53 Moments With Fables

We're a story-telling lot, us humans.

Sometimes it's an earnest actor in a white lab-coat or a black suit, trying to convince us that his toxic fluoride toothpaste is good for our health or that his party's million-dollar spend on weapons is for peace. And they do it with such a straight face!

Sometimes the story's presented with a chuckle and we know another fiction is on the way: "did you hear the one about ..."

And, sometimes, just sometimes, there's a story parading as nought but itself - a clear fiction - and you're in it. The real, non-fictional you. That's why the authentically fictional stories - fables, proverbs, legends - outlast us all and are told down the centuries ... we're in them; parading our best and worst, our most silly and most sublime. The universality of stories is the unity of humans. We're all strangely, uniquely alike and we can all see - if we so choose - our reality in the unreality we closet ourselves with round the fireside, in schools, churches and pubs and in our quiet, solo moments.

Stories are the comforters we carry in our hearts and minds and our own particular stories are the way we initiate and create friendships and relationships.

These stories, my friend, are my offering of friendship and may they provide balance, smiles, tears and insight when no other exist for you.

Personal voyage: In New Zealand I experienced life as an accountant, credit manager and company director, shepherd, scrub-cutter, tree pruner, freezing worker, plastics factory worker, saxophonist, army driver, tour bus driver, stage and television actor and singer, builder, lecturer, facilitator for men's groups, reporter, columnist, magazine editor, publisher, writer ... In South Africa as an AIDS workshop co-facilitator ... In the Australian bush as a barman, horse and camel trekker and stock-whip teacher ... In England as a contract accountant, corporate trainer, estate manager, lecturer, singer/songwriter, website editor/writer and freelance writer ... Back in Australia I'm renovating houses, teaching and writing ... and wondering what's next! Professional voyage I write in every genre - non-fiction, novels, novelettes, short stories, flash fiction, poetry and songs. I believe the written word is a vehicle to help us find our peace, to find our place in the world and to rediscover the parts of ourselves that we may have lost somewhere along the way. At least that is what the process of writing does for me and I would be honoured to be a part of that journey with you. As human human beings, we are compelled to follow our passion, spread our wings and take on the life we were born to experience. I spent twenty years in the wrong occupation. One year of accounting and I knew we didn't fit each other. But I stayed. Why? Years later, I realised I'd stayed bored and desperate to please my father, and, later, to please my wife. They were people I could not please. We can only please ourselves. Once I'd realised I was in a rut - a grave with the ends kicked out - I felt stuck. I didn't know what else I could do and, besides, the good money provided for my family. I had responsibilities and had to go on. I couldn't let them down. But I let me down. My father's anger and abuse came from his feeling of entrapment and in not allowing his spirit to soar ... and not knowing how to release himself from his self-built prison. I'd followed his example - sticking with a job that sucked me dry - and became more and more angry and depressed. But spirit will have its day, if we give it its say when we get out of our way. There was no great sea-change event work-wise, though the divorce was traumatic, sad and releasing. Work-wise, I quietly slipped sideways, inching my way into teaching and then, because of my twenty wasted years, started facilitating personal development courses and running men's groups. It took me no time to realise I was a lousy accountant and a long time to realise I was a helluva' good teacher. I loved it and, twenty years later, still do. Between them, accounting and teaching have taken me to many countries, to many experiences and to many amazing people. Nothing is for nothing and everything counts. For a time, I popped back into doing accounting to pay the bills but, when I did, I became such a horrible person to live with that my wife now forbids me from ever doing it again. As always, I totally agree with her! So I stick with teaching accounting - not doing it - along with teaching business development and personal development. The teaching I do comes in many guises - corporate training, university lecturing, school teaching, personal development seminars, all the books I write and who I'm being in every minute of my life. So, to you. If you're in the wrong space - work-wise, relationship-wise, location-wise or just unwise - you won't be able to give your best and receive your best till you get wise about the choices you're making ... the choices in your actions, words and, most importantly, your thoughts. I sincerely hope my words can help bring you back to wisdom, back home and back to the peace you know is there. The dream I've realised for myself is the dream I have for you. I write for both of us.