A Millimeter is Fantastic (a tribute to my friend Richard Jones)

[Bill Ryan]

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Dear All:

I shared on this thread the remarkable story of someone on a training course I once ran who had a huge, life-changing experience.

The story of an epiphany. Should a toxic person leave a group, or hang in there and change their life? (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?63304-The-story-of-an-epiphany.-Should-a-toxic-person-leave-a-group-or-hang-in-there-and-change-their-life)

I used to do this work regularly. But we didn't always get such dramatic results.

On one course, I'd worked 15 hours a day, for five days, and the results were really quite minimal. After the participants had all returned home, I sat down with my colleague -- who on that course was a very wise man called Richard, a few years older than I was, and a quite wonderful person to work with.

Exhausted, I complained:

"You and I worked really hard all week off from start to finish, and after all that, they only moved a millimeter."

Seriously but kindly, Richard leveled his eyes at me -- and I've never forgotten his words:

"A millimeter is fantastic," he said.






Edit to add: I received the news a few days ago that Richard has died. Please see my new post #19 below. (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?63645-A-Millimeter-is-Fantastic--a-tribute-to-my-friend-Richard-Jones-&p=743508&viewfull=1#post743508)

My sharing this story about him was an extraordinary, timely, 'coincidence'. The last time I saw him was seven years ago. What I did not say in this post was that I strongly felt that I'd received a 'message' to tell the story. The world works, as we all do, in mysterious ways.

[CD7]

That could be all it takes is a millimeter!! :bigfish:

[Flash]

------

Dear All:

I shared on this thread the remarkable story of someone on a training course I once ran who had a huge, life-changing experience.

The story of an epiphany. Should a toxic person leave a group, or hang in there and change their life? (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?63304-The-story-of-an-epiphany.-Should-a-toxic-person-leave-a-group-or-hang-in-there-and-change-their-life)

I used to do this work regularly. But we didn't always get such dramatic results.

On one course, I'd worked 15 hours a day, for five days, and the results were really quite minimal. After the participants had all returned home, I sat down with my colleague -- who on that course was a very wise man called Richard, a few years older than I was, and a quite wonderful person to work with.

Exhausted, I complained:

"You and I worked really hard all week off from start to finish, and after all that, they only moved a millimeter."

Seriously but kindly, Richard leveled his eyes at me -- and I've never forgotten his words:

"A millimeter is fantastic," he said.

This is often the millimeter that was missing to bring them to the tipping point.

--------------------------------

I met people years later after having work with them for very short period of time who would tell me that

"after you, I saw my job differently, gosh it is good" or " I accepted that the pencil was not my friend and I was better off as a blue collar" or "my employees really want you, they say you are transformative" or.... enough to know that this millimeter is somewhat important for at least 10% of those we met. That millimeter was part of their tipping point, that 10% may be the what the global human for earth changes tipping point is.

--------------------------------

It takes 7-8 years through word of mouth only (no tv/radio/internet), to implant a new belief towards a constructive value in a 6 million population base. With only ONE presenter or trainer. I have seen it in action. The work you did, you have no idea how much it brought to the planet.

Now, imagine the impact of the work being done on Avalon, with multiple presenter and co-trainers.

[araucaria]

When my son was very small himself, he used to call it a minimeter - which to me sounds like about two feet.

[Billy]

Sometimes baby steps are better. You take in much more of the scenery. :whistle:

[Flash]

I just realized that I got a virus from Carmody: I write a post, in parts. I post the first part, then continue writing, add to the first part (with edit button), then keep on y idea, and add a third part, etc This allows for not losing the train of thoughts, that are faster than the typing. Those who thanked me have no idea what they have been thanking....:cool:

So now on, I will separate the inter postings by ------------------

[ghostrider]

better a milimeter than no movement at all ... life is a battle of inches ...

[markpierre]

Nice. That's a millimeter in the 'right' direction? A millimeter in any direction can be a big deal when all 4 tires are in the mud.
'Anywhere but here' is usually attractive and helpful to a mind that's caught, and is aware that it's caught.
Most minds haven't noticed that the tires are spinning, and they haven't moved in years.
There was no destination in the first place. Even the idea 'destination', might be a big big change.

Information gets in. It can't get out again. It can be ignored, or stuffed away, but it's stuffed away for later. It's in there.
Every new (true) idea that gets planted in the mind has a truing effect of some kind on every single thought from then on,
whether we like or agree with the idea or not. It can be accepted or rejected, but it's not going to leave.

That's true of false information too, though it will always eventually disprove itself. How much time are we willing to waste
of the people we share our unsorted ideas with? Sort of ramps up the idea of responsibility. Everything we say and do has an impact.

I was told directly once, when I asked 'how do we heal the world'? I had to wait with that question until after I'd noticed
that I'd never known anything but my own spinning tires.
"we do it one mind at a time, and it begins with yours".

Thanks Bill.

[Gardener]

Your post left me wondering if what you perceived as the 'minimal results' grew over time into something quite special.

On one course, I'd worked 15 hours a day, for five days, and the results were really quite minimal.

[spiritguide]

Bill, When you see the light go on for the attendees the feeling is priceless and worth the effort I'm sure. As they say, "one bite at a time".

Peace!

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

It seems to me that patience is the lever that lifts the world.
Thank you for this!

*hide*

[kenaz]

A millimeter is a lot when you are moving mountains (getting another to see a new perspective).
Well done!

[astrid]

Don't also underestimate the processing that happens after a group event like that.

It might seem like a small change on the surface, but the internal ones can take longer
to perculate, it also depends what the external shifts are actually connected to, at that core level.

If that makes any sense.

[Flash]

Your post left me wondering if what you perceived as the 'minimal results' grew over time into something quite special.

On one course, I'd worked 15 hours a day, for five days, and the results were really quite minimal.

Bill is very demanding on himself. I bet that if you were to ask the participants, right after their week, their conclusion would have been vastly different. The proof is in the pudding. He was asked back years after years, again and again.

[Bill Ryan]

Your post left me wondering if what you perceived as the 'minimal results' grew over time into something quite special.

On one course, I'd worked 15 hours a day, for five days, and the results were really quite minimal.

Bill is very demanding on himself.

Yes, that's the exact point. My colleague was reminding me, so correctly, that apparently small victories are still victories.

And we need MANY such victories, big or small, all the time, to make a better world. We must allow ourselves to be encouraged and heartened by sometimes the tiniest thing, and not get DIScouraged because we don't seem to be getting earth-changing results upon demand. Every parent will understand!

And also, every Avalon member who has a friend, partner, parent or child who doesn't understand at all what's really happening in the world, and who's often in resistent denial -- but every now and then recognizes a truth which they'd not seen before: even a small one. Those too are victories to be celebrated.

[SEAM]

"We must allow ourselves to be EN-couraged and heartened by sometimes the tiniest thing, and not get DIS-couraged because we don't seem to be getting earth-changing results upon demand. Every parent will understand!


As the Lion Said... "Courage!!" Thanks Bill...

[golden wonder]

This thread is fantastic. How long is a piece of string. Every day builds a new rope ladder every ladder builds a place for more people to be included and become unified.
Thank you Bill. I'm an infrequent visitor but follow your threads. Your words come to me at the most perfect times.

[OmeyocaN777]

The universe grows like a giant brain that is constantly increasing neural network while spreading just like the internet.

"everything flows"

[Bill Ryan]

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Of interest to all philosophers of life: my good friend Richard Jones, who I wrote about here just three weeks ago on my opening post, has died. This thread was about him.

I was able to send a link to this very thread to his wife and close friends in the UK. It was very much appreciated.

Of course, Richard lives on -- in more ways than one. I worked alongside him extensively, and he was a source of inspiration, learning and wisdom to very many, not least myself. I look forward very much to working with him again some day.


http://projectavalon.net/Richard_Jones.jpg

[Hazel]

A millimeter or a mile
A moment or a lifetime

that which touches and inspires may not be tacit, but is causal to ripples and events far beyond any measuring...

something Richard has had affirmed in an even greater way now.. I feel cetain

Thank you for sharing this Bill

[bennycog]

The universe grows like a giant brain that is constantly increasing neural network while spreading just like the internet.

"everything flows"

My thoughts exactly. I could not have said it better myself. I might add that life I think is at the tiniest level right up to the ever expanse of time itself. A form of consciousness in one way or another. Part of a whole or a singularity.
Thank you for this story Bill.

RIP to Bill's mate Richard Jones.

[M6*]

Beautyfull people usually attract beautyfull friends!
This man must have added so much Joy to your life:-)
Don't you imagine he must be amazed by now to
finally know just how far that millimeter has extended.

My condolences to you, Bill, and his family. M6*

[Flash]

I am sorry for the loss of a great friendship you had, here on earth. But I know you carry him in your heart, love shared is always what remains.

[Roisin]

I think he's going to be your "helper" Bill. He was already communicating to you from the other side when he gave you that message even though he had not yet departed from the physical. But, IMHO, I think he's going to continue to be in contact with you and what a wonderful thing that is because what more can you ask for than to have an eternal optimist by your side to help you navigate your life from here on end. A fantastic millimeter indeed -- and he's going to keep reminding you of that too!

My most sincere condolences for the passing of your friend. He sounds like someone I would have liked to have known.