Confessions of a Serial Blogger

It occured to me last week that I've been blogging for a year now. In one way it seems only like yesterday it all started and, yet, as I looked over some of the earlier efforts it seemed like an eternity ago. Anyway it got me reflecting on a year of blogging and some of the lessons that I've learned (it's also getting near my holidays and I didn't have anything else to write about ). Here's what's occured to me over the last 37 entries:

• A writer needs readers. Seems obvious I know but, there are times when it's impossible to guage how this thing is going. And then someone I meet, or someone in the comment section, says they enjoyed such-and-such a story. And I know I'm on the right track. So thanks to you for reading this, whoever you are, wherever you are. It's so much appreciated.
• Blogging and teasing out issues has helped me as much (if not more) than my audience. This was partly the idea behind it all. How does this RP thing play out in real life? What does it mean to be restorative? Can a person be restorative and not even know it? Yes of course (A Sliding Doors Moment from the Maternity). People have been having successful relationships long before they thought to called it RP.
• People are still afraid of conflict. The comments reveal this all the time. When will this change? Slowly I suspect. But the tools are there (RP as a Translation Tool). We need to practice it though. I haven't quoted my Tai Chi teacher in a while. In our weekly class we do a 15 minute practice form with set moves. When asked how many times you should practice this each day, his answer always the same: "once is normal, twice is good, three times is unusual". Then, after a pause for effect, he adds "five times is the minimum". This is what it takes to master a skill. RP is no different. The rewards are there for anyone who makes the effort (The Surprising Similarity Between RP and Tai Chi). 
• People need support, yet they rarely ask for it (Help! I Need Somebody). Often times a person might thank me or compliment me on a particular blog and say that it helped them. I often, however, have the same thought on these occasions. Would that person have sought help or inspiration elsewhere? We're not great at asking for help. We love to give when asked, but you have to ask for it to be given.
• People love a laugh. Be it funny clip about monkeys (Monkey Business), or a witty comment or the mystery of who pinched my bottom (An Apology), which I will carry to my grave (your secret is safe with me Jeff). We adults need (and I mean NEED) fun in our lives. We come to life when we get it. Don't let the kids have all the fun I say.
• A question demands an answer. Some weeks are tougher than others to get inspiration. What I usually find though is, if I ask "what am I going to write about this week?" my brain doesn't stop until it comes up with a suitable answer. A question demands an answer. This is probably a good metaphor for a person's wider life too. Of course it helps if you're asking the right questions. If in doubt what the right questions are, may I respectfully suggest sticking to the RP questions. I'm sure you've seen them somewhere or other before!!! You shouldn't be too far off with these.
• Britain's Shame may yet be Ireland's Pain (Brexit and Britain). I wrote about Brexit and Shame before Christmas and, as I looked through it again, nothing has changed to lessen the fear that is the dreaded crash-out. We are still prone to mock Britain and Boris. I know, I know,  it's soooo tempting. And I know we live in a culture that regularly mocks and belittles celebrities but, but, but... Shaming is rarely, if ever, a good strategy. I hope I'm wrong.
• It pays to have an editor (in my case she's also my darling wife). I always get her to proof read my ideas before final posting, and I suspect she's steered me on the right path more than once. Everyone should have an "editor" in their lives I think (and I don't mean this litterally). I mean someone to bounce an idea off, to see if it's "off the charts" or "off the wall".
• Finally, thanks again to you all for reading these "ramblings", for your comments and opinions, even when (especially when) you challenge me. Knowing RP doesn't mean you get it always right. It doesn't make problems go away. It's just better than any other way I know to make this world a better place.

That's Restorative Practice

Author

​My name is Joe Power and I am the RP development officer for Limerick. I thought I would write about my experiences in developing my own understanding of RP, as well as in trying to spread it across Limerick. The reason for this is that I find that both my own and other people's experiences are remarkably similar and there could well be some opportunity for other's to benefit from these thoughts (or ramblings!!). Anyway I hope you gain something from it.

I am available to come to any school/youth club/organisation to talk about RP, demonstrate Restorative Circles or give advice on how you too can implement some of the practices. Also please e-mail any thoughts/comments/stories you might have to me at respracdevoff@gmail.com. Thank you.