What secrets do you keep?

And from who? And why? What are you afraid of?

I’ve never been good at keeping secrets.

In fact, I keep wanting to run a personal policy of “full disclosure” and I never succeed at it. When I was in my final year at school, I decided to write a “truth letter” to each of my closest friends. Four letters.

I laid out as clearly as I could EXACTLY what I thought of each one.

I had to lie to get my first acting job.

I landed a part in Jack Hibberd’s Dimboola – one of Australia’s most successful plays. Trouble was, I was still only 17.

So I instantly became 18, just like that.

Back in those days, things were lazier. Trust was stronger. I said was 18, that was good enough for everyone. I was in!

Boy was I nervous on the opening night. Shaking.

It happened twice.

Two different people. Different days. Same result.

We are walking along the river, talking about a myriad of topics, in a free-flowing conversation. We jump from one topic to another – laughing, scowling, celebrating, worrying – it’s hard to keep track.

You know those kind of conversations?

I am usually the one who says “What was I saying?” Then some young thing quickly recites a full list of the last five ideas and how they connected.

Except, I was the young thing this time.

People come to us in pain, full of theories why.

Most of them wrong.

As purveyors of Alexander's discovery, we know the hidden habit that dictates the pain students are experiencing.

And the reason is shocking in its simplicity.

You are co-ordinating your actions by increasing your downward moving contractions of head/spine and arms – reverse that, all will be better.

People look at us like we are mad. What are you talking about?

Lap dogs send you emails with questions like: is there anything I can do???

They look up to you, with unblinking loyal eyes, hungry for their Master’s voice.

Roaring Lions send you emails with judgements: what do you think you’re doing!!!

You want to surround yourself with roaring lions, not lap dogs.

Lap dogs are wonderful, reaffirming, great for your ego and totally useless at helping you to evolve towards your wish. Roaring lions are difficult, challenging to your ego and totally useful in helping you evolve towards your wish.

Time.

I remember being in a car accident years ago. I was on my way to Melbourne – a teenage hormonal phenomenon – charging through the mountainous regions of Coopracambra National Park – on my way to a rendezvous with fate.

We’d just passed through Cabbage Tree Creek and started heading up a long hill. Impetuous lad I was, I felt frustrated by a long lorry blocking a speedy run up the hill.

I tried to pass it.

“Rafferty Rules” was the biggest day in my little 5 year old life.

It happened on Fridays, I don’t remember much more. All I remember is that Dad said I could do…

ANYTHING: Rafferty Rules = There Are No Rules (Wow)

To my magical baby mind, that was, like – incomprehensible. Anything? I can do anything? What will I do? I know, stay up late. Which was about all I could think of (since in those days no one was obsessed about sugar intakes).

On a Skype this week with an AT Teacher*, he told me a wonderful story.

It was about a student – call her Marie – who was also a long-time friend. Of course Marie knew about his AT work, but she had never been much interested.

Then one day, out of the blue, Marie called…

“Look, I don’t want to learn Alexander Technique…”

(rather puzzling he thought)

“… but can you help me cross the street?”

It confirms a growing belief I have about our future – most people don’t care.

I recently had a friend compare me to Donald Trump - that was new!

For me it was a “he said-she said” dialogue, and for her I was distorting the “facts”. I was rewriting history to make my world happy again: “Sorry, but the latter sounds like Donald Trump’s thinking.” she wrote to me.

A really interesting thing what happened last year in London.

As background – it was during the time we staged ATSuccess’ first foray into live workshops. The ATSuccess London Symposium essentially embodied our core message:

Package Alexander's discovery to a specific group of people.

Your “niche” as the marketing lore goes.

There were 7 different events on offer, and over 50 teachers got involved. Huge success. Now I start to introduce the interesting thing: