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                      "Where to from here?"                              Merit Scholars Workshop - Macquarie University

2/12/2014

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“Self-care is never a selfish act – it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others.  Anytime we can listen to true self, and give it the care it requires, we do so not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.”
                                                             - Parker J. Palme
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In September I had the pleasure of working for a day with a group of Merit Scholars from Macquarie University in Sydney.

Where to from here? was the theme of the workshop, with activities that invited the students  to consider their life direction and future options as they near the end of their degrees.

What a wonderful bunch of young people to work with!  Deep thinkers who care deeply about others, the future of the world, and their place in it.  They grabbed at the opportunity to step out of the busyness of their daily lives to reflect on some very big and very important life questions - about themselves, their journeys thus far, and the things in life that matter deeply to them. 

I came away from our time together with a renewed sense of hope for the future, and also quietly amazed (in the best possible way) at how readily these young people grasped the importance to make time for reflection in our crazy, busy world today. 

I love Mark Nepo’s poem, Breaking Surface, and how it invites us to reflect on our life journey and its possibilities…

Breaking Surface

Let no one keep you from your journey,
no rabbi or priest, no mother
who wants you to dig for treasures
she misplaced, no father
who won't let one life be enough,
no lover who measures their worth
by what you might give up,
no voice that tells you in the night
it can't be done.


Let nothing dissuade you
from seeing what you see
or feeling the winds that make you
want to dance alone
or go where no one
has yet to go.


You are the only explorer.
Your heart, the unreadable compass.
Your soul, the shore of a promise
too great to be ignored.

                         
-  Mark Nepo

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    Mennie Scapens

    Mennie designs and leads leadership development programs, teacher renewal retreats, and programs for personal and professional development.  She is passionate about helping people uncover and grow their unique talents and dreams, and discovering personal pathways to living and leading authentic lives.  

    She is a facilitator prepared by the Center for Courage & Renewal. 

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Mennie Scapens M.Ed
Courage & Renewal Facilitator
Phone 07 552 6581
Mobile 027 686 7449
Email  scapens@xtra.co.nz


What participants have to say:

"Taking the time out of the busy rush of university life to really reconnect with my inner self was definitely invaluable! I had forgotten to really take a step back to re-evaluate my personal goals and see whether they align with my values."
   - Merit Scholar, Macquarie 
           University, Sydney.


"I particularly liked the idea of the trust circle, in which silence wasn't awkward, but was mostly a way to reflect upon what others told. The atmosphere was very soothing, relaxed and ideal for inner thinking and reflection." 
  - Merit Scholar, Macquarie 
           University, Sydney.


"The concept of silence as a valued member of the group provides a new framework to connect and relate to others, in a more responsive way rather than a reactive way."
 - Counsellor, Tauranga.