Over time I've been guided by a personal rule of life - a disciplined, values-based approach that keeps my work thoughtful, reliable, and human-centred. It's rooted in my Catholic faith, but expressed in a practical way that's open and welcoming to all.
The site is arranged around five pillars that gather notes, projects, and resources by the way they shape my life: vocation and work, formation, household stewardship, community, and rest. Use the Pillars menu on the left to browse by theme, and the Actions menu on the right for practical items such as contact and availability.
I’m Alan, and this is my digital home – you are most welcome.
I’ve been thinking about creating a digital blog for some time and I’ve finally gotten around to doing it. It’s now February 2026 and work is well under way.
In short, I wanted to share the tenets of my life, both professional and personal – which does involve my faith, this is a huge part of who I am.
So, am I going to bonk you over the head with a Bible? Probably not. In fact, in day-to-day professional life people know, but it’s not something that really comes to the fore but this being my digital home and a place to showcase me - I am unashamedly a professional Catholic! I am a convert – someone who has been on a very long and sometimes arduous journey to get to this point in my life – so I’m excited to share what works for me, perhaps what hasn’t worked, and the ordinary rhythm of things. That is to say, I'm delighted to share my professional and personal progresses - it's all for the greater glory of God.
I also wanted to add, whilst there are many admirable resources out there, from an Irish or British perspective a lot of them can be… I’m going to say it… twee, or full of Victoriana (in my humble opinion). I hope I can offer something a little different, perhaps a modern viewpoint? A lay viewpoint. Call it what you will - I hope you enjoy what I post.
I look forward to sharing my professional and personal journey with you.
I wanted to cultivate a space that is a little bit about me and a lot a bit about my way of life – a professional and personal digital commonplace book of sorts. As with life, it is a work in progress, so you may find some pages are not quite as I would like them yet. Bear with me.
I’m an ideas person – someone who thinks in layers of systems and methods, pretty much across all aspects of my life. As you may have gathered, I’m also a teeny-tiny bit Catholic, and that has a profound influence on how I live. It is, quite simply, my raison d’être.
That isn’t to say that in professional environments I go around thumping a Bible and pontificating – although my current boss periodically seems to view it as a personal challenge to try and get me to convert her, which usually has me in fits of laughter. I’m just not that kind of Catholic.
I wasn’t always Catholic. I’ve lived an extraordinary life in many respects, and I’m sure parts of that story will surface here from time to time.
So what is this? What is the why?
Some of what you’ll find here is practical: professional material, my CV, and a straightforward way to get in touch if you’d like a professional conversation. There are other layers too – ideas, projects, and the strands of life that shape how I live and work. On the back end, it’s also an opportunity to play with web development, which I genuinely enjoy. Creating things matters to me.
Professionally, experience has drawn me towards order and method – work done carefully and well. These instincts are often dressed up as Kaizen, Lean, Agile, or repackaged in self-help language. I’ve used many of those approaches, and still do. Increasingly, though, my work is grounded in ways of thinking that are far older and, in my view, far more proven.
I’m interested in slow technology – tools and systems that protect time, dignity, and clarity. Much of my life’s work is now shaped by monastic principles.
After a period of illness, I took the time to review my entire life. The question became: what systems actually work? A nearly two-thousand-year-old rule, regardless of one’s religious outlook, seemed to demonstrably do so. The next question was how to integrate that wisdom into a modern way of being – and here we are.
I’m also deeply interested in modern tools. I love experimenting with new software, systems, and ideas. I’m a strong advocate for artificial intelligence, for example – but, like everything else, it sits within a personal ruleset. Being slightly geeky, I named it: the WayLight ruleset – rooted in the Rule of St Benedict, interpreted through a modern lens and, importantly, usable in secular life.
I am not a monk or a priest. Perhaps in another life that might have been so. I am, however, on something of a life mission.
You are most welcome to join me.
Le meas,
Alan
Contact
If something here resonates — or challenges you — you’re welcome to make contact. I can’t reply to everything, but I do read carefully.