Being shocked by the violent death of George Floyd last week – and he’s ‘just’ one of the many examples – I wanted to bring JUSTICE as a topic for my newest Tuesday video.
Watch it below:
Once you’ve had a chance to watch it, I’d love to hear from you. What does justice mean to you? And how can we integrate justice as a value in our relationships?
Leave a comment below and let me know.
In my newest Tuesday video, I’m talking about one of my favorite topics – LEADERSHIP and haircuts…
And..I know you are busy and probably overZOOMed right now, so this email will be short 🙂
Curious? Watch it below.
Once you’ve had a chance to watch it, I’d love to hear from you. What does it mean for YOU to lead by example? What does it mean for you to serve those whom you’ve been given responsibility for? Leave a comment below and let me know.
I grew up in a traditional, Christian family where prayer was a part of our religious practice. Over the years my relationship with faith and religion has changed.
Nowadays I see myself more as a spiritual person than as a religious person.
One of the people who inspired me a lot on my spiritual journey was Saint Francis. At some point I also got introduced to the prayer of Saint Francis.
It is called the Peace Prayer. There is one sentence in this prayer that keeps echoing in my heart.
I shot a new Tuesday video for you where I share my reflections with you and how I use it in my everyday life.
Once you’ve had a chance to watch it, I’d love to hear from you.
What is YOUR inspirational quote, affirmation, prayer or meditation that helps you to live consciously? That informs your choices . That informs how you are with other people and how you do business. That informs how you live and lead your life. Leave a comment below and let me know.
In its simplest form, Murphy’s Law states: If anything can go wrong, it will.
And it’s more or less the story of a specific part of my book project..
Maybe, one day I’ll tell you everything about it… 😉
Today’s video was born as a reflection of me being frustrated over a long-term, let’s say ‘less professional’ job done by one of my service providers. Seriously, Murphy’s Law was fully active…
As I was struggling with controlling my temper, at some point I realised that this same book, Awareness Builder 101, has a chapter called “Enemies”.
Enemies often are our best teachers, aren’t they?
I shot a new Tuesday video for you today with my reflections around this topic.
Once you’ve had a chance to watch it, I’d love to hear from you. Where do you have your enemies? And what do they want to teach you? And what is your part in all of this? Feel free to leave a comment on this blog and share your thoughts.
P.S. And if you haven’t read my book already, you can read the reviews and buy your copy here -> Awareness Builder 101
Today I want to speak with you about something very special, something very precious – FREEDOM.
These days many European countries remember and celebrate 75 years of freedom and peace after World War II. Yet freedom is so much more than only not being at war and not being occupied by an enemy.
Nowadays, in these Covid times, we all of the sudden realise what this core value really means to us, because what we maybe took for granted, feels now taken away from us.
I shot a new Tuesday video for you today with my reflections around this topic.
Once you’ve had a chance to watch it, I’d love to hear from you. What is freedom in essence for you? Where do you find peace in you, even if you’re locked up? Feel free to leave a comment on this blog and share your thoughts.
It’s SO good to be back home and out of hospital!
Just one week ago I could, with help and behind a walker, make my first steps again after totally unexpected being hospitalised with a herniated disc and an ‘unwilling’ right leg.
Today I’m able to do short walks with my walker – whom I called Johnny – just outside of my garden for which I’m SO grateful!
Last weeks has for sure taught me a new dimension of the word DISCIPLINE.
As in respecting what is not (yet) or (at all) possible …
This is why I shot a new video today where I want to share my reflections with you.
Once you’ve had a chance to watch it, I’d love to hear from you. What are DO’s and DONT’s that you need to explore to achieve the goals that you’ve set for yourself? Leave a comment below and let me know.
It was Saturday April 11th, now ten days ago. I remember enjoying the sun on my body, whilst sitting on my little tractor mowing the lawn. Nice and relaxed, just cruising 😎
I’ve just finished a series of 10 webinars with coaches and HR-pro’s from all around the world in response to what’s going on with Covid19. With no other intention but to inspire and support each other. Just get together and exchange our vision and ideas. What and how to create from the current mess. How to take care of each other as well as off ourselves.
In those same weeks I recorded several videos, underlining we’re all ‘just’ human beings. Human beings with in essence very, very similar basic needs. Groups I asked special attention for were the elderly and other fragile groups, such as addicts and people who live alone. To not forget about them, knowing they need (y)our support now more than ever!
And then, a few hours later, I just made one wrong move…
One move that totally turned things upside down…
Long story short, I ended up in hospital with a seriously herniated disc with very little strength in the right leg and foot.
From mowing the lawn, to taken to hospital by ambulance and wheeled into the Intensive Care.
No visits possible. So here I was, alone, afraid and fragile…
Yesterday, after 10 days horizontal and still ongoing heavy medication, I celebrated being on my feet again for the first time. It was both a moment of victory as well as of fear. Will my legs carry me? It was an emotional moment where tears of relief blended with tears of joy.
The physiotherapist in the hospital took a picture of me, whilst standing behind the walking support. When I looked at the picture I thought ‘yak, I look horrible, I’m a mess!!’
When we’re being portrayed, we want to look good, right? To the max silly, not like this…
Earlier in this process, when I had an off day, I already reconnected with the fighter in me. I realised that feeling sorry for myself wouldn’t help me conquer this one. The fighter in me was awakened, check ✔
Today I realized that there is another essential factor I need to deal with: my ego.
As long as I feel embarrassed for having my picture taken under such circumstances, I’ll keep fighting my biggest enemy: myself. I’m convinced that, with the right people around me, I’m going to turn this dust to gold. I need to get over myself to support and inspire myself and others to create from the current mess.
This is just my little story. Probably you’ve got yours. Where in your life is your ego getting in your way of simply being human and creating from the mess? Leave a comment below and support and inspire others with your story.
BE well. DO good.
Alex Verlek, © April 2020
Some personal notes from Hopital de Die.
I’m writing to you from my bed at the intensive care. In the hospital with the most beautiful name – “Hopital de Die”. And yes, you’re allowed to laugh..:-)
All of a sudden these words, intensive care, hit me. I’m very optimistic, all will be well soon, yet isn’t it underlining how fragile we are?
And dammed Alex, when will you learn…:“A few years ago you wrote the chapter ‘Fragile’ after you also ended up in hospital.”
Next to reconsidering if I really need to do all I’ve got on my plate, the biggest lesson is to enjoy life to the fullest: NOW!
This is why today I wanted to share chapter 5 – “Fragile” from my “soon to be published” audiobook with you.
Listen to it here:
Once you’ve had a chance to listen to it, I’d love to hear from you.
If I would not be given a “tomorrow”, what would I do today?
Leave a comment below and let me know.
April 10th, 2020
Dear leader,
Today I heard some wonderful news:
For the first time in decades the mountain tops of the Himalayas are visible again!
Wow, what a wakeup call.
Humanity is deeply suffering due to the Covid19 tragedy. We mourn many lives, tens of thousands.
People lose jobs, businesses have to close. Weddings are postponed and many of us can’t even accompany loved ones to their final resting place. The list of sufferings is very, very long.
At the same time, we see the earth taking a deep breath. Mountain tops get visible again, the nights are silent. Deer walking into our cities. We see fish swimming in cleaner water.
And, humanity is not only suffering. Humanity is also redefining what really matters. Reconnecting with core values and what moves their hearts. More often than not discovering these are the so called ‘simple’ things in life. Like a phone call to a loved one. Or spending time with our kids.
In the midst of all of this, many of us strive to go back to normal as soon as possible.
The question is, to which ‘normal’ do we want to go back to. The norm(al) of pre-Covid19? Or, do we want to also redefine what ‘normal’ is?
Leaders in the world: I urge you to collect the lessons this tragedy teaches us, even whilst it’s happening. To collect what we thought and how we felt whilst we were in the midst of the storm. To take pictures of the lessons we see unfolding in front of our eyes. To capture not only the beauty of mountain tops who were hidden for decades due to pollution, no, also capture pictures of people who couldn’t get the care they need, they deserve. To collect the stories of the naked truth, for instance how elderly people died alone and were only found after days or even weeks. How healthcare wasn’t equally available to all in need. How Covid19 did not discriminate who got infected, yet that our systems often discriminated by who got medical care.
Leaders of the world: I urge you to collect the lessons from the Covid19 tragedy whilst we’re fighting this war so we can give the future generations a world that is more at peace with itself. That is more connected to what really matters. That better understands what ‘human rights’ and ‘equality’ really means.
So we don’t fight to ‘just’ conquer an enemy, yet that we actually do find a better world at the other side of this tragedy.
Leaders of the world: Yes, this is a letter to kings and presidents, to all who were given the responsibility to lead countries.
This is also a letter to the leaders in armies and organisations. The way you lead makes a difference.
AND: this letter is written to all (young) adults in the world, because YOU ARE A LEADER!
The way you lead your family, your friends, yourself; it makes a difference.
We are ALL leaders and we are all responsible for what we learn from, and create from the tragedy that is now calling the whole world to pause and reconsider.
Thank you for reading this letter,
Alex Verlek