Category Archives: Life Challenges

Before Black and Blue Man: The Six Visits (Part 1)

Early 2006. I was working for another Canberra-based account, and once again travel was required – which at first was exciting. To my mild disappointment, however, it turned out that I would only going down there for one day – … Continue reading

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International Black and Blue Man (Part 2)

Part 1 My flight crossed the Tasman Sea without incident. A few times I did glance out the window two seats away, but all I saw were clouds. Most of the time, I read and dozed off. * Three relaxing … Continue reading

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International Black and Blue Man (Part 1)

For a long time, overseas travel was something I never contemplated. There were three main reasons why. One reason was lack of interest. Visiting other countries did have some appeal, but not that much – and for a long time, … Continue reading

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Before Black and Blue Man: The Turning Point (Part 6)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Saturday, 14 June 2003: morning It was bright and sunny outside, a good day for a friend’s wedding that afternoon. And I was looking forward to going. I’d just finished … Continue reading

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Before Black and Blue Man: The Turning Point (Part 5)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 The last weeks of December 2002 Shortly after I completed The Turning Point, my work manager was in town (he was based interstate). He scheduled one-on-one meetings with myself and my colleagues … Continue reading

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Before Black and Blue Man: The Turning Point (Part 4)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 The week passed and The Turning Point continued. Every class we meditated. Alas, I didn’t quite return to the bliss of that wonderful first session, but I still enjoyed meditation and resolved to keep … Continue reading

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Before Black and Blue Man: The Turning Point (Part 3)

Part 1 Part 2 There were about 20 people in our Turning Point class, ranging from teens to elderly. That first evening, our counselors told us what lay ahead for the coming week. After that, we did our first activity … Continue reading

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Before Black and Blue Man: The Turning Point (Part 2)

Part 1 September 2002. I had spent all day at home, both relaxing but also trying to make up my mind about whether or not to do something that night. That something was attending an information session about the next … Continue reading

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Before Black and Blue Man: The Turning Point (Part 1)

January 2002. One afternoon, my three work colleagues and I were taking a break at a café near our office. My colleague Mary asked our colleague John about a course he’d recently completed that, among other things, had taught him … Continue reading

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I miss the night

About a year ago, I began living a period of my life that I recounted in All through the night – going to bed at dawn, waking up in the afternoon and staying up all night. This period lasted for … Continue reading

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