2017 was as wild and emotional a year as I can remember. The highs and lows were intense, both collectively and for me personally. At times, it has been a struggle to remain positive and optimistic about the future. I suspect many of us feel the same way. This past year, the political spectrum bombarded us and has held us captive, dredging up all sorts of suppressed feelings, forging us together and, in some cases, tearing us apart.
In the last few months, women have begun to speak up about systemic patterns of abuse that have long plagued our society. As far as I can tell, 2017 was also the year that we, as a global culture, began to own up to climate change, especially in the wake of tragic storms, rising temperatures and ominous forecasts of things to come. Hopefully, 2018 is the year that each of us embraces even more of our personal responsibility to tread lightly, consume less and act not only in our own best interest, but also in the best interest of future generations and our entire ecology.
For me, 2017 is the year that I completed my doctorate in Psychology and, shortly thereafter, dove head first into developing Evolutionary Education® full time. In fact, 2018 will be the first year that I’ll be able to devote all my energy to this endeavor (after nearly ten years of development!) and I am inspired to see what we can co-create as our offerings increase, our community expands, and we evolve together.
My shift in focus has generated a lot of important questions for me, though perhaps none more pressing than, ‘What is Evolutionary Education®?’ ‘Is this a worthwhile project?’ ‘How can I best be of service to the world’ and ‘Is EE aligned with that?’ I try to reiterate such inquiries every few months to make sure we’re steering this ship in the right direction, and redesigning our website—a labor of love that has occupied the last few months—has brought everything to the surface.
As you explore the site, my hope is that EE’s mission speaks through our pages, is transmitted in our events, and is embodied by the members of our tribe. 2018 will be a busy year for us as we pour our heart and soul into helping you discover yourself and share your unique gifts with the world. We imagine a world where people greet each other with genuine kindness and compassion; where opportunities to learn aren’t restricted to those with privilege; where inner wisdom is both recognized and venerated; and, where everyone experiences a little bit more freedom.
Thank you for your support of Evolutionary Education® and your belief in our vision.
In service,
Dr. Nick Atlas