Pause for Purpose

Mark K April 4th, 2008

Those of you who are subscribers to the Pause for Purpose newsletter will notice a new format, beginning in April. Some of the new features include:

• Different graphics and layout, which can be changed from month-to-month
• Clear easy-to read font - hopefully without the odd characters (*&%@) that used to show up in some of the newsletters
• Links at the end of each article that make it easy to visit the blog and leave comments
• A button at the bottom of the newsletter that makes it easy to forward it to dozens of friends, associates and family members!

Please click here and let me know how you like the new format and if there were any problems such as missing stories or unusual letters and symbols. Thanks!

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Mark K April 1st, 2008

1.   What’s the difference between a blog and a regular web site?

•  The word “blog” is short for “web log” and is a kind of online journal.  A blog usually deals with one specific topic or niche and the latest “post” is on the top of the page.  Unlike most traditional web sites, a blog is usually updated often and allows readers to leave comments.  This interactive nature of a blog makes it feel more like a conversation and less like a person or company simply advertising or dispensing information.

2.  I would like to leave a comment, but I’m not a writer and am self-conscious about leaving something for “all to see”.  What other options do I have?

•  The writer of this blog can only hope that someday “all” will be reading the blog!  In the meantime, your comments will only be seen by a relatively small, but clever group of people.  In the meantime, if you are a bit shy about leaving comments you can always use a nickname instead of your real name, or e-mail your response to mark@pauseforpurpose.com. You might also want to check out a few blogs and read the comments - not all comment-writers are English majors! 

3. What’s the point in writing about everyday life?

•  Everyone has a story to tell.  Everyone has an “everyday” life that contains the extraordinary.  In Pause for Purpose, I try write about something that I notice in daily life that catches my interest and then dig a bit to find something universal or thought provoking for the readers.  The hope is that this will make people think and to notice these kinds of events in their own lives as well.

4.  What are some different ways to subscribe to this blog?

• Readers can sign up for a monthly newsletter by filling in the form on the home page or they can subscribe to the RSS feed by clicking on the symbol.  There is a post on the blog entitled  Subscribe to this blog using RSS which explains how this works.

5.  You mention wanting this blog to be sort of like a salon.  What are some of the different ways that a person might respond to a post?

• Give your opinion about the idea presented.
• Tell about something similar that has happened to you or give an example that contradicts the example of the story.
• Write about what ideas or feelings come to you when you read the post.
• Comment on something that was written in another comment.
• Ask a question. 
• As in a good conversation, add something to the discussion that will encourage others to do the same.

Tags: how to blog, Pause for purpose, salon

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Mark K March 15th, 2008

I’d like to invite you to subscribe to Pause for Purpose. You can subscribe to a newsletter, which will be mailed to you as an e-mail, or you can subscribe using an RSS feed. This video explains how this works:

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Mark K February 21st, 2008

A year ago today, I was asked this question by another blogger, who in turn had been asked the question by a friend of hers. Over the past year, my blog has grown and morphed, and my reasons for blogging have evolved a bit as well.

1. A good blog is like a salon. No, I’m not talking about the kind where you get your hair cut - I’m talking about the kind where there’s great creative energy with people talking, listening, exchanging ideas. Come to think about it, that is kind of like the place where I get my hair cut!
2. A blog is like a writing workshop. It’s a good place to try out different kinds of writing in front of an audience - try different genres of expression, think out loud, get some feedback and maybe build up the confidence to submit some pieces for publication.
3. A blog is like a glob of clay. You can play with it and reshape it whenever you like. If you don’t like the looks of that lopsided coffee cup, you can squish it and form it again into a surrealist pencil holder. It can be serious and preachy or lighthearted and off-the-wall. Or it can be all of those things until it evolves into something unlike anything that anyone else has done before.
4. A blog is a challenge. There were technical aspects that I never thought I would master - thorny problems which left me in amazement when they finally worked themselves out. Then there’s the challenge of putting yourself out there for the world to see. Many of my friends and family members were unaware that I’m a writer until I finally built up the courage to share my blog with them. There’s a great feeling of satisfaction when I see that something that I have written has made someone think, question, or continue the discussion.
5. A blog is my own little soapbox. I do believe that the world would be a better place if people would slow down, notice and live their lives with attention. Writing the blog helps me to do all of these things and my hope is that it encourages others to do the same.

Tags: , blogs and salons, reasons for blogging

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Mark K February 1st, 2008

Exciting news! Through a series of stranger-than-fiction events, I was able to participate in a meeting with the founder of a new writer’s website called Redroom.com. The site features work by well-known authors such as Amy Tan, Khaled Hosseini, Maya Angelou, and Po Bronson as well as up-and-coming writers and bloggers. It’s an interesting concept, with the goal of “fostering a community between writers and readers.”

When I was describing my experiences with book groups (being the only male in a women’s group vs. starting a men’s group), the CEO of Redroom, Ivory Madison, told me that if I were to write an essay on the subject, she would publish it on her site.

I jumped at the opportunity and as a result, starting today, Feb. 3, my piece will be featured for a week on the home page at Redroom.com. The title is “Men Who Pause - Mark Krahling proves that men really can do book groups.

Please take a look at the essay at redroom.com. I’ll also post a copy at Pauseforpurpose.com where you can leave feedback, if you so desire. I’m hoping that the article will lead to more visitors for Pauseforpurpose and a lively exchange of ideas. - Mark

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Mark K December 27th, 2007

It’s hoped that these stories and postings are thought provoking and that they stir up some of your own stories, philosophies and musings. Feel free to share your own stories on the blog or respond to the comments left by others. You’re invited to not just sit on the bench to pause for a few minutes, but to carve your initials there as well!

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Mark K June 9th, 2007

If you know someone who might be interested in subscribing to the Pause for Purpose newsletter, they can sign up go going to www.pauseforpurpose.com or by sending me an e-mail at mark@pauseforpurpose.com

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Mark K May 15th, 2007

Pause for Purpose is a response to a society in which we often rush headlong towards goals without taking the time to determine whether attaining them will truly lead to happiness and fulfillment. It’s about slowing down long enough to notice what’s going on around us, being open to new possibilities, and setting an intention for where to go next. Using my background as a teacher and life coach to guide me, I have been exploring processes and environments which can help a person to be more aware in order to lead a more intentional life. I have walked the labyrinth as a meditation, hiked the ancient pilgrim’s route, the Camino de Santiago in Spain, joined a weekly writing group, created a monthly men’s discussion group, and explored local nature by means of hiking and backpacking. These experiences have helped me to be more conscious about how I spend my time, about my role in my family and with my work, how I express myself, and the connections that I make with others. Above all, it has made me aware of the importance of pausing and living life with purpose. As I continue to pause and explore, I’ll share my discoveries in my monthly newsletter and blog.

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Mark K February 21st, 2007

Erin shared with question with her readers in A Wandering Woman Writes from Spain. I guess I’ve been tagged, so here are my answers to the question:

1. In the past I used to find myself frustrated sometimes when I found myself in social situations with people with whom I had little in common, engaging in “group think” and discussing issues on a superficial level. I longed to be part of a group of vibrant, creative people, who helped to bring out the best in one another. Finally, it dawned on me to quite whining and create something myself and I started making a conscious decision to spend time around people with positive energy. Creating a blog is just one small part of that. Although it’s just in the initial stages, I’m hoping that this blog will help to generate a healthy exchange of ideas.

2. I’ve begun to write more, have joined a writing group, and hope to publish a book sometime in the not-too-distant future. I’m not the most disciplined of writers, so having deadlines, a forum, and an audience are all things that help encourage me to write. Writing the blog helps me to be more observant about the world around me. I take my notebook and camera with me and look for the stories that unfold every day.

3. A blog is a way for me to say “This is what I believe. This is what I stand for”. Even when there isn’t an audience, writing the blog helps me to check in with my values and have the courage to write something to back up my convictions.

4. I like the fact that the blog can be published immediately but, unlike a book, is not something static. If I decide tomorrow that I want to amend this list (as I did 10 minutes after posting it), or start a new one about what I hate about blogging, I can do so!

5. And yes, I do believe that the world would be a better place if people would slow down, notice, and live their lives with intention. My hope is that this blog will provide a place where readers can purposefully pause for a few minutes.

Anyone want to pick up this tag? If you’d like to join the tag, leave a comment with a link to your blog telling five reasons why you blog. Nonbloggers are welcome to leave comments as well.

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Mark K September 15th, 2006

This website is dedicated to pausing, to slowing down and seeing what shows up. Posts will include musings, photographs, short fiction and memoir pieces, and thought-provoking questions. You are invited to pause for a few minutes, browse, read, and respond.

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