Every day is an adventure

I was thinking about my grandson, who is ten, who just came back from an exciting adventure in Melbourne. He was at a Math camp and evidently studied how math helped the mission to Mars. My thoughts wandered back to when I was around his age and realized that I thought every day was an adventure. But my adventures were different than his, he has been to Canada, Japan, Queensland, New South Wales and travelled throughout Victoria. His adventures are probably just as exciting for him as mine were for me, but mine were on a different scale. Changes in latitude, changes in attitude as Jimmy Buffet sang.

My earliest memories of my adventures were when I was in, I suppose about grade 3. One adventure involved a group of us going to the river in the evening to look at the stars and discuss when the aliens would land, what they would look like and how smart they would be. 

Another adventure was moving to the other side of town and getting my own home, a new home and new adventures. Those recalled adventures involved a lot of rock picking to clear the land, a great deal of hard work, putting in fence posts. However, they also involved exploring the new woods behind the house, helping to pick out the new baby cows, feeding the chickens, chasing the cow back to our property, making new friends, exploring new ways to get to the lake where we swam every summer from grade 4 to grade 12.

Other adventures were getting a new paper route and getting to know my new customers. All the adventures were not good, such as struggling to learn my place in this new community, but most were good, such as learning to manage a band when I was in grade 6 which helped when I was asked to manage a band when I was in grade 10. I also remember our weekly trips to Victoria to see our relatives and wondering why they spoke English with a funny accent. We also went to town every two weeks and I loved that we could go to the library and pick out enough books to read for the next two weeks.

Life was about adventure and learning something new every day when I was young. I hope the adventure continues for my grandson and that he finds the time to share them with us. 

When I retired, I embraced that idea and now almost every day is a new adventure, with new things to learn. COVID has slowed the adventures a bit, but through social media, they continue.  I hope that your retirement is still a journey of adventure and excitement at the new possibilities that every day presents.

Seniors and Recreational Opportunities 1

We all need to feel like we are contributing, especially after retirement. Often, when we retire some of us may struggle with not having something to “sink their teeth into”. Our time is not filled with work, so can it be filled by our recreational activities? Those of us who have been retired for a while, know that we are busier than we were when we were working.

I ran across an interesting concept and it helped me understand how and perhaps why not seniors use their leisure time. There are three interrelated concepts of leisure, Casual Leisure, Project-Based Leisure and Serious Leisure. These ideas were developed by Canadian sociologist Robert Stebbins, Ph.D.

According to Dr. Stebbins, a person who is working typically engages mostly in activities that can be defined as Casual Leisure. These activities do not take a lot of planning, can be flexible in nature and do not require extensive commitments. Casual Leisure is critical for managing stress, improving health, and for the sheer fun of the experience. Examples of Casual Leisure activities are watching TV, reading a book, walking in a park, taking a fitness or cooking class or having a fun hobby like gardening or swimming. So many seniors who are working part-time would engage in this type of leisure.

Many people are also involved in Project-Based Leisure, which is a short-term enjoyable commitment like coaching a child’s soccer team for a season, which for me, took 12 years until my children no longer wanted to play.

A Serious Leisure activity is one that takes extra commitment and develops to the point that it becomes part of a person’s identity. Examples of Serious Leisure could be playing in a band, regular volunteering for a cause, a hobby or sport that becomes so important that it begins to define a person. My brother-in-law is into restoring antique cars and that defines who he is as a person and has since he was in his early 20’s. My sister-in-law is into photography and it helps define who she is as a person. I am into volunteering and giving workshops and when I was working, I did volunteer work for boys and girls clubs.

Many of you when you were working were probably engaged in all three types of leisure behaviours like I was. However, after retirement developing a Serious Leisure activity may become critical in replacing the identity that has been lost through exiting the workforce.

When we retire, we want more flexibility in how we manage our time, and Public recreation departments need to facilitate opportunities that are flexible (Casual Leisure) for working seniors, as well as more enriching and involved (Project-Based or Serious Leisure) for those seniors looking to contribute and develop an identity through a meaningful leisure pursuit. The problem is they don’t. Seniors I have talked to who have thought about volunteering or taking part in activities say that they have met with barriers which involve time commitments and money that have turned them off of taking part.

Adventurers

My grandson is an adventurer, he loves to test the boundaries of what he does. Jokingly I tell him that it's a jungle out there; that time and space aren't a place for "scaredies"; that toes are stubbed, hearts are broken, and dreams can seem to be shattered into a million pieces. 

I tell him that the illusions are so captivating, they won't even remember who they really are. And that the emotions can be so painful, at times they might fleetingly wish they had never been born. I tell him that once he pushes the boundaries he will be a better person.

But it's like, that just makes them want to go even more. He knows that even as he begins his life adventures his family will be there to cheer him on and to help him when he most needs it. We all have adventurers in our life, let us support them when they need our support.

There is more than one right answer

I don't know about you but I get very suspicious of those who tell me there is one right way to do something. When I was younger I might have been more accepting of the idea of one right path. In fact, I at one time was convinced I had the right answer to issues around my work. Lucky for me I grew into a position where I was lucky enough to implement my "right plan". I was also very lucky to have people around me who agreed with me that the path was right, but there were also many parallel paths that worked and all of the paths took as ultimately to the same end. I also was able to listen and grew because of that experience. 

There's always more than one right answer, path, possibility, nuance, or flavor - so insist upon none. 

Insisting on details always limits you, I know this from experience, and I now look at the end result and focus on the big picture. Details are important, but the exact details may have to change so we can adjust, and enjoy the ride. Life is good. So I will have some more Purple Moonbeam Chocolate, please 

The time to start is now

Remember long, long ago, when you were considering living the "My Potential Adventures," among an infinite array of other choices, how you suddenly thought to yourself, "How much trouble could I get into, anyway?" 

Do you? 

Do you remember your reply? 

You said it would depend on a good number of factors, not the least of which would include climate change, geological pressures, celestial energy vortices, the star you're born under, political friction on the street, worthiness, luck, fate, and your mood

At which point, you burst out laughing so hard you almost needed stitches. 

Time to start the adventure, while you are still able to laugh.

Take Some Risks

There is a classic image of a retired senior driving with their turn signals continuously on and poking along 20 miles under the speed limit on the highway. A popular comedian once quipped that if he was 80 years old, he would “drive like hell” since, after all, why not take some risks at 80?

It’s true that as we move into our senior years, that some of us become a bit cautious in how we conduct our affairs. Now, if we have health difficulties that a fall or a serious illness could prove life-threatening, those precautions are called for. In defiance of that comedian’s remarks, our lives are precious and just because we are closer to the final years of our lives doesn’t mean we want to see our lives end too soon and miss out of a minute of this time on earth and time with our children and grandchildren.

But one aspect of that joke has some food for thought as we think about our lifestyle as retired. There may be some good reasons to get out there and take some risks in life and to enjoy the thrill that a little danger can bring. Recently there was a story about an 88-year-old woman who went skydiving as well as an 89-year-old-male Holocaust survivor who did the same. “If you are afraid you are only living half a life” was the response of the woman when she was asked why she did it. She was systematically working on her bucket list and getting out there and doing something fun and had been a dream of hers for years. Both of these people showed now is the time to live out dreams.

Some risks, like skydiving, can be done with the guidance of skilled professionals to help reduce the actual dangers. But the illustration of what these two people did emphasizes the idea that now is the time to “go for it” and take some risks in your retirement years. For one thing, it’s a tremendous inspiration to younger people when they see their elders exhibiting courage and a willingness to get out of their comfort zone. Many times, your own children may be the ones who need that kind of inspiration that they too should live life courageously and not let fear stop them from enjoying every moment.

Another great reason to take a risk is that it may be a great way to bond with family. Not long ago, I had the chance to go white water rafting with my brothers. Now I am not an adventurer but I am in good physical shape so I can accomplish some things athletic. But this was a moment where I could establish a greater bond with my brothers by going on a great adventure with them and coming out of it with great stories. Because I am writing it shows that I made it. There was a few heart-stopping moments but I wouldn’t trade those moments for the world. You too may be presented with a chance to make a memory with a loved one by taking a risk. It’s worth going for it, in a reasonable fashion, to capture that memory and build that bond as wel.

Some risks you might take don’t involve physical danger. Maybe you need to finally take the plunge and get up at the local open mic night and sing those songs you have been polishing up with the family. They say there is nothing more terrifying as facing a crowd. But when you hear their applause, that will be a dream come true for the amateur singer in you.

So, consider taking a few risks as you plan your activities in your busy retirement schedule. The rush of adrenaline will put some spring in your step and give your heart rate a workout. But it will also add some fun and adventure to your life. And that is something we all can use.

The Cave Paintings of Trois Freres

In the depth of winter my thoughts focus on travel and the adventure of finding unique areas to explore. Helpless romantics dream of traveling to France for a number of reasons. The country is quite well-known for its romantic places and atmosphere. But did you know that there's more to see in France aside from the lovely romantic places? Yes, that's true and one is the cave paintings of Trois Freres. Les Trois Freres is located in the Commune of Montesquieu-Avantes, Ariege department, in the Midi-Pyrenees region of southwestern France.

Not all individuals appreciate paintings. Oftentimes, it depends on the person's taste and interests. If you're interested in cave paintings, you can also find some of them in France. Trois Freres shows fascinating images about the people of prehistoric times. Visiting the cave is like exploring the world many years ago. You can learn a lot from the paintings, but only if you appreciate them.

Though people lived primitively thousands of years ago, they seem to know quite a lot. They knew about the different patterns and seasons of life. The seasonal variations and their food supplies are the determining factors between living or dying. The cave paintings in France show this great knowledge about the ancestors of the French people.

Translated in English, Trois Freres means Three Brothers. The paintings on the cave show indistinct images of animals and certain figures which experts believe to be a shaman. Trois Freres attracted international attention because of the depictions in the cave. The paintings are found in the far corners of the cave and so you have to go deeper to be able to get a good glimpse of such a work of art.

The paintings have a graphical nature and was skillfully drawn. You can easily make out the figures to be beasts and cattle surrounding a high figure that reaches the cave roof. This central figure is about 70 cm or 2 1/2 ft tall and appears to be half human and half animal. The figure has deer antlers and wears a mask with an eye of an owl. Below the mask is a beard and the hands are hidden within bear paws or lion paws. The back of the figure can be compared to that of a certain animal and somehow it appears that the figure is wearing an animal skin of some sort.  The figure has an erect penis covered by a fox tail.

Experts called the figure 'Animal Master' and if you want to see the picture of the cave painting, you can go to France or you can search the net and simply type the words 'Trois Freres'. Find a link that will show you the painting itself. You can use any of the popular search engines in order to get a glimpse of the cave painting.

If you try to conduct a research on the net, you can read many speculations and comments about the cave painting. The painting is like the sketchpad of the prehistoric people. Animals or beasts were drawn on top of one another. Experts believed that the paintings are more than 14,000 years old or even longer.

Today, painters and other artists treat art as a process. It is the expression, recording, and reflection of the divine or inner nature of the artist. But did the primitive artists view art in the same way? Perhaps there's more to their drawings that what modern experts and artists can understand.

You can find other cave paintings in Asia and in Europe. To better understand the paintings, just allow your imagination to take over.

Travelling this spring?

Thinking of travelling this spring, consider England as a trip destination. When you are in England why not take a guided tour. Most guided tours of England focus on London and yet miss the beautiful and historic places you can go in the rest of England.  It’s a lovely country with lots of history and places in which you can truly have an adventure.

A favorite place for many guided tours of England is Stratford upon Avon.  Located on the Avon River, it was the birthplace of both William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway.  You may be able to stay in hotels that date back to the time of William Shakespeare, see his place of death and surrounding gardens and the Anne Hathaway House.

Guided tours of Stratford upon Avon will take you to Trinity Church where both William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway were buried and you can see the lovely Hathaway Cottage—a must-see on most guided tours.  In addition, Shakespeare’s birthplace has been turned into a showplace of period furniture that takes you back to the time of his birth in a delightful little museum.

You may also wish to travel to Warwick Castle—another must-see destination on many guided tours.  It is perhaps one of the best preserved old castles in all of England.  Located along the Avon River, your tour guide will tell you that the original castle was built around the year 900 AD. Gradually, parts of the castle were added onto and fortified until it became the huge and sprawling castle you can see today.

Guided tours of Warwick Castle are available to groups and include the dungeons, the high buttresses, and rooms from various eras, including the Victorian Era.  One of the special features of this castle is that it has been outfitted with wax figuresmade from Madame Tussaud’s galleries.  There is an entire section of ornately decorated Victorian period rooms, complete with wax figures.

Often, guided tours will allow you beyond the castle walls and out into the massive gardens and conservatory, where visitors can have lunch and enjoy the beauty of the gardens.  If the weather is right, you will be able to walk among real peacocks strutting through the gardens.  All in all, it is a day worth remembering.

Guided tours that partake of the southern part of England will take you to the famous Stonehenge, built more than two millennia ago and a favorite tourist attraction.  Those who come during the summer or winter solstice should expect that there will be a crowd there at the crack of first daylight.

Fun guided tours of England will take you to Oxford, home of the famous Oxford University and to Christ Church, where some aspects of the Harry Potter movies were filmed, including the scenes in the great hall.  In fact, you can take an entire Harry Potter guided tour that will guide you to as many places as possible that were included in the filming of the movie.

After rolling past the many castle ruins, fabulous gardens and quaint British homes on one of the guided tours of England, you may forget all about London itself.  If not, extend your tour into the big city of London—a city that often offers  guided tours involving just those wondrous things you’ll find right there.  Take your time and enjoy all that England has to offer.  .

Security is most;u a superstition

Helen Keller said:, "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of humans as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."

Think about her first words, "Security is mostly a superstition."

Let that sink in.

Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.

So... what outright exposure are you willing to embrace this week?  

What's your daring adventure going to be?

Pictures Can Be Artifacts to the Past

Do you enjoy taking pictures and collecting the photographs in scrapbooks, photo albums or online on their own special place? Of course, you do! Most people do and they love to take picture after picture of everything from a random night out with friends, to pictures of their family and children to photos of their vacations to every corner of the globe.

Why do people love taking pictures so much? Well, look at the reasons why you like taking photos. You like to take photos because it is a reminder of the good times and of the bad times. In essence, photos serve as your very own historical artifact to the past and allow you to remember events that have memories that fade with the passing years.

Pictures are personal artifacts that tell the story of you. You can look at other people’s photos and never really truly understand what they were feeling when the picture was taken. But you can easily take a picture of something and remember your exact feelings years later.

So, do not miss an opportunity to take photos at every instance you can. You never know when that moment will be snapped away from you, never to be seen again. Remember the faces of your children and relatives as they grow older and remember what your parents looked like while they were young. Photographs allow you to do all of that.

Also, pass on the importance of photos to your family and friends. They will most likely already be aware of the importance of creating photo artifacts, but you will want to make sure that they agree that taking as many photos as possible in life is a good idea. That way, they will possibly get a picture that you were not able to get and you can share that memory with them.

Photo artifacts do not have to be overly mushy either. They can show the raunchy and crazy experiences you have had in your life and serve as a reminder of a good time along with the happy and sad times.

You can tell your family story through pictures as well. Photos of births, weddings, funerals and other family events will show a lot about the way you feel about your family members and how they felt about you at a certain point in time. That way you can remember your crazy Aunt Ruth after she passes away.

Taking pictures is probably one of the rewarding and fun things you can do in your life. Now with different photo editing software, you can do things to your photos that you never even thought was possible. Take your photo artifacts to the next level and create a history of your family that can be viewed for years to come by you, your family, your children and anyone else who would care to see the history of you and your life. Let the photos tell the whole story.

Living through Kitchen renovations

Last fall we decided to renovate our 30-year-old kitchen to bring it up to modern standards. The idea is that in another 5 or 10 years, we will not be able to live in the house and will have to sell. When we examined which renovations will add the most value to a home we discovered that remoulding the kitchen was the best idea.

So, we found a good designer and told her what we wanted, and her company became our contractor for the project. It was a worthwhile investment. We wanted to finish the work on the kitchen before my daughter and her extended family from Australia came to visit, so our time frame was short.

I know many of you have lived through the chaos of a renovation but it was the first (and last) time for us. The first step was to remove everything from the cupboards and as we did this we realised that we had many items that we did not use, so they were given to Value Village and to family members who needed them. However, even after culling our cupboards we had boxes of food and utensils that filled the family room to the brim. For the first two weeks, as they dismantled the old cupboards it was not so bad. 

The plumbing was an interesting adventure; when our house was built in the late 80's they used Poly B for the plumbing. While we found out that with Poly pipe leaks are unforeseeable and there are no signs to warn of an upcoming leakage. Some things that influence polybutylene piping detrimentally consist of:

·        Poor instalment by the plumbers.

·        Water quality.

·        Age of the pipe and fittings.

·        Devices used during the instalment were calibrated for correct tolerances.

·        Chlorine and mineral levels.

·        Degeneration of pipe fittings.

When polybutylene pipe reacts with the oxidants in tap water, it becomes fragile, occasionally scaling or flaking. This results in the fracturing of the indoor surface area of the pipe, which permits, even more, degeneration. Ultimately the pipe will start to leak, causing water damage.

As luck, would have it, the day before the demolition of our kitchen was to begin, we found a leak in our plumbing system. So, after discussions with the contractor and the plumber we made the decision to replace all of the plumbing in the house, which added time to the renovations.

We had been operating with a sink, a stove and the fridge, while waiting for the cabinets, once the cabinets arrived, we lost the sink and the stove, but kept the fridge for a few days. Eventually, our new appliances arrived and we had a new sink, which was put in when the countertops arrived (two weeks after the installation of the cabinets.  

The new cabinets arrived at the end  of two weeks and then the clutter became almost unbearable. To make room for the cabinets we had to move the kitchen boxes from the family room to the living room. So the family room became the place for the new kitchen cabinets to sit while waiting to be installed.

I did find some online advice on how to survive a kitchen renovation from  Kitchen Workbook at Houzz.com, We did #2, #3 and #4, but we could have done more. If you are doing renovations, the advice in #8 is what you have to hold onto, to keep your sanity through the adventure:

1.Designate a kitchen stand-in. Eating out all the time gets tiresome, not to mention the strain it can put on your budget. And no matter how much takeout you bring home, you'll still need a spot to make school lunches, pour a bowl of cereal or brew coffee. Set up a temporary kitchen somewhere that's out of the way of construction. If you're lucky enough to have a morning kitchen or a guesthouse, you can turn that into food-prep central. Or outfit a corner of the basement, garage or workroom with a few portable tables, standalone shelves, storage crates and folding chairs.

2.Winnow down your kitchen gear. During a remodel, your cooking and eating routine will be disrupted, and no matter how much you love to cook, ambitious meals will be a challenge. 

3.Keep things simple and pare down to the kitchen tools you really, truly can't live without. Be merciless — how often are you going to use your food processor or waffle iron? Stash the essentials close at hand and store the rest.

4.Plan meals around small appliances. Portable workhorses such as slow cookers, microwaves, toaster ovens, electric griddles and skillets, hot plates and coffee makers can get you over the mealtime hump.

Move your fridge to your temporary kitchen, if possible; if not, invest in a minifridge and a chest freezer (check Craigslist or Free cycle), or borrow them from a friend.

Stock the pantry with disposables. Without your usual spot to wash dishes, you'll be getting creative (the bathtub, an outdoor hose, a cooler full of sudsy water). 

Make life easier by stocking up on recyclable or biodegradable plates, napkins, cups and utensils. You'll streamline cleanup and cut down on the stress of your temporary displacement.

5.If the weather cooperates, put your grill to work. Here's a secret: Your grill can do almost anything your oven can. Need to roast meat or vegetables, or bake pizza? Look at the grill. You can even channel your Scout days and use it for foil packet meals, pans of biscuits and rolls, skillet pies and cobblers and, of course, s'mores.

6.Keep a stash of non-perishable snacks. When you're starving, but can't face putting together a full meal in your makeshift digs, snacks can save your stomach

7.Leave town for a short time, if you can. If you're considering a vacation or need to schedule a business trip, now might be a good time, assuming you're comfortable with the remodelling work continuing in your absence. Bonus points if you're visiting relatives — you might score a home-cooked meal or two.

8.Remember the big picture. In the grand scheme of homeownership, this is but a short period of inconvenience amid years of kitchen bliss. Keep the process in perspective and treat it as an adventure. When you're hard at work in your sparkling new kitchen, the temporary hassles will fade from memory.

Take six weeks

Six Weeks

Would you believe the happiest people in the world if they revealed their prescription for happiness? Most of us don't.　

Because  you're tuned in, you already know more money and longer work weeks lead nowhere.

The happiest people in the world take six weeks of vacation per year.　

On average Americans and Canadians take 8 to 16 days/year.　

To be happier, figure out how to get six weeks off.　

Then take them.

Why do people not take long vacations?　

Simple.　

Vacations place too much demand on you to have fun, too many things to accomplish in the limited time, too many expectations to achieve something that will make the Jones's wince.

Try taking a sabbaticals.

What is a sabbatical you ask? 

Sabbaticals are not just for getting in touch with the spritual, they also allow for rest and renewal.　

Can you live creatively when you work 60 hour weeks year round?　 Most of us can't.　

Just as the land must remain fallow every seven years, your mind and soul need rest.

Here's a tip: Because much of the value of time off comes from your creating plans and the pleasure in your anticipation, take one week or two week breaks instead of one longer sabbatical.　

This can double the happiness benefits of your time off.　

Obviously, do what works for you.

Some people live scheduled lives when they work.　

Others have a more varied life.　

Some like to keep things open.　

Some like structure.　

Let your sabbatical reflect this desire for openness or structure.　

Choose what will generate the most pleasure and least stress.

In contrast to having no plans, I like to eat breakfast in a nice place at the same time in the morning, and take naps at the same time every afternoon.　

While in Australia, I learned the value of walkabouts; they provide you with an opportunity to try new things and to open your mind to the unexpected and to watch and/or  participate in the unfolding magic of life.  Over the years, I have arrived at what works for me.

Whatever style of time off works for you, believe the experts - claim your six weeks and create time off that works for you.

Fathers and Sons

My father was killed in an accident when I was in my early 20's and I never was able to resolve the disputes that fathers and sons face as boys become teens and then men. As a teen, my father and I at times, did not see eye to eye on many issues, and as I think back I realize that on some of these he was correct and on others I probably was correct.

Sudden death of a parent or a partner is unsettling, and can have long term affects on a person. When my father was killed I did not know about the stages of grieving and went through the stages with my wife whose support was strong and needed. One of the interesting things that occurred at the time of his death, is that as the oldest son, the role of what I had to do was well defined by my mothers family.  I was lucky that both my Dad's family and my Mothers family guided me at the time and allowed me to make it through this time by falling into traditional roles and expectations.

Because of the expectations given to me, by my Aunts and Uncles, I was able to handle the role. Fitting into the role, helped me through some of the steps in the grieving process, but during this time I was not a nice person to those that wanted to help and support me. For that I am sorry, but what we go through shape who we later become and working through the anger and pain then helped me later in life.

So as you think of your parents both Fathers and Mothers enjoy the time you have with them, and embrace the feelings that you have for each other. As we grow older, many of our generation, will start to loose their parents and loved ones, and my wish is that you are able to resolve any and all issues that you have with each other in a meaningful manner.

As our parents become seniors, they may have a need to tell their story, I hope you take the time to listen and cherish your parents story as it is also part of your story.

Life is a highway

I left Langley, BC at 3:00 to go to a meeting n Coquitlam and the freeway was backed up to 192nd street so I decided to take the Golden Ears Bridge to save time. No problems on the bridge, I get to the turnoff to Lougheed Highway West off the bridge and the traffic is stopped. I realized I had made a big mistake.  I hear later that there was a serious car accident on the route I had decided to take and the highway was closed to West Bound and only one lane East Bound was getting through. So being creative and innovative I  decided to go the back roads, without realizing I was now making a bigger mistake.

I made my meeting at 5:00 only one hour late, (a one hour trip had turned into two hours, mostly because of decisions I had made)  lucky for me the group had not quite finished. Life is like that sometimes, we think we are taking a short cut and it takes us longer to get to where we want to be.
After I realized I was not going to be able to get out of the situation, I did take the opportunity to relax, listen to the music, think about life, and examine the beautiful roadside flowers and greenery.

I was edging forward, at a very slow pace, and perhaps sometimes we have to do this, or life or our bodies will say to us, time for a breakdown, and then we can recover and move on but slowly. Life in the fast lane is for us Boomers but sometimes we have to relax and take some time in the slow lane. Keep on Trucking

The profound impact of social factors on innovation

I received the following article from a newsletter that  called Innovation, which I read, and I thought it was interesting, The article was published April 6, 2011  and was written by Roy Luebke.

Mr. Luebke in his article is talking about business, but those of us involved in social change and advocacy could use the informaiton about what motives people to help us bring about positive change for those around us.

Understanding the motivations of people outside of the organization is difficult and complicated. Social psychologists have been intently studying how people function and what motivates us to do the things we do for many years. An excellent book by Professor Robert Cialdini of Arizona State University entitled, Influence: Science and Practice sheds some interesting light on actions people take automatically due to a number of complex social, cultural and emotional drivers. People in the creation business must account for these social drivers to ensure the success of their efforts.

Dr. Cialdini defined six key principles that determine human social behavior, and that much of human behavior is automatic based on these ingrained behaviors. These principles include: reciprocity consistency, social proof, liking, authority and scarcity. Many of these social drivers have been used in sophisticated ways over the past decades to manipulate buying behavior. As consumers, we can use these principles to avoid being taken advantage of and manipulated, and as business people to create more relevant, ethical, and useful offerings to our customers and partners.

Human behavior developed over time based on our need for survival. As humans departed from Africa on the journey around the world, survival has depended on our ability to co-exist in a group, and for mutual support. As a result, many of our behaviors are deeply rooted in our psyche, rules, and rituals.

Reciprocity: The first principle is that people will try to repay, in kind, what another person has provided to us. Simply think about how you feel when going to dinner at a friends’ home, feeling the need to both bring a gift and to return your host’s generosity. People also have a deep seeded desire to reciprocate when someone concedes something to us, in either a negotiation or by offering favors.

Commitment and consistency: A second principle is that once we make a choice or take a stand, we will encounter personal and inter-personal pressures to behave consistently with that commitment. This is a very powerful human need. When people make a public statement, or put something in writing, we will go to great lengths to maintain a consistent image to others. This makes it very hard for people to change their opinions once they have been made public.

Social proof: One of the strongest principles is that the greater the number of people who find any idea correct, the more a given individual will perceive the idea to be correct. This force can be very problematic if the larger group accepts an incorrect answer or position, and the tidal wave of social pressure overcomes anyone pushing against the status quo. Social proof provides stability in times of uncertainty. Most human beings do not feel comfortable in uncertain or ambiguous situations. We seek similarity to show us what we perceive to be the correct course of action.

Liking: We prefer to say yes to those we know and like. How many times do you say "yes" to someone that you don’t like? As a result, people work very hard at getting other people to like us. At a base level, people will like someone who is physically attractive, and we also find attractive people to be more persuasive. Advertising has relied on this principle for decades. We also seek out other people who are similar to us. We feel more comfortable and trusting, and tend to group with others who have similar backgrounds, experiences, families, education, sports teams, hobbies, etc. We also begin to like one another more as we increase the level of contact and familiarity. Humans are very susceptible to compliments. Even though we may tell ourselves that we recognize when we are being complimented for someone else’s gain, it is still very difficult to avoid this attraction. Research has also proven that people who are actually in conflict with one another, and have deeply oppositional positions can actually be induced to co-operate through the imposition of common goals. Working together on a common goal is so basic to human behavior that we find it very hard to resist.

Authority: There is a deeply held sense of obedience to authority. Research has proven that people have an extreme willingness to go to almost any lengths on the command of authority. After every corporate scandal or ethnic atrocity, the question is always asked, "How could they do that?" The answer lies in a deeply held human need to obey authority.

Scarcity: Finally, we have a strong emotional feeling that items or opportunities are more valuable when they are less available. Ivy League colleges have learned this lesson to their advantage quite awhile ago. Companies use this principle to attract potential employees by making it very hard to gain employment with their firm. Premium goods companies know this and are able to charge hefty price increases. What is really important to note from the research is that people are more motivated to avoid loss much more than for potential gains. Marketers continually try to show that their offerings will make the buyer’s life better, but human nature often resists this message. We simply fear loss much more than we desire gain. People are most vulnerable to scarcity when we compete for an item. We get very emotional about possessing the scarce item, not in actually using it. We don’t get any more joy from using a scarce item, but rather from the fact that we possess it and others do not. People at auctions desperately seek to make the winning bid. CEO’s can overpay for an acquisition. You may pay more for your purchase on eBay as well.

Conclusion

To create more effective systems, environments, communication and experiences it is vital to understand and build social human elements into our efforts. Without them the result is lack of adoption. So the next time you hear someone ask, "Why aren’t we resonating with the client/partner/employee?" simply look to basic human nature for the insights which were missed in developing and launching your new innovation.

Moving On

I am into may  last few weeks of teaching. I have been working as a teacher for 37 years. I retired in 2006 and came back two days later,  as a teacher on call to satisfy the requirements of the University of Phoenix and myself. Part of what make the UOP a great university is the requirement that if you are working at the UOP as faculty you need to be employed in the field you were teaching.  I also love teaching and in 2008 when I was given the opportunity to come back full time I jumped at the opportunity and I have enjoyed the past two years very much.  In the meantime life moves on and I have to move with it.

I had decided, in Sept that I probably would not finish another year, so I took the opportunity to lay back and let the system take care of me and I became a Priority teacher, teaching on call. This meant I have a new assignment every day without the commitment to students, school or admin. The best of teaching as I can work with students and not worry about the politics of teaching or the burden of assessment, evaluation and reporting. However, I am a young teacher according to my new contract with only three years experience so I have no right to ask for long term leave, (which I found out, when I applied for it) as that right is reserved for senior teachers. I no longer have a need to work, as the UOP has closed their Vancouver Campus and my desire for teaching in the schools has declined. I knew that when I was told I did not qualify for leave, I felt annoyed, not upset. January 31,2011 will be last day as a teacher in the Surrey School District.

The District is a good place to work, the teachers are dedicated, the admin is competent and focused on the children and the school board is well managed.  I am looking forward to life's next adventure and have not regretted any of my time as a teacher.