I love being in the zone.  Head down, totally immersed, no concept of time passing and any interruption a nuisance.  I’m focused, engaged.  It feels good.
I hate being outside the zone.  Looking around, bored, time at a stand-still, and praying for interruptions.  I’m going through the motions, distracted, uninterested.  It feels bad.
So what does it take to be in the zone?
It has very little to do with the actual task at hand and all to do with the meaning you associate with the task.  It has to do with your …

I recently met a new comer to the region, an absolutely delightful woman with such zest for life.  We were in conversation with two other mothers, having a good old whinge fest about after school activities, parent associations, and Sheikh Zayed Road. Standard Dubai conversation.
She asked what I did.  I answered that I worked in software development.  Her face became greatly concerned.  She leaned towards me and placed a caring hand on my arm.”Oh goodness,”  she said,  “And does that take the whole day?”.
I burst out laughing, and I was …

This is not a post about Hannah Montana.  It is about third culture, and one the main premises of this blog.
Third culture individuals are typically those who have grown up in foreign countries, their formative years in environments outside of the father’s and mother’s home cultures.
However, I would contend that in today’s globalized and increasingly connected world, there are other groups of individuals who fall into the third culture category.  I know, I know.  Must we always peg and classify people? Can’t we all be individual, different, unique? Of course …