Open Circle Ajijic

Featured Presentations Scheduled for Your Enjoyment in the LCS Gardens

Registration is strongly encouraged. CLICK HERE TO RESERVE MONDAY-SATURDAY

Open Circle Ajijic

September 24, 2023
Why Can't We All Just Get Along: Dissecting the Anatomy of Peace
YouTube link: Coming Soon!

A way to help us understand the causes of conflict, and how our mindsets can be altered to bring greater peace and joy into our lives, our communities, and our world.

Why can't we all get along? We seem to be a divided society. We are politically divided, racially divided, and culturally divided.

The Anatomy of Peace - Resolving the Heart of Conflict is an interpersonal approach that helps to unite us, not divide us.

The problem is that we often misunderstand the causes of our conflicts. What if conflicts at home, conflicts at work, and conflicts in the world stem from the same root cause? What if we systematically misunderstand that cause? And what if, as a result, we unwittingly perpetuate the very problems we think we are trying to solve?

This interactive talk will help us understand the causes of conflict, and how our mindsets can be altered to bring greater peace and joy into our lives, our communities, and our world.

Rex Gale is a former Fortune 500 human resources executive and management consultant. Navigating conflict has been an integral part of his life in his business and professional consulting career.

A current writer, speaker, and certified personal development coach, he has published numerous articles on human resources, healthcare, and talent development.

A part time resident of Ajijic, he is also a former TEDx speaker and is currently the organizer of TEDxHiltonHead, an independently organized TED event, which showcases “Ideas Worth Spreading” throughout the Lowcountry of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

Open Circle Ajijic

October 1, 2023
Seeing a Bigger Picture!
YouTube link: Coming Soon!

Earlier in life, I was told that I could benefit from seeing a bigger picture! Just what is a bigger picture? and why would we need a bigger picture? How does a bigger picture relate to the events of my everyday life?

It has been said that human experience is a constant climb to a better and more complete perspective! Did you know that our perspective helps define some of the most basic motivations, like common intent and attitude? Perspective on life even helps define those possibilities that can arise from our experiences! While our intent helps define the probabilities associated with those experiences! Does this help explain why elements of the same experience affect people so differently? If future success relies on development of a bigger picture, how do we take a new outlook that includes the bigger picture?

Learn the practical importance of a bigger picture for you! Learn to see perspectives and consider sources. Our perspective can be referenced to a single issue (smallest picture) or to the creation as a whole (biggest picture) or somewhere in between. Our choice makes the difference. Meditation has made it very clear to me that the bigger picture plays a more influential role than the local picture. New love for planetary transformation, all possibilities. Where do we find all the possibilities? The bigger picture, the whole enchilada.

What if don’t want or value some possibilities? We are told that a viewpoint that is open to all possibilities makes healing more unrestricted and thus more appropriate to the petitioner’s evolutionary state. To experience all possibilities, we are told that it pays big dividends to expand our heart to include the bigger picture, to the broadest view, even as large as the creation. We are told that the bigger picture contains more truth, more possibilities, all of life’s elements. By relying on the energy of the bigger picture, but what is the bigger picture that makes such a difference?

Examples of wholeness are the inclusiveness of love and the unity of life! In fact, a caring viewpoint can open us enough to include all kinds of possibilities! Just notice what happens when you care. Your heart expands to include more possibilities related to your intent.

Join me at this Open Circle presentation to explore these thoughts and how they can impact your life.

Open Circle Ajijic

October 8, 2023
Things You May Not Know About Laughter
YouTube link: Coming Soon!

Our capacity to laugh is a human phenomenon we take for granted. But the social sciences have found more to our ability to laugh than we may have realized. We know we laugh and we love it. We almost always believe our sense of humor to be an unusual, even crazy one, because it makes us feel a certain superiority over the irrational, the misguided and the pretentious. I have spent a lifetime fascinated by the subject of what makes people laugh and how it can be produced in so many ways for so many social and intellectual reasons. I'd like to share what I know about different types of laughter, debunk some myths and explain how we know laughter/humor works for us and against us as shapers of our individual personalities.

If You Missed an In-person Presentation, You Can Still Enjoy It On-line

Open Circle Ajijic September 17, 2023 Confessions of a Reluctant/Wannabe Writer YouTube link: Coming Soon! Dave Ellison was a writing teacher for 36 years, an educational columnist for 18, and the author of 4 books–none of which sold. In this humorous, self-deprecating (but ultimately quite serious) talk, Dave will share how a kid who hated to write ended up spending most of his life writing passionately, how he attempted to convince his students to believe they could and should write, too, and he’ll share a few poignant but silly anecdotes from his writing life. He’ll end his talk by reading two short selections from his latest book, “Mexican Streets: Tales of Tragedy and Triumph.” He’ll be available afterward with copies to sign.	Open Circle Ajijic September 10, 2023 Presenting LLT's New Season YouTube link: Coming Soon! In his first year as President of Lakeside Little Theatre Brian Mattes has transformed LLT into a new center for performing arts, adding concerts and Metropolitan Opera performances to its live stage shows and National Theatre London presentations. LLT is tackling more ambitious shows, is working with more community organizations, is adding to its technical capabilities, and is attracting extraordinary new talent. LLT will launch its new season in October, with thrilling Tony Award winning shows, a spectacular rock opera musical, and comedies both classical and contemporary. What’s next for LLT? Join us at this Open Circle to learn more about what is coming up and LLT’s important role in our community. We will also offer a sneak peek at the upcoming season of performances.	Open Circle Ajijic September 3, 2023 Can Animals Talk To Us? YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/aW1rzKHMeo0" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] Bone Voyage Dog Rescue presents, “Can Animals Talk to Us?” featuring internationally known author and animal communicator, Diane LeBlanc. Everyone talks to their pets, but what if we could learn to listen to what they are saying to us? Diane LeBlanc is part of a growing movement that was once discounted as “pet psychics,” but over the past 70 years has gained legitimacy as scientists continually add to our field of knowledge about animals. Diane will show that animal communication is neither magic nor mind-reading — but an innate skill we all have if we take the time to develop it. As there is an abundance in the Lakeside area, rescue dogs and their issues will be one of her focuses. Diane will give demonstrations with selected Bone Voyage dogs that will be present. To learn more about Diane LeBlanc, please visit her website, [a href="https://becomingapetwhisperer.com/" target="_blank"] BecomingaPetWhisperer.com[/a]	Open Circle Ajijic August 27, 2023 Youth Mentoring at Lakeside YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/xnMgT2PhEcE" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] Margrita van der Hoek believes that just like there are risk factors for youth, there are also protective factors that help young people thrive. These exist at different levels (individual, family, school, peer groups, community etc.) Evidence-based Mentoring programs focused on life skills have proven to be very effective and are a way of working at community level to support our youth and contribute in a structural way to a happier and healthier environment for all. Margrita will speak at the Open Circle about her experiences with teenagers and how Lakeside residents are and can become involved in the mentoring program. Margrita is Certified in Youth Resilience Coaching, Youth Well-being Coaching and Executive Coaching and runs her private practice “Veredas Coaching.”
Open Circle Ajijic August 20, 2023 Feria Maestros del Arte YouTube link: Coming Soon! The 2023 Feria Maestros del Arte is our 22nd year, however, in all this time, there are still individuals at lakeside that say they have never heard of the Feria. I'm here to introduce the Feria to those of you who aren't aware of it and to tell all of you about all the exciting things happening this year as we feature the state of Oaxaca.	Open Circle Ajijic August 13, 2023 Your personal philosophy of life and how it effects you positively and negatively YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/QxTBEDj-CGw" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] From bumper stickers like “LIFE SUCKS THEN YOU DIE” to “LIFE’S A BOWL OF CHERRIES”, our parents’ admonitions – “DON’T SPEAK UNLESS SPOKEN TO”, and life’s experiences – “YOU CAN’T TRUST ANYONE” – these and many more aphorisms, chidings and warnings such as “AN EYE FOR AN EYE”, “ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS”, “BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY” – these simple words either limit us or expand our well-being, success, and happiness. At Dr. Acuff’s personal insight-producing presentation you will be challenged to explore the words and sayings that have either been visited upon you by life or that you have concluded for yourself. Come prepared to identify your own personal life philosophies and share them with a partner. You may very well discover the need to revise, replace, add on or remove certain seemingly innocent sayings that put guardrails on your everyday happiness or contribute to it.	Open Circle Ajijic August 6, 2023 Can You Survive the Arctic? A participatory game YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/RncOOwI7ELk" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] Last February many Open Circle attendees played a competitive group game led by me. It was both fun and insightful, and the feedback quite positive. This time we will be playing an entirely different type of game - one that works with cooperation in small groups. Personal and group insights will be gained. Please bring a pen or pencil and a playful open mind. Explore and be surprised by what emerges!	Open Circle Ajijic July 30, 2023 Making History Together: The Largest Sporting and Cultural Event YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/zim2YufZJAQ" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] In November, Guadalajara is hosting the International Gay Games. The Gay Games are considered to be the most important sports and cultural competition of diversity. Like the Olympic Games, it is held every four years with 10,000 participants. The Gay Games, in addition to integrating sports disciplines, also integrates a cultural and conference agenda. Metropolitan Guadalajara is proud to host The Gay Games. It´s not necessary to belong to the LGBTTIQ+ community to participate, it´s required to be over 18 years of age. The competitions are open to varied abilities. Come learn why Guadalajara was chosen as a host and how you might support this effort as a volunteer, a participant, a spectator or to sponsor a local participant. The Gay Games in Guadalajara will be held from November 3- 11. There are 22 sports that make up the competition.

Our Presentation Archives:

To view more presentations from Open Circle 2023, CLICK HERE .
**More archives of past presentations (from 2014 to present) are also available under the “Videos” tab on the Open Circle menu above.**

Open Circle Ajijic September 17, 2023 Confessions of a Reluctant/Wannabe Writer YouTube link: Coming Soon! Dave Ellison was a writing teacher for 36 years, an educational columnist for 18, and the author of 4 books–none of which sold. In this humorous, self-deprecating (but ultimately quite serious) talk, Dave will share how a kid who hated to write ended up spending most of his life writing passionately, how he attempted to convince his students to believe they could and should write, too, and he’ll share a few poignant but silly anecdotes from his writing life. He’ll end his talk by reading two short selections from his latest book, “Mexican Streets: Tales of Tragedy and Triumph.” He’ll be available afterward with copies to sign.	Open Circle Ajijic September 10, 2023 Presenting LLT's New Season YouTube link: Coming Soon! In his first year as President of Lakeside Little Theatre Brian Mattes has transformed LLT into a new center for performing arts, adding concerts and Metropolitan Opera performances to its live stage shows and National Theatre London presentations. LLT is tackling more ambitious shows, is working with more community organizations, is adding to its technical capabilities, and is attracting extraordinary new talent. LLT will launch its new season in October, with thrilling Tony Award winning shows, a spectacular rock opera musical, and comedies both classical and contemporary. What’s next for LLT? Join us at this Open Circle to learn more about what is coming up and LLT’s important role in our community. We will also offer a sneak peek at the upcoming season of performances.	Open Circle Ajijic September 3, 2023 Can Animals Talk To Us? YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/aW1rzKHMeo0" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] Bone Voyage Dog Rescue presents, “Can Animals Talk to Us?” featuring internationally known author and animal communicator, Diane LeBlanc. Everyone talks to their pets, but what if we could learn to listen to what they are saying to us? Diane LeBlanc is part of a growing movement that was once discounted as “pet psychics,” but over the past 70 years has gained legitimacy as scientists continually add to our field of knowledge about animals. Diane will show that animal communication is neither magic nor mind-reading — but an innate skill we all have if we take the time to develop it. As there is an abundance in the Lakeside area, rescue dogs and their issues will be one of her focuses. Diane will give demonstrations with selected Bone Voyage dogs that will be present. To learn more about Diane LeBlanc, please visit her website, [a href="https://becomingapetwhisperer.com/" target="_blank"] BecomingaPetWhisperer.com[/a]	Open Circle Ajijic August 27, 2023 Youth Mentoring at Lakeside YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/xnMgT2PhEcE" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] Margrita van der Hoek believes that just like there are risk factors for youth, there are also protective factors that help young people thrive. These exist at different levels (individual, family, school, peer groups, community etc.) Evidence-based Mentoring programs focused on life skills have proven to be very effective and are a way of working at community level to support our youth and contribute in a structural way to a happier and healthier environment for all. Margrita will speak at the Open Circle about her experiences with teenagers and how Lakeside residents are and can become involved in the mentoring program. Margrita is Certified in Youth Resilience Coaching, Youth Well-being Coaching and Executive Coaching and runs her private practice “Veredas Coaching.”
Open Circle Ajijic August 20, 2023 Feria Maestros del Arte YouTube link: Coming Soon! The 2023 Feria Maestros del Arte is our 22nd year, however, in all this time, there are still individuals at lakeside that say they have never heard of the Feria. I'm here to introduce the Feria to those of you who aren't aware of it and to tell all of you about all the exciting things happening this year as we feature the state of Oaxaca.	Open Circle Ajijic August 13, 2023 Your personal philosophy of life and how it effects you positively and negatively YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/QxTBEDj-CGw" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] From bumper stickers like “LIFE SUCKS THEN YOU DIE” to “LIFE’S A BOWL OF CHERRIES”, our parents’ admonitions – “DON’T SPEAK UNLESS SPOKEN TO”, and life’s experiences – “YOU CAN’T TRUST ANYONE” – these and many more aphorisms, chidings and warnings such as “AN EYE FOR AN EYE”, “ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS”, “BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY” – these simple words either limit us or expand our well-being, success, and happiness. At Dr. Acuff’s personal insight-producing presentation you will be challenged to explore the words and sayings that have either been visited upon you by life or that you have concluded for yourself. Come prepared to identify your own personal life philosophies and share them with a partner. You may very well discover the need to revise, replace, add on or remove certain seemingly innocent sayings that put guardrails on your everyday happiness or contribute to it.	Open Circle Ajijic August 6, 2023 Can You Survive the Arctic? A participatory game YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/RncOOwI7ELk" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] Last February many Open Circle attendees played a competitive group game led by me. It was both fun and insightful, and the feedback quite positive. This time we will be playing an entirely different type of game - one that works with cooperation in small groups. Personal and group insights will be gained. Please bring a pen or pencil and a playful open mind. Explore and be surprised by what emerges!	Open Circle Ajijic July 30, 2023 Making History Together: The Largest Sporting and Cultural Event YouTube link: [a href="https://youtu.be/zim2YufZJAQ" target="_blank"] CLICK HERE [/a] In November, Guadalajara is hosting the International Gay Games. The Gay Games are considered to be the most important sports and cultural competition of diversity. Like the Olympic Games, it is held every four years with 10,000 participants. The Gay Games, in addition to integrating sports disciplines, also integrates a cultural and conference agenda. Metropolitan Guadalajara is proud to host The Gay Games. It´s not necessary to belong to the LGBTTIQ+ community to participate, it´s required to be over 18 years of age. The competitions are open to varied abilities. Come learn why Guadalajara was chosen as a host and how you might support this effort as a volunteer, a participant, a spectator or to sponsor a local participant. The Gay Games in Guadalajara will be held from November 3- 11. There are 22 sports that make up the competition.

Sunday Morning Presentations, 10:30 - 11:30

Featured Presentations Scheduled for Your Enjoyment in the LCS Gardens

Registration is strongly encouraged. CLICK HERE TO RESERVE MONDAY-SATURDAY

If You Missed an In-person Presentation, You Can Still Enjoy It On-line

Our Presentation Archives:

To view more presentations from Open Circle 2023, ** CLICK HERE **. More archives of past presentations (from 2014 to present) are also available under the “Videos” tab on the Open Circle menu above.

To view more presentations from Open Circle 2023, CLICK HERE .
**More archives of past presentations (from 2014 to present) are also available under the “Videos” tab on the Open Circle menu above.**