The sleuth within

Each of us is a sleuth in our own right. We live our lives in order to collect information, which forms evidence meant to convince us of our dreams, the path to follow, a direction worthy of our attention. Why is it that some people choose to not accept the evidence they discover? What is it that compels certain people to rethink the point of everything?

As detective writers go, their typical approach is to start from the “who did it and why” and work backwards through development to reveal the build up.   Many readers simply assume it always works the other way around, which isn’t true. If you think about your own life, wouldn’t it seem logical to assume that you’re working backwards as well, uncovering clues about yourself, as you go, only to arrive at the identity you feel you should’ve known all along? Who is the real detective? Who is writing your story so your pages evolve into different chapters of your life?

So many mystery authors offer us companions to help us find ourselves while we're also given the chance to learn.  After all, what are the tools you think you need to get-to-know yourself? Georges Simenon created Inspector Maigret. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle devised Sherlock Holmes. Lynda LaPlante gave us Detective Jane Tennison. Agatha Christie offered Miss Jane Marple and Hercule Poirot. John Mortimer came up with Horace Rumpole (“Rumpole of the Bailey”). Dan Brown equipped us with symbology professor Robert Langdon. Mildred Wirt Benson invited us to meet Nancy Drew.  Which are your favorites? How many do you work with?

Ultimately, what we choose to do with our detective companions is completely up to us.  Your imagination is key.  Let your soul be your pilot.  Are you in training to become your own specialized sleuth, well, time and how you see yourself will tell...

Excitement of sabbaticals

I was recently contacted by a long lost friend, you know, the kind that doesn't seem like you were ever out-of-touch. She was excited about her process of preparing for a sabbatical year in Spain. Her husband will be a visiting professor at a university.  Among other things, she will have the tasks of helping her daughter discover and settle into kindergarten. My friend also aims to find a part-time Spanish pre-school for her son. This friend admits the prospect of the change appeals because of her sense of adventure. Not surprising, coming from a former, 'bush pilot.'

This story reminds me how people regularly stumble in life to seize unexpected opportunities and can be very happy about it. Why is it, do you think, that uncertainty about the next job or how to cope with change, can be so stimulating for some of us and so frightening for others? Why is it that some people would jump at the chance to experience a new work setting, perhaps even in a different country, while others would shun or fear the idea without a second thought?

To get right down to what matters, think of your priorities and how you would be apt to react. If someone offered you the chance to go on a sabbatical, such as working in your field in a different office or foreign workspace, your decision would be based very much on your personality and perception of change. Whether or not you sense this will work for you ro not would depend on many factors. 

1)  Would your old job be available upon your return?  You may have thoughts on job security. Depending on your seniority where you are, you will likely desire to know how a year away would impact the job and salary you have. It may be hard for a company to guarantee the exact same position. Yet, keep in mind that inter-state or international experience would build your portfolio, possibly lead to promotions, and strengthen your abilities to broaden your options.

2)  How would your family react?Its important to realize that a geographic move may not only have implications for you.  Consider your partner. What would they do where you're going? Would an office transfer be an option or would your partner be willing to do something esle? What about your kids? How would you go about uprooting them from school and find temporary new ones? Whether your family is supportive, decides to stay behind or even favors their own personal change, is key. You may feel change would be good for your family. Would they agree?

3) What are your underlying motives? Some people actively investigate sabbatical options because they desire change, escape from the mundane or, wish to undertake soul-searching. A year away from what you do now may enable you to write that book you've always wanted to write. It may enable you to collaborate on research with colleagues that would have mutual benefits. You may have obligations to your current workplace, such as publishing papers, making conference presentations or other 'results' to prove you've been productive while away. You may simply plan to do something completely different than before, like missionay work, crisi relief work or remote non-profit projects, so as to return to your life with new perspectives.

No matter what you choose to do while on sabbatical, you will evolve and see yourself and the world very different than when you left. I know one woman who gave up her former job after sabbatical and changed her whole life focus. All experience promotes self-development if you remain open to possibilities. Taking risks to explore the unknown can certainly be good for the soul.

Hints from your favorite authors

As you think about influences on your life, you may be surprised to discover how your author choices make a statement about how you feel about yourself and the world. You may be drawn to their choice of themes or writing style. You may identify with their character portraits, or elements of their reality where you relate or you aspire to follow. Consider what you can learn about yourself from the books you read. Each life choice is a clue to self discovery. Below are lists of 16 female & male authors who have influenced and inspired me:

Women authors

1) Agatha Christie
2) Enid Blyton (*Folk of the Faraway Tree, The Fabulous Five, The Wishing Chair)
3) J.K. Rowling (*Harry Potter series)
4) Rhonda Byrne (*The Secret)
5) Beatrix Potter (*The Tale of Peter Rabbit)
6) Astrid Lindgren (*Pippi Longstocking)
7) Mary Shelley (*Frankenstein)
8) Amy Tan
9) Adeline Mah (*Falling Leaves)
10) Emily Dickinson
11) Emily Bronte (*Wuthering Heights)
12) Jane Austen (*Persuasion, Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility)
13) Margaret Atwood
14) Colleen McCullough (*The Thorn Birds)
15) Maya Angelou (*I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings)
16) Isak Dinesen/ Karen Blixen (*Out of Africa)

Men authors

1) C.S. Lewis
2) Gabriel Garcia Marquez (*100 Years of Solitude)
3) Confucious
4) Roald Dahl
5) Paulo Coelho (*The Alchemist+)
6) Omar Khayyam
7) J.R.R. Tolkein
8) Lewis Carroll (*Alice in Wonderland)
9) Robert Thurman (*Tibetan Book of the Dead)
10) Eckhart Tolle (*The Power of Now)
11) Edgar Allen Poe
12) Kalhil Gibran (*The Prophet)
13) Marcel Proust (*In Search of Lost Time)
14) Aesop (*Fables)
15) Rumi
16) Alexander McCall Smith (*No.1 Lady's Detective Agency)

Invite fictional characters to dinner?

Imagine the dinner conversations that would develop from a lively mixture of your favorite fictional characters. Consider what your guest list would tell you about yourself, your priorities, values, fears and expectations for your life in reality. Perhaps you dream you had the abilities and traits of these characters? What's to say your focus on these protagonists doesn't help you pinpoint meaningful purpose, ambition or traits you can develop in yourself? My top 15 choices are listed below:

1) Ellis Peter's medieval detective monk Brother Cadfael
2) Patricia Cornwell's pathologist-detective Dr. Kay Scarpetta
3) Paulo Coelho's Santiago (the Alchemist),
4) Charles Dicken's "reformed" Scrooge (*A Christmas Carol)
5) Ian Flemming's James Bond (007)
6) Agatha Christie's Miss Jane Marple or Hercule Poirot
7) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes
8) Jules Verne’s Phineas Fogg (*Around the World in 80 Days)
9) Pamela L. Travers’ Mary Poppins
10) J.K. Rowling's Dumbledore (okay, and Harry Potter Hermoine Granger too!)
11) J.R.R. Tolkien's Gandalf (*Lord of the Rings)
12) Yoda (*Star Wars)
13) L.M. Montgomery's Anne Shirley (*Anne of Green Gables)
14) Mary Magdelan (*The Bible)
15) William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Only a matter of time

Human beings live in a vast world and spend lifetimes dreaming and seeking to understand it.   Somewhere back in history, many people began to group the idea of guardian angels together with forgotten myths.  What happened to cause people to change their faith and belief systems? 

Angels exist to help remind us to keep our dreams are alive, worth out attention.  If you listen, they encourage you to seek people who can help make your dreams a reality.  They encourage you to believe in yourself.  What reasons might you have to desire to connect with your angel?

If it doesn't matter, then why do your eyes light up at the thought of believing?  You either accept the possibility or you don't.  You either seek ways to learn more about your angel, or you disregard the whole thing.  Then again, you may repeatedly experience phases of "contemplation of the existence of the angel." You may have witnessed or heard about miracles, and talk incessantly, yet, manage to doubt.

Some people ask themselves why they believe or disbelieve.  Angels may enter your dreams or slip into discussions.  Notice how they make their presence known in your life.  Is that you helping? Who are the sorts of people who draw your attention to angels? They offer new clues to why you bet, why you offer to forgive, why you're ready to break a pact not to believe in things you don't necessarily see.

The ideas you devise don't have to seem logical or rational to other people.  The fundamental question is, do these ideas seem appropriate and inspiring for you as the person you are now? You know very well what's going to happen next.  Its only a matter of time.  Make a bet with your angel.  Connecting with your core is like the key to existence.  Your angel will light the way.  Now all you need is faith, will, and to follow your chosen path.