Please note - I replied to reporting participants in the two posts linked below.
Mark's Replies for February 25 - Part 1Mark's Replies for February 25 - Part 2What an amazing month it has been! I am so impressed with what the participants in this group have achieved, and with the thoughtful, diligent effort displayed each week. What a privilege it is to enjoy this journey with you!
I thought today's summary might be a good place to carry on with our discussion about the Off Topic thread. We really appreciate all the feedback, thoughts, and observations that have been shared. I want to say clearly that I don't think the Off Topic thread has been a bad thing, or that there is anything wrong with it; on the contrary, I think the discussion has been really exciting, encouraging and beneficial! That's why I think it would add so much to the Time + Adherence Group discussion. Speaking personally, my goal for this group is to help participants craft a lifestyle that promotes health and wellbeing in a way that can be sustained over the long haul, within the specific context of a given individual. To my mind, there is hardly ANYTHING that is truly "off topic" here, because we are all attempting to build a way of living that works for us. The only discussions that strike me as being inappropriate to the group would be advocacy AGAINST the recommendations (and I do mean advocacy, asking questions is ALWAYS okay), or promoting the usual laundry list of "hacks" that Jeff discusses
here. And, of course, this thread is only for those who are currently following MWL and participating in the group. You've all helped me to understand and recognize that the main group thread has perhaps started to feel a bit too formal to provide the full gamut of social support and comradeship that can be so helpful and essential toward staying the course and finding success. I think including the sort of congenial, supportive, friendship building posts on display in the Off Topic thread can go a long way toward building the group environment we all want to see.
As we head into March, I want to encourage everyone who is following the MWL program to post in the primary Time + Adherence March group thread (which will go live on Monday) whenever you feel so inclined, even if the subject feels "off topic".
Please do not worry about derailing the thread. I will also make the commitment that I will only post in response to the weekly self-assessments, to welcome brand new participants, or as a reply to a question directed toward me. We want everyone to feel comfortable and unselfconscious in their participation. Hopefully, my stepping out of the way will allow all of you to drive the conversation and connect more easily. So, let's give it a try.
Please let me know if you have concerns, or you foresee issues that I am missing. We want to help everyone meet their needs, and open communication seems essential to that end.
Best to all! Take care and be well!