Author Archives: Robert K Stephen (CSW)

“Hunger Ward”: Yemen’s starving children

There is not much to say about this short documentary other than it is shocking and saddening. Unfortunately I have seen this time and time again in my life and rest assured it will not be my last. War can kill thousands if not millions outright. It can also kill through a longer process calledContinue reading ““Hunger Ward”: Yemen’s starving children”

Tara Brach’s “Radical Acceptance Embracing Your Heart with the Life of a Buddha”: Fear

“We all have neglected and hungry dogs in the cellar. If we make a mistake, the dogs can tear down any sense of competency we may have. If somebody gets angry at us, suddenly the dogs ae there, threatening to dismantle our world. If we feel rejected or betrayed, the dogs convince us that noContinue reading “Tara Brach’s “Radical Acceptance Embracing Your Heart with the Life of a Buddha”: Fear”

Passage of the Day: William Thackery’s “Vanity Fair”

William Thackeray (1811-1863) was at one point as popular as Charles Dickens. Vanity Fair was, as common in Britain, published in serialized format between 1847-48 and was a wickedly satirical look at the English upper classes full of louts, buffoons, fortune hunters and a crumbling aristocracy “When men of a certain sort, ladies, are inContinue reading “Passage of the Day: William Thackery’s “Vanity Fair””

The Power of the Wandering Mind: Mindfulness Turned on its Head?

If you have attended a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course you may have been introduced to the concept of the “wandering mind”. This means that the mind tends to wander from thought to thought to the extent it makes concentrated thought difficult. What the basic MBSR course tries to impart is that by youContinue reading “The Power of the Wandering Mind: Mindfulness Turned on its Head?”

Mutantism on the March: Chapter 8“Curtain Call on the Zortixian Blues”

Chapter 8 “Curtain Call on the Zortixian Blues” Although centuries had passed on the planet Earth just over a decade had passed on Zortixia. As you may have guessed Zortixia was on a different time warp. If the Greek Gods had not bestowed immortality on Willie Montenez he would have long ago perished. Little knownContinue reading “Mutantism on the March: Chapter 8“Curtain Call on the Zortixian Blues””

Poetry Corner “The Wandering Mind and Ceaseless Chatter in Your Brain”

The Wandering Mind and Ceaseless Chatter in Your Brain Do you notice there is that voice in your head that never shuts upcriticizing, complaining, worrying and analyzingthen there is that mind that wanders like a bee to flowers looking for pollen?your level of concentration has fallenas you listen to that voice and get trapped byContinue reading “Poetry Corner “The Wandering Mind and Ceaseless Chatter in Your Brain””

Text of a mindfulness pause for a group leader in a major project

I would invite you to close your eyes or look ahead a few feet away from you at a particular point on the floor. Breathe in and out…in and out in the most relaxed fashion you can. As there may be some stressful moments ahead for you in this project I am going to leadContinue reading “Text of a mindfulness pause for a group leader in a major project”

Poetry Corner: “Your Self Importance Insults Me”

Your Self Importance Insults Me Yes we are working on the big deal as  legal teamsobviously so very important as a huge revenue deal upper management deems So it is time for our holiday mealGod forbid political correctness ring the bell as a peal if we call it a “Christmas” departmental dealgotta be careful withContinue reading “Poetry Corner: “Your Self Importance Insults Me””

Pinot Noir Battle: Canada vs. South Africa

We here in Ontario are certainly familiar with Niagara’s Flat Rock Cellars Chardonnay, Rosé, Gewurztraminer and Riesling all jolly well top end. How about their Pinot Noir? Having visited the winery within certain lockdown periods their Pinot Noir is good stuff! So let us get the cockfight going here with a sharp clawed Flat RockContinue reading “Pinot Noir Battle: Canada vs. South Africa”