Why not start here?

By

Hello!  Thanks for landing here.

I wonder what made you stop and browse.

Curiosity maybe?  If so you might be interested in my posts on:

Curious and Closed Openings:


Most of these curious/closed openings are presented in my Instagram. Snap to @middlefocus ?


Or maybe you too are interested in:

Books and Reading



Perhaps Lifelong learning caught your eye:

Lifelong Learning / Every Day is a School Day



Or maybe you too get those moments that make you notice and reflect:

Places and Encounters






So that's some to get you started.  i hope there was something that you liked and that you'll consider dropping back in from time to time.

Before you go, here are some additional details.  Maybe you'll find that we have something in  common.  That would be great and if so, I hope you'll share comments.



About this middlefocus blog



Just so you know, I'm a retired seventy-something who has spent an entire working life in education. 
That's me pictured above in a tunnel on a trip a while back in Vietnam. That was quite an adventure. 
The things you get up to at this age!  

Retirement has been fulfilling so far as I spend a lot of time reading, travelling and of course, blogging. 

The direction of the blog has shifted a couple of times over its life but now I'm focussed on the notion of lifelong learning. 

Ah, the gravitational pull of education!  

So a still-learning senior finding stuff to write about and share, because...

Every day is a school day

That phrase, or a variation of it such as everyday’s a learning day is one that I heard frequently when growing up. And I heard it just the other day when a friend shared something new and having told me about it said, “See. Everyday’s a school day!” The variation runs something like, “If you live to be 100, you’ll learn something new everyday.”

This blog aims to contribute to that always learning notion.

Plan

I aim to write regularly here but I don’t want my posts to be “teachy” or pedantic. If you spot anything like that then feel free to call me out. Rather what I want to post about are thoughts and ideas that flow from what I have heard, read or seen. I love it when everyday stuff catches me by surprise and makes me think. 

Those “teachable moments” that make me sit up and pay attention. These happen to all of us every day. Some things that perhaps we take for granted can be looked at afresh and by stopping and reflecting - sitting up and paying attention - we can learn new stuff and think new.

So what can you expect here?

You’ll find if you have clicked on some of the links above that I love books and if you do too then please share your thoughts. There’s just something about writers and readers that makes me want to take part in book conversations.  I love taking pictures of doorways and windows especially if they are shut and make me curious about what's on the other side. So look out for regular snaps of "curious openings".

Okay then. How long and how often?

Generally I would like to focus on 2 to 3 minute reads, although I want to get back into researching material for more substantive pieces which will take around 5 minutes. If you become a regular visitor then I won't trespass too much on your goodwill as my intention is to post once a week for the time being. 

Finally

Just so you know, I also like to try my hand at poetry and love the Haiku format - I wonder if you spotted the form of words above that I use as my middlefocus byline:

Senior. Student still. Sits up and pays attention. Shares some learnings here.

That's one! And if you can handle a few more clicks here are some other examples:

Haiku

You can also see that my poetry writing has a way to go - Still learning, you know!

After all, if you live to be a hundred you’ll learn something new each day.

Renewed thanks for visiting. 

Chris