Ok, let’s chat.
You: Who are you?
Me: Chris Wondra (duh)
You: Are you like me?
Me: Yes. Definitely. Very much like you. (C’mon . . .)
You: Are you credible?
Me: Of course. I know exactly what I’m talking about.
You: Can I trust you?
Me: Sure you can.
You: Is it worth it to hang around, clicking my mouse here and there?
Me:Probably not. There are at least a hundred different things you could be doing right now that would be a better use of your time. I mean hell, it’s not like I’m Mark Twain or anything.
You: Yeah, but . . .
Me: Ok, Ok, I’ll big picture it for you.
Core value: primum non nocere.
Setting/situation: Teacher, father, husband, small (but growing) Wisconsin river town.
Core problem: I’m restless. I struggle balancing my craving for more with my growing realization that life only happens “Now.” Anything that happened in the past or will happen in the future are only constructs of my own imagination. “Now” is all there is, and all there ever will be–always. Still–contentment alludes me.
You: Why?
Me: Honestly? Maybe I’m a little bitter. Maybe have to learn forgiveness.
You: What could you possibly be bitter about?
Me: Maybe bitter is too strong a word.
You: What about forgiveness? What did you mean by that?
Me: Oofda . . . That’s a biggie. And I’m sorry I can’t tell you the whole story. But I will say this–if we are here on this earth to learn something, forgiveness is one of the major things I am here to learn. I have to do this every day. It’s a constant struggle. But it has transformed and will continue to transform my life. I have much to say about forgiveness. From my perspective, if we learn best by example, Forgiveness was Jesus’s whole point.
You: Huh?
Me: (shrugs) Never mind.
You: Ok then. What is shaping your life?
Me: Good question. After tickling six figures, my wife, Lisa, and I made a values based decision, left the world of industry and put our energy into raising a strong family.
You: So how’s that working for you?
Me: I’ll be honest with you, sometimes it’s been tough. Lisa, a talented seamstress with a passion for health and nutrition, began sewing and selling Shaklee out of our home.
I tried to pay the bills with nothing but a new teacher’s salary and quickly fell into debt. I tried a couple of entrepreneurial things, but nothing stuck. Each year, the debt grew.
So, in 2005, to stop the bleeding, I reorganized our debt (again) and got a second job as a purchaser controlling inventory for a nursing home.
So far the bandage has held.
So here I am, still trying entrepreneurial things, writing a web log, documenting a quest to live abundantly by my values and break free from the shackles of my own beliefs (about time, about happiness, about money, and about what is really possible within this game of life).
I like this quote by Joseph Campbell about the Hero Path:
“We have not even to risk the hero’s adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us. The labyrinth is thoroughly known.
We have only to follow the thread of the hero path.
And where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god.
And where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves.
Where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our own existence.
And where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world.”
To read this blog is to watch a man struggle–searching the world for his path and his soul for the courage to walk it.
14 responses so far ↓
1 Zubli Zainordin // Feb 25, 2007 at 3:19 am
The Truth shall set us free. What is the criterion to discern between the facts, the fictions, and the falsehoods.
2 Anne // Feb 28, 2007 at 9:19 pm
wow… it says your blog is worth four thousand dollars. Maybe you should sell it?!
3 Greg // Mar 5, 2007 at 3:16 pm
So, help me out here. Your blog is getting major hits, top five on Wordpress, and while I respect your writing, and it is interesting at some level–to what do you attribute so much traffic? Do you have a lot of family? No sex, no sports, no mean spirited politics. What’s the secret?
Hi Greg,
Good question. Great question. Really got me thinking too. Check out my full reply to you here.
And thanks for the visit!
Chris
4 A Flash in the Pan, I’m Sure « Chris Wondra . com // Mar 6, 2007 at 4:43 pm
[...] About ← Global Warming 101–A Free Interdisciplinary Curriculum [...]
5 Erik // Mar 20, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Hey Chris, I tried to link to your RSS but it seems that the rss link is not in RSS format.
6 alex // Apr 2, 2007 at 6:55 pm
you don’t answer any of my questions.
7 Shanelle // Apr 6, 2007 at 9:56 pm
I just happen to stroll by this website and i have been on it for about an hour..everything you write is soo full of meaning like you have a purpose to everything you write and say instead of just blabbering lol…man oh man i wish i had you as a teacher at some point in my life or as some kind of mentor of some sort..i dont know what i am talking about anymore but keep on doing you.
Shanelle,
Thank you so much for those kind words. Stop by often. I plan on doing this for good while. Thanks for visiting, and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Chris
8 saint juancho's // Apr 11, 2007 at 12:11 am
To read this blog is to watch a man struggle–searching the world for his path and his soul for the courage to walk it.
I respect that so much. Those words are just perfect.
9 On death (so to speak) // Apr 23, 2007 at 4:47 am
[...] about [...]
10 Karen Caine // May 12, 2007 at 4:04 am
Hey Chris,
Two other thoughts.
1) you are a good writer and it would be kind of cool to have a teachers writing in my book so would you like to write and short article for the book? It could be on any topic really as long as it was persuasive in nature and could be used with 5th and 6th graders. It’s very possible that you could take something you have already written and just insert a few persuasive lines into the text.
2) If you are interested in having your students write something for me you could e -mail or call my editor at the publishing company so that you could see that I really am writing a book.
Karen Caine
77-912-9082
11 janet // Jul 16, 2007 at 8:07 pm
hi
12 Christina Stewart // Oct 15, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Dear Chris,
For more than three years, authors Bill Cosby and Alvin F. Poussaint have been listening to the voices at community call-outs in cities across the country. Their latest book, Come On People, due out October 9 in bookstores nationwide, combines messages of personal responsibility with practical solutions, and retells the incredible stories shared at these call-outs.
Come On People is for all those who are tired of being used, neglected and undefended—folks who wish to see changes in their governments, their neighborhoods, on their streets and within the walls of their living spaces.
At http://www.BillCosby.com you will find a forum called “The Cos,” that is designed for community members to discuss issues beyond those addressed in the book, as well as a place for people to come together and offer solutions. It’s time to have the courage to believe you can do better by asking for help and not being afraid to move forward.
No matter your economic status, no matter your age, no matter your race, no matter your gender, and no matter your religion, we are all allies in changing our future for the better.
You can find downloadable PDF’s of excerpts from Come On People at the following links:
http://treasures.billcosby.com/pdf/ComeonPeople-pg77-88.pdf
http://treasures.billcosby.com/pdf/ComeonPeople-pg124-132.pdf
http://treasures.billcosby.com/pdf/ComeonPeople-pg168-174.pdf
We are also willing to send you a review copy—all we ask is that you publish a review and link back to BillCosby.com.
Please share this book and website with members of your blog community—the more people who hear Drs. Cosby and Poussaint’s message, the better!
Best,
Christina Stewart
Respond2 Communications
13 Tom Kuhlmann // Nov 2, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Thanks for adding me to your blogroll. Hope the blog provides some value. Read through your blog a little. It reminds me of when my wife and I dropped from 2 to 1 income. We made the same decision you made and had similar struggles. It pays off in the long run. Besides, when you have adversity it seems that the Lord’s work in your life is more evident. Have a good one.
14 Jim // Jun 27, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Chris, hi. I submitted a few comments about Direct Buy a few moments ago, having stumbled into your site while researching comps on a DB product price.
Afterwards, I looked around your site a little more.
Gee. There’s a lot more going on here than just DB gripes — more than I find in most other blog sites. I bookmarked you and will return. (Is that like a firm [Internet] handshake? I dunno… but it’s sincere, anyway. You help & surely do no harm.)
Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero. And I agree, forgiveness is a life’s work.
Regards.
(What’s that buzzing sound? Shit, it’s two wasps … and I only have one pair of scissors! Can these vicious bastards talk to each other ….?)
Leave a Comment