You know that saying everything old is new again? I think this statement is most typically associated with fashion trends, fads and board games. Have you seen advertisements for the new editions of "Sorry", "Trouble" and even "Scrabble"? What was wrong with the first edition? These are now completely retooled and repackaged in order to attract the younger set. Is nothing safe from the over-arching reach of technology? I like the old versions of these games...or should I say "retro" or "vintage" editions.
Speaking of reviving fashion trends, have you noticed recently the subtle and insidious return of the shoulder pad? Oh yes, my dear friends, it's not your imaginations running amok...you're shirts ARE getting bigger. Not convinced? Well the next time you're in a retail store, cast a bold eye toward the hanging footwear merchandise dangling from the store walls. You guessed it! Leg warmers are everywhere. They began populating the shelves of Target and other such formidable fashion-forward, European-owned centers of commerce around spring time. Six-inch belts have also begun creeping onto the pages of my White House/Black Market catalogues lately. Skinny jeans have been in fashion all year. And, can we talk about the big hair populating the television screens in every living room lately?
They're Baaaaaack...
The 80's, of course! And just when I was starting to lose faith we'd ever see them again! (Note to girlfriends, if I loaned you my black lace fingerless Madonna gloves 20 years ago, may I have them back please?)
All of my memories of the 80's are not as warm and fuzzy as my long-retired leg warmers, there were many dynamic trends that served to redefine our very definition of happiness during that decade. The consequences of which are still being realized today. Families began spending less time together, the dual income household had become more widely accepted as the norm, many of my classmates were latch-key kids, and microwaved convenience foods took the place of freshly prepared dinners. It felt like the world shifted speeds from 1st to 4th gear, petal to the floor, and no brakes. Everyone was more excited about the destination than the journey, and the Joneses seemed closer than ever.
Our lives got busier, and everything competed for our time and attention. As we "simplified", we found more support from the food and beverage industry in the form of pre-packaged, ready-to-use, heat and eat conveniences. It was also around this time that take-out food began it's ascent from "if all else fails, there's always (groan) take out"...to having our top five favorite eateries on speed dial. This is where the folks in the packaging industry really began to have a field day. Sudden increase in the demand for modern conveniences resulted in greater reliance on industries that produced corrugated materials, styro foam, plastics and aluminum, among other items. At home, it seemed the kitchen trash barrel also evolved into a taller, wider, technologically advanced and ergonomically attractive piece of functional engineering that not only looked great, they held a lot more stuff. They had to! The five or eight gallon bucket that once graced the space underneath the sink or around the corner in a closet could no longer keep up with the amount of trash we were throwing away. Why? Packaging...that's why. And not much has changed since the 80's in that regard.
The only saving grace has been our recent (last 10 years) desire to embrace recycling on a full-scale residential and commercial level, though some progressive towns around Massachusetts had begun to practice the third of the three R's somewhere around the early 90's.
Reducing and reusing (the first two of the three aforementioned R's) are just as critical to slowing the increasing burden on our trash-laden landfills and oceans. I passionately support any company applying a minimalist approach to the design and development of eco-friendly packaging. There are companies, such as Apple, that have adopted a "less is more" attitude relative to packaging. Their sustainability programs are far ahead of the curve on almost every level. As are Nike and Stony Field Farms.
At Stony Field Farms, there seems to be a Wonka-ish philosophy toward packaging. While not exactly edible, their most recent innovation will likely spur comments about whether the stuff on the outside tastes as good as the stuff on the inside. At some point in the near future, when you purchase a container of Stony Field Farm's yogurt, you can rest easier throwing away the container in either the trash or the recycling bin. They recently implemented the use of a corn-based polylactic (or PLA) container that is 100% biodegradable and eco-friendly.
Think this is revolutionary? Do your research! There is all kinds of information online about how companies are adopting the latest trends and guidelines on eco-friendly packaging in almost every industry. Why buy from one manufacturer, when another is more conscientious and offers a similar product that is better for our planet? You can haggle over the cost if you want, but in the end, it's our kids who will be left paying the bigger price.
So, because we're on the subject, here's a hot R/R/R tip for you. The packaging of today's toys calls for a new level of thought, planning and strategy on Christmas morning. You literally need a Swiss army knife, wire cutters, a pry bar, multiple varieties and sizes of batteries, a hammer, a large bag, tweezers and loads of patience. Sometimes the folks in China or Taiwan remember to pack all of the instructions and pieces...and, sometimes not. Good luck with that part. Where I can lend some insight is on what to do with all the pieces that are not part of the toy...like the card board, the wires, the plastic doodads that come with the "easy to assemble" instructions, etc.
Obviously, recycle the cardboard. Cut the bend and form plastic coated wires in strips of about three to four inches and save them for hanging decorations on your tree next year. Use the small pieces of cardboard, thin styrofoam (yes, they STILL use it) sheets and other packing materials to use as insulation and dividers when repacking your decorations. If you haven't completely destroyed the box getting the toy out, you can also use the whole box or box sides to wrap Christmas lights and garland around them for storage. Some of the plastic doodads can be recycled. But I have seen my kids incorporate them into crafts, to make little inventions and robots. Their imaginations are better equipped for this level of re-use then mine, so I let them educate me on their many uses.
You can recycle most Christmas paper, or if you're as careful as my niece Grace when removing the paper, you can fold it neatly and keep it for next year. For me, the gift bag was a really great invention. They are usually durable and can be used/traded year over year with family and friends.
Speaking of packaging...here's what I'm drinking now (ok, packaging has nothing to do with this, unless you buy according to the label on the bottle, and not what's in the bottle):
This time of year is perfect for indulging in all of those big Italian and heavy French beauties ripe for plucking off the shelf in your basement or your local wine shop. Your 2005's have waited long enough...go grab that Brunello, that Nebbiollo (baby Barolo's from the Langhe region drink just as well and for a fraction of the price!), that "always a bridesmaid, never a bride, but way hotter" Barbaresco you've had stored for the perfect occasion...go get her, lose that ugly dress and have your way with her! She's ready!
For all my French fans, your Burgundy's, and Bordeaux's can now safely take over for your Beaujolais'. They need a rest now. If red is not your thing, go for your winter whites. Chardonnay's from California and France can break up the monotony, but don't drink alone. These are always best paired with cheeses and pate's. Or mix it up a little and try a white burgundy. For those who just can't wait for New Year's Eve, to you I say why wait? You've worked hard all year, you deserve a little indulgence. Go grab yourself a bottle of bubbly, kick back, sip and savor...'tis the season after all!
Jivoli!!! (that's cheers in Serbian)
Wishing all of you the sweetest, kindest, happiest and most peaceful Christmas ever.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Work/Life Balance, and other Myths
Despite my love affair with fall, this season has been a struggle. I am struggling to balance a lighter-than-normal work load with the needs and demands of motherhood, an aging house, authoring two blogs and a book, and developing a workshop. I am once again working against that ever-present reminder of forever fleeting moments...Mr. Clock. Work is over-rated, we all know that. Even if you enjoy what you do for a living, I mean really love it, there's still a need for idle time and stillness. But I think I have finally given in to the fact that there probably is no such thing as consistent balance. Hell, I read it somewhere that the whole work/life balance notion is an utter myth! Do you disagree?
Now I'm not the expert here, and while I too railed against that statement at first glance (because it wiped out any hope I had that I was finally doing something right), I read the whole article. It didn't take long for me to admit I saw writer's the logic. She was right. The concept of being able to sustain a strong work/life balance was not a long-term solution...for anybody. And I was living the proof. You can't work hard at a career without making a lot of personal sacrifice. You can't raise a family with stay-at-home ideals without sacrificing your career aspirations, or at best, putting them on hold. No matter how you slice it, something's gotta give. I've thought long and hard about this subject so I'll put this out there for your review, consideration and entertainment.
It's reasonable to think that if a person works an average of 40 hours a week and sleeps 49 hours a week (average 7 hours/night), that out of 168 hours a week we are left with about 79 hours for "balanced" time. Now, that might sound like a pretty good start, and one might reason that they've got a shot at enjoying some well-deserved R&R each week. But now consider these averages: 5-10 hours a week commuting, 7-14 hours a week cooking, 2-7 hours a week cleaning, 1.5-4 hours a week doing laundry, and 4-7 hours a week on personal grooming. These essential tasks require approximately 19.5 hours on the low end. The low end is typically enjoyed by single people and retirees, or for the purpose of this blog, Category 1. You all have about 60 hours of blissful free time each week...not too shabby!
On the high end, that's about 42 hours of unpaid but necessary work, leaving you about 37 hours of fun-filled pleasure seeking. The high end is represented by the average stay-at-home, self-employed or full-time employed active parent (active meaning the kids are still home and dependent), or Category 2.
But that's still pretty much "pie-in-the-sky" thinking, isn't it? Because you still have to add in grocery shopping, Bobby's soccer games, Susie's dance lessons, going to church, bill-paying and organizing your desk, running errands, making phone calls and other necessary tasks...tacking another 20 hours minimum onto your weekly to-do list...that's approximately 62 hours of essential busy-ness.
Review: 168 hours/week
49 sleeping (7 hrs/night avg)
40 working
42 basic busy-ness
(20)added hours for active parents
+____
151 hours
168 - 151 = 17 hours
As category 1, single or married with no dependents, you probably have enough time to work out, take a class, read a book, enjoy one or two other personal pursuits, and keep an active social calendar. If you're working, you may even spend more time in the office, but generally speaking, life is pretty good.
But as a working or stay-at-home parent (Category 2), there's precious little time for you. And, if you are a child and care-taker of aging parents (Category 3), you can conservatively tack on another 8-10 hours. If you plan really carefully, this provides you with about 7 hours to do whatever spins your mittens each week. But, if you're a person who works a more realistic average of 45-50 hours a week (Category 4), it's not likely you have the luxury of spinning anything...unless it's yourself...in circles. Hence, my use of Categories 1 - 4. Yep, your life probably feels very much like a hurricane.
This is when you have to be a true master of time management. This is why getting out for a walk, a seminar, enjoying a hobby or even sitting down with a girlfriend is an all out luxury. Are you realizing there's no balance in your work/life balance? How shocking!
Myth 1: Work/Life Balance: A balancing act is precisely that...it's an act. It's not real. Maintaining a theoretical work/life balance is just something else to work at and keep in mind, and then measure one's personal and professional productivity against. In other words, a set up for failure. Pursuing that great balance requires planning, effort and energy. Just like every other pursuit in life. Realizing it's a waste of time will free you up to seek more tangible rewards. So find another definition for a successful lifestyle, and get comfortable with managing expectations (yours and others). Compromise is key. There are lots of things not worth doing that won't matter in the long run.
Let's talk about another widely held, yet completely over-rated virtue...Myth #2: Multi-tasking. As I was waiting for a client call yesterday I found myself thinking, vacuum in hand pausing over the bathroom rug, that most of my life I have lived by the old adage "anything worth doing is worth doing well". This is still very true for me. Then I thought about all the days in the past five years I spent working and sort of cleaning, cooking and playing with my children...sort of. I wasn't doing any of these things well. And that's the problem with multi-tasking. Standing there kneeling over my bathroom rug, working diligently to clean up every obvious strand of hair and piece of lint, before the phone rang and broke my stride, I had that fateful moment of deep realization. I discovered yet another work/life contradiction, multi-tasking is not only ineffective, it's neither healthy nor very practical. I put my vacuum down and went back to my desk and waited patiently for the call that came moments later.
And it turns out I'm not alone. There are a lot of people who are keenly aware that having your attention split in too many directions at once can result in things like poor work product, unfinished projects, ineffective communication and even car accidents. In the work place, multi-tasking is no longer the widely-embraced and beloved hallmark of an extremely productive person. The ritual practice of multi-tasking has become more about what you're willing to compromise on and not about how much you are successful at accomplishing fully every day. So, how about a few more of these revelations...if you can stomach it:
Myth #3: Work Hard/Play Hard: My motto? Work to live, don't live to work. And if your work feels like play, you're very lucky. Having a career is fine, if that's what you want. But there's nothing wrong with a paycheck mentality if it brings you both peace of mind, and back to your doorstep earlier in the day to be with family, or your cat...who or whatever is waiting at home for you. Even if it's a novel, a bath and a glass of wine or cup of tea. This is what it's all about! It is the working wounded who need to take a step back and think about whether another two hours in the office on a Thursday night is worth the effort when there are squash courts to be run around on, and phone calls to your best friend to be made. In these days of high unemployment rates, the gleeful and gainfully employed among us need regular recharging. Human-doing cannot trump human-being all the time without compromising health and happiness in the process.
Enough myth-busting, here are some truisms I'd like to spread:
Guilty pleasure is an oxy-moron: If you're going to have that piece of chocolate, that glass of wine, those gorgeous black boots or call in sick for a much deserved mental health day, don't undo the joy by beating yourself up for it later. Enjoy every blessed aspect of that pleasure!
Regular cardio-aerobic activity is not always good for you: Stop feeling guilt and shame about missing a few days of running, spinning or whatever vigorous exercise program you employ with exquisite discipline. This is critical to do in particular if exercise is your vice. Don't just give yourself permission to skip it for a day, actually make yourself step away from it completely for two weeks to a month and meditate instead. Ask yourself, why do I feel bad if I don't run, bike, or use the elliptical four times a week? What can come through to an open mind and heart is sometimes only realized through stillness and inner peace, and can impact your psyche so positively you'll wonder why you've been running from yourself for so long. The answer was right there the whole time. Giving your body a much needed time out can also do wonders for any trigger points in your body that may be setting up for injury without you even realizing it. One way to find out if you have any trigger points is to see a local neuro-muscular massage therapist. Not only are they skilled at finding the trigger points, but a really good one can work them out within 4-6 sessions. Reikki can also help target and relieve some of these areas, but a hands-on massage is worth every penny when given by an expert.
Charity feeds the soul: We all know this is true, but how about charity starts at home? How many times a year do you think about the fundamental needs of your siblings, parents, nieces/nephews, or extended family, and try to find a way to meet them without being asked? For example, perhaps you have a sister who is a single parent and never seems to have time to do anything for herself. How about taking her child/ren for a few hours and allowing her the precious time she needs to regroup and recharge? I'm not suggesting that your consistent gift of emotional support isn't appreciated, but the demands upon a single parent are a constant challenge. A little time away from the little ones provides a rare opportunity to relax and rejuvenate. Do you have an uncle whose dishwasher is broken, an aunt whose house could use a bit of TLC, or a parent who is no longer able to navigate a snow-blower? Why not hire a local handy-man to do a few hours worth of work to help with these small tasks? Or, strike a contract with a local 16-17 year old trustworthy neighborhood kid to plow out your parents every time there's a major snow storm? This not only helps your parents out with a difficult and somewhat potentially dangerous task, but can also provide you a certain peace of mind in whatever distant town or state you currently reside. With the season of giving fast approaching, this is a fantastic time to make a difference in the lives of others...your family, that is.
And, because we started with myths here's another one I'll end with. You can't drink red wine with fish. Who says? You sure can, depending on the fish and how it's prepared. For example, salmon cooked with any kind of tomato-based sauce can pair nicely with a Pinot Noir, or a fruity Chianti. Some might even suggest a Cabernet blend...but that's where you have to be careful. Too much body and spice will take over and overwhelm your palate. If you don't like red wine at all with fish, but you're not a chardonnay fan and find Sauvignon Blanc too citrus-y this time of year, try a white Cotes de Rhone! It's a revelation in every glass! How did this balanced, sophisticated beauty escape my attention for so long? The French may have cornered the market on excellent yet delightfully inexpensive white Cotes de Rhone. Try to get your hands on a bottle of 2009 Les Violettes at Bin Ends in Braintree. Make sure it's good and chilled, and serve it in place of your usual winter whites. You will NOT be disappointed! Also goes great w/ hearty cheeses.
Namaste!
Now I'm not the expert here, and while I too railed against that statement at first glance (because it wiped out any hope I had that I was finally doing something right), I read the whole article. It didn't take long for me to admit I saw writer's the logic. She was right. The concept of being able to sustain a strong work/life balance was not a long-term solution...for anybody. And I was living the proof. You can't work hard at a career without making a lot of personal sacrifice. You can't raise a family with stay-at-home ideals without sacrificing your career aspirations, or at best, putting them on hold. No matter how you slice it, something's gotta give. I've thought long and hard about this subject so I'll put this out there for your review, consideration and entertainment.
It's reasonable to think that if a person works an average of 40 hours a week and sleeps 49 hours a week (average 7 hours/night), that out of 168 hours a week we are left with about 79 hours for "balanced" time. Now, that might sound like a pretty good start, and one might reason that they've got a shot at enjoying some well-deserved R&R each week. But now consider these averages: 5-10 hours a week commuting, 7-14 hours a week cooking, 2-7 hours a week cleaning, 1.5-4 hours a week doing laundry, and 4-7 hours a week on personal grooming. These essential tasks require approximately 19.5 hours on the low end. The low end is typically enjoyed by single people and retirees, or for the purpose of this blog, Category 1. You all have about 60 hours of blissful free time each week...not too shabby!
On the high end, that's about 42 hours of unpaid but necessary work, leaving you about 37 hours of fun-filled pleasure seeking. The high end is represented by the average stay-at-home, self-employed or full-time employed active parent (active meaning the kids are still home and dependent), or Category 2.
But that's still pretty much "pie-in-the-sky" thinking, isn't it? Because you still have to add in grocery shopping, Bobby's soccer games, Susie's dance lessons, going to church, bill-paying and organizing your desk, running errands, making phone calls and other necessary tasks...tacking another 20 hours minimum onto your weekly to-do list...that's approximately 62 hours of essential busy-ness.
Review: 168 hours/week
49 sleeping (7 hrs/night avg)
40 working
42 basic busy-ness
(20)added hours for active parents
+____
151 hours
168 - 151 = 17 hours
As category 1, single or married with no dependents, you probably have enough time to work out, take a class, read a book, enjoy one or two other personal pursuits, and keep an active social calendar. If you're working, you may even spend more time in the office, but generally speaking, life is pretty good.
But as a working or stay-at-home parent (Category 2), there's precious little time for you. And, if you are a child and care-taker of aging parents (Category 3), you can conservatively tack on another 8-10 hours. If you plan really carefully, this provides you with about 7 hours to do whatever spins your mittens each week. But, if you're a person who works a more realistic average of 45-50 hours a week (Category 4), it's not likely you have the luxury of spinning anything...unless it's yourself...in circles. Hence, my use of Categories 1 - 4. Yep, your life probably feels very much like a hurricane.
This is when you have to be a true master of time management. This is why getting out for a walk, a seminar, enjoying a hobby or even sitting down with a girlfriend is an all out luxury. Are you realizing there's no balance in your work/life balance? How shocking!
Myth 1: Work/Life Balance: A balancing act is precisely that...it's an act. It's not real. Maintaining a theoretical work/life balance is just something else to work at and keep in mind, and then measure one's personal and professional productivity against. In other words, a set up for failure. Pursuing that great balance requires planning, effort and energy. Just like every other pursuit in life. Realizing it's a waste of time will free you up to seek more tangible rewards. So find another definition for a successful lifestyle, and get comfortable with managing expectations (yours and others). Compromise is key. There are lots of things not worth doing that won't matter in the long run.
Let's talk about another widely held, yet completely over-rated virtue...Myth #2: Multi-tasking. As I was waiting for a client call yesterday I found myself thinking, vacuum in hand pausing over the bathroom rug, that most of my life I have lived by the old adage "anything worth doing is worth doing well". This is still very true for me. Then I thought about all the days in the past five years I spent working and sort of cleaning, cooking and playing with my children...sort of. I wasn't doing any of these things well. And that's the problem with multi-tasking. Standing there kneeling over my bathroom rug, working diligently to clean up every obvious strand of hair and piece of lint, before the phone rang and broke my stride, I had that fateful moment of deep realization. I discovered yet another work/life contradiction, multi-tasking is not only ineffective, it's neither healthy nor very practical. I put my vacuum down and went back to my desk and waited patiently for the call that came moments later.
And it turns out I'm not alone. There are a lot of people who are keenly aware that having your attention split in too many directions at once can result in things like poor work product, unfinished projects, ineffective communication and even car accidents. In the work place, multi-tasking is no longer the widely-embraced and beloved hallmark of an extremely productive person. The ritual practice of multi-tasking has become more about what you're willing to compromise on and not about how much you are successful at accomplishing fully every day. So, how about a few more of these revelations...if you can stomach it:
Myth #3: Work Hard/Play Hard: My motto? Work to live, don't live to work. And if your work feels like play, you're very lucky. Having a career is fine, if that's what you want. But there's nothing wrong with a paycheck mentality if it brings you both peace of mind, and back to your doorstep earlier in the day to be with family, or your cat...who or whatever is waiting at home for you. Even if it's a novel, a bath and a glass of wine or cup of tea. This is what it's all about! It is the working wounded who need to take a step back and think about whether another two hours in the office on a Thursday night is worth the effort when there are squash courts to be run around on, and phone calls to your best friend to be made. In these days of high unemployment rates, the gleeful and gainfully employed among us need regular recharging. Human-doing cannot trump human-being all the time without compromising health and happiness in the process.
Enough myth-busting, here are some truisms I'd like to spread:
Guilty pleasure is an oxy-moron: If you're going to have that piece of chocolate, that glass of wine, those gorgeous black boots or call in sick for a much deserved mental health day, don't undo the joy by beating yourself up for it later. Enjoy every blessed aspect of that pleasure!
Regular cardio-aerobic activity is not always good for you: Stop feeling guilt and shame about missing a few days of running, spinning or whatever vigorous exercise program you employ with exquisite discipline. This is critical to do in particular if exercise is your vice. Don't just give yourself permission to skip it for a day, actually make yourself step away from it completely for two weeks to a month and meditate instead. Ask yourself, why do I feel bad if I don't run, bike, or use the elliptical four times a week? What can come through to an open mind and heart is sometimes only realized through stillness and inner peace, and can impact your psyche so positively you'll wonder why you've been running from yourself for so long. The answer was right there the whole time. Giving your body a much needed time out can also do wonders for any trigger points in your body that may be setting up for injury without you even realizing it. One way to find out if you have any trigger points is to see a local neuro-muscular massage therapist. Not only are they skilled at finding the trigger points, but a really good one can work them out within 4-6 sessions. Reikki can also help target and relieve some of these areas, but a hands-on massage is worth every penny when given by an expert.
Charity feeds the soul: We all know this is true, but how about charity starts at home? How many times a year do you think about the fundamental needs of your siblings, parents, nieces/nephews, or extended family, and try to find a way to meet them without being asked? For example, perhaps you have a sister who is a single parent and never seems to have time to do anything for herself. How about taking her child/ren for a few hours and allowing her the precious time she needs to regroup and recharge? I'm not suggesting that your consistent gift of emotional support isn't appreciated, but the demands upon a single parent are a constant challenge. A little time away from the little ones provides a rare opportunity to relax and rejuvenate. Do you have an uncle whose dishwasher is broken, an aunt whose house could use a bit of TLC, or a parent who is no longer able to navigate a snow-blower? Why not hire a local handy-man to do a few hours worth of work to help with these small tasks? Or, strike a contract with a local 16-17 year old trustworthy neighborhood kid to plow out your parents every time there's a major snow storm? This not only helps your parents out with a difficult and somewhat potentially dangerous task, but can also provide you a certain peace of mind in whatever distant town or state you currently reside. With the season of giving fast approaching, this is a fantastic time to make a difference in the lives of others...your family, that is.
And, because we started with myths here's another one I'll end with. You can't drink red wine with fish. Who says? You sure can, depending on the fish and how it's prepared. For example, salmon cooked with any kind of tomato-based sauce can pair nicely with a Pinot Noir, or a fruity Chianti. Some might even suggest a Cabernet blend...but that's where you have to be careful. Too much body and spice will take over and overwhelm your palate. If you don't like red wine at all with fish, but you're not a chardonnay fan and find Sauvignon Blanc too citrus-y this time of year, try a white Cotes de Rhone! It's a revelation in every glass! How did this balanced, sophisticated beauty escape my attention for so long? The French may have cornered the market on excellent yet delightfully inexpensive white Cotes de Rhone. Try to get your hands on a bottle of 2009 Les Violettes at Bin Ends in Braintree. Make sure it's good and chilled, and serve it in place of your usual winter whites. You will NOT be disappointed! Also goes great w/ hearty cheeses.
Namaste!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Fall in Love with Fall
Autumn can be very depressing for a lot of people. My husband, for example, practically bursts into tears on July 4th. Granted he is extremely patriotic, so if you know him, you wouldn't give it a second thought. You'd just hand him a tissue. But I know under that red, white and blue glow is actually a 10 year boy who is already counting the hours down to the first day of school. We have a saying in my house, and I hear it every year, on or around July 5th. "S-I-O" my husband bellows from the upstairs bathroom. Summer is Over. And I start laughing, actually, cackling is a better description. Because my annual response to this dramatic pronouncement of the death of the summer season is "Good! Can't wait for Fall!" Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike summer completely. I've learned to make my peace with its shamelessly hot, sticky weather, it's pronouncement of "relax, but you'll miss everything if you do" mixed messages, it's long and seemingly endless days of outdoor activity (also aptly described as indentured servitude to the Gardening Gods), and it's nauseating need to bring out every inappropriately clad human being within a 400 mile radius...and plop them on whatever beach I happen to be lounging (not really, with young children on the beach, you're in an upright position most of the time and your eyes almost unblinkingly follow every move).
Over the years I've learned to enjoy the wonders of the summer season and can sound almost passionate when I talk about the warm, welcoming mornings on the back deck, the variety of local bird calls, the butterfly's and hummingbirds decorating the trees and bushes in the yard, and after all the hard work of the spring, I do gratefully enjoy the fruits of our labors in the garden. I love the exotic flavors of the summer season, like an expertly prepared citrus infused ceviche, or platter of fresh sushi lined up like pink soldiers next to a heap of fresh picked green beans. I do like "the way the smell of a grill sparks up nostalgia" (by Will Smith...rapper/poet) and the feeling of sand under my just-manicured feet. The simple joy of watching our kids play for hours in the surf makes me long for a some-day seaside home. And, I'll admit to giving myself a get-out-of-jail-free card when I just can't find the energy to sit at my desk the entire day...and instead wander out to the garden to see what the chickens are up to.
If you poetically associate the passing of life with the passing of the seasons, as many writers have done beautifully (and way better than I will here) then Autumn as you know signifies the "last hurrah" of youth, so to speak. For many of us here on the east coast, it's that cold realization that the fun is over and it's time to get back to your desk. So it's natural for every sun-worshiper among us (you know who you are) to embrace every last sun-soaked moment as if their very life depended upon it because, well you know, the "end is near".
But I'm not sorry to see summer pass us by. Not in the least. I am a huge Fall enthusiast. Always have been. Since I was very, very young, I looked forward to the cooler temperatures, the crazy weather patterns (warm and mild one day, tempestuous the next) and long displays of gray cumulus clouds that seemingly race each other across the sky at dizzying speeds. It's like watching a time-lapse video...except it's in real time. I love the quality of sleep I get in the fall, too. Those cool nights go a long way ensuring a very sound and comfortable night's sleep under a pile of blankets and comforter. Great for snuggling, too.
The season serves as inspiration for many rituals, and naturally a lot of reminiscing. So here goes...I love the smell of new school shoes! When I was a kid, those highly polished, supple leather upper-soled, caramel brown Buster Browns tortured me for weeks from the confines of their box, nestled underneath a thin layer of crumply white tissue. The smell was positively intoxicating whenever I opened the box to take a peek. I just couldn't wait to put them on and slide recklessly across the slippery hallways on the first day of school. I'd made sure to scuff up the soles a bit on the walk to the bus stop. Nobody wants to fall on their first day.
It's been a long time since I had a new pair of Buster Browns, or any sort of loafer with tassels for that matter. But I can still imagine the way the leather smells when sitting new in the box, and it fills me with that same sweet anticipation of this seasons' delights. Apples, rich stews, fresh-baked breads, hot chocolate, Halloween candy, and stocking up on cedar wood for the Chiminea in the backyard. My fingers are tingly with excitement!! (or maybe that's just the seasonal onset of Raynaud's Syndrome)
When I think about the way that Autumn has always stimulated my creative intelligence, its no surprise to me now that despite my love for this time of year, I still struggle with a low level frustration that gnaws at me daily until I do something about it. I realized at 9:30 last night that every day for the last three weeks I have grappled with a calendar that won't let up. I get up very early every morning and make a promise that today I will sit quietly for just 45 minutes and do what my whole being craves. Write...without interruption, aim or explanation. Write...before the kids get up and break my concentration, crawling into my lap with their sleepy eyes, contagious little giggles and enthusiasm for morning. Every day I want to write. When I do, it's very much like my life depends on it. And it's the one thing that nurtures me beyond every other activity I practice. Not even running can do for me what writing does. What does that mean? Have I missed my calling? Was my High School English teacher right? Should I have pursued a career in writing and never looked back? Well, it's fall so there's no point in dwelling on what wasn't when I consider what still can be.
While I've never been told this, I have a suspicion that a good writer will always be a good writer, but a great writer comes with both talent and life experience. I guess it took me all this time to live and experience a life that would create a natural springboard for writing. It took me a long time to find my narrator...that inner author who I find myself channeling more often these days (thanks to Leslie for validating the author voice), and give into the impulse to just get it all down and worry about form later. Whether I'll ever develop into any kind of published writer has yet to be determined. At this point, I'll settle for being considered a good blogger with potential. Perhaps what I'm finally learning to do in the late summer/early fall of my life is to harness with the same sort of gushing anticipation of what is here right now instead of worrying about what is coming, or what's already passed. I'm not going to just get on with it and embrace my coming winter in life either. Instead of bottom out I'm going to "Autumn Out".
I'm not rushing into the winter season either, though I do love the simple beauty and the nest-like impulses that come with the first snow. Gathering my blankets, pillows, children, mug of hot tea and good books around me, I am aware it's only a matter of time before the snow makes my home feel less like a haven and more like a prison. But the other sad fact is I know it's at least another nine months before my favorite time of year comes back around. So I'm enjoying it right now while it lasts.
Autumn has so much to offer for sights, smells and sensations, almost too many to mention. It is chock-full of the colors that best compliment warm skin tone and hair color...pumpkin, every shade of brown, dark green, deep purple, vibrant golds and black...so, what's not to love? Ever notice how much easier it is to manage your hair in the fall? Humidity is to blame for the majority of my bad hair days in the summer. But the cool, stable temperatures of fall make even the most unruly tendrils behave...and, if not, it's hat season so who cares? And, yes, it's also wine season! Come on, you knew that was coming!! If you've never had it, try a French Bordeaux this year. Or, if you like a lighter style, French Pinot Noir is hitting the shelves and Bin Ends is stocking some of the best the world has to offer. My personal favorites this time of year, when the nights get down right frosty, are the Barolo's and Barbaresco's. These are the big, hearty super Tuscan's that grab you by the ankles, throw you to the mat and tickle your taste buds until you're crying for mercy and begging for another sip. Oh, the majesty and mirth of these gorgeous wines! It's like having sex in a warm, decadent velvet-covered four post bed, while feeding on dark chocolate...except it comes in a bottle and is far less messy.
Now...off to enjoy another gorgeous fall day...I can see the clouds from my desk-side window. Looks like another big cumulus cloud race day up there!
Namaste
Over the years I've learned to enjoy the wonders of the summer season and can sound almost passionate when I talk about the warm, welcoming mornings on the back deck, the variety of local bird calls, the butterfly's and hummingbirds decorating the trees and bushes in the yard, and after all the hard work of the spring, I do gratefully enjoy the fruits of our labors in the garden. I love the exotic flavors of the summer season, like an expertly prepared citrus infused ceviche, or platter of fresh sushi lined up like pink soldiers next to a heap of fresh picked green beans. I do like "the way the smell of a grill sparks up nostalgia" (by Will Smith...rapper/poet) and the feeling of sand under my just-manicured feet. The simple joy of watching our kids play for hours in the surf makes me long for a some-day seaside home. And, I'll admit to giving myself a get-out-of-jail-free card when I just can't find the energy to sit at my desk the entire day...and instead wander out to the garden to see what the chickens are up to.
If you poetically associate the passing of life with the passing of the seasons, as many writers have done beautifully (and way better than I will here) then Autumn as you know signifies the "last hurrah" of youth, so to speak. For many of us here on the east coast, it's that cold realization that the fun is over and it's time to get back to your desk. So it's natural for every sun-worshiper among us (you know who you are) to embrace every last sun-soaked moment as if their very life depended upon it because, well you know, the "end is near".
But I'm not sorry to see summer pass us by. Not in the least. I am a huge Fall enthusiast. Always have been. Since I was very, very young, I looked forward to the cooler temperatures, the crazy weather patterns (warm and mild one day, tempestuous the next) and long displays of gray cumulus clouds that seemingly race each other across the sky at dizzying speeds. It's like watching a time-lapse video...except it's in real time. I love the quality of sleep I get in the fall, too. Those cool nights go a long way ensuring a very sound and comfortable night's sleep under a pile of blankets and comforter. Great for snuggling, too.
The season serves as inspiration for many rituals, and naturally a lot of reminiscing. So here goes...I love the smell of new school shoes! When I was a kid, those highly polished, supple leather upper-soled, caramel brown Buster Browns tortured me for weeks from the confines of their box, nestled underneath a thin layer of crumply white tissue. The smell was positively intoxicating whenever I opened the box to take a peek. I just couldn't wait to put them on and slide recklessly across the slippery hallways on the first day of school. I'd made sure to scuff up the soles a bit on the walk to the bus stop. Nobody wants to fall on their first day.
It's been a long time since I had a new pair of Buster Browns, or any sort of loafer with tassels for that matter. But I can still imagine the way the leather smells when sitting new in the box, and it fills me with that same sweet anticipation of this seasons' delights. Apples, rich stews, fresh-baked breads, hot chocolate, Halloween candy, and stocking up on cedar wood for the Chiminea in the backyard. My fingers are tingly with excitement!! (or maybe that's just the seasonal onset of Raynaud's Syndrome)
When I think about the way that Autumn has always stimulated my creative intelligence, its no surprise to me now that despite my love for this time of year, I still struggle with a low level frustration that gnaws at me daily until I do something about it. I realized at 9:30 last night that every day for the last three weeks I have grappled with a calendar that won't let up. I get up very early every morning and make a promise that today I will sit quietly for just 45 minutes and do what my whole being craves. Write...without interruption, aim or explanation. Write...before the kids get up and break my concentration, crawling into my lap with their sleepy eyes, contagious little giggles and enthusiasm for morning. Every day I want to write. When I do, it's very much like my life depends on it. And it's the one thing that nurtures me beyond every other activity I practice. Not even running can do for me what writing does. What does that mean? Have I missed my calling? Was my High School English teacher right? Should I have pursued a career in writing and never looked back? Well, it's fall so there's no point in dwelling on what wasn't when I consider what still can be.
While I've never been told this, I have a suspicion that a good writer will always be a good writer, but a great writer comes with both talent and life experience. I guess it took me all this time to live and experience a life that would create a natural springboard for writing. It took me a long time to find my narrator...that inner author who I find myself channeling more often these days (thanks to Leslie for validating the author voice), and give into the impulse to just get it all down and worry about form later. Whether I'll ever develop into any kind of published writer has yet to be determined. At this point, I'll settle for being considered a good blogger with potential. Perhaps what I'm finally learning to do in the late summer/early fall of my life is to harness with the same sort of gushing anticipation of what is here right now instead of worrying about what is coming, or what's already passed. I'm not going to just get on with it and embrace my coming winter in life either. Instead of bottom out I'm going to "Autumn Out".
I'm not rushing into the winter season either, though I do love the simple beauty and the nest-like impulses that come with the first snow. Gathering my blankets, pillows, children, mug of hot tea and good books around me, I am aware it's only a matter of time before the snow makes my home feel less like a haven and more like a prison. But the other sad fact is I know it's at least another nine months before my favorite time of year comes back around. So I'm enjoying it right now while it lasts.
Autumn has so much to offer for sights, smells and sensations, almost too many to mention. It is chock-full of the colors that best compliment warm skin tone and hair color...pumpkin, every shade of brown, dark green, deep purple, vibrant golds and black...so, what's not to love? Ever notice how much easier it is to manage your hair in the fall? Humidity is to blame for the majority of my bad hair days in the summer. But the cool, stable temperatures of fall make even the most unruly tendrils behave...and, if not, it's hat season so who cares? And, yes, it's also wine season! Come on, you knew that was coming!! If you've never had it, try a French Bordeaux this year. Or, if you like a lighter style, French Pinot Noir is hitting the shelves and Bin Ends is stocking some of the best the world has to offer. My personal favorites this time of year, when the nights get down right frosty, are the Barolo's and Barbaresco's. These are the big, hearty super Tuscan's that grab you by the ankles, throw you to the mat and tickle your taste buds until you're crying for mercy and begging for another sip. Oh, the majesty and mirth of these gorgeous wines! It's like having sex in a warm, decadent velvet-covered four post bed, while feeding on dark chocolate...except it comes in a bottle and is far less messy.
Now...off to enjoy another gorgeous fall day...I can see the clouds from my desk-side window. Looks like another big cumulus cloud race day up there!
Namaste
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Leggo my Ego
The four elements: Earth, Wind, Fire & Water...all gathered this weekend at a friend's home in Hanson, Massachusetts. This is a very special place where you check your worries at the door, grab a plate and glass, flop onto the sofa, and talk to the friend you never knew you had. Each of us carried some aspect of the four elements with us. Earth...your potential for growth being realized right there in the moment. You've been struggling in the dirt for awhile, but there's light at the end of the tunnel and you've followed your emerging instincts from the deep, dark muck through to the topsoil, extending both hand and heart to the omnipotent skies above. You are welcomed. Wind...pushing, sucking, whirling around both with and against the odds, not standing still for long in one place and constantly redirected with the whim of the slightest influence. You know your power, have understood your value, and now only need to temper your strength when push comes to shove. Fire...kindling, rebirth and resurrection. You know only through concentration and focus, gathering your heat into yourself, intensifying the internal inferno of wisdom will you be able to sustain enough power for the long journey ahead. Continue the long, slow burn as it is the surest flame of all. Water, immediately recognizable as the most flexible of the elements. Able to withstand intense pressure, calm and soothing but capable of the most ferocious of attacks. Both beautiful and beguiling, keep your translucent hue and the childlike wonder will transcend in your lessons.
Each of these elements was fully active this weekend and the vibration they set off could be felt all around, resonating against the lake, the trees, reverberating off the cozy chairs, walls and windows and spreading their delightful gifts. All resulting in a contentment I haven't felt in many years. It was a gathering of souls I shall not soon forget. And every time I look at my vibrant ring of red, orange and yellow fuzz, I'll think of how easy it is to drop all my cares and leggo my ego in a room full of "fish"...now friends.
Each of these elements was fully active this weekend and the vibration they set off could be felt all around, resonating against the lake, the trees, reverberating off the cozy chairs, walls and windows and spreading their delightful gifts. All resulting in a contentment I haven't felt in many years. It was a gathering of souls I shall not soon forget. And every time I look at my vibrant ring of red, orange and yellow fuzz, I'll think of how easy it is to drop all my cares and leggo my ego in a room full of "fish"...now friends.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Green Goddess, not just a dressing anymore!
Hey All! I think I can get this seasonal post in just under the wire. Back to School is just about a week away and marks the end of a fruitful and restful season. With all this resting you'd think I'd have a few more posts to offer but I really took this summer very seriously, relatively speaking.
Here's what I did on my summer vacation: Mostly, I worked almost every day from April through the early part of August. Hours, days and weeks of search work leaving me feeling both frantic and frustrated, but keeping roof intact and belly's full. The only regular reprieve I had was the weekend Farmer's Market on the Pembroke Green (we participated this year under the name "Tap Root Gardens"...more on this later), and my exercise routines. I got intimate with my yoga mat again...and found that I can no longer go through life neglecting my tendons, joints, ligaments and muscle fibers. Let's face it, as far as injuries go, I've been damn lucky for a very long time. No sense tempting fate.
I ran my first real road race just a few days before my 43rd birthday, then ran my second one three days later...and placed first for my age group! That was probably the personal/public highlight of my summer. I met quite a few avid racers who insist I run more races, longer races, harder races. They were incredibly nice and solicited equal parts praise and recommendations on other local races to run. Let's face it, I'm just not that interested in running competitively. I'd rather go for the personal long hall and say that I ran well into my 70's because I took care of my body. Leaning on a cane at 67 because my knees gave out after attempting to run the Boston Marathon at 43 is not my idea of a success story. Again...why tempt fate?
I have taken these last remaining weeks of August off to spend some serious time with my kids, and myself, before September "madness" rushes in and takes over. I love back to school...the clothes shopping, buying the back packs, the smell of new leather shoes (anyone remember Buster Browns?). I love knowing fall is right around the corner (hands down, my favorite season of all!). The foods and cooking opportunities Autumn offers is half the reason I love it so much. However, ramping up mentally for a demanding work schedule is somehow not as easy this year. I really have enjoyed the summer for a change. I think it may be the garden and the chickens contributing to my later-in-life blooming appreciation of summer's charms.
I never really cared all that much for the hot and sticky weather, crowded/trash-strewn beaches, shirtless mowing (does my neighbor have any idea how bad this looks?), or the relentless social calendar that seems to dry up the minute the calendar page turns to October. Can't we have a little balance here? How about a few get-togethers in February? You know, when it's cold and nasty out? I find the comfort of a few good friends gathered around the table brings a unique warmth of it's own and can more than rival any mid-July backyard barbeque for socializing. The glorious stretch of hot weather we enjoyed from late June to mid-August was certainly partly to blame for my recent enjoyment...and the noticeable lack of mosquito's didn't hurt either.
The real lesson this season was in learning how to slow down...I mean REALLY SLOW DOWN! I need to thank my yogic breathing for most of this. I never realized until recently how shallow my breathing typically is...especially when I'm stressed with work. But I also learned to say yes to things I would normally never consider, like waking up on a Tuesday and saying to my family "work will always be here, let's go to the beach!" During July and August I ended up taking most Friday's off for personal rejuvenation and preparation for the weekend market. I really enjoyed the fresh produce this season had to offer, daily! I've never eaten such an abundance and array of fresh, locally grown veggies and fruits! I got experimental with a few of the local food-crafter's offerings (a sweet basil jelly that will have you scouring your kitchen for something worthy to spread it on, a pumpkin butter to die for, and an "herbs de provence" bread that will literally transport you, with every bite, to a field of rosemary and lavender...a true slice of heaven). I have even developed a signature sandwich using these local ingredients that I will proudly publish on the Pembroke Farmer's Market website in the next month.
I am developing into a Locavore...studying it like an art form. Most of the best finds are at these Farmer's Market's, though the road-side stands are worth checking out, too. Despite my best efforts this summer, and sneaky recipes, our children have not yet developed an appetite for earthly bounty, unless it's covered in chocolate and rolled in sugar. But at least they have an appreciation for the garden and growing. They'll really miss it once it's snow-covered and no longer demanding hours of daily attention from their father, who will doubtlessly limit their daily shenanigans and uproarious antics that typically erupt after long summer days of torturing each other. They're also really enjoying the chickens. I have chickens...does this make me a farmer's wife? Visions of Green Acre's dancing in my head. I can empathize with Eva and her stiletto's in a big way! Every day we check to see if one of our fine feathered ladies has worked up the nerve as yet to sit in the nest box and earn her keep...so far, nada. I look forward to fresh eggs, and will wrestle with how many to sell and how many to keep for family and friend. I will be posting a special blog when that miraculous day finally does come.
My personal growth is almost more of a retro-movement. I have managed to get back into the spiritual form of my twenties by way of yoga, reading, living in the moment more often then not, paying attention to my spiritual hunger (requiring daily nourishment), practicing moderation in every way, and developing a great awareness around energy depletion and unnecessary energy consumption. Not the kind that comes and goes through wall sockets, but the kind that comes and goes through people. I'm learning to be a bit more selfish about how I use my energy. I think personal physical and spiritual energy, like real batteries, come with limitations on demand. I believe true recharge only comes when you stop allowing it to leach out in small increments, and just sit for a long while with yourself. Like you're on a charger and you really don't have the capability to deplete yourself any further. I am learning to hold onto my energy, avoiding misuse and unnecessary expenditure.
As everyone now knows, a poorly insulated home has lots of cracks and surface breaks where energy pours out of the home in both large and small amounts, only to be wasted when released into the atmosphere. Having your home audited for CO2 emissions and insulating it against energy loss can save you a lot of money. It also makes you feel a lot better about your external "greening" efforts. I think this type of focus and effort should be applied to your internal house, too. Thinking of my soul as my furnace or as my central electric system, I have begun to consider how much of my energy gets wasted or sucked away by many daily aspects of my life; work, social pursuits, even family have a way of demanding energy from you that can cost you dearly in the long run. Putting up a protective fence, a boundary, and insulating your spiritual house through careful contemplation of where your energy is going and whether it's being wasted can go a long way to preserving that which is so precious in all of us...our life force.
When a friend says they've wasted so much "time" on something or someone, I tend to think more about the "energy" they gave away to that purpose or person. As women, we worry more about time because, naturally, our bodies supposedly have a built in clock that tells us when it's time to become a woman and become a mother. Eventually, that honor, opportunity, right or responsibility (whatever you wish to call it) is taken away from us by time as well. While we may still have the energy, we may not have been granted adequate time to become a mother. Despite all of the wonders of modern technology, we still can't recapture time that is lost. But I do think it's possible to recapture spiritual energy. Gathering it back up to rejuvenate, repair and re-energize for worthy pursuits.
And, while meditation, yoga, or religious study may be the first methods that come to mind, there are a vast number of activities that can work wonders to recharge your personal battery, like reading, writing, taking a retreat weekend (GREAT idea!), or simply sitting still at your kitchen table and contemplating a cup of tea. Saying 'no' more often also goes a very long way to honoring that which is so precious and deserved...time for yourself. This is a tough one for so many of us who truly wish to be helpful when a friend or neighbor is looking to us for support (social invitations, last minute childcare, or supporting their in-home parties...ugh!), but these are opportunities to reclaim our energy and ourselves.
I also try to consider the great "energy" that comes with helping someone out, particularly when that person thinks enough of me to entrust me with the care and keeping of their child for a few hours. That's a different kind of energy (karmic!) that can feed you in a truly positive manner. I tend to look at these on a case by case basis, and determine whether it's truly a jam, or a developing dependency. In the case of the latter, deciding what's best for you may come at the price of having to say 'no' a lot and potentially distancing yourself from the parent(s).
In closing, I just thought I'd point out this idea. We talk about time in terms of it "passing". Time is fleeting, time flies, time marches on, time waits for no one. Sounds a little unforgiving, doesn't it? Energy, however, flows. You can put time and energy into things, many things. Perhaps you can't get the time back but I believe you can gather and re-harness energy. You can draw energy, you can store energy, you can give energy away and get it back again. You can't do that with time. So, if I can't control the passage of time, I can at least control the flow of my energy every day.
This week, however, holding onto my energy is not nearly as important as into what, or whom, I am investing it. And with the school year fast approaching, that's a no-brainer...my kids are the current benefactors. (Get it? Current, energy?) At the risk of committing social Hari-Kari for the remainder of August, if I am being asked to choose between supporting someone's in-home party, or a night at home playing cards with my kids, the likely response will be "go fish".
Here's what I did on my summer vacation: Mostly, I worked almost every day from April through the early part of August. Hours, days and weeks of search work leaving me feeling both frantic and frustrated, but keeping roof intact and belly's full. The only regular reprieve I had was the weekend Farmer's Market on the Pembroke Green (we participated this year under the name "Tap Root Gardens"...more on this later), and my exercise routines. I got intimate with my yoga mat again...and found that I can no longer go through life neglecting my tendons, joints, ligaments and muscle fibers. Let's face it, as far as injuries go, I've been damn lucky for a very long time. No sense tempting fate.
I ran my first real road race just a few days before my 43rd birthday, then ran my second one three days later...and placed first for my age group! That was probably the personal/public highlight of my summer. I met quite a few avid racers who insist I run more races, longer races, harder races. They were incredibly nice and solicited equal parts praise and recommendations on other local races to run. Let's face it, I'm just not that interested in running competitively. I'd rather go for the personal long hall and say that I ran well into my 70's because I took care of my body. Leaning on a cane at 67 because my knees gave out after attempting to run the Boston Marathon at 43 is not my idea of a success story. Again...why tempt fate?
I have taken these last remaining weeks of August off to spend some serious time with my kids, and myself, before September "madness" rushes in and takes over. I love back to school...the clothes shopping, buying the back packs, the smell of new leather shoes (anyone remember Buster Browns?). I love knowing fall is right around the corner (hands down, my favorite season of all!). The foods and cooking opportunities Autumn offers is half the reason I love it so much. However, ramping up mentally for a demanding work schedule is somehow not as easy this year. I really have enjoyed the summer for a change. I think it may be the garden and the chickens contributing to my later-in-life blooming appreciation of summer's charms.
I never really cared all that much for the hot and sticky weather, crowded/trash-strewn beaches, shirtless mowing (does my neighbor have any idea how bad this looks?), or the relentless social calendar that seems to dry up the minute the calendar page turns to October. Can't we have a little balance here? How about a few get-togethers in February? You know, when it's cold and nasty out? I find the comfort of a few good friends gathered around the table brings a unique warmth of it's own and can more than rival any mid-July backyard barbeque for socializing. The glorious stretch of hot weather we enjoyed from late June to mid-August was certainly partly to blame for my recent enjoyment...and the noticeable lack of mosquito's didn't hurt either.
The real lesson this season was in learning how to slow down...I mean REALLY SLOW DOWN! I need to thank my yogic breathing for most of this. I never realized until recently how shallow my breathing typically is...especially when I'm stressed with work. But I also learned to say yes to things I would normally never consider, like waking up on a Tuesday and saying to my family "work will always be here, let's go to the beach!" During July and August I ended up taking most Friday's off for personal rejuvenation and preparation for the weekend market. I really enjoyed the fresh produce this season had to offer, daily! I've never eaten such an abundance and array of fresh, locally grown veggies and fruits! I got experimental with a few of the local food-crafter's offerings (a sweet basil jelly that will have you scouring your kitchen for something worthy to spread it on, a pumpkin butter to die for, and an "herbs de provence" bread that will literally transport you, with every bite, to a field of rosemary and lavender...a true slice of heaven). I have even developed a signature sandwich using these local ingredients that I will proudly publish on the Pembroke Farmer's Market website in the next month.
I am developing into a Locavore...studying it like an art form. Most of the best finds are at these Farmer's Market's, though the road-side stands are worth checking out, too. Despite my best efforts this summer, and sneaky recipes, our children have not yet developed an appetite for earthly bounty, unless it's covered in chocolate and rolled in sugar. But at least they have an appreciation for the garden and growing. They'll really miss it once it's snow-covered and no longer demanding hours of daily attention from their father, who will doubtlessly limit their daily shenanigans and uproarious antics that typically erupt after long summer days of torturing each other. They're also really enjoying the chickens. I have chickens...does this make me a farmer's wife? Visions of Green Acre's dancing in my head. I can empathize with Eva and her stiletto's in a big way! Every day we check to see if one of our fine feathered ladies has worked up the nerve as yet to sit in the nest box and earn her keep...so far, nada. I look forward to fresh eggs, and will wrestle with how many to sell and how many to keep for family and friend. I will be posting a special blog when that miraculous day finally does come.
My personal growth is almost more of a retro-movement. I have managed to get back into the spiritual form of my twenties by way of yoga, reading, living in the moment more often then not, paying attention to my spiritual hunger (requiring daily nourishment), practicing moderation in every way, and developing a great awareness around energy depletion and unnecessary energy consumption. Not the kind that comes and goes through wall sockets, but the kind that comes and goes through people. I'm learning to be a bit more selfish about how I use my energy. I think personal physical and spiritual energy, like real batteries, come with limitations on demand. I believe true recharge only comes when you stop allowing it to leach out in small increments, and just sit for a long while with yourself. Like you're on a charger and you really don't have the capability to deplete yourself any further. I am learning to hold onto my energy, avoiding misuse and unnecessary expenditure.
As everyone now knows, a poorly insulated home has lots of cracks and surface breaks where energy pours out of the home in both large and small amounts, only to be wasted when released into the atmosphere. Having your home audited for CO2 emissions and insulating it against energy loss can save you a lot of money. It also makes you feel a lot better about your external "greening" efforts. I think this type of focus and effort should be applied to your internal house, too. Thinking of my soul as my furnace or as my central electric system, I have begun to consider how much of my energy gets wasted or sucked away by many daily aspects of my life; work, social pursuits, even family have a way of demanding energy from you that can cost you dearly in the long run. Putting up a protective fence, a boundary, and insulating your spiritual house through careful contemplation of where your energy is going and whether it's being wasted can go a long way to preserving that which is so precious in all of us...our life force.
When a friend says they've wasted so much "time" on something or someone, I tend to think more about the "energy" they gave away to that purpose or person. As women, we worry more about time because, naturally, our bodies supposedly have a built in clock that tells us when it's time to become a woman and become a mother. Eventually, that honor, opportunity, right or responsibility (whatever you wish to call it) is taken away from us by time as well. While we may still have the energy, we may not have been granted adequate time to become a mother. Despite all of the wonders of modern technology, we still can't recapture time that is lost. But I do think it's possible to recapture spiritual energy. Gathering it back up to rejuvenate, repair and re-energize for worthy pursuits.
And, while meditation, yoga, or religious study may be the first methods that come to mind, there are a vast number of activities that can work wonders to recharge your personal battery, like reading, writing, taking a retreat weekend (GREAT idea!), or simply sitting still at your kitchen table and contemplating a cup of tea. Saying 'no' more often also goes a very long way to honoring that which is so precious and deserved...time for yourself. This is a tough one for so many of us who truly wish to be helpful when a friend or neighbor is looking to us for support (social invitations, last minute childcare, or supporting their in-home parties...ugh!), but these are opportunities to reclaim our energy and ourselves.
I also try to consider the great "energy" that comes with helping someone out, particularly when that person thinks enough of me to entrust me with the care and keeping of their child for a few hours. That's a different kind of energy (karmic!) that can feed you in a truly positive manner. I tend to look at these on a case by case basis, and determine whether it's truly a jam, or a developing dependency. In the case of the latter, deciding what's best for you may come at the price of having to say 'no' a lot and potentially distancing yourself from the parent(s).
In closing, I just thought I'd point out this idea. We talk about time in terms of it "passing". Time is fleeting, time flies, time marches on, time waits for no one. Sounds a little unforgiving, doesn't it? Energy, however, flows. You can put time and energy into things, many things. Perhaps you can't get the time back but I believe you can gather and re-harness energy. You can draw energy, you can store energy, you can give energy away and get it back again. You can't do that with time. So, if I can't control the passage of time, I can at least control the flow of my energy every day.
This week, however, holding onto my energy is not nearly as important as into what, or whom, I am investing it. And with the school year fast approaching, that's a no-brainer...my kids are the current benefactors. (Get it? Current, energy?) At the risk of committing social Hari-Kari for the remainder of August, if I am being asked to choose between supporting someone's in-home party, or a night at home playing cards with my kids, the likely response will be "go fish".
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Spring Cleaning....Shoot me now, please
I have vivid memories of my mother gearing up for her annual spring cleaning extravaganza. We knew that our Saturday morning cartoons would be interrupted early that day. Mom would be up on one of the kitchen chairs, teetering precariously on tiptoes, dusting implement in hand, ready to do battle with whatever minor cobwebs had built up over the last week or so. The only difference between this weekend and any other weekend of the year was that Mom was going for the deep down allover clean...the "eat off the floors" kind. This was the only time of year the windows in the house were bare, she'd pulled the drapes down for cleaning, and the light in living room was drastically different. It was so bright!! I remember her collapsing at the end of the day with a look of exhaustion mingled with little bits of satisfaction tugging at the smile lines on her face.
Cleaning a house means taking stock of what you have, what you need, and what you probably don't want or need anymore. Cleaning and clearing out requires energy, lots of it. And, executing on decisions about what to throw out is, in it's own way, liberating and exhausting.
I love to throw things out, but the mental exercise of the process can be emotionally draining...especially when it comes to things like clothing (particularly baby clothes...keepsakes in one pile, consignment in another, everything else to Goodwill), toys (the first Easter toy we ever bought Sofia...we kept it), odds and ends picked up here and there on weekend trips during our courtship, the most expensive bathing suit purchased ten years prior (and have no hope of fitting into again)...and those damn financial records from the last twelve years! What's the rule? Isn't it seven years? Gosh, that pile would make a great bonfire! I think I hem/haw so much over these items because I'm afraid I'm going to regret throwing them out...or worse, realize I need them again. In some cases that would mean I'd have to replace them. Which means spending money on something I didn't need to. So while I'm purging my home of unnecessary clutter, I console myself by intellectualizing repeatedly that the likelihood of needing any of it again is not high. And, usually, it's true.
I enjoy having stuff, just like everybody else. Buying and owning stuff also means being responsible for taking care of that stuff. And, that takes time. The time it takes you to care for the stuff can sometimes be overwhelming. While some stuff is great to own (clothes, a television, pets), there are other types of stuff that are more enjoyable when borrowed and returned...like library books. What a novel concept!...no pun intended And, like the George Carlin skit so accurately points out (about stuff), it gets to a point where your stuff requires so much time and money to maintain it, that you have to get another job to earn enough money to care for your stuff, and so eventually your stuff starts to own you. It's a vicious cycle, isn't it?
I heard a customer who is from a long line of family mariners remark at the wine store a couple weeks back about the two happiest days of his life. The day he bought his boat...and the day he sold his boat. The point being that his boat fetish was cured after only a few years of ownership, and that his wife was grateful to have her husband back. They'd both been owned too long by their boat, and the time and financial drain it caused was not at all missed. Good to know.
So what does all this have to do with spring cleaning? Well, I guess the point is this is a great time of year to really take stock of how much you have, how much you need, and how you would rather be spending your time, money and energy. Throw the whole carbon footprint thing into this equation, and you've got plenty of motivation to take a good hard look at your attic, your basement, and every space in between, and make some room for "green space". Space that isn't cluttered with stuff gathering dust or being used as a clothes hanger. Space that is open, airy, unfettered, and completely "unstuffed".
Then, think about all the really needy people out there who would love to have your old stuff...and whether you sell it into consignment, or donate it, chances are it's going to make someone else very happy.
But lets talk about the other benefit of a major purge. Less stuff to dust! My house is a dust magnet. I have to dust every week or there is a thin white film covering every available surface. It's beyond frustrating. That's my motivation for spring cleaning this year. I have read online that several of the major causes of dust is clothing, upholstered furniture, rugs, mattresses, attic insulation and furnace filters that are not frequently cleaned or replaced. Basically, our stuff is attacking us with dust. Fortunately, I don't suffer many allergies. My husband does, but it's the typical pollen and hay fever type. Neither of the kids seem all that bothered by dust...even when it's covering a half eaten tootsie roll abandoned the week before. (I know, gross!) It doesn't matter how thorough a job I do either, it taunts me relentlessly...week after week. And I've resigned myself to having to live with it at some level. But if it gets any worse, I'm buying one of those air purifiers....one with a low carbon footprint, of course! :)
What I love about a clean house is the sense of order. I truly have difficulty functioning on any morning if the beds are not made and there are dishes in the sink. It's like some weird mental checklist I have to tick off before I can get on with the business of living that day. Neurotic you say? Sure, why not? But I know many folks with stranger rituals than that....and until someone tells me that its a sign of an untreatable condition, its not going to change. Besides, whats wrong with being organized? Not alphabetizing your movie collection organized, I mean knowing exactly where the scissors are when you need them, or stacking your bills by due date so you don't miss one, thereby decreasing your chances of racking up intolerable late fees.
You realize I don't live like this day-to-day. My house is not consistently clutter free and organized. It's more/less an ideal I strive for and am able to achieve once every three months or so. But I keep trying...and will likely keep trying until I'm able to get my kids to take an interest in it. Until then, I'll have to settle for letting them learn by osmosis...you know, watching me clean...feather duster in hand, teetering on my kitchen chair.
And because it's my other consistent habit, I'll tell you that the '05's from France and California are drinking beautifully right now. However, I have heard that the '09's are going to be stellar!! Buy 'em young and store 'em now!
Another hot tip, if you haven't tried Rose since the 70's, you're in for a whole new world! You can get Chateau de Campuget for about $12.00 a bottle right now...it's a lovely, delicate, light and only slightly fruity wine. And if you're going there anyway, grab a bottle of Volver while (in the Spain section). A relentlessly lush, fruit-forward Temperanillo with a little bite on the finish, but all together yummy!
Enjoy!!
Cleaning a house means taking stock of what you have, what you need, and what you probably don't want or need anymore. Cleaning and clearing out requires energy, lots of it. And, executing on decisions about what to throw out is, in it's own way, liberating and exhausting.
I love to throw things out, but the mental exercise of the process can be emotionally draining...especially when it comes to things like clothing (particularly baby clothes...keepsakes in one pile, consignment in another, everything else to Goodwill), toys (the first Easter toy we ever bought Sofia...we kept it), odds and ends picked up here and there on weekend trips during our courtship, the most expensive bathing suit purchased ten years prior (and have no hope of fitting into again)...and those damn financial records from the last twelve years! What's the rule? Isn't it seven years? Gosh, that pile would make a great bonfire! I think I hem/haw so much over these items because I'm afraid I'm going to regret throwing them out...or worse, realize I need them again. In some cases that would mean I'd have to replace them. Which means spending money on something I didn't need to. So while I'm purging my home of unnecessary clutter, I console myself by intellectualizing repeatedly that the likelihood of needing any of it again is not high. And, usually, it's true.
I enjoy having stuff, just like everybody else. Buying and owning stuff also means being responsible for taking care of that stuff. And, that takes time. The time it takes you to care for the stuff can sometimes be overwhelming. While some stuff is great to own (clothes, a television, pets), there are other types of stuff that are more enjoyable when borrowed and returned...like library books. What a novel concept!...no pun intended And, like the George Carlin skit so accurately points out (about stuff), it gets to a point where your stuff requires so much time and money to maintain it, that you have to get another job to earn enough money to care for your stuff, and so eventually your stuff starts to own you. It's a vicious cycle, isn't it?
I heard a customer who is from a long line of family mariners remark at the wine store a couple weeks back about the two happiest days of his life. The day he bought his boat...and the day he sold his boat. The point being that his boat fetish was cured after only a few years of ownership, and that his wife was grateful to have her husband back. They'd both been owned too long by their boat, and the time and financial drain it caused was not at all missed. Good to know.
So what does all this have to do with spring cleaning? Well, I guess the point is this is a great time of year to really take stock of how much you have, how much you need, and how you would rather be spending your time, money and energy. Throw the whole carbon footprint thing into this equation, and you've got plenty of motivation to take a good hard look at your attic, your basement, and every space in between, and make some room for "green space". Space that isn't cluttered with stuff gathering dust or being used as a clothes hanger. Space that is open, airy, unfettered, and completely "unstuffed".
Then, think about all the really needy people out there who would love to have your old stuff...and whether you sell it into consignment, or donate it, chances are it's going to make someone else very happy.
But lets talk about the other benefit of a major purge. Less stuff to dust! My house is a dust magnet. I have to dust every week or there is a thin white film covering every available surface. It's beyond frustrating. That's my motivation for spring cleaning this year. I have read online that several of the major causes of dust is clothing, upholstered furniture, rugs, mattresses, attic insulation and furnace filters that are not frequently cleaned or replaced. Basically, our stuff is attacking us with dust. Fortunately, I don't suffer many allergies. My husband does, but it's the typical pollen and hay fever type. Neither of the kids seem all that bothered by dust...even when it's covering a half eaten tootsie roll abandoned the week before. (I know, gross!) It doesn't matter how thorough a job I do either, it taunts me relentlessly...week after week. And I've resigned myself to having to live with it at some level. But if it gets any worse, I'm buying one of those air purifiers....one with a low carbon footprint, of course! :)
What I love about a clean house is the sense of order. I truly have difficulty functioning on any morning if the beds are not made and there are dishes in the sink. It's like some weird mental checklist I have to tick off before I can get on with the business of living that day. Neurotic you say? Sure, why not? But I know many folks with stranger rituals than that....and until someone tells me that its a sign of an untreatable condition, its not going to change. Besides, whats wrong with being organized? Not alphabetizing your movie collection organized, I mean knowing exactly where the scissors are when you need them, or stacking your bills by due date so you don't miss one, thereby decreasing your chances of racking up intolerable late fees.
You realize I don't live like this day-to-day. My house is not consistently clutter free and organized. It's more/less an ideal I strive for and am able to achieve once every three months or so. But I keep trying...and will likely keep trying until I'm able to get my kids to take an interest in it. Until then, I'll have to settle for letting them learn by osmosis...you know, watching me clean...feather duster in hand, teetering on my kitchen chair.
And because it's my other consistent habit, I'll tell you that the '05's from France and California are drinking beautifully right now. However, I have heard that the '09's are going to be stellar!! Buy 'em young and store 'em now!
Another hot tip, if you haven't tried Rose since the 70's, you're in for a whole new world! You can get Chateau de Campuget for about $12.00 a bottle right now...it's a lovely, delicate, light and only slightly fruity wine. And if you're going there anyway, grab a bottle of Volver while (in the Spain section). A relentlessly lush, fruit-forward Temperanillo with a little bite on the finish, but all together yummy!
Enjoy!!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
"Mom? How do you spell....."
First Grade has been an amazing adventure for my seven year old. I'm so happy to tell you all that she's been bit by the spelling bee...my first love, too! I love prepping with her on Thursdays for her weekly spelling test. She loves it because she's good at it, I love it because it allows for a wonderful weekly bonding opportunity...and lets face it, it's fun for me to watch her learn to love something I've always enjoyed so much.
My first thought when I woke up this morning was this...
Ever notice that Live spelled backwards is Evil...ever wonder about that? What's the opposite of love? Also evol (sounds the same as evil, spelled a little different). But if you add another 1/2 of that word, you have evolve. What's up with this? My Dad was pointing out to me yesterday that one of his new low fat cereals is made by a company called Erehwon...spelled backwards, it's "nowhere". I wonder if the company's key stakeholders realized this? Maybe it's an inside joke that we'll never be privy to, but I'll venture a guess their marketing department knew what they were doing.
Dad and I enjoy a mutual love of words, turn of phrase and double entendre. I'm pretty sure I got that from him. I stare at words and pull them apart, piece them back together, look up the Latin root and figure out a way to use them in a sentence (without being obvious) the next time I speak to someone. Really, it's just a game but I do think it keeps my brain a bit sharper.
Some of my favorite words are nuance, prestidigitation, turpitude, irony, and matrix. Can't just throw these into a sentence without having planned well in advance when and where you'll casually steer a conversation from planting tulip bulbs, to the virtues of a well played sleight-of-hand trick.
Words are wonderful, fun, plentiful, and almost always used in ways, means and forms that are incredibly useful for ongoing human communication. In an ever-evolving commitment to reducing, reusing and recycling, I challenge you to harness the power of words in the same way. Ok, I'm challenging myself and ya'll know how painfully difficult this will be for me. I love to talk. I do it for a living!
Examples of how carefully chosen words have impacted our perceptions are all around us. Our past President's John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton, current President Barak Obama, and social leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King have often been described as great orators. Regardless of my own political affiliation, I love listening to their speeches, past and present. They understood the incredible power of a well crafted sentence.
But, for the sake of being succinct and to the point in this blog, I believe words are often used at a time when shutting up and listening are a better plan. From a very young age, my good friend Katie Thayer has enjoyed multiple trips to Japan with her father, and later in life, by herself. On her first trip, she was afraid she would be lost because she wouldn't understand what anyone was saying, and she confided in her Dad that she was pretty sure she'd be lonely. The best piece of advice her father ever gave her on how to conduct herself there (or in any foreign country) was to just be quiet and listen intently. She said she realized that it wasn't important whether people heard her speak, but that she learned through listening and observing all she ever needed to know about the Japanese. And she made friends.
Words are used too often at times without sincere consideration of their meaning and impact. People who casually throw out the words "I love you" without really considering how they feel about that person do a disservice to themselves and the person they're addressing. More to the point, they come across as completely superficial.
I tell my kids I love them every day, sometimes three to five times a day. I mean it, and they know it, and it's my goal to make sure they always know it. Even when we've had a tough day and we're on each others last nerve, they know I love them. I tell my husband I love him on a regular basis, but not because I'm feeling overly romantic. I say it when it counts...like when he's struggling, or overwhelmed, or screws up something he's been working on, or has been impatient with the kids and feels terrible for losing his temper. I don't tell him every day, I allow my actions to communicate that. But I tell him because he needs to hear it and because I want him to know that someone is REALLY on his side. If I said it more often, it starts to lose its meaning...something to say without thinking about what it actually means...a lot like saying "have a nice day". Have you ever said this to someone and walked away thinking "Gosh, I hope she has a really nice day!" For the sake of being sincere, lets just agree that 9 times out of 10, this doesn't cross anyone's mind.
Words, like any important resource, should be used with care and intention. We can treat words like we treat the resources in our environment; economically, purposefully, sparingly and meaningfully, so that we don't find ourselves struggling to find them, abusing them, saying we're using them for a good purpose and denying their domino affect...and damaging something else, releasing them into the air like toxins into the environment.
If you think about this in terms of economic value, it's an interesting equation. The virtues of being a great listener means you get an opportunity to learn without the tax of being considered a know-it-all. You earn interest by reserving your opinion and sharing what you've earned only when you know you can afford it, and there will be appreciation. Words, like energy and money, can be saved for a time when you really need them. And, when you finally use them, their value will have increased to the receiver ten fold because you used them sparingly in the past.
Applying the reduce, reuse, recycle ideal to daily communication only gets tricky when it comes to the recycling part. But I think it means that the reduction and careful reuse of words means you're not going to spend a whole lot more time and energy having to find new ones. Perhaps what it means is we don't need more words, we only need to use the ones we have with more of a conscience.
Oh, and for the sake of brevity: I am crazy about a Beaujolais we've been carrying at the store for a few months, Chateau de la Chaize. Light, fruity and delish!
Enjoy!
My first thought when I woke up this morning was this...
Ever notice that Live spelled backwards is Evil...ever wonder about that? What's the opposite of love? Also evol (sounds the same as evil, spelled a little different). But if you add another 1/2 of that word, you have evolve. What's up with this? My Dad was pointing out to me yesterday that one of his new low fat cereals is made by a company called Erehwon...spelled backwards, it's "nowhere". I wonder if the company's key stakeholders realized this? Maybe it's an inside joke that we'll never be privy to, but I'll venture a guess their marketing department knew what they were doing.
Dad and I enjoy a mutual love of words, turn of phrase and double entendre. I'm pretty sure I got that from him. I stare at words and pull them apart, piece them back together, look up the Latin root and figure out a way to use them in a sentence (without being obvious) the next time I speak to someone. Really, it's just a game but I do think it keeps my brain a bit sharper.
Some of my favorite words are nuance, prestidigitation, turpitude, irony, and matrix. Can't just throw these into a sentence without having planned well in advance when and where you'll casually steer a conversation from planting tulip bulbs, to the virtues of a well played sleight-of-hand trick.
Words are wonderful, fun, plentiful, and almost always used in ways, means and forms that are incredibly useful for ongoing human communication. In an ever-evolving commitment to reducing, reusing and recycling, I challenge you to harness the power of words in the same way. Ok, I'm challenging myself and ya'll know how painfully difficult this will be for me. I love to talk. I do it for a living!
Examples of how carefully chosen words have impacted our perceptions are all around us. Our past President's John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton, current President Barak Obama, and social leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King have often been described as great orators. Regardless of my own political affiliation, I love listening to their speeches, past and present. They understood the incredible power of a well crafted sentence.
But, for the sake of being succinct and to the point in this blog, I believe words are often used at a time when shutting up and listening are a better plan. From a very young age, my good friend Katie Thayer has enjoyed multiple trips to Japan with her father, and later in life, by herself. On her first trip, she was afraid she would be lost because she wouldn't understand what anyone was saying, and she confided in her Dad that she was pretty sure she'd be lonely. The best piece of advice her father ever gave her on how to conduct herself there (or in any foreign country) was to just be quiet and listen intently. She said she realized that it wasn't important whether people heard her speak, but that she learned through listening and observing all she ever needed to know about the Japanese. And she made friends.
Words are used too often at times without sincere consideration of their meaning and impact. People who casually throw out the words "I love you" without really considering how they feel about that person do a disservice to themselves and the person they're addressing. More to the point, they come across as completely superficial.
I tell my kids I love them every day, sometimes three to five times a day. I mean it, and they know it, and it's my goal to make sure they always know it. Even when we've had a tough day and we're on each others last nerve, they know I love them. I tell my husband I love him on a regular basis, but not because I'm feeling overly romantic. I say it when it counts...like when he's struggling, or overwhelmed, or screws up something he's been working on, or has been impatient with the kids and feels terrible for losing his temper. I don't tell him every day, I allow my actions to communicate that. But I tell him because he needs to hear it and because I want him to know that someone is REALLY on his side. If I said it more often, it starts to lose its meaning...something to say without thinking about what it actually means...a lot like saying "have a nice day". Have you ever said this to someone and walked away thinking "Gosh, I hope she has a really nice day!" For the sake of being sincere, lets just agree that 9 times out of 10, this doesn't cross anyone's mind.
Words, like any important resource, should be used with care and intention. We can treat words like we treat the resources in our environment; economically, purposefully, sparingly and meaningfully, so that we don't find ourselves struggling to find them, abusing them, saying we're using them for a good purpose and denying their domino affect...and damaging something else, releasing them into the air like toxins into the environment.
If you think about this in terms of economic value, it's an interesting equation. The virtues of being a great listener means you get an opportunity to learn without the tax of being considered a know-it-all. You earn interest by reserving your opinion and sharing what you've earned only when you know you can afford it, and there will be appreciation. Words, like energy and money, can be saved for a time when you really need them. And, when you finally use them, their value will have increased to the receiver ten fold because you used them sparingly in the past.
Applying the reduce, reuse, recycle ideal to daily communication only gets tricky when it comes to the recycling part. But I think it means that the reduction and careful reuse of words means you're not going to spend a whole lot more time and energy having to find new ones. Perhaps what it means is we don't need more words, we only need to use the ones we have with more of a conscience.
Oh, and for the sake of brevity: I am crazy about a Beaujolais we've been carrying at the store for a few months, Chateau de la Chaize. Light, fruity and delish!
Enjoy!
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