For the last few years I have been learning more and more about the human condition, our mental models and the mindsets that shape our behaviour and decisions. Chris Corrigan provides a very nice description of ‘mental models’ in his paper on Participatory Engagement … “Mental models are those frames of reference that define our thinking and how we view the world. They are frames that we take for granted, and to view our own mental models is a bit like trying to see the color of our own eyes without a mirror.” Because our own models of world are …

I’m excited because over the next 4 weeks I have 4 days of reflective and learning time set aside with some wonderful people. Next week, I am spending the better part of 3 days with a group of people who follow each other’s blogs, share a similar workspace and push the boundaries of learning and practice. Can’t wait for that. And to make things even better I have a paid job with the 3 Pillars Network and a NETWORK of 30 or so practitioners in the behaviour change field … and to be more specific that’s behaviour change that relates …

Given the volume of tweets that I share with the world that are about growing, harvesting, preparing and eating food, is it any surprise that we have set up a blog called Home Harvesting? But one day … Ingrid turned to me and said something that resonated instantly in both of us … and of course I tweeted it … This summer has produced a bountiful harvest at home. We have struggled to keep up with the fruit, vegetables and eggs we have produced. For the first time, nothing has gone to waste – we have harvested, prepared, consumed (and …

Nearly 3 years on and 350 blog posts later, I though it was time reflect on the BIG lessons – those ah-ha moments and times when writing things down changed my worldview. Blogging is about the most important thing I do in life. The craft of writing allows me to explore emergent ideas. The reading of other people’s blogs nourishes my own learning and challenges what I believe. When other’s pick up my ideas and build on them … that’s a gift. Something that my mate Chris Corrigan calls The Gift Economy. “An idea isn’t anything until it’s been published …

It has not been hard to focus on nature so far in 2011. The floods across Eastern Australia, Brazil and Sri Lanka. The record snow falls in North America and across the UK and Europe. Whilst we are experiencing a La Nina cycle which historically brings more rain to Eastern Australia, at a global level we are witnessing unprecedented changes in weather patterns. Globally, 2010 was the equal hottest year on record and the wettest year. One of my favourite news sites is Boston.com and they tell stories through images – of Australian floods here. Images are one way to …