2025)

(Abendküche, unsicherer Griff, heißes Wasser, das über Haut und Arbeitsflächen gen Boden fließt. Schmerzende Hände. Den Schreck nicht unterdrückt, den Ärger irgendwie schon. Und dann kurz unter dem Himmel der Höfe, zwischen Wänden und Bäumen. Mülltonnen klappern und quietschen, leere Kisten stapeln sich, eine Stadtkatze verharrt geduckt zwischen den Sträuchern. Etagen weiter oben sind die Türen geöffnet. Hier duftet der Flur nach Gebäck und Waschnüssen, Kinder lachen. Nochmal Tee, noch eine Kerze. Und tief durchatmen.)

#outerworld #concrete city #sunday evening #slowing down

(Abendküche, unsicherer Griff, heißes Wasser, das über Haut und Arbeitsflächen gen Boden fließt. Schmerzende Hände. Den Schreck nicht unterdrückt, den Ärger irgendwie schon. Und dann kurz unter dem Himmel der Höfe, zwischen Wänden und Bäumen. Mülltonnen klappern und quietschen, leere Kisten stapeln sich, eine Stadtkatze verharrt geduckt zwischen den Sträuchern. Etagen weiter oben sind die Türen geöffnet. Hier duftet der Flur nach Gebäck und Waschnüssen, Kinder lachen. Nochmal Tee, noch eine Kerze. Und tief durchatmen.)

#outerworld #concrete city #sunday evening #slowing down

(Abendküche, unsicherer Griff, heißes Wasser, das über Haut und Arbeitsflächen gen Boden fließt. Schmerzende Hände. Den Schreck nicht unterdrückt, den Ärger irgendwie schon. Und dann kurz unter dem Himmel der Höfe, zwischen Wänden und Bäumen. Mülltonnen klappern und quietschen, leere Kisten stapeln sich, eine Stadtkatze verharrt geduckt zwischen den Sträuchern. Etagen weiter oben sind die Türen geöffnet. Hier duftet der Flur nach Gebäck und Waschnüssen, Kinder lachen. Nochmal Tee, noch eine Kerze. Und tief durchatmen.)

#outerworld #concrete city #sunday evening #slowing down

(Abendküche, unsicherer Griff, heißes Wasser, das über Haut und Arbeitsflächen gen Boden fließt. Schmerzende Hände. Den Schreck nicht unterdrückt, den Ärger irgendwie schon. Und dann kurz unter dem Himmel der Höfe, zwischen Wänden und Bäumen. Mülltonnen klappern und quietschen, leere Kisten stapeln sich, eine Stadtkatze verharrt geduckt zwischen den Sträuchern. Etagen weiter oben sind die Türen geöffnet. Hier duftet der Flur nach Gebäck und Waschnüssen, Kinder lachen. Nochmal Tee, noch eine Kerze. Und tief durchatmen.)

#outerworld #concrete city #sunday evening #slowing down

Very much later. A brief moment of serenity. That spot of quietness within, watching thoughts spiral at high speed and feeling unable to identify particular details. Cat on the windowsill, dark silhouette against the outside world, static and indifferent. There's some party going on at the pub, coloured lights dancing along the street included, a bowl housing shivering flames, a worn-down brushed carpet. No celebrities, just that familiar crowd and the evening it decided to bring. Distant observer, stories shaping themselves. Have a soft night everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #concrete city #the late hours #slowing down

Very much later. A brief moment of serenity. That spot of quietness within, watching thoughts spiral at high speed and feeling unable to identify particular details. Cat on the windowsill, dark silhouette against the outside world, static and indifferent. There's some party going on at the pub, coloured lights dancing along the street included, a bowl housing shivering flames, a worn-down brushed carpet. No celebrities, just that familiar crowd and the evening it decided to bring. Distant observer, stories shaping themselves. Have a soft night everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #concrete city #the late hours #slowing down

Very much later. A brief moment of serenity. That spot of quietness within, watching thoughts spiral at high speed and feeling unable to identify particular details. Cat on the windowsill, dark silhouette against the outside world, static and indifferent. There's some party going on at the pub, coloured lights dancing along the street included, a bowl housing shivering flames, a worn-down brushed carpet. No celebrities, just that familiar crowd and the evening it decided to bring. Distant observer, stories shaping themselves. Have a soft night everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #concrete city #the late hours #slowing down

Very much later. A brief moment of serenity. That spot of quietness within, watching thoughts spiral at high speed and feeling unable to identify particular details. Cat on the windowsill, dark silhouette against the outside world, static and indifferent. There's some party going on at the pub, coloured lights dancing along the street included, a bowl housing shivering flames, a worn-down brushed carpet. No celebrities, just that familiar crowd and the evening it decided to bring. Distant observer, stories shaping themselves. Have a soft night everyone wherever you are.

#outerworld #concrete city #the late hours #slowing down

Wasser in den Haaren, auf der Haut. Kunstregen, zu heiß, zu kalt, zu nass und unerwartet störend. Mehrere schwer beschriebene Momente verstreichen, bis vorsichtige Entspannung einsetzt. Watte zwischen Sinnen und Umwelt. Immer noch Navigation entlang des Planes. Das Viertel hinter den Wänden schweigt.

#outerworld #concrete city #later that day #slowing down

Wasser in den Haaren, auf der Haut. Kunstregen, zu heiß, zu kalt, zu nass und unerwartet störend. Mehrere schwer beschriebene Momente verstreichen, bis vorsichtige Entspannung einsetzt. Watte zwischen Sinnen und Umwelt. Immer noch Navigation entlang des Planes. Das Viertel hinter den Wänden schweigt.

#outerworld #concrete city #later that day #slowing down

Wasser in den Haaren, auf der Haut. Kunstregen, zu heiß, zu kalt, zu nass und unerwartet störend. Mehrere schwer beschriebene Momente verstreichen, bis vorsichtige Entspannung einsetzt. Watte zwischen Sinnen und Umwelt. Immer noch Navigation entlang des Planes. Das Viertel hinter den Wänden schweigt.

#outerworld #concrete city #later that day #slowing down

Wasser in den Haaren, auf der Haut. Kunstregen, zu heiß, zu kalt, zu nass und unerwartet störend. Mehrere schwer beschriebene Momente verstreichen, bis vorsichtige Entspannung einsetzt. Watte zwischen Sinnen und Umwelt. Immer noch Navigation entlang des Planes. Das Viertel hinter den Wänden schweigt.

#outerworld #concrete city #later that day #slowing down

Universe Pace of Expansion Slows, New Discovery Shows

Astronomers in South Korea say the universe may no longer be expanding faster and could have already begun…
#NewsBeep #News #Science #asronomers #AU #Australia #slowingdown #Space #Universe
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/272476/

Man shares his 3-part 'perfect night' and its simplicity is awe-inspiring

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/nolan-reid-shares-simple-pleasures

Man shares his 3-part 'perfect night' and its simplicity is awe-inspiring

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/nolan-reid-shares-simple-pleasures

Man shares his 3-part 'perfect night' and its simplicity is awe-inspiring

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://www.upworthy.com/nolan-reid-shares-simple-pleasures