How I Discover Nuggets of Wisdom to Include Funny Joyous Sad and Proud Stories
Poet, Seamus Heaney Image from The Guardian
Sometimes my research makes me laugh. Sometimes it fills me with joy. Sometimes it makes me cry. Sometimes it fills me with pride.
I love the reading and researching part of my work when creating learning resources and writing stories.
It takes me along a path of learning, on which I make many interesting discoveries – nuggets of wisdom to include funny, joyous, sad and proud stories.
Yesterday I was researching Spy Lines – the ones people say when sitting on a park bench.
I came across “The birds will be flying high tomorrow.”
My discovery came with a joke:
An undercover agent was sent to an Irish village and told to make contact with their local man called O’ Reilly, who knew the code phrase “The birds will be flying high tomorrow.”
He asked someone in the street where he could find Mr O’ Reilly and got the answer, “Well, there’s O’ Reilly the butcher, O’ Reilly, the postman, and sure my own name is O’ Reilly.”
The agent decided to take a risk and said: “The birds will be flying high tomorrow.”
“Oh! It’s O’ Reilly, the spy you’re wanting! He’ll be down in the pub.”
It filled my heart with joy to be reminded that he received the Nobel Prize in Literature and that he is still recognised as one of the principal contributors to poetry in Ireland during his lifetime.
It filled my heart with sadness to learn his final words, “Noli timere” (Latin: “Be not afraid”), which he texted to his wife, Marie, minutes before he died.
His death came quite suddenly and with little warning.
The all-Ireland Football Semi-Final 2013 took place shortly after his death.
The crowd took a minute of silence to remember a man that was deeply loved and respected by a nation of people. Following the silence, 80,000 people clapped for about a minute and a half. Marie said, “I can think of no other country where a football crowd will have a minute and a half of silence and cheer for a poet.”
Hearing this story and these last words filled my heart with immense pride.
In my work, I strive to tell stories of full human experiences, happy and sad moments, because that’s how real life is. All these moments and the emotions that go with them co-exist, and I like to experience that full spectrum of life and humanity.
Those lines are from my book WorkLife Book Club. It seemed appropriate to share in telling this short story.
Do you have experiences in your WorkLife that sometimes make you laugh, sometimes fill you with joy, sometimes make you cry, or sometimes fill you with pride?
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School of WorkLife helps you self-direct your WorkLife learning through resources that have been created to help you to take ownership of your learning in your own space and in your own time.
What is Self Directed Learning?
Self-Directed Learning is when an individual is motivated to take the initiative and responsibility on decisions related to their own learning. It is a series of independent actions and judgements free from external control and constraint.
Resources to Help You Self-Direct Your Learning
You may find the books below from The School of WorkLife Book Series helpful in meeting your learning needs as a self directed learner. Tap the book title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
TapThe School of WorkLife Book Seriesto view the complete collection of books. From here, you can tap on each individual title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
Carmel O’ Reilly is a learning practitioner and writer. She creates resources to help people self-direct their WorkLife learning
That’s the power of writing (and reading, which is an integral part of the craft for writers). It helps you find, develop and tell the right story at the right time in all WorkLife situations – in day-to-day communication: WorkLife and feedback conversations, presentations, talks, and negotiations, at interviews, and when socialising and networking in building and maintaining good relationships. The practice of writing helps you to tell the stories that express who you are in an interesting and engaging way.
How To Successfully Invent and Reinvent Yourself in Your WorkLife Part 2
Learning Resources From School of WorkLife. Resources to help you self-direct your WorkLife learning.
Mrs Beeton’s Cookbook: A Story of Invention and Reinvention
Isabella Mary Beeton, born in 1836, was perhaps the Martha Stewart of her day. I originally thought she was a woman who had many years experience as a cook, but the truth is she set out to develop her cooking ability at the age of 21 when she undertook a writing assignment to write a guide to all aspects of running a household in Victorian Britain.
She collated recipes from other works and those sent in by the magazine readers. The book she produced: Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management, contained over 900 recipes and also gained the name ‘Mrs Beeton’s Cookbook’.
Mrs Beeton was an accomplished pianist, having studied music in Heidelberg. However, she established her career in writing when she married her husband, who was a publisher of books and magazines, and she began to write articles on cooking and household management for his publications. The rest, as they say, is history.
I expect Mrs Beeton would have developed her career even further or indeed developed a new career as I’m sure you’ll agree she was a woman of many talents, but sadly she died aged 28.
You, too, have the capacity and capability to Invent and Reinvent yourself at Whatever WorkLife stage you’re at.
Mrs Beeton’s story is just one story of people’s remarkable ability throughout history to invent and reinvent themselves at whatever WorkLife stage they were at. How Developing New Skills Will Allow You to Perform In the WorkLife of Your Choice (How To Successfully Invent and Reinvent Yourself in Your WorkLife Part 1) is another story and tells the tale of Fanny Craddock’s Christmas Pudding.
This story was originally published on 6/6/21 I needed to republish it to add updates and also to tell you
… The Continuing Story …
The pandemic brought about a change in my WorkLife from delivering in-person individual coaching sessions and group workshops to creating resources to help people self direct their WorkLife learning.
In the last three years, I’ve published 30 books and over 200 stories.
Each book and each story is based on real life struggles and successes that people have encountered in their WorkLife. They also detail the exercises that helped navigate through these situations, which are set as assignments for readers to adapt to their WorkLife situations and learning needs.
I believe stories are a powerful mechanism for teaching, a powerful medium to learn through, and a powerful way to communicate who you are and what you stand for.
My inspiration for creating my work comes from a lifelong passion for learning. My work has taught me that the one thing in life that can never be taken away from you is your learning.
School of WorkLife Guiding Statement: To create resources that are helpful, insightful and inspiring in helping people to pursue their WorkLives with greater clarity, purpose, passion and pride by creating continuous WorkLife learning programmes and resources that are accessible to everyone.
The resources I create will help you take ownership of self directing your learning in your own space and in your own time.
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
School of WorkLife helps you self-direct your WorkLife learning through resources that have been created to help you to take ownership of your learning in your own space and in your own time.
What is Self Directed Learning?
Self-Directed Learning is when an individual is motivated to take the initiative and responsibility on decisions related to their own learning. It is a series of independent actions and judgements free from external control and constraint.
Resources to Help You Self-Direct Your Learning
You may find the books below from The School of WorkLife Book Serieshelpful in meeting your learning needs as a self directed learner. Tap the book title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
TapThe School of WorkLife Book Seriesto view the complete collection of books. From here, you can tap on each individual title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
Carmel O’ Reilly is a learning practitioner and writer. She creates resources to help people self-direct their WorkLife learning
That’s the power of writing (and reading, which is an integral part of the craft for writers). It helps you find, develop and tell the right story at the right time in all WorkLife situations – in day-to-day communication: WorkLife and feedback conversations, presentations, talks, and negotiations, at interviews, and when socialising and networking in building and maintaining good relationships. The practice of writing helps you to tell the stories that express who you are in an interesting and engaging way.
How To Successfully Invent and Reinvent Yourself in Your WorkLife Part 1
Learning Resources From School of WorkLife. Resources to help you self-direct your WorkLife learning.
My brother, Noel is an amazing cook, and dinner at his house is always a culinary delight. As we both live in London, we’ve shared many Christmas dinners with our respective family and friends.
I remember one Christmas dinner when we were finishing our meal with a traditional Christmas pudding he had made, and I relayed a story of the first Christmas pudding I made.
It was in my first year in secondary school. I gave the pudding to my sister, Olive and her family as a Christmas gift, but when she opened it, she found it had gone mouldy!
My brother relayed a similar story about Fanny Craddock, who secured an order for her Christmas puddings from Fortnum and Mason — the wonderful British Food Emporium who for three centuries have been committed to bringing the world’s best food to Piccadilly. (In their own words).
Now unfortunately for Fanny, the Christmas puddings she made, which were distributed in their Christmas hampers to their elite clients, suffered a similar fate to mine — on opening them, they also found them to be mouldy. Oops!
Fanny Craddock was perhaps the queen of invention and reinvention. By the time she had become the grande dame of TV she had over forty years of WorkLife ups and downs. She took jobs that included washing up in a canteen, hawking penny cures for tired feet at the Ideal Home Exhibition and selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door.
She carved out a minor reputation as a novelist and children’s author under the pseudonym “Frances Dale”. But it was her first recipe book, The Practical Cook, that opened the door to Fleet Street in 1949 when she became a columnist for the Daily Telegraph.
This led to a TV series that was initially suggested as a six-week run about weekend breaks in the country. Evelyn Garrett, Womens’ Editor, said she wanted Fanny “to find out if there is anything left that is worthwhile in the inns of England.” When Fanny asked “What sort of anything?” Evelyn replied: “A warm welcome, honest fare, integrity, Fanny, if it still survives.”
Fanny proposed the name “Bon Viveur”, as it was sexless and covered food, wine and, vitally, travel. This gentle experiment evolved into a five-year voyage of discovery, during which Fanny and her husband Johnnie visited thousands of hotels and restaurants, home and abroad.
Similarly to Fanny, we all have the potential to develop new skills that will allow us to perform in the career of our choice and in line with the demands of the role.
I also believe we all have the capacity and capability to have a number of careers in our lifetime, and the proof of that, I guess, is in the pudding — or maybe not!
As for Fanny, she continued reinventing her WorkLife, becoming among other things the grande dame of cookery TV. She hung up her chef’s hat at the age of 85.
You, too, have the capacity and capability to Invent and Reinvent yourself at Whatever WorkLife stage you’re at.
Fanny Craddock’s story is just one story of people’s remarkable ability throughout history to invent and reinvent themselves at whatever WorkLife stage they were at. How Undertaking an Assignment Can Help You Develop the Skills You Need ( How To Successfully Invent and Reinvent Yourself in Your WorkLife Part 2 is another story and tells the tale of Mrs Beeton’s Cookbook.
[Note: Fanny Craddock’s story was adapted from an article written by Clive Ellis for the Telegraphon 18 December 2007]
This story was originally published on 27/5/21. I needed to republish it to add updates and also to tell you
… The Continuing Story …
The pandemic brought about a change in my WorkLife from delivering in-person individual coaching sessions and group workshops to creating resources to help people self direct their WorkLife learning.
In the last three years, I’ve published 30 books and over 200 stories.
Each book and each story is based on real life struggles and successes that people have encountered in their WorkLife. They also detail the exercises that helped navigate through these situations, which are set as assignments for readers to adapt to their WorkLife situations and learning needs.
I believe stories are a powerful mechanism for teaching, a powerful medium to learn through, and a powerful way to communicate who you are and what you stand for.
My inspiration for creating my work comes from a lifelong passion for learning. My work has taught me that the one thing in life that can never be taken away from you is your learning.
School of WorkLife Guiding Statement: To create resources that are helpful, insightful and inspiring in helping people to pursue their WorkLives with greater clarity, purpose, passion and pride by creating continuous WorkLife learning programmes and resources that are accessible to everyone.
The resources I create will help you take ownership of self directing your learning in your own space and in your own time.
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
School of WorkLifehelps you self-direct your WorkLife learning through resources that have been created to help you to take ownership of your learning in your own space and in your own time.
What is Self Directed Learning?
Self-Directed Learning is when an individual is motivated to take the initiative and responsibility on decisions related to their own learning. It is a series of independent actions and judgements free from external control and constraint.
Resources to Help You Self-Direct Your Learning
You may find the books below from The School of WorkLife Book Serieshelpful in meeting your learning needs as a self directed learner. Tap the book title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
TapThe School of WorkLife Book Series to view the complete collection of books. From here, you can tap on each individual title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
Carmel O’ Reilly is a learning practitioner and writer. She creates resources to help people self-direct their WorkLife learning
That’s the power of writing (and reading, which is an integral part of the craft for writers). It helps you find, develop and tell the right story at the right time in all WorkLife situations – in day-to-day communication: WorkLife and feedback conversations, presentations, talks, and negotiations, at interviews, and when socialising and networking in building and maintaining good relationships. The practice of writing helps you to tell the stories that express who you are in an interesting and engaging way.
“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” Ernest Hemingway.
That’s a Wrap on I’m Taking Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast on A Moveable Feast Chapter by Chapter, accompanied by a Pornstar Martini at 104Bar,Brick Lane.
Afterword
With no more chapters ofA Moveable Feast to read, and not wanting to let go of my experience of where each chapter took me – metaphorically through the words on the page, and physically through my walk to my destination to sit and read awhile over a glass/cup/plate, I decided to take the book on one final outing, to mull things over, to be able to say: That’s a Wrap.
Notes From That’s a Wrap on I’m Taking Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast on A Moveable Feast Chapter by Chapter
A WorkLife Book Club For One
Notes on A WorkLife Book Club For One
When I began to take Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast on a Moveable Feast Chapter by Chapter, I wanted to test if each chapter could have a positive impact on my WorkLife. Throughout my WorkLife, I’ve taken lessons from books as a whole, that have helped me to do better in navigating through struggles and successes.
When I began what became a quest to discover great French cuisine to sit and read awhile, the question I posed to myself was:
Can I learn something from each chapter that I can apply to my WorkLife that will make a positive impact?
The Answer …
A resounding YES.
In each chapter, I learnt so much from Hemingway that I can apply to develop my skills as a writer. Each chapter, for me, was a masterclass in writing.
Each chapter was also a masterclass in thinking – in that it evoked new thoughts and ideas, while also reinforcing old thoughts and ideas.
And each chapter was a masterclass in reading – in that it reinforced what I already knew – to be a good writer, I need to be an avid reader. Reading helped Hemingway develop his skills as a writer. I know it can do the same for me.
This brings me to:
Notes on the Next Stage of a WorkLife Book Club For One
So, What’s Next?
With no more chapters to read, that’s the next question I posed to myself.
The Answer …
I’m going to go back to taking learning from reading books as a whole, rather than breaking it down chapter by chapter. The reason is because although the answer to my first question was a resounding YES. At times, while chapters served to reinforce my learning/thinking/ideas – all of which is good, it’s perhaps not necessary.
And also because I want and need to read more books.
And, so that’s what I’m setting out to do.
My intention is to read one book a week under two genres and note the learning that I take from each that I can apply in a way that can have a positive impact on my WorkLife.
The Two Genres Are:
Learning Through the Genre of Fiction Books
I believe that fiction can tell truths that nonfiction cannot, and in doing so, can open the way for truth to emerge in a way that can have a positive impact on my WorkLife.
Learning Through the Genre of Non-Fiction Books
I love non-fiction that reads like fiction.
I believe that fact can be stranger than fiction. and that this can open the way for truth to emerge in a way that can have a positive impact on my WorkLife.
When I was reading and making notes on the learning I took from Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast about how it connected and could be adapted to help me in my WorkLife learning, I learnt that while Hemingway was writing about real people, places and events, he considered the book a work of fiction based on reality, not a straightforward autobiography. There may be embellishments and passages left out; people may be misrepresented. But as a fiction writer, Hemingway knows fiction tells certain truths that nonfiction does not. He wants his text to enhance rather than detract from competing factual accounts of the same time, and in so doing, open the way for truth to emerge about people and events.
Let’s see where the next chapters of A WorkLife Book Club For One are going to take me …
Epilogue
I will continue to walk and explore, and as always, I will have a book (or two) in my bag. I will share my discoveries of my experiences of where each book takes me – metaphorically through the words on the page, and physically through my walk to wherever I stop to sit and read awhile over a glass/cup/plate.
I also love being at home, in my own space, cosied up with a book, reading over a cup/glass/plate. I’ll also share where those discoveries take me.
That’s a wrap on I’m Taking Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast on A Moveable Feast Chapter by Chapter.
Words of Wisdom
But as Hemingway said, “There never is any ending to Paris.” The experiences I have taken from the journey A Moveable Feast has taken me on, haven’t ended and will remain with me long after I close the book on the last chapter
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Today I enjoyed a Pornstar Martini at 104Bar, Brick Lane.
I think Hemingway would have approved.
Se souvenir de toi, Norma.
#FunFact1The Porn Star Martini is not a true martini. The classic martini is a cocktail made with gin and vermouth and garnished with an olive or a twist of lemon. The Porn Star Martini uses vanilla vodka for the cocktail’s base spirit. The drink was inspired by a visit to a club in Cape Town. In 2018, it was reported to be the most ordered cocktail in the UK.
#FunFact2 104baruk makes the best Porn Star Martini in town, Shaken, Not Stirred. Though I might be a tad biased, as it’s run by family & friends. Though not really, because it truly is as good as it looks.
#FunFact3 Long before the cocktail scene hitBrick Lane; it was home to the world’s largest brewery Truman Brewery which is now East London’s revolutionary arts and media quarter.
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School of WorkLifehelps you self-direct your WorkLife learning through resources that have been created to help you to take ownership of your learning in your own space and in your own time.
What is Self Directed Learning?
Self-Directed Learning is when an individual is motivated to take the initiative and responsibility on decisions related to their own learning. It is a series of independent actions and judgements free from external control and constraint.
You may find the books below from The School of WorkLife Book Serieshelpful in meeting your learning needs as a self directed learner. Tap the book title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
That’s the power of writing (and reading, which is an integral part of the craft for writers), it helps you find, develop and tell the right story at the right time in all WorkLife situations – in day-to-day communication: WorkLife and feedback conversations, presentations, talks, and negotiations, at interviews, and when socialising and networking in building and maintaining good relationships. The practice of writing helps you to tell the stories that express who you are in an interesting and engaging way.
“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” Ernest Hemingway.
Chapter 20 (of 20) There Is Never Any End to Paris, accompanied by Tarte Tatin at Chez Elles, Brick Lane.
Notes From Chapter 20: There Is Never Any End to Paris
A WorkLife Book Club For One
Notes on Endings and Paris
When there were the three of us instead of just the two, it was the cold and the weather that finally drove us out of Paris in the winter time.
We went to Schruns in the Voralberg in Austria.
Then instead of the two of them and their child, there are three of them. First it is stimulating and fun and it goes on that way for a while. All things truly wicked start from an innocence. So you live day by day and enjoy what you have and do not worry. You lie and hate it and it destroys you and every day is more dangerous, but you live today as in a war.
That was the end of the first part of Paris. Paris was never to be the same again although it was always Paris and you changed as it changed.
Words of Wisdom
There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other.
Paris was always worth it and you received return for whatever you brought to it. But this is how Paris was in the early days when we were very poor and very happy.
The three words that came to mind on finishing this chapter were ‘C’est la vie’ – ‘such is life’ or ‘that’s life’. When I looked at the meaning, I saw a question posed: Is ‘c’est la vie’ positive or negative?. The response was that it is usually used in a negative context, in a way of saying ‘that life is filled with negative moments’.
While I think there was a negative aspect to how Hemingway’s first time in Paris ended. At a much later stage of his life, as he remembered this time in Paris, his memories were nostalgic about those early days in Paris.
Epilogue
With no more chapters ofA Moveable Feast to read, and not wanting to let go of my experience of where each chapter took me – metaphorically through the words on the page, and physically through my walk to my destination to sit and read awhile over a glass and a plate, I decided to take the book on one final outing, to mull things over, to be able to say: That’s a Wrap.
Unlike previous times when I wasn’t sure of the where and when of my next chapter of A Moveable Feastover a glass and a plate. This time I know, because I just crossed the road to 104BarUK (104 Brick Lane), to mull things over a cocktail. I think Hemingway would be suitably impressed.
… Let’s see where A Moveable Feast: That’s a Wrap story is going to take me …
The Continuing Story …
… I can now share where A Moveable Feast That’s a Wrap story took me …
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Today I enjoyed Tarte Tatin at Chez Elles, Brick Lane.
Se souvenir de toi, Norma.
#FunFact1 The tart is said to have been the creation of the elderly sisters Tatin. Caroline, the younger sister, was the hostess and in charge of welcoming customers. Stéphanie, the eldest, ran the kitchen. She was a fine cook but was, perhaps, a little forgetful. One day she placed the tart she had baked in the oven the wrong way round: the pastry and apples were upside down. Not knowing what to do and in a rush, she flipped the dessert onto a plate and served it straightway. It was an immediate hit. Accident or Invention -The Tarte Tatin was born. Source. Best of France.
#FunFact2 Brick Lane Music Hall puts on music and dance shows, pantomimes, and the like. But it isn’t where it should be. It is, in fact, 8km away from Brick Lane, residing in the Docklands. Having first opened in 1991 in a stable in the Old Truman Brewery, it was forced to move due to rising rents. SourceLondonist.
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School of WorkLifehelps you self-direct your WorkLife learning through resources that have been created to help you to take ownership of your learning in your own space and in your own time.
What is Self Directed Learning?
Self-Directed Learning is when an individual is motivated to take the initiative and responsibility on decisions related to their own learning. It is a series of independent actions and judgements free from external control and constraint.
You may find the books below from The School of WorkLife Book Series helpful in meeting your learning needs as a self directed learner. Tap the book title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
That’s the power of writing (and reading, which is an integral part of the craft for writers), it helps you find, develop and tell the right story at the right time in all WorkLife situations – in day-to-day communication: WorkLife and feedback conversations, presentations, talks, and negotiations, at interviews, and when socialising and networking in building and maintaining good relationships. The practice of writing helps you to tell the stories that express who you are in an interesting and engaging way.
Identity and Work: The Subtlety of Persuasion and The Importance of Being Present
Learning Resources From School of WorkLife. Resources to help you self-direct your WorkLife learning.
Two Days One Night(2014) is a film about Sandra (played by Marion Cotillard), a young Belgian mother, who discovers that her workmates have opted for a significant pay bonus, in exchange for her dismissal. She has only one weekend to convince her colleagues to give up their bonuses so that she can keep her job. In the film, the workplace becomes a battleground, these are struggling workers with families and not CEOs or fat cats. Sandra finds and creates solidarity, uncovering people’s true nature as well as her own.
Identity and Work raises the question: Is this something that could happen in real life?
And considers people’s WorkLife stories in the same way the directors/writers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne did. They said the idea came from reading news stories about similar situations where workers solidarity was challenged.
Today I’m revisiting a story of a film review I wrote some time ago, which I’ve revised for today’s story.
In my original post, I posed the question: Has the recent recession added to what Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne said about people competing with each other for their jobs, and if this in fact social realism?
Today I’m curious about how the pandemic we’re all living through right now will impact this. Central to the brother’s idea is validation through work, a precarious concept in an era of widespread unemployment. In an interview with the Guardian, the brothers are quoted as saying: “If you don’t have a job, you are made to feel like an outcast from your community. Possibly in the future people will find another way to be part of the community that is not connected to work but for now that is where meaning lies. From an anthropological point of view, that is how mankind feels a sense of belonging.”
A Case Study:Sandra’s Story: Identity and Work, The Subtlety of Persuasion and The Importance of Being Present
Cotillard talks about the difficulty of portraying her character, Sandra, because basically she has the same thing to say ten times. She had to find the evolution, the slight details that created the drive and motivation to keep Sandra moving even though she is telling people the same thing in her endeavours to persuade them to vote for her to keep her job and give up their bonuses. The tiniest changes in each scene meant Sandra’s confidence would go up and down and everything she could build up from those little differences would help her to identify how to angle each pitch she made.
Each meeting was filmed in real time. This allowed each of the characters to be fully present, and accentuated the tension and the movements within that tension. The shots were addictive, which draw the audience in. It’s like watching a live match: will they score, won’t they score.
The brothers spend a lot of time in the rehearsal process. They talk about rehearsal allowing the actors to be truly present, and it’s only when they are truly present that the scene can exist and the tensions and rhythms arise. They say rehearsals allow the exploration of tracks, which then don’t need to be explored again. They say you only get the picture right once: there’s only one shot possible. There’s room for manoeuvre because they’re on the right track. They acknowledge that while every actor is different, the work of creating a presence is the same. They achieve this by acknowledging that everyone was equally important, making the scenes possible because everyone had a leading role that demanded of them to be truly present in each moment, allowing the actors in turn to have more of a presence.
The art of persuasion, negotiation and influence is built on the same powers of observation, the ability to notice the minutest change, to be fully present in the moment and to react in real-time is of utmost importance. Marion said for her character, Sandra, that this was imperative because these subtleties meant what she was repeatedly saying was almost but not the same thing, and as the brothers say “there’s only one shot possible”.
Actors use a range of techniques when preparing for a role. Let’s consider techniques from the renowned theatre practitioner, Constantin Stanislavski, whose work remains at the forefront of actor training today, and how these techniques are applicable in the world of our WorkLives, and the impact they have on persuasion and being present.
Super-Objective: (Stanislavski) Focuses on the entire situation (film/play) as a whole and serves as the final goal the actor wishes to achieve. For Sandra, it’s to keep her job. This goes to the heart of her identity and to her well-being.
Working with this objective in mind, the actor must then find the appropriate personal pain that can drive this objective. The pain must be powerful enough to inspire the actor to fearlessly commit to do whatever it takes to win their objective.
Sage Wisdom
Aristotle defined the struggle of the individual to win as the essence of all drama. As a non-actor when you find yourself in a position where you need to influence, persuade or negotiate you need to start with your super objective (your goal) in knowing what it is you want more than anything from the situation/interaction, then identify your pain: what are the stakes; what is it you could lose; and what are the bigger implications of losses. For Sandra, underlying the loss of her job was the loss of identity her work gave her, and the negative impact on her well-being.
Book Wisdom
In An Actor Preparesby Constantin Stanislavski, Scene-Objective focuses on what the actor wants over the course of an entire scene, that supports their super-objective. For Sandra it begins with understanding each of her work colleague’s position on the situation. This inevitably leads to external circumstances that are impacting their decision.
From this point she can gauge how to pitch her plea to vote for her to keep her job and give up their bonuses. While she may not get immediate agreement, she recognises no matter how small the win is, the important thing is to end the scene in a different position from where she started. She needs to make enough of an impact for them to at least consider their position. She also needs to be prepared to learn which votes she can’t count on. This information, although crushing, helps her position in knowing where to focus her energy and efforts in the next round of discussions, and what changes she needs to make to her pitch/plea.
The book says: “That inner line of effort that guides the actors from the beginning to the end of the play we call the continuity of the thorough-going action. This through-line galvanises all the small units and objectives of the play and directs them toward the super-objective. From then on they all serve the common purpose.”
Words of Wisdom
When you find yourself in a situation where you need to persuade one or more people, begin as Sandra did by understanding their position and their thinking and circumstances behind this. A question that helped Sandra in preparing for each conversation was: What impact does me keeping my job have on my colleagues’ life? In posing this question to herself, she was able to give herself in the moment feedback by being fully present, in knowing what to say and how to handle the conversation. We tend to listen more when the stakes rise. As the stakes rise we also begin to sense the other’s underlying thought impulses. As the situation becomes more important, we struggle to predict what will happen. Immersing yourself in the world of that relationship and its parameters strengthens your capacity for clear and honest observation, and will help you to plan, tweak and strengthen your approach. Aim for small wins and remember the importance of ending each interaction in a different position from which you started, learning from this and moving on from a more informed standpoint.
Epilogue
In a changing world so much has shifted in the last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the past I’ve delivered outplacement programmes to individuals and groups, supporting people in managing the emotional and practical elements in moving their WorkLife forward in times of uncertainty. Throughout this I’ve never ceased to be amazed by people’s resilience, their ability to pick themselves back up, and to come through challenging times and situations with an even greater sense of purpose and determination. If I were to reflect on what’s different about this current time — which we’re all living through together, while apart — it would be the sense of community that’s coming through. The sense of caring about, and recognising the importance of our family, our friends, our neighbours, and our wider community. A greater sense of appreciation of and for life.
I leave you today with a quote from the National Theatre Home to ponder on: “Theatres and the arts are a positive force for our community in turbulent times.”
The reviews I write are by way of reflecting on cultural experiences to include performing, visual and literary arts that touched my heart and my mind, and making sense of them in the context of learning and development in both the work-place and the community.
Today’s featured book is: An Actor Preparesby Constantin Stanislavski
The intention of the stories I share is to inspire you through people’s stories of their WorkLife experiences. Through these stories, you will learn about people’s dreams and ambitions, along with the challenges, obstacles, failures and successes they encountered along the road of their WorkLife journey. And how they used the power of book wisdom to help them find the inspiration and guidance to navigate their path to live their WorkLife with passion, purpose and pride.
My hope is that these book wisdom stories will help you throughout the chapters of your WorkLife Story.
I believe stories are a powerful mechanism for teaching, a powerful medium to learn through, and a powerful way to communicate who you are and what you stand for.
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POSTSCRIPT
This story was originally published on 26/5/21. I needed to republish it to add updates and also to tell you
… The Continuing Story …
The pandemic brought about a change in my WorkLife from delivering in-person individual coaching sessions and group workshops to creating resources to help people self direct their WorkLife learning.
In the last three years, I’ve published 30 books and over 200 stories.
Each book and each story is based on real life struggles and successes that people have encountered in their WorkLife. They also detail the exercises that helped navigate through these situations, which are set as assignments for readers to adapt to their WorkLife situations and learning needs.
I believe stories are a powerful mechanism for teaching, a powerful medium to learn through, and a powerful way to communicate who you are and what you stand for.
My inspiration for creating my work comes from a lifelong passion for learning. My work has taught me that the one thing in life that can never be taken away from you is your learning.
School of WorkLife Guiding Statement: To create resources that are helpful, insightful and inspiring in helping people to pursue their WorkLives with greater clarity, purpose, passion and pride by creating continuous WorkLife learning programmes and resources that are accessible to everyone.
The resources I create will help you take ownership of self directing your learning in your own space and in your own time.
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
School of WorkLifehelps you self-direct your WorkLife learning through resources that have been created to help you to take ownership of your learning in your own space and in your own time.
What is Self Directed Learning?
Self-Directed Learning is when an individual is motivated to take the initiative and responsibility on decisions related to their own learning. It is a series of independent actions and judgements free from external control and constraint.
Resources to Help You Self-Direct Your Learning
You may find the books below from The School of WorkLife Book Serieshelpful in meeting your learning needs as a self directed learner. Tap the book title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
TapThe School of WorkLife Book Series to view the complete collection of books. From here, you can tap on each individual title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
Carmel O’ Reilly is a learning practitioner and writer. She creates resources to help people self-direct their WorkLife learning
That’s the power of writing (and reading, which is an integral part of the craft for writers). It helps you find, develop and tell the right story at the right time in all WorkLife situations – in day-to-day communication: WorkLife and feedback conversations, presentations, talks, and negotiations, at interviews, and when socialising and networking in building and maintaining good relationships. The practice of writing helps you to tell the stories that express who you are in an interesting and engaging way.
Your CV Demonstrates Your Loyalty and Ability, and Your ‘Stay Ability”
Learning Resources From School of WorkLife. Resources to help you self-direct your WorkLife learning.
Has someone ever said something to you that surprised you? (In a good way). Maybe it was feedback about an attribute or skill you have, which you never gave much thought to because it was just you being you, you doing what you do naturally, but to other people, it was something special.
Your CV Demonstrates Your Loyalty and Ability, and Your ‘Stay Ability’
Those words gave Joe a sense of encouragement. He hadn’t considered his situation in that way before. But let’s back up a little to Joe’s Story:
What’s the Best Thing That Anyone Has Ever Said to You? Case Study:
Joe’s long-time role had been redundant, and although he was going through the motions of a government-funded initiative in support of getting people into work, his belief was that at the end of the training course he wouldn’t get a job. You see, Joe was in his early 60s, and his thinking was: that because of his age, organisations wouldn’t be interested in employing him.
Sage Wisdom
As facilitator of the job-search element of the course, I saw things differently, and I said to Joe: “Your CV demonstrates your loyalty and ability, and your ‘Stay Ability.” I could see those words gave Joe encouragement. I went on to say how his CV demonstrated his loyalty to the organisations he had previously worked with. While he’d been with his most recent employer for over 30 years, his career had been quite progressive and he’d advanced in terms of the roles and responsibilities he’d undertaken. Along with his CV demonstrating his loyalty and ability, it also demonstrated his ‘stay ability’.
To my way of thinking these factors made Joe an attractive candidate to employers. Yes, perhaps he only had four or five years before retirement, but this is actually quite substantial taking into account how much people move around in their WorkLives today.
Words of Wisdom
Someone younger may perhaps see an opportunity of joining an organisation as a stepping-stone to the next stage of their WorkLife and will use this experience to facilitate this. Today’s job market is very different to that of when Joe began his WorkLife when a job was for life. I actually think this is quite positive because it allows a flow that supports people at different WorkLife stages; and when people like Joe want to join an organisation with a commitment to staying with them for four or five years, the organisation will recognise this as being a genuine commitment.
Book Wisdom
My words led Joe to re-reading The Effective Executiveby Peter F. Drucker — a book he’d found helpful when at his previous company, when his role and responsibility had progressed. He was reminded that the effective executive focuses on contribution, that he looks up from his work and outwards towards goals.
This led him to ask himself the question: “What can I contribute that will significantly affect the performance and the results of the institution I serve?” His reason for asking himself this question was by way of researching organisations he was applying to for jobs. This allowed him to prepare his application in a way that demonstrated what he would bring to the organisation, and also helped him to prepare for the interview, by way of being able to verbalise it coherently and succinctly. This question enabled Joe to give himself self-feedback on how his own commitment to making a contribution had always allowed him to think through what relationships his skills, his speciality, his function, or his department had to the entire organisation and its purpose.
Thinking in this way had allowed Joe to connect the dots, from an understanding of both the finer details and the bigger picture. Joe began to recognise and take ownership of this being something that he was really good at, and this is something he would bring to a new role at a new organisation that would be valuable.
Epilogue
Joe told me our conversation helped him to overcome his self-doubt and rethink his situation. He approached his job search with a more positive approach. He now recognised and appreciated just how much he had to offer a potential employer, and felt more confident in communicating this.
Joe’s story has been adapted from chapter 17 of Your WorkLife Your Way: Overcoming Self-Doubt Through Self-Appreciation.
What’s the Best Thing That Anyone Has Ever Said to You? … are people’s stories of when someone said something to them that allowed them to feel good about themselves, allowed them to see what other people saw in them, that they themselves didn’t see, allowed them to recognise and appreciate their potential, and to take ownership of their uniqueness.
WorkLife Book Wisdom Stories:
The intention of the stories I share is to inspire you through people’s stories of their WorkLife experiences. Through these stories, you will learn about people’s dreams and ambitions, along with the challenges, obstacles, failures and successes they encountered along the road of their WorkLife journey. And how they used the power of book wisdom to help them find the inspiration and guidance to navigate their path to live their WorkLife with passion, purpose and pride.
My hope is that these book wisdom stories will help you throughout the chapters of your WorkLife Story.
I believe stories are a powerful mechanism for teaching, a powerful medium to learn through, and a powerful way to communicate who you are and what you stand for.
.……………………………………………………………………………………………..
POSTSCRIPT
This story was originally published on 24/5/21. I needed to republish it to add updates and also to tell you
… The Continuing Story …
The pandemic brought about a change in my WorkLife from delivering in-person individual coaching sessions and group workshops to creating resources to help people self direct their WorkLife learning.
In the last three years, I’ve published 30 books and over 200 stories.
Each book and each story is based on real life struggles and successes that people have encountered in their WorkLife. They also detail the exercises that helped navigate through these situations, which are set as assignments for readers to adapt to their WorkLife situations and learning needs.
I believe stories are a powerful mechanism for teaching, a powerful medium to learn through, and a powerful way to communicate who you are and what you stand for.
My inspiration for creating my work comes from a lifelong passion for learning. My work has taught me that the one thing in life that can never be taken away from you is your learning.
School of WorkLife Guiding Statement: To create resources that are helpful, insightful and inspiring in helping people to pursue their WorkLives with greater clarity, purpose, passion and pride by creating continuous WorkLife learning programmes and resources that are accessible to everyone.
The resources I create will help you take ownership of self directing your learning in your own space and in your own time.
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
School of WorkLife helps you self-direct your WorkLife learning through resources that have been created to help you to take ownership of your learning in your own space and in your own time.
What is Self Directed Learning?
Self-Directed Learning is when an individual is motivated to take the initiative and responsibility on decisions related to their own learning. It is a series of independent actions and judgements free from external control and constraint.
Resources to Help You Self-Direct Your Learning
You may find the books below from The School of WorkLife Book Series helpful in meeting your learning needs as a self directed learner. Tap the book title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
TapThe School of WorkLife Book Series to view the complete collection of books. From here, you can tap on each individual title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
Carmel O’ Reilly is a learning practitioner and writer. She creates resources to help people self-direct their WorkLife learning
That’s the power of writing (and reading, which is an integral part of the craft for writers). It helps you find, develop and tell the right story at the right time in all WorkLife situations – in day-to-day communication: WorkLife and feedback conversations, presentations, talks, and negotiations, at interviews, and when socialising and networking in building and maintaining good relationships. The practice of writing helps you to tell the stories that express who you are in an interesting and engaging way.
What Does Happiness Mean in the World of WorkLife?
Learning Resources From School of WorkLife. Resources to help you self-direct your WorkLife learning.
Happiness Is Linked to Motivation and People Are Often Happy When They’re Trying to Achieve Goals That Are Difficult but Not Out of Reach.
When Jack was five, one day, he asked me, “what’s the meaning of life and the purpose of meaning.” I was flabbergasted and hadn’t a clue how I was going to answer this. So I said, “what do you think it is?” Jack responded, “happiness.” He’s a genius, I thought (which, of course, he is). I asked what made him think that. “I saw it on the Simpsons”, he replied. Proving the old adage that wisdom can sometimes be found in the unlikeliest of places.
But what does happiness mean in the world of WorkLife? Well, of course, there’s no one definition, but there is a general consensus that the little things count and can make a difference.
Happiness is linked to motivation and in WorkLives, people are often happy when they’re trying to achieve goals that are difficult but not out of reach.
Achieving happiness requires the same approach as training for a marathon. It’s’ not instant. It’s a gradual build-up of training that needs to be done consistently. Marathon runners will set targets to allow them to reach their ultimate goal of running the marathon. Happiness is like that.
Take, for example, Joan, whose workload was causing her to feel completely unhappy in her work, she couldn’t seem to stay on top of things, and as a result, she was working long hours, having little quality time with her husband and was constantly exhausted. Something had to shift, but it didn’t happen overnight.
She began by taking a lunch break, not a full hour but enough time to get out of the office, walk around the block to a nearby park and enjoy her lunch al fresco.
This small shift energised her for the afternoon, and once a week, her husband joined her, which reminded them of when they were dating and would often meet like this.
These small changes had a big impact on Joan’s happiness, and the solace she enjoyed helped her workload seem less daunting and more manageable.
I have a lot more to say on the subject of happiness and in the words of Arnie ‘I’ll be back’.
This story was originally published on 23/5/21. I needed to republish it to add updates and also to tell you
… The Continuing Story …
The pandemic brought about a change in my WorkLife from delivering in-person individual coaching sessions and group workshops to creating resources to help people self direct their WorkLife learning.
In the last three years, I’ve published 30 books and over 200 stories.
Each book and each story is based on real life struggles and successes that people have encountered in their WorkLife. They also detail the exercises that helped navigate through these situations, which are set as assignments for readers to adapt to their WorkLife situations and learning needs.
I believe stories are a powerful mechanism for teaching, a powerful medium to learn through, and a powerful way to communicate who you are and what you stand for.
My inspiration for creating my work comes from a lifelong passion for learning. My work has taught me that the one thing in life that can never be taken away from you is your learning.
School of WorkLife Guiding Statement: To create resources that are helpful, insightful and inspiring in helping people to pursue their WorkLives with greater clarity, purpose, passion and pride by creating continuous WorkLife learning programmes and resources that are accessible to everyone.
The resources I create will help you take ownership of self directing your learning in your own space and in your own time.
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
School of WorkLifehelps you self-direct your WorkLife learning through resources that have been created to help you to take ownership of your learning in your own space and in your own time.
What is Self Directed Learning?
Self-Directed Learning is when an individual is motivated to take the initiative and responsibility on decisions related to their own learning. It is a series of independent actions and judgements free from external control and constraint.
Resources to Help You Self-Direct Your Learning
You may find the books below from The School of WorkLife Book Serieshelpful in meeting your learning needs as a self directed learner. Tap the book title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
TapThe School of WorkLife Book Series to view the complete collection of books. From here, you can tap on each individual title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
Carmel O’ Reilly is a learning practitioner and writer. She creates resources to help people self-direct their WorkLife learning
That’s the power of writing (and reading, which is an integral part of the craft for writers). It helps you find, develop and tell the right story at the right time in all WorkLife situations – in day-to-day communication: WorkLife and feedback conversations, presentations, talks, and negotiations, at interviews, and when socialising and networking in building and maintaining good relationships. The practice of writing helps you to tell the stories that express who you are in an interesting and engaging way.
Creative Thinking For Yourself Promotes Creative Doing For Yourself
Learning Resources From School of WorkLife. Resources to help you self-direct your WorkLife learning.
Because I help people in WorkLife transition, I sometimes get asked by people if I’m always able to tell people what job they should be doing, and I have to explain that that’s not what I do.
What I actually do is facilitate the process which allows people to come to this realisation themselves. In essence, I help people to have clarity in their thinking.
My programmes also support job search, and I get asked if I always get people a job, to which I reply: “my role is to support people in getting the job themselves.”
This may all sound very cliché, but when I’m performing in my role at my very best, I’m merely the facilitator in helping people do things for themselves.
I meet with my clients weekly, fortnightly, or whatever time frame that allows them to carry out the objectives agreed on in our session. I always say to clients that the best work takes place away from the sessions, whether that’s research, networking or marketing themselves.
These are the actions that will drive their programme in line with their needs and objectives outlined at the outset of our work together.
I sometimes use the analogy of a sports coach. The world of WorkLife, Career, Leadership and Executive Coaching evolved from the world of sport.
Many of my clients will have worked with a sports coach or personal trainer or will have an understanding of how these people help their clients — individuals or teams get the most from their performance. They don’t go out and play a game or do their fitness programme for them.
They do, however, walk alongside them, supporting their motivation, determination and persistence in achieving their goals. They help them to continuously improve their performance, to be in a position to achieve things for themselves.
My clients will want to achieve the objectives outlined at the beginning of their programme for themselves. This gives them great satisfaction. The skills they gain throughout the process remain with them and indeed help to progress their WorkLife to the next level because of their ability to recognise what’s unique about themselves in terms of their skills, experience, knowledge and attributes.
This allows them to be confident in communicating this and effectively marketing themselves, whether in writing — job application, CV, and cover letter, or in-person — interviews, presentations, or in networking situations.
The experience they gain in building their networks in their chosen field also remains with them and gives them the impetus to continue to develop strong relationships, allowing them to easily navigate and progress their WorkLife when the time is right.
I truly believe Thinking is the ultimate superpower. Once people are confident in their ability to think for themselves and believe they have the answers they need within them, this instils the belief they can do for themselves.
The ultimate satisfaction for me in my work is when my clients are confident in thinking and doing for themselves. This leads to creative thinking, which in turn promotes creative doing.
This story was originally published on 20/5/21. I needed to republish it to add updates and also to tell you
… The Continuing Story …
The pandemic brought about a change in my WorkLife from delivering in-person individual coaching sessions and group workshops to creating resources to help people self direct their WorkLife learning.
In the last three years, I’ve published 30 books and over 200 stories.
Each book and each story is based on real life struggles and successes that people have encountered in their WorkLife. They also detail the exercises that helped navigate through these situations, which are set as assignments for readers to adapt to their WorkLife situations and learning needs.
I believe stories are a powerful mechanism for teaching, a powerful medium to learn through, and a powerful way to communicate who you are and what you stand for.
My inspiration for creating my work comes from a lifelong passion for learning. My work has taught me that the one thing in life that can never be taken away from you is your learning.
School of WorkLife Guiding Statement: To create resources that are helpful, insightful and inspiring in helping people to pursue their WorkLives with greater clarity, purpose, passion and pride by creating continuous WorkLife learning programmes and resources that are accessible to everyone.
The resources I create will help you take ownership of self directing your learning in your own space and in your own time.
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
School of WorkLife helps you self-direct your WorkLife learning through resources that have been created to help you to take ownership of your learning in your own space and in your own time.
What is Self Directed Learning?
Self-Directed Learning is when an individual is motivated to take the initiative and responsibility on decisions related to their own learning. It is a series of independent actions and judgements free from external control and constraint.
Resources to Help You Self-Direct Your Learning
You may find the books below from The School of WorkLife Book Serieshelpful in meeting your learning needs as a self directed learner. Tap the book title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
TapThe School of WorkLife Book Series to view the complete collection of books. From here, you can tap on each individual title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
Carmel O’ Reilly is a learning practitioner and writer. She creates resources to help people self-direct their WorkLife learning
That’s the power of writing (and reading, which is an integral part of the craft for writers). It helps you find, develop and tell the right story at the right time in all WorkLife situations – in day-to-day communication: WorkLife and feedback conversations, presentations, talks, and negotiations, at interviews, and when socialising and networking in building and maintaining good relationships. The practice of writing helps you to tell the stories that express who you are in an interesting and engaging way.
“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” Ernest Hemingway.
Chapter 19 (of 20) A Matter of Measurements, accompanied by Confit de Canard, paired with a glass of St. Laurand at Chez Elles, Brick Lane.
Notes From Chapter 19: A Matter of Measurements
A WorkLife Book Club For One
A Note on Feedback
Scott asked me to have lunch with him. He said he had something very important to ask me that meant more than anything in the world to him and that I must answer absolutely truly. When he would ask me to tell him something absolutely truly, which is very difficult to do, and I would try it, what I said would make him angry, often not when I said it, but afterwards, and sometimes long afterwards when he had brooded on it. My words would become something that would have to be destroyed and sometimes, if possible, me with them.
Words of Wisdom
It takes courage to speak up, and also to walk away. In the end it comes from who you are. If you remain true to yourself, you cannot be false to anyone else. (Adapted from my book,How To Use Your Voice To Express And Protect Your Identity).
It’s important to remember, when you ask someone for their advice, opinion, feedback, they’ll feel obliged to give it. You then need to figure out whether to take it on board or whether to think, well that may be good advice/feedback for someone else but in line with what’s important to me and knowing what I want to know about what I want to achieve in my WorkLife, that’s not for me right now. (Adapted from my book, Your WorkLife Your Way).
Epilogue
Unlike previous times when I wasn’t sure when I’ll read the next chapter of A Moveable Feastover a glass and a plate. This time I know, because I read the next chapter over dessert atChez Elles, Brick Lane.
… Let’s see where A Moveable Feastthe next chapter story is going to take me …
Today I enjoyed Confit de Canard, paired with a glass of St. Laurand at Chez Elles, Brick Lane.
Se souvenir de toi, Norma.
#FunFact1 Confit de canard is claimed by the people of Gascony, France. Henry IV, King of France from 1589–1610 and a Gascon by birth, was said to have had confit de canard shipped to Paris by the barrel-load because nobody in Paris was making it at the time. Source The Nosey Chef.
#FunFact2 Brick Lane Market dates back to the 17th Century and continues to evolve. Today we have Sunday Upmarket and Backyard Market, both of which operate out of the Old Truman Brewery, with vendor-chefs serving up the best of street food representing cuisines from all over the world. I love their co-existence on the street that is THE place to go for a curry in London, where you can try traditional and authentic cooking that celebrates the cultural diversity of our city. Source WorkLife Book Club(my book).
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
School of WorkLife helps you self-direct your WorkLife learning through resources that have been created to help you to take ownership of your learning in your own space and in your own time.
What is Self Directed Learning?
Self-Directed Learning is when an individual is motivated to take the initiative and responsibility on decisions related to their own learning. It is a series of independent actions and judgements free from external control and constraint.
You may find the books below from The School of WorkLife Book Serieshelpful in meeting your learning needs as a self directed learner. Tap the book title to see a preview of what’s inside each book.
That’s the power of writing (and reading, which is an integral part of the craft for writers), it helps you find, develop and tell the right story at the right time in all WorkLife situations – in day-to-day communication: WorkLife and feedback conversations, presentations, talks, and negotiations, at interviews, and when socialising and networking in building and maintaining good relationships. The practice of writing helps you to tell the stories that express who you are in an interesting and engaging way.
