On Language
25.6 The Courage to Write
submitting our writing to the critical gaze of a heartless public takes fearlessness beyond courage. It takes drink.
2025-03-31
Travels with Myself
A Journal of Discovery and Transition
Doug Jordan, Author
Mental Health
23.24 Living a Passionate Life
‘Maestro’ is a biopic about Leonard Bernstein. I won’t comment on the film (mixed merit) but Bernstein surely is an iconic example of the notion of a man passionate about his career as a musician, or more so, as a person living a passionate life. Or possibly a man with a bipolar condition.
2023-12-30
Thoughts on Writing/Publishing
23.22 Motivation and Passion 2
When it comes to motivation, my blood curdles every time I hear the word, incentivize.
Motivation comes from within. No-one is actually motivated (incentivized?!) by some external force – moved maybe, but not motivated.
2023-11-30
Travels With Myself, Vol. 4 (2023)
23.1 Volunteer Vicissitudes
You don’t have to be a lifer to be a virtuous volunteer but you need to be committed; many volunteers, though, have other motives, or find out they aren’t as motivated to make a contribution as they first thought when they volunteered, caught in a moment of enthusiasm, or pressure.
2023-01-15
'My Story, Mostly' Extracts
22-13. On Religion and Spirituality (Extract from ‘My Story, Mostly’)
Science now explains thunder and lightning, and even how life began, but the fundamental questions remained. But because the mind abhors uncertainly it prefers magical thinking to the horror of the abyss. Religion gives people comfort, and who can blame them for that.
2022-07-15
Thoughts on Writing/Publishing
22-2. ‘My Story’
I wish I had been paying more attention when I had the chance to plumb the depths of my own parents’ memories to learn more of their histories, and mine.
2022-01-29
Travels With Myself, Vol. 3 (2022)
22-1. Year-End Review 2021
But enough of 2021, what do we intend to do about 2022. Well, assuming continuing decent health, both physical and mental, and hoping that life’s vicissitudes give me a pass this year, I think I’ll try for the same mission as 2021 but modified thusly:
2022-01-14
Thoughts on Writing/Publishing
21-19. Marketing and Sales as a ‘Project’
So, facing my fears, I decided to make the Marketing and Selling of The Treasure of Stella Bay my Project for the next five months. I would try to bring my talents to bear, even if they are not my best talents, and strive for some modicum of fulfillment, if not actual joy.
2021-10-15
Travels with Myself, Vol. 2 (2021)
21-18. On the Hustings
I hadn’t been on the hustings before. Well, not quite true, but the last time I was on the hustings I wasn’t even old enough to vote (you had to be 21 in those days! – and wouldn’t you know it, my candidate didn’t win that time either).
2021-09-30
Books by Doug Jordan
21-1. Purpose & Mission for 2021
I won’t burden you with all of the Objectives I have set for myself in 2021. You won’t be that interested and I know historically my plans have been too ambitious and subject to perturbation from unexpected events. But here are a few:
2021-01-15
Travels with Myself, Vol. 2 (2021)
20-14. 2020 Year End Review
I wonder what 2020 would have been like if the world hadn’t panicked in response to a pseudo-calamity, covid. As I wrote my annual plan in my virtual Harvard Planner last January while I was in The Philippines, who would have guessed the events that turned my plan upside down.
2020-12-31
