Transmissions from the Northern Outpost

Inauguration of my new blog

I am starting this on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. It is not coincidental, but also “it” is not, and will not be, the focus of this blog.

I won’t reintroduce myself here, especially for those of you who already know. For those of you who don’t know me or for those of you who do and want to know more about this blog in particular, here is my About page.

But I will tell you my inspiration for this blog and why I’m starting this today. It’s a quote from a book I haven’t read yet, but one that two friends say I need to read: Candide by Voltaire. One of them told me about this quote from the main character:

All I know is that we must cultivate our garden.

Candide says this to one of his traveling companions Pangloss after they encounter a Turk who tells them:

I have only twenty acres. I cultivate them with my children, and the work keeps us from three great evils, boredom, vice, and poverty.

My friend told me this was going to be his philosophy, to cultivate his garden, for the next four years. Likewise, I am going to attempt that – starting with this blog as I share the transmissions or messages I receive from the universe whether it be from books, TV, movies, or my own, and others’, life experiences. I invite you to join me:

on my continuing journey to become less and less of “an unfinished person in this unfinished universe” and a little more complete than when I started 55 years ago.
and to cultivate your own garden whatever that means…maybe even literally a garden.

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12 responses to “Inauguration of my new blog”

Deb Nance at Readerbuzz

Aw, yes, I like it. I remember being struck by this line from Candide. My grandma was staying nearby about the time I read Candide and she taught me how to (literally) cultivate my garden. For me, it’s very good advice because it keeps me grounded in the real and out of my head. I continue to cultivate my garden, such as it is.
Now I see why you waited until today to start your new blog. Good luck, Bryan.

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1. Bryan G. Robinson
  
  Thanks, Deb…and now a third person I know that has read Candide and quite the story too with your grandmother. I’ve also updated my About page. https://transmissionsfromthenorthernoutpost.blog/about-2/
  
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Helen Murdoch

I read Candide in high school so do not remember much about it and, my guess is that I didn’t really understand it.

I do like the idea of cultivating our gardens though and I look forward to your new blog.

By the way, I cannot see the text that I am typing since it is back on black, but if I highlight it, I can see it. 🙂

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1. Bryan G. Robinson
  
  Thanks for letting me know about that. I’ve fixed it temporarily but will work on it more tomorrow afternoon.
  
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2. Bryan G. Robinson
  
  It’s a dense text and the edition I have has annotations and essays about. Not a light read by any means. Why I’m not rushing it.
  
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Ti

I like that a lot actually. We are really going to have to cultivate that garden and kill all the weeds.

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1. Bryan G. Robinson
  
  Well, I think it’s not necessarily a political “thing,” but for me a way to interact with my family, friends and community, from the local to the national and international, with more compassion or compassion, period. That’s sort of where I’m coming from, learning from our experiences (Kim’s being in the hospital) that we truly are all in this together. Controlling what I can control in my limited sphere of influence (if I can influence for the good without interfering).
  
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  1. Bryan G. Robinson
    
    While I said “it’s not necessarily political,” it can be. I choose not to focus my efforts, especially online, there. I prefer to keep my sphere of influence limited to what I’ve learned and am learning : compassion toward others and myself, mindfulness, loving your neighbor as yourself – in some cases, literal neighbors. By no means, though, as my wife family, friends, and coworkers will attest, am I an expert and don’t succeed in every situation. But I keep trying.
3 Good Things Thursday continues here – Transmissions from the Northern Outpost

[…] back or down, depending on where you are, or be lazy, click here, to see first post on […]

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Tina

Ah, there you are. I used to follow you and Kim years ago and I burnt out on blogging so…lost touch with many bloggers. Looking forward to reading your thoughts here. As I recall Kim was a fantastic writer so hope she writes as well.

Tina in Florida.

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Ah, poetry! – Transmissions from the Northern Outpost

[…] not going to lie, but “cultivating my garden,” why I started this blog not coincidentally on January 20 of this year, is not easy right now. However, I am going to try in April with it being National Poetry Month and […]

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[…] I also had therapy to start and end the month, with progress being made during the month relatively, despite, while not my personal world but, “the world” in general falling apart or further declining. I’m still attempting to “cultivate my garden” as was, and is, my goal when I first…. […]

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