Opportunity Archives - Blocks of Life

May 23, 2026May 14, 2026 by Pete Wiley

Life Interruptions—Disruptions or Opportunities?

Life never works out exactly how you envision it, and for the most part, that’s a good thing. It may not seem like it at the time, especially if something important is disrupted, but for most people, a break in routine is healthy. An interruption can allow you to take stock of where you are, to spend time with the people who are important to you, and to gain perspective on what is truly a priority for you. Planned breaks in routine, such as vacations, can also serve these purposes, but they tend to be hectic and require planning. An unanticipated break jumps outside of your normal routine and organizational approach, and “clears the decks” mentally and emotionally.

March 28, 2026March 23, 2026 by Pete Wiley

The Important Stuff—Focusing on What Matters

Life gets hectic. It’s easy to focus on the details and minutiae of your daily life and neglect the truly important aspects. People make to-do lists and schedules, and they have goals and ambitions. They plan their days around these elements and consider themselves unavailable for other possibilities. On the surface, this is fine; it’s good to be organized and manage your time well. On the other hand, it’s also possible to be too rigid. If something unrelated to your work or goals comes up, it’s easy not to give it a second thought and conclude that you have no available time.

December 6, 2025November 6, 2025 by Pete Wiley

Being Open-Minded and True to Yourself

Being open-minded can be difficult, especially when the ideas or opinions you hear seem to go against your values or morals. Someone says something that, on its surface, sounds selfish, callous, or shortsighted, and your natural reaction is to disagree vehemently. But part of being open-minded is knowing the whole story. What is the backdrop for what you’re hearing? People may be misinformed or misguided. Many people feel disenfranchised and are desperate to find an ideology or a movement that resonates with them. You may vehemently disagree with what someone believes or says, but it’s helpful to dig deeper and find the circumstances that have led to their perspective.

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September 13, 2025July 23, 2025 by Pete Wiley

Courage—When You Need It and What Drives It

There’s a lot of talk of courage these days. In challenging times, it takes courage to face new risks, to be a force for change, and to stand up to oppression. If your life has been relatively free from risk and danger, suddenly having to find courage can be harrowing. But if you can: a) identify what you fear and why it’s scary to you, and b) explore what courage means to you, you may find courage you didn’t know you had. Some must find courage because they have no other choice, while others can see a context where courage is needed and must decide whether they have the courage and the conviction they need to test it. We all have some measure of courage, and we’ll invariably face situations in which we have to draw on it.

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August 12, 2025August 12, 2025 by Pete Wiley

New Release: Civil Living

Today, I’m honored to share something that’s been years in the making: the publication of my book, Civil Living: Finding Civility In Society, In Our Interactions, and Within Ourselves (link). Civil Living is a series of essays that represent a deep and ongoing exploration of how we live, relate, and show up in a world that often feels anything but civil.

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