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August 10, 2004
The Landmark Forum
I don't remember whether I first heard of this through Kai or through Henry, but they went through the Landmark Forum in that order, and for both it brought about significant change in how they lived their lives. For the most part they were the same, but slightly different. Having listened to me complain about my lack of direction more, Henry pushed me to attend. He had to push for the better part of a year.
Landmark Education, the company that presents the Landmark Forum, is shrounded in some controversy. I had friends on one side urging me to go and friends on the other warning me to do otherwise. As a result, I went in with some skepticism, but in the end I believe it was worthwhile.
In working through their exercises, I was able to see myself a little more clearly, and the methods that I used to deceive myself. I was able to come clean with my parents about things I hadn't told them before. It's probably remarkable in itself that I had a conversation with my father, at 4 a.m. his time, that lasted longer than all of our other conversations combined since I left for university eleven years ago. Landmark has definitely made an impact in my life, though not as big as it could be. I'm still working through stuff that I've spent a lifetime repressing.
Is it for everybody? No. As their waiver for clearly states, their programmes are for people who are well and not those in need of help from certified health professionals. I can see where some people may come out very differently, much to the concern of their friends and family, especially if they end up contributing as much of their time and energy as Landmark would like them to contribute to the organization.
The long and the short of it is this: I got a lot of good stuff out of attending the the Landmark Forum. Actually getting "something" out of the Forum isn't exactly accurate. The Forum is about getting "nothing", which is a bit of a joke about losing all of the baggage that you carry around with you in your life. I was given new ways of looking at the problems I have in my life and the way I approach them. In dealing with these issues, I could continue without the weight of them holding me back.
As for my baggage, I'm still unloading the trunk.
Posted by KinCross at August 10, 2004 04:10 PM