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Observations

The American Dream in Hallmark Christmas Films

In the final days before Christmas, as London softened into that peculiar hush that arrives once schools have begun to let out and families retreat inward to the warmth of the home, I found myself doing something thoroughly predictable and deeply comforting: watching Hallmark Christmas films under my Snuggie. Between farewell dinners with friends, long…

Observations

A Year of Reading and Renewal: Reflections on 52+ Books in 2025

I started this year with a strange mix of endings and fresh beginnings. The email confirming my promotion to full professor arrived in early January while I was making coffee, and I remember feeling not triumph but a kind of wry tenderness towards my younger self who had wanted this so badly. Titles come long…

Observations

Understanding Metaconsciousness for Personal Growth

At this time of year, I always notice a subtle change in the quality of my attention. The external world doesn’t necessarily slow down, but something inwardly does. Even the light feels different. Darker, yes, but also more permeable. I’ve been feeling that contrast keenly over the last few weeks, particularly as I prepare for…

coaching

Reveal, Repattern, Realign: The Structure Beneath The Art of Creative Practice

From the outside, The Art of Creative Practice can look like many different things at once. Writing programmes. Creative challenges. Emotional inquiry. Somatic awareness. Community spaces. Workshops on purpose, planning, and creating change. People arrive through different doorways, often drawn by whatever thread they most need at that moment. But beneath that variety, the work…

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About Me

Hi, I’m Allan. I’m a professor, coach, and meditation teacher interested in how we can live and think more creatively in a complex world. My work bridges mindful living with the craft of scholarship, bringing together literature, philosophy, and contemplative practice.

Alongside my academic writing, I share reflections here on the art of academic practice, slow living in a fast city, and the small rituals that make daily life meaningful. This blog serves as a library and archive for my wider projects across Substack, YouTube, and beyond.

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