Russell Smithers"Experience is the only teacher we have" – Swami Vivekananda

Toward the end of last year I knew it was time to review my goals and refocus my efforts. Why? well the last few years have seen many changes in my life, including a lifestyle becoming so hectic that I was almost tripping over myself to get things done. Needless to say the quality of my life deteriorated because of that. So 2008 is the year to work out how much time I have, decide how much time I need for myself and how much I am willing to give to volunteering and my studies.

In order to achieve what I really want (what I really really want … LOL). I decided to pause the degree I am studying for and enjoy myself a bit, in the process I have the time to sort out my life and try out different ways of using my time. This also gives me time to review the degree I am studying towards so I end up with a degree I feel happy with, rather than one I just achieved for the sake of it.

So far I am happy to report that within only a few weeks of trying out a new way of using my time, I have found a way of limiting what I do which gives me enough time to enjoy myself, do my study and volunteer in a sustainable way. 

So the next decision is, can I resume my studies this year, and what degree should I aim for. It seems obvious that I need to change degree I am studying towards, but which one?

“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking.”, William B. Sprague

• List of Social Media News Websites

This link lists so many potentially useful websites. I have found a dozen at least that I shall be exploring, probably with RSS feeds.

I’m in the middle of reading some MySpace blogs, and a thought arose about how we can explore ourselves as people.  So how many ways can I think of at the moment, lets see;

1. Face your fears, maybe start with the small ones to get into practice.
2. Discover your likes and dislikes, and go into both a bit more deeply
3. Blogs, find peoples blogs (like MySpace) that you like, and look at thoughts and feelings  that arise, maybe commenting what you find against the blog you read. You may like to look at some different blogs that are available.
4. Try understanding people, maybe pick one you don’t like and one you do, and see where it leads
5. Go boldly into the unknown (maybe facing fears), do something different once in a while.
6. Change your life and routines. Maybe there are negative routines you could stop, or new positive routines that will be useful. I find that it’s good to always keep an eye on your self and your life and make changes anytime they are appropriate. There is no need to wait and make new years resolutions.
7. Engage more with the community, go along to events.
8. Volunteer to help others. It’s amazing what you learn about your self.

For now that’s all I can think of. I would love to hear your thoughts, so why not sign up and post some comments against this blog article.

Copyright Russell Smithers

January 11 2008 I attended a course on funding applications, so why am I publishing this now? I wrote this draft on the 11th and having just reviewed it, I thought I would publish it.

The topics covered were;

• Applications for Awards for all and Reaching Communities
• Where to go for other grants
• The emphasis on outcomes
• What the funders want to see
• Sustainability

Here are some of the key things I remembered.

There is allot of funding available for a range of organisations, although it is getting more difficult to get funding this shouldn’t deter people from applying.

The most important aspect of an application is the outcomes, a few points on this;

1. What are you trying to achieve
2. Demonstrate who benefits, including who and how many people
3. Do not whatever you do ask for less money than you need. Funders know projects won’t work if you don’t have all the money you need. Ask for the real cost!
4. Use numbers not percentages. Percentages mean nothing to some one reading the form.
5. Kick start funding, some organisations will only fund one project, which is good to get started, but then you need another funder to continue for regular annual support
6. Once you have received funding, and used it for what is was meant for, it is easier to get more funding
7. Make sure you fill the form in correctly, %40 of lottery applications fail
8. There are people who can help you
9. Try and get 3 people to check your application form like some one who is;

• from your organisation
• not involved with the organisation
• experienced in making funding applications and advising others

Obviously there is allot more to the course than just these snippets, but I thought a quick post with a few pointers may help some people. I might write more about funding in the coming years depending on how my life plans out.

Each moment of each day, the winds blow or go
The winds caress or lack of, relentlessly influences our world

Sometimes calm seas allow rest and reflection
Other times the wildness of change stirs us to action

Kept on our toes are those who embrace the sailor’s journey
Ever watchful and willing to act as the moment requires

The artful sailor experiences much on the journey
And at the destination the fruits of the journey manifest

The sailor appreciates the destination the more for the effort to arrive
Than for the sake of being at the destination

After all
Too long at the destination
The sailor is restless and leaves for another journey
Another destination, another cycle of mixed experiences

Cycles within cycles
Winds and stillness
Ying and yang

The wise sailor knows, all is within and expressed to the world

—
Copyright Russell Smithers

We have the power to do whatever we want.
All we have to do is take action and create it.

Taking action may require us to confront ourselves,
or, we may celebrate who we are, because we can.

Pleasure or Pain can gain, but just one creates imbalance.

Push through your barriers or embrace your joy.
In any case, take action by using your power to transform.

Do you really want to stagnate?

No, then go forth and live.
Yes, what, you want to stagnate? Err, why?

Copyright Russell Smithers

Today I see my life as a constant source of entertainment, each moment filled with colours textures, sounds and moods. Dancing together in constant flux influencing each other in a constant movement through clock time.

Copyright Russell Smithers

I let go of the past and focus on the now.

Like a surfer riding the crest of a wave,
I let the future take care of itself.

Copyright Russell Smithers