Slowing down and learning to sit.
Posted by Allison Mack | Filed under Musings
I have been spending time with some specific friends who never cease to amazed me with their depth of thought and strength of character. I have been trying to break down what it is exactly about these people that feels so inspiring; what is it that these people do that I simply want to emulate all the time?
In essence, the thing I have discovered is their capacity to think. Now, how does one deepen or build their capacity to think?
Well, you practice. You practice sitting and thinking. Jesus, what a novel concept. Funny thing is when I sit and think for more than 30 min at a time I seem to fall asleep. So building up the stamina of depth. Is this possible?
When I saw the Dalai Lama speak last spring he was talking about the need for emotional or compassion based education. An education that trains your heart the way we train our muscles.
Possible?
I think yes.
It feels like we are in need of an emotional evolution. We have come so far intellectually and physically, I think the emotions and the caring, the humanity of it all is truly the next step. That is my thought anyway.
And so I will get back to my daily blogging. I find I really missed the daily check ins with you, but mainly the daily check ins with myself.
This is such a good process for me to sit and think and write what is in this wild an wacky brain of mine.
Thanks for your patience with my rollar coaster antics and off the wall thoughts. 
IM BACK!
xo
Tags: compassion, Education, practice
Survey Time!
Posted by Allison Mack | Filed under Projects
Hey all! So I’m setting out on an amazing business venture with Kristin, Nicki Clyne from “Battlestar,” and Sarah Edmondson… The four of us are building something really awesome geared directly to college students and we would love to get YOUR feedback about what YOU want!
So we’ve come up with this survey, and it would be so, so, so amazing if you could take a few minutes to fill out it out so we can get the info! Because the business is for college students only, we are asking that only seniors in high school through college students of any year participate in this round of questions! Thanks so, so much all!
See you soon with the next Mack Event!
Ciao,
Allison
Tags: college, Education, surveys
Eternal Learning
Posted by Allison Mack | Filed under Uncategorized
by Hannah More
by John Dewey
I noticed recently that I have a tendency to say I am stupid. I find I have spent a lot of time in the last 10 years of my life confusing a lack of effort and responsibility as stupidity. I became very comfortable with chalking things up to the fact that I don’t have a “proper education.”
Basically, I was saying that if I had a degree of some sort, I wouldn’t make the mistakes I have made. The funny thing is, in my opinion, intelligence and mindfulness have very little to do with sitting in a classroom. Now don’t get me wrong; I think education and learning are truly two of the most important things in life, but what I was doing was limiting myself by believing that having a degree is the only measure of knowledge. The truth of the matter is that we are forever learning; it never stops.
Really, it’s just a matter of recognizing and embracing this. I am an eternal student, and I am loving all the opportunities I have to grow and evolve. I loved school, and I look forward to returning one day. I think the value of spending time with people who are dedicating themselves to evaluating, researching, and deepening their own understanding of whatever it is they are choosing to study is so admirable and valuable.
I feel like entering an environment with an awareness of life-long learning is very important. It feels like this recognition will increase one’s potency as a student. Once I started to approach everything I do in my life as though it was a college course, I began to see my own intellectual value and enjoy the process of life so much more! It kind of feels like it takes a bit of the pressure off!
Thanks, all! Keep thinking!
Allison
Tags: Education, John Dewey, Learning
