Personal & Inspirational
On a lifelong path of personal growth, I am grateful for the personal insights and inspiration from others. Some involvements and studies, like “Theological Aesthetics”or Mindfulness, may now seem esoteric or dated, but the following sources (and Media) continue to inspire me.
Enneagram
The Enneagram is a psychology-based compilation of ancient systems for identifying personality styles and spiritual energies. It includes 9 distinct personality types and many variations (Eg, I’m a #1, “Idealist,” for better or worse:). I've used the study and analysis of the Enneagram in various ways. Most broadly it can be a basis for comparing religions and philosophies from Christian parables to Taoism.
Practically, I now find the Enneagram useful in nurturing personal relationships and in balancing my interests and activities. And I hope this becomes a way to explain this approach to others.
Genealogy
Beginning with little family history, I’ve now been able to research and document 10 generations on my Hedrick paternal side (going back to Germany in the 1600s.) Similarly, I’ve found my maternal Gawron family going back to “West Prussia.” And I have particularly enjoyed traveling to all the stops along their migration route, e.g Virginia homestead of 1800s shown. The researching fuels other interests - and provides historical perspective for current personal and political concerns.
I am now trying to upload most of the documentation to www.Ancestry.com. And I hope that by sharing some highlights here I can connect with other interested families.
Productivity
As a young and overwhelmed college fraternity President, I became interested in “time management” systems while trying to organize chaotic group activities. But I later found such techniques essential in corporate and business law environments. I have since spent many years developing a personal organization system to share with others, including my annual interests calendar. Annual Interests Calendar
Currently, I focus on adapting these processes to the digital world; and I am particularly interested in computer-based Artificial Intelligence (“AI”). See Eg. Ethan Mollick Updates
Media
Following youthful attempts as a rock music drummer, I found I have enjoyed many other types of music. And after completing my college Finance requirements, I was able to turn to Film and media classes which have influenced me to this day. Now there is so much available I’m trying to curate my lifetime accumulation of Music, Movie and TV memories.
I have for years have compiled various notes on favorite Music, Movies and TV shows, which I now hope to consolidate and share with friends through FAV Lists. My first “Top 40” Movies is attached to prompt further discussion!