Manifesto Musings

In Blog #177, we explored the simple but powerful habit of asking yourself, “Am I sure?” Since then, several of our manifesto mates have shared how valuable they’ve found this question – while others have asked for a deeper dive into its purpose. So, let’s revisit the idea and unpack why it can be such… Read More

I have had occasion to reflect upon my Signature Character Strengths again this week. When I joined Toastmasters International over two years ago – to retain my confidence in the public arena after retiring from classroom teaching — I decided to deliver my Ice Breaker speech focusing on my Signature Character Strengths. I entitled it,… Read More

Altruism is a big word for a simple, very human impulse: helping someone else without expecting anything in return. It’s a cousin of kindness and caring, but not quite the same. Kindness is often about warmth in action – offering a smile, holding the door, sharing a meal. Caring can be ongoing – tending to… Read More

I allow myself the right to construct the meanings by which I live – Sue’s personal manifesto. To some, this statement might be alarming. What do I mean? Am I seriously suggesting we open the floodgates to everyone – including the ‘crackpots’, the seriously misguided and the narcissists – to construct and act upon their… Read More

Once a month I attend a Peace Meditation group with some neighbours whose mission is, at its most simple and profound, to meditate on the notion of world peace. It is a group without any other agenda and is secular and inclusive. We each are invited to lead the reflection in turn. My turn is… Read More

I confess that I was an ardent adherent of Jane Fonda in the days of her workout tapes – so much so that my first-born son reckons they were the soundtrack of his childhood! All silliness aside, she was one of the strong women in my young womanhood, who stood for something, and ‘Hanoi Jane’… Read More

Even though with your copy of our book, My Manifesto: a compassionate guide to reveal your best life, you are self-coaching, I propose asking yourself these additional questions along the way. A word of caution though: do not ask them of yourself when you are feeling low-spirited. It is important as a coach, with a… Read More

A dear American friend wrote to us this week, sharing that they had completed their personal manifesto. Below are just a couple of brief extracts from our email conversation:  From two weeks ago… “I’m on page 93 of the book and I already feel like I have a cornerstone to my manifesto. And wow —… Read More

Now that we have commenced 2025, we are aware that we are past the first blush of our book launch and into the next phase. We have been advised by our publisher, David Tenenbaum from Melbourne Books, and by you, our mates, that when we speak about our book, we are ‘so passionate, people can’t… Read More