The Shepherd
Several years ago, I participated in a Co-Active Coaching Seminar in pursuit of my International Coaching Federation certificate. In 2021, I was confined to New Zealand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 125 hours of class for the five modules were conducted virtually through Zoom.
During the final stages of my certification, I was coaching a fellow cohort member and being evaluated. The adjudicator inquired about my origin, to which I replied, "New Zealand." He then suggested that I adopt a more shepherd-like demeanor, adding that I should be a "drunken shepherd." I inquired if this meant I should be more relaxed and laid-back, to which he responded affirmatively, "Yes, relax into it."
At that time, my right-hand, PK, was deeply engrossed in creating my future residence at the Edge of the World. We were in the conceptual phase, and I shared the shepherd analogy with him. Consequently, our house became known as "Project Shepherd." Renowned New Zealand architects, Fearon and Hay, collaborated with PK to design a simple six-room house constructed from cedar, glass, and concrete, nestled amidst the beauty of nature.
As a minimalist individual, I possessed minimal possessions. Like at Parihoa, I am deeply inspired by the splendor of nature. Working and creating remotely all the time, peace, serenity, and simplicity were paramount. Furnished in a minimalist manner, "Project Shepherd" would eventually become synonymous with the Shepherds Hut. I had always envisioned the home being named Synchronicity, symbolizing the opening of space in life for significant moments to unfold.
With 25,000 native plants established, the Synchronicity was unveiled in late 2023. The Local Project intends to record a documentary in mid-2024. Over a year beyond that, I am increasingly akin to a shepherd. The Shepherd’s Hut has been an exquisite experience not only for me but also for my friends and network who visit. I feel that being here, on this land, is the most authentic expression of myself. When I encounter others in this environment, I reciprocate the same sentiment. Occasionally, I experience nostalgia when I bid farewell to those who return to the world of busy schedules and commitments. For the shepherd’s time appears to occasionally cease, and that is precisely what I sought here—an analog digital existence that is increasingly rare in today’s world.
The shepherd embodies casualness, confidence, vulnerability, strength, and care. It represents the softer version of my past self. And it is this very image of the future me that the MC² Network aspires to achieve—a metamorphosis from life 1 to life 2. Who are you, and who do you aspire to become?