Link4Change - Chris Ogle

I've pretty much always been interested in health... This was probably because as a keen table tennis player I didn't want to compromise my ability through health issues.

I am also a firm believer that we are a product of what we eat. Bearing in mind that our body replaces most of itself every 8 months or so... the new cells will have to be nourished from the food we eat. If we put rubbish in, then we are more likely to get rubbish out. No guarantees though... life is not like that!

So I shop from the market and local producers, I buy fresh produce (organic as much as I can) and cook all my own food... I don't use Supermarkets haven't since 30th September 2013 (4 year anniversary soon)... I believe in the concept... everything in moderation and try and use what is in season.

Being a computer guy... I have been waiting for those with the backing and technology to come up with devices that can begin to provide us with the ability to monitor our vital signs. To be honest …

When I was growing up in Leavesden near Watford naturally my parents wanted the best for me and my two siblings. This isn't unusual though, I think most parents would want that, wouldn't they? To see their children doing well in the world?

But the above also raises another important point. That, as parents, wouldn't we want first and foremost for our children to grow into happy, content, adults? ... who exude a real love for life. So is it... do well in the world, according to what society dictates or... is it become an individual that follows their own purpose and does what they want with their life?

So what is success to you?
This is a really tough question and probably one that does requires significant reflection time. I have conversations with people all the time on this very subject. What is it that resonates with who you are... that would bring happiness to you each and every day because it is totally aligned to what makes you tick.

Most of us believe the myth that…

In 2016 early in the year the name Viktoria Dudawas first made known to me. I think what happened was that being a Hungarian and the fact I often talk about Hungary, it was suggested I ought to connect with Viktoria.

So we connected in the customary way on Facebook... although I noted that it looked like this kind of platform wasn't where Viktoria spent most of her time!

We infrequently connected on messenger every so often but it wasn't until August 2016 that we both agreed it would be good to actually meet rather than just the light touch facebook connection. So it was we met on the 3rd Friday I think it was in Hitchin at a Link4Coffee.

There was a huge amount of interest from both of us about the different projects we were involved in. Language, Hypnotherapy and Metanoia (programme on self awakening) on Viktoria's part and the whole idea of Link4Growth, the intent, principles and values of the organisation and those spreading the message on my part. What I also learned …

Trump, Brexit...for some, really desperate times... for others, perhaps they can be seen as purely catalysts for change...

I don't know how long Trump has at the helm nor how long it will take for Brexit to be executed... but what we can be sure about is that things are being shaken up a bit, many are upset... people are beginning to question everything... we are more divided than ever... and it's likely to get a lot more ugly before it gets better.

Perhaps we ought to stop looking at these things as they are on the surface. What if we utilised these events as an opportunity for change and to create something much greater, rather than bickering and trying to fix something which is blatantly broken. Also attempts to ride rough shod over other people's thinking, because 'we believe we are right' just further disenfranchises others and provokes hostility as we are seeing now... a huge example of this is escalating tensions between so called 'super powers' bein…

Over the past few weeks I have been having some really interesting discussionsaround Community, Religion, and 'what is needed' if we are to bring about real change in the world. 

There is no shortage of people out there that tell us what we have isn't working. There are many people who will tell you we need some kind of global organisation to bring people together... but... herein lies the problem. If we try to enforce another 'global' idea won't we just fall foul of creating just a new (different) version of what we already have with an alternative set of people in charge? ... A different (albeit at the start more palatable) group, suggesting yet another 'right' way.

In trying to coerce or persuade people to follow a 'path' the inevitability is that there will always be the anomalies. Those that don't want to follow (and quite rightly so). Those that have their own ideas about what they want to do, what works better for them... the thing is…

Earlier in the year I wrote about "What if we didn't ask for money?" ... This was the introduction to the idea that along with money, grants, charity comes allegiance to whoever wields (provides) the finances. Actually our whole volunteering sector is now subject to the same rigid structures and controls as business.

Although the volunteer sector messaging is designed to have us part with our hard earned cash (guilt trip more than often) at the centre it's all about money, money, money. Give us your money so we can 'operate' (and pay people)... Having slipped into 'business mode', you could be forgiven for thinking that volunteering and doing good things has been hijacked as it is now almost indistinguishable from the corporate sector.

Before anyone jumps on my back here, yes charities do some amazing work... but it has become an industry in itself, under the control of the money men... this is the point I'm making. Please take a look at the blo…