Thursday, December 23, 2010

About that list...

So, I obviously fell off the gratitude wagon. Not that it was intentional. I am actually very sad that I did not make it to the end, but life can just get too busy sometimes. I'm going to think of it as a pause instead of a failure. Twenty-two days of recording and acknowledging gratitude are still 22 days.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Gratitude: Day 22

Camaraderie. Not that this is at all what I had expected, or where I would have originally looked for it, but I'm glad we both have people individually and collectively that we share mutual respect and trust.

Nice meals. Food always tastes better when shared with those you love.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Gratitude: Day 21

Creativity. My husband has taught me a lot about this. I have never felt overly crafty, artsy, or generally creative. But he has taught me that there is creativity in most things. We all look at things in our ways and we approach things from a unique angle. And I'm grateful to have the influence of his unique perspective on things.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Gratitude: Day 20

Helping people. I am fortunate enough to get to do work that is rewarding. Giving talks on health, answering peoples' questions and working one-on-one with individuals gives me the opportunity to make the world a better place. Health really does start with food--but most people are too confused by what they see on television and/or find the topic too boring to give it much thought. I enjoy the challenge of combating those two issues and helping people to feel better.
Over the years certain experiences, even knowing certain people, really cemented a level of concern about people's relationship with food. In school, reading study after study and learning from progressive doctors, chefs, and authors, was an amazing experience--even eye opening for someone who had given the topic a lot of thought. I am grateful for all I've learned both in and out of the classroom. I am equally grateful for the opportunity to plant seeds that help people feel better.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Gratitude: Day 19

Pretty things to see. I recently added a few blogs to the blogroll I read just because they are pretty. I enjoy looking at the pictures. No need to make anything or buy anything or be told to buy something because everyone else has one. I love that there are people out there who dedicate their blogs to just looking at things, seeing the beauty in them and sharing that with other people.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Gratitude: Day 18

Reading. This is something I definitely value more as I get older. Not only do I appreciate having the skill to read but I appreciate the fact that I have so many stories to choose from. There are so many great books out there, I always have things I love to read.

I also appreciate the fact that that there are so many options these days for how a person can read. You can buy books at a store, you can order online, you can use a book reader, or listen to an audio book, you can borrow books from a library, you can swap books online from people all over the world. I love all the options!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Gratitude: Day 17

Family. Although for me and my husband family is really few and far between, we are grateful for family members that we do have and keep in touch with. They make our lives better with their support and understanding.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Gratitude: Day 16

Relaxation. I love to work, but I also love having a four-day weekend once in a while.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Gratitude: Day 15

Thanksgiving. I've had a lot of Thanksgivings in a lot of different places, with a lot of different people over the years, and the thing that always strikes me is that no one does it the same. No two houses or families ever celebrate alike.
But it seems like the tradition would be almost a carbon copy from home to home. I guess that speaks to how different families are themselves.
There are aspects I notice such as: the level of formality, the location, the amount of religion involved, the food itself, the time of day, the conversation, the number of people, who cooks and why, and the length of the meal. Thanksgiving is a meal, but its also microcosm of a family's structure and I'm happy over the years to have been able to spend it with so many varied kinds of families in three different states.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Gratitude: Day 14

Sometimes we forget to be grateful for certain things like having heat in our homes in the winter time. It's easy to take those kinds of things for granted because it's something most of us have been able to count on all our lives. But not everyone has had that kind of security. Even if it gets hard to pay for heat at times, it's not the same as having to face going without heat. And I am just thinking about the enormity of that.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Gratitude: Day 13

My teapot and its accessories. Sounds a bit strange, but ever since I purchased this teapot (a couple of years ago) that you put hot water and loose leaves in, place over your cup when its done and it empties from the bottom, it has made having tea so much easier. Almost mindless but in a good way.

We already have a setup in our sink to use instant hot water (no boiling, yay!) so this is a super combo.

I won't go into the other tea accessories, but I was just thinking about how much I love the convenience of being able to have tea all the time without it being a hassle.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Gratitude: Day 12

Today, I am grateful for Damn You Auto Correct.

This silly, little website cracks me up.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Gratitude: Day 11

I heard a story today that just broke my heart. It was told to me by a person whose life is also pretty heartbreaking.

Today, I guess I am just grateful to have had a certain level of luck and the ability to try to make the best out of a bad situation.

Really everything in life comes down to how we think about ourselves and what happens to us. Because everything we do, or don't do, stems from that.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Gratitude: Day 10

The Internet. I (vaguely) remember a time when I couldn't have (even incredibly obscure) questions answered just by typing a few words into a search bar. Not sure what I would do without Google now.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Gratitude: Day 9

Having a regular schedule. I remember in the past, working odd schedules like Wednesday through Sunday and odd times like noon to 9 pm. I remember a time when I worked three jobs: 8-12 at the first one, 1-4 at the second, and then 5-9 at the third. And I needed all the time in between to drive to the next location and eat in my car. It's a luxury to have one weekday job. OK, it's not quite one, but it's close enough to call.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Gratitude: Day 8

Wishlists. Especially Amazon. It's not just for buying things, it helps me organize books I plan to check out at the library as well.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Gratitude: Day 7

Fireplaces. This is the first place I've lived where the fireplace actually still worked. There is something about a fireplace that's unlike other experiences in the home.

We are generally so removed from what anyone would deem "natural." The fire and the wood and smoke and the flickering light in the dark is a novelty to us. But it somehow makes me feel connected to a past I never experienced.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Gratitude: Day 6

Clarity. Even when something is hard to hear, it's better to know than not know. It's hard to come up with solutions to problems when you don't know what question to ask.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Gratitude: Day 5

The combination of:

Pesto sauce. Because it's just so yummy.

Funny videos with cats jumping into boxes. And out of boxes.

Decent, but inexpensive red wine.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Gratitude: Day 4

Conversations with inspiring people. It can be easy to get run down doing the day-to-day things that need to be done. So knowing people who are positive and full of energy is wonderful on those low energy days.

Good vegetarian restaurants. A few exist in Connecticut. I'm glad to have the opportunity to spend time at least one day a month at the near where I live.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Gratitude: Day 3

My husband. Over the last two years I have watched my husband really come into himself and flourish. People have told him a lot in that time that he has become more and more like his father. I never had the opportunity to know my father-in-law, but I understand he was a well-respected man my husband can be proud to be compared to.

I have always been proud of my husband. I feel fortunate to have found such a loving, thoughtful man, and I continue to be impressed with him more and more every day.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Gratitude: Day 2

Dentists. I know it's a strange thing to be thankful for, but it's so important. But, I just came from there. I am so appreciative to have a dentist who cares as much as the one I have been going to for the last four years.

I volunteered at the Connecticut Mission of Mercy last year. It was humbling to be a part of that dental clinic where dentists volunteered to treat as many patients as they could in 2 days.

Total patients treated: 2,052
Total value of charitable dental care: $970,843
Number of volunteers: 1,640
Cities, towns, & villages represented: 266

The location changes. The 2011 clinic is scheduled to take place in April in Waterbury. If you want to be part of something important and worthwhile I suggest you check it out.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Gratitude: Day 1

I think it would be nice to think about the things I'm grateful for. I'm going to start today and continue for a month (Nov 11-Dec 11.) and list at least one thing I'm grateful for every day. The only rule is that it has to directly relate to something that has happened during that day.

Today I'm grateful for my dog still being healthy even though she's 13 years old. People never suspect she's that old. I notice because she only has about 20% of the energy she used to have, but other than sleeping more and being a bit more grumpy, she's still the same dog she was when I first found her in Texas.

I'm also grateful for vets. They might be expensive, but it's such a piece of mind to know they can, and truly do want to help her, when she's there.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Thanksgiving thoughts

Made a couple new dishes last night. Shredded Brussel sprouts with butternut squash and apples was one. The other was kale and olive oil mashed potatoes. I think they both came out nice, (and I loved that fact that the first dish reminded me of our wedding colors) but I'm trying to imagine the palette of a fourteen year old girl. I'll eat pretty much any vegetable so sometimes it's challenging to try and plan Thanksgiving food for other people. Well, back to the drawing board...

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

More leadership thoughts

Writing about leadership yesterday reminded me of one of those "motivational posters" you see.

The one I'm thinking of is probably a parody, but it goes like this. A lion sits in the forefront and underneath it is the large word arrogance. Underneath that is this phrase: "The best leaders inspire by example. When that's not an option, brute intimidation works pretty well, too."

Even as a joke it's misguided. Intimidation is always the refuse of the small minded and the insecure.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Leadership

I've come to realize that leadership is the most complicated thing in the whole world. Not only do you need to find a way to motivate and inspire a group as a whole, but you need to have a real relationship with each individual person as well. There's no short cut to that. It just takes time and effort.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Man mall

We went shopping at Cabela's, and I felt like I'd been inside a huge testosterone bubble by the time I left. Men everywhere, shopping alone or in groups of two. It was like a what a mall would be like if men designed it and could just sell guns, hunting gear, and meat grinders.

We got into a conversation about men being drawn to destruction and whether it's innate or learned. There's so many reasons we can never really know, but I think it must be a combination of both.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Existential Struggle

"The best way is not to fight it, just go. Don't be trying all the time to fix things. What you run from only stays with you longer. When you fight something, you only make it stronger." -C. Palaniuk

Just a quote from a book I recently read by an author who is quickly becoming a new favorite (at least his early stuff).

It's similar to one of Neitzsche's famous quotes: "Battle not with monsters lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."

Which is interesting because recently I heard Palaniuk's works described as Existentialism for Dummies. That's fine by me. As someone who has spent years studying that stuff I'd say it's about time someone made the topic more entertaining for the masses.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Grapefruit

While at the dentist I thought the gloves the hygienist was wearing were grapefruit flavored. They weren't. But she told me I was the second person to have that exact olfactory hallucination since she had switched to this brand of gloves.

Later, I ran across a grapefruit flavored beverage and ordered it even though I am not usually drawn to grapefruit. I think I was subliminally coerced.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Surrealism vs Magical Realism

Is it just me or do these terms get used interchangeably these days?

I am a fan of surrealism, but I find magical realism somewhere between tedious and annoying.

Surrealism leaves some doubt as to whether the events could or could not have happened. Magical realism removes that doubt.

But I am determined to read many more books that use magical realism as part of the story before I decide it's not for me. I do remember a time when I hated stream of consciousness, and now I can't believe I ever felt that way.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Nanowrimo

Not going so well. But at least I've learned to be much more laid back since the last time I did it three years ago.

I keep thinking of something I heard a wildly successful writer say about writing. Usually, writers give the same advice. Even if you're not in the mood to write you should sit down and "move you hand across the page." Most of life is about showing up. This other writer said--in a rather crass way I won't repeat--if you don't feel like writing don't make yourself do it. Writing flows (I'm paraphrasing here) from inspiration not a sense of duty.

I do still think most of life is about showing up, but he does have a point.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Midterms

Planned on voting at the beginning of the day, ended up getting to the polls about 30 minutes before they closed. Some days are like that.

Monday, November 1, 2010

It's November...again

I may try my hand at this nablopomo thing again this year. I'm doing nanowrimo, so why not? November is all about ridiculous challenges.

A lot has changed in my life since the last time I did either. Funny how certain events can color our remembrances of a time, like a feeling so think it has weight.

I do feel no-committal to most things these days, so I'll give it a few days before I really decide.

Happy November!

Friday, October 8, 2010

In the woods again

In the woods today I happened on a flutter in the distance. It had wings and was flying in place about four feet off the ground. I mistook it for a butterfly but as I got closer I could see it was the wings of a grasshopper. As I moved closer I looked for the invisible spider web that must be holding it in place. But there was none. The grasshopper closed its wings and landed on the ground.
Amazed I walked past. Then I changed my mind and decided to turn back now that my thoughts had been disrupted. As I turned around I jumped back as a snake slid away through the leaves and dry grass. The grasshopper opened its wings and flew-hopped away in two leaps as grasshoppers are more accustomed to doing.