This is a great quote from Epicurus that I wanted to share with you and I also wanted to recommend listening to the show where the History of Doubt was discussed with Jennifer Michael Hecht. Fascinating topic. History of Doubt
Doubters, questioners and explorers hold your heads high! We are the fuel in the engine of change.
Here's a reading from one of the greats in her "doubters hall of fame," the third-century B.C.E. Greek philosopher Epicurus. (BTW same time frame from whence classical Chinese Medicine flows)
"Let no one be slow to seek wisdom when he is young nor weary in the search thereof when he has grown old, for no age is too early or too late for the health of the soul. And to say that the season for studying philosophy has not yet come or that it is passed and gone is like saying that the season for happiness is not yet or that it is now no more. Therefore, both old and young ought to seek wisdom. The former in order that, as age comes over him, he may be young in good things because of the grace of what has been. And the latter in order that, while he is young, he may at the same time be old because he has no fear of the things which are to come. So we must exercise ourselves in the things which bring happiness since, if that be present, we have everything, and if that be absent, all our actions are directed toward attaining it."
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Sunday, June 11, 2006
Monday, May 22, 2006
Perfection vs. Values
I was out jogging today, reflecting on my second listening to "Prodigal Summer" a book on tape by Barbara Kingsolver. It explores many conversations between people who have very different ideas of their worlds and how they think the rest of us should live. It occurred to me that the characters, who had perfection as their standard, had very little room for flexibility and whimsy. No one could live up to their perfect standards, not even themselves. Their rigidity was keeping them from the simple pleasures in life and from having close relationships. Their judgments and ideas about perfection seemed to be leaving them angry, irritable and mean spirited.
I was trying to think about an alternative that would soften the whole issue of perfectionism. When our efforts are not crushed by our judgmental natures, we can still have our spirits be challenged and allow ourselves some room for mistakes, imperfections, the time to learn something new and even some vulnerability with others. Doing our best, having strong values and putting an honest effort into the things we care about, can all take place within the context of flexibility when judgments are relaxed. Substituting values for judgments seems like a good place to start building our efforts while staying kind, soft and open. Perfection can wait for another lifetime. Why not start being happy and content right now?
I was trying to think about an alternative that would soften the whole issue of perfectionism. When our efforts are not crushed by our judgmental natures, we can still have our spirits be challenged and allow ourselves some room for mistakes, imperfections, the time to learn something new and even some vulnerability with others. Doing our best, having strong values and putting an honest effort into the things we care about, can all take place within the context of flexibility when judgments are relaxed. Substituting values for judgments seems like a good place to start building our efforts while staying kind, soft and open. Perfection can wait for another lifetime. Why not start being happy and content right now?
Sunday, May 07, 2006
What If It's Not True?
What if our inner voices are wrong? "I am my own worst critic!" is a common expression. So my question is "who you gonna trust?" If our self talk can so easily turn negative, inspired by random perceived rejections or sometimes by nothing at all, should we be trusting ourselves to make these judgments. Why is it so often that our friends are full of praises for our successes and we can barely hear it? We are so busy saying "Yes, but...." They do it too, so you are not alone. You know you usually think your friends are funnier, smarter, better looking than they think they are.
What is the antidote to those sour words we hear inside of us? Find proof that the truth lies elsewhere. For instance, when I say "I always make the same mistake and fall into the same patterns." Find the exceptions, when this wasn't true and write it down. This won't be easy, at first. We have been trusting the "worst critic" for a long time. Add the positive details of your history and sometimes the truth is 180 degrees from what you are habitually telling yourself. Surprise!!
You will get better at recognizing your negative voices and soon you'll be arguing the other side of your case and the negative voices will back off.
What is the antidote to those sour words we hear inside of us? Find proof that the truth lies elsewhere. For instance, when I say "I always make the same mistake and fall into the same patterns." Find the exceptions, when this wasn't true and write it down. This won't be easy, at first. We have been trusting the "worst critic" for a long time. Add the positive details of your history and sometimes the truth is 180 degrees from what you are habitually telling yourself. Surprise!!
You will get better at recognizing your negative voices and soon you'll be arguing the other side of your case and the negative voices will back off.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
A Value Rich Life
I was listening to a radio discussion about how best to choose the foods for your supper each day. The examples they gave depended on what is important to you as an individual. While listening, it struck me that more important than helping you pick a potato over an eggplant, choosing your foods based on what you value in life is a great metaphor for the rest of our lives. For example, if you value community, you'll find a fresh food market. If you value a landscape dotted with farms, you'll buy locally. If you worry about pesticides, you'll buy organic. If you value fresh, you'll buy seasonally. If you value the process, you'll grow some of your own food. We usually vary our choices, depending on our circumstances. My point is how does this variety of choices apply to our jobs, families, consumption, health, pleasurable activities, or even our choice of wardrobe? Each choice is based on something we value, either subtlely or more obviously. When we make choices that are out of line with our values, we suffer and so does the world around us. It sometimes takes a bit more time and attention to live a "value rich" life but you will truly be richer for the effort.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
20 Ways to Relax in a Minute or Less
To answer the USA Today article on stress from the last post, here are some tools to try.
20 Ways to Relax in One Minute or Less
1) Take 10 long, slow, deep, quiet, even breaths
2) Look at a candle with your eyes almost closed. Focus on the flame and your eyelashes
3) Go outside and take a few deep breaths
4) Pet a dog and talk to the owner
5) Close your eyes and listen for a few seconds
6) Write down 5 things you are grateful for
7) Call someone and praise something they did
8) Sing a favorite song at the top of your lungs
9) Draw or sketch something
10) Make circles with every moveable joint: neck, fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, waist, hips, knees and ankles
11) Stick out your tongue and make roaring lion sounds
12) Find something to laugh at
13) Take a minute to fall in love with nature, the sky, a flower, a pond
14) Take a walk around the block
15) Whistle
16) Have a conversation with a young child
17) Turn off the news and research a way to share your talents
18) Slowly eat a piece of fruit, enjoy the texture, taste and smell
19) Give yourself a quick hand or foot massage
20) Write down 5 things you are good at
20 Ways to Relax in One Minute or Less
1) Take 10 long, slow, deep, quiet, even breaths
2) Look at a candle with your eyes almost closed. Focus on the flame and your eyelashes
3) Go outside and take a few deep breaths
4) Pet a dog and talk to the owner
5) Close your eyes and listen for a few seconds
6) Write down 5 things you are grateful for
7) Call someone and praise something they did
8) Sing a favorite song at the top of your lungs
9) Draw or sketch something
10) Make circles with every moveable joint: neck, fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, waist, hips, knees and ankles
11) Stick out your tongue and make roaring lion sounds
12) Find something to laugh at
13) Take a minute to fall in love with nature, the sky, a flower, a pond
14) Take a walk around the block
15) Whistle
16) Have a conversation with a young child
17) Turn off the news and research a way to share your talents
18) Slowly eat a piece of fruit, enjoy the texture, taste and smell
19) Give yourself a quick hand or foot massage
20) Write down 5 things you are good at
Friday, February 24, 2006
Stress and Starting Helpful Habits
A friend sent me this article today. Developing healthy habits and a consistent self-care routine isn't easy, but it looks like today might be a good day to get started!
Only half of worried Americans try to manage their stress
By Kate Schuler, Special for USA TODAYThu Feb 23, 7:15 AM ET
When it comes to dealing with stress, a number of Americans turn to unhealthy behaviors such as overeating and smoking for relief and don't exercise, according to a survey released today by the American Psychological Association (APA).
But those choices, researchers say, lead to increased health problems that ultimately make stress worse.
"What's surprising and alarming is the fact that too many people weren't taking active steps to do anything about the stress they're feeling," says Russ Newman of the APA. "People don't really appreciate how detrimental stress is, and the ways they're trying to manage stress can be as detrimental, if not more so."
Despite the numbers of adults who are very concerned about stress, only 55% are making an effort to manage it - a trend that could have long-term consequences for the health of Americans, Newman says. Adults who experience stress were less likely to say they were in good health, and they reported higher rates of hypertension, depression and obesity.
The survey of about 2,000 adults showed that 47% of Americans said they were concerned about the levels of stress in their lives, though women were more likely than men to say they were affected by stress.
Women also responded differently, the survey shows. Women under stress were more likely than men to say they felt nervous, wanted to cry or had a lack of energy. Men said they had trouble sleeping and felt angry or irritable.
About one-quarter of Americans said they turn to food for comfort; about one in three women said they cope by eating. Those who reported turning to food were twice as likely as the average American to be diagnosed with obesity, researchers noted.
People who reported higher stress also were more likely to smoke and less likely to exercise. These behaviors lead to a "vicious cycle," Newman says, in which unhealthful habits might relieve stress in the short term but exacerbate it in the long run.
Such habits are hard to break, however. Rajita Sinha, director of the Research Program on Stress, Addiction and Psychopathology at Yale University School of Medicine, says that when a person is stressed, the need to feel better "takes precedence over impulse control."
"We tend to choose a response based on what we know, based on habit," Sinha says. "We will be looking for things that calm us down, but they may not be the best thing for us."
She recommends trying to start good habits early on and paying close attention to "why we do one thing over the other" to be more aware of long-term consequences.
Copyright © 2006 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions or Comments
Privacy Policy -Terms of Service - Copyright/IP Policy - Ad Feedback
Only half of worried Americans try to manage their stress
By Kate Schuler, Special for USA TODAYThu Feb 23, 7:15 AM ET
When it comes to dealing with stress, a number of Americans turn to unhealthy behaviors such as overeating and smoking for relief and don't exercise, according to a survey released today by the American Psychological Association (APA).
But those choices, researchers say, lead to increased health problems that ultimately make stress worse.
"What's surprising and alarming is the fact that too many people weren't taking active steps to do anything about the stress they're feeling," says Russ Newman of the APA. "People don't really appreciate how detrimental stress is, and the ways they're trying to manage stress can be as detrimental, if not more so."
Despite the numbers of adults who are very concerned about stress, only 55% are making an effort to manage it - a trend that could have long-term consequences for the health of Americans, Newman says. Adults who experience stress were less likely to say they were in good health, and they reported higher rates of hypertension, depression and obesity.
The survey of about 2,000 adults showed that 47% of Americans said they were concerned about the levels of stress in their lives, though women were more likely than men to say they were affected by stress.
Women also responded differently, the survey shows. Women under stress were more likely than men to say they felt nervous, wanted to cry or had a lack of energy. Men said they had trouble sleeping and felt angry or irritable.
About one-quarter of Americans said they turn to food for comfort; about one in three women said they cope by eating. Those who reported turning to food were twice as likely as the average American to be diagnosed with obesity, researchers noted.
People who reported higher stress also were more likely to smoke and less likely to exercise. These behaviors lead to a "vicious cycle," Newman says, in which unhealthful habits might relieve stress in the short term but exacerbate it in the long run.
Such habits are hard to break, however. Rajita Sinha, director of the Research Program on Stress, Addiction and Psychopathology at Yale University School of Medicine, says that when a person is stressed, the need to feel better "takes precedence over impulse control."
"We tend to choose a response based on what we know, based on habit," Sinha says. "We will be looking for things that calm us down, but they may not be the best thing for us."
She recommends trying to start good habits early on and paying close attention to "why we do one thing over the other" to be more aware of long-term consequences.
Copyright © 2006 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
Questions or Comments
Privacy Policy -Terms of Service - Copyright/IP Policy - Ad Feedback
Monday, January 23, 2006
What is the purpose of your Work?
What is work? That’s the question asked towards the end of the book 'Your Money or Your Life' by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. You can check out their online program at Simple Living Network
They discuss learning how to value yourself and your limited time on this earth in the context of what you do everyday for love or money. According to them, and statistics, as a 53 year old I have less than 2249,325 hours left.
They quote E.F Schumacher, who says:
"The three purposes of human work are as follows – First, to provide necessary and useful goods and services. Second, to enable everyone of us to use and thereby perfect our gifts like good stewards. Third, to do so in service to, and in cooperation with, others, so as to liberate ourselves from our inborn egocentricity."
They include a quote from Studs Terkel's book "Working":
"....It is about a search, too, for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather that torpor: in short, for a sort of life rather than a Monday through Friday sort of dying."
From Dominguez/Robin:
"So we see that our concept (as a society) of leisure has changed radically. From being considered a desirable and civilizing component of day-to-day life it has become something to be feared, a reminder of unemployment during the years of the Depression. As the value of leisure has dropped, the value of work has risen. The push for full employment, along with the growth of advertising has created a populace increasingly oriented toward work and toward earning more money in order to consume more resources."
"The vows for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health -- and often till death do us part -- may be better applied to our jobs than our wives or husbands. No wonder we introduce ourselves as nurses or contractors rather than as parents or friends."
"The real problem with work, then, is not that our expectations are too high. It's that we have confused work with paid employment. Redefining work as simply any productive or purposeful activity, with paid employment being just one activity among many, frees us from the false assumption that what we do to put food on the table and a roof over our heads should also provide us with our sense of meaning, purpose and fulfillment. Breaking the link between work and money allows us to reclaim balance and sanity."
"Our fulfillment as human beings lies not in our jobs but in the whole picture of our lives--in our inner sense of what life is about, our connectedness with others and our yearning for meaning and purpose. By separating work and wages we bring together the different parts of ourselves and remember that our real work is just to live our values as best we know how. In fact, mistaking work for wages has meant that most of our jobs have gotten neither the attention nor the credit they deserve – jobs like loving our mates, being a decent neighbor or developing a sustaining philosophy of life. When we are whole, we don’t need to try to consume our way to happiness. Happiness is our birthright."
"Another casualty of our confusion of work with wages is our inner work – the job of self-examination, self-development and emotional and spiritual maturation. It takes time to know yourself. Time for reflection, for silence, for journal writing, for prayer and ritual, for diaalogue with a caring friend to heal the wounds from our past, for developing a coherent philosophy of life and personal code of ethics and for setting personal goals and evaluating progress. Yet, instead of honoring this as important work, we squeeze what we can into evenings and weekends, devoting the majority of our waking hours to the real work of our jobs.
Redefining work gives us back the full experience and expression of these other activities. We can honor our houshold duties, our relationships and our inner work and give this unpaid employment the same creativity, respect and attention that we give to our paid employment."
They discuss learning how to value yourself and your limited time on this earth in the context of what you do everyday for love or money. According to them, and statistics, as a 53 year old I have less than 2249,325 hours left.
They quote E.F Schumacher, who says:
"The three purposes of human work are as follows – First, to provide necessary and useful goods and services. Second, to enable everyone of us to use and thereby perfect our gifts like good stewards. Third, to do so in service to, and in cooperation with, others, so as to liberate ourselves from our inborn egocentricity."
They include a quote from Studs Terkel's book "Working":
"....It is about a search, too, for daily meaning as well as daily bread, for recognition as well as cash, for astonishment rather that torpor: in short, for a sort of life rather than a Monday through Friday sort of dying."
From Dominguez/Robin:
"So we see that our concept (as a society) of leisure has changed radically. From being considered a desirable and civilizing component of day-to-day life it has become something to be feared, a reminder of unemployment during the years of the Depression. As the value of leisure has dropped, the value of work has risen. The push for full employment, along with the growth of advertising has created a populace increasingly oriented toward work and toward earning more money in order to consume more resources."
"The vows for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health -- and often till death do us part -- may be better applied to our jobs than our wives or husbands. No wonder we introduce ourselves as nurses or contractors rather than as parents or friends."
"The real problem with work, then, is not that our expectations are too high. It's that we have confused work with paid employment. Redefining work as simply any productive or purposeful activity, with paid employment being just one activity among many, frees us from the false assumption that what we do to put food on the table and a roof over our heads should also provide us with our sense of meaning, purpose and fulfillment. Breaking the link between work and money allows us to reclaim balance and sanity."
"Our fulfillment as human beings lies not in our jobs but in the whole picture of our lives--in our inner sense of what life is about, our connectedness with others and our yearning for meaning and purpose. By separating work and wages we bring together the different parts of ourselves and remember that our real work is just to live our values as best we know how. In fact, mistaking work for wages has meant that most of our jobs have gotten neither the attention nor the credit they deserve – jobs like loving our mates, being a decent neighbor or developing a sustaining philosophy of life. When we are whole, we don’t need to try to consume our way to happiness. Happiness is our birthright."
"Another casualty of our confusion of work with wages is our inner work – the job of self-examination, self-development and emotional and spiritual maturation. It takes time to know yourself. Time for reflection, for silence, for journal writing, for prayer and ritual, for diaalogue with a caring friend to heal the wounds from our past, for developing a coherent philosophy of life and personal code of ethics and for setting personal goals and evaluating progress. Yet, instead of honoring this as important work, we squeeze what we can into evenings and weekends, devoting the majority of our waking hours to the real work of our jobs.
Redefining work gives us back the full experience and expression of these other activities. We can honor our houshold duties, our relationships and our inner work and give this unpaid employment the same creativity, respect and attention that we give to our paid employment."
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Happiness For the New Year
I've been rereading Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman for my Life Coaching research paper. I just found a great New Year's project that he recommends to start your year.
On p.81 he describes it, "Shortly after New Year's Day, I find a quiet half an hour to fill out a "January retrospective." I choose a time that is remote from any momentary hassles or uplifts, and I do it on my computer, where I have saved a copy for comparison purposes every year for the last decade. On a scale of 1 to 10 (abysmal to perfect), I rate my satisfaction with my life in each of the domains of great value to me, and I write a couple of sentences that sum up each. The domains I value, which may differ from yours, are as follows:
Love, Profession, Finances, Play, Friends, Health, Generativity, Overall and then Trajectory in which I scrutinize the year-to-year changes and their course across a decade.. I recommend this procedure to you. It pins you down, leaves little room for self-deception, and tells you when to act."
Sounds like a worthy project. That's what I'll be doing tomorrow.
Happy New Year to you all and a big Ho Ho Ho from Charlie the parrot.
On p.81 he describes it, "Shortly after New Year's Day, I find a quiet half an hour to fill out a "January retrospective." I choose a time that is remote from any momentary hassles or uplifts, and I do it on my computer, where I have saved a copy for comparison purposes every year for the last decade. On a scale of 1 to 10 (abysmal to perfect), I rate my satisfaction with my life in each of the domains of great value to me, and I write a couple of sentences that sum up each. The domains I value, which may differ from yours, are as follows:
Love, Profession, Finances, Play, Friends, Health, Generativity, Overall and then Trajectory in which I scrutinize the year-to-year changes and their course across a decade.. I recommend this procedure to you. It pins you down, leaves little room for self-deception, and tells you when to act."
Sounds like a worthy project. That's what I'll be doing tomorrow.
Happy New Year to you all and a big Ho Ho Ho from Charlie the parrot.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
'tis the season
As we enter into the final weeks of 2005, I've chosen this time to reflect on the past year. A book title comes to mind, The Gradual Awakening. Maybe it is my seeing what I want to see, but I'm sensing an awakening all around me, in terms of many of the problems we have become complacent about like poverty, global warming, dependence on our shrinking resources, disease, war, our dislocated communities, consumerism, corporate abuse, election fraud, greed and torture. It may be the internet, it may be cell phones, it may be various documentaries, Air America, but there is a growing need to get truthful information, meet and communicate in real time and solve these problems together, outside of the mainstream channels. A true grassroots uprising! What I have been experiencing is a strong, creative, motivated group of activists who are looking for positive ways to get beyond the anger and powerlessness and march out into the sunlight to find ways around the prevailing obstacles and make sure no one gets left out as we go forward. Yes the task is great but for these coming years we have no choice but to correct our human journey and heal the wounds to the earth and each other. It's more complicated than when the Beatles sang "All You Need Is Love" but let's grow our communities with rich soil, fresh air and water. Peace to you all for the New Year and to our brothers and sisters around this precious planet!
Monday, November 28, 2005
If You Build It, They Will Come
They just had the 25th running of the Knickerbocker 60K race this last Saturday. On this special anniversary for this ultramarathon, rich in so much history, I have been recalling my two experiences with joining in this 37 mile race. The race in 1994 is a vague memory. I had the crazy idea that since I had recently spent 16 days trekking the trails of eastern Nepal, that Central Park would be a breeze. Well I got to mile 27 and they closed the course. I had exceeded the time limit! So the unfinished project brewed for about 10 years. This time I made it a group effort and invited all my buddies to run/walk the 37 miles with me. We coordinated our cell phones and all day long my loving friends came and went. With all that support I finished in dramatic fashion, with 5 minutes to spare! My point is, it can be much more than a race. It's the incredible project, the support, the dream, the motivation, all coming together in a fantastic memory that is as clear as yesterday. Great time to start dreaming for the next one.....
Sunday, November 20, 2005
The Infinite Mind Radio Show meets American Mania
Well folks, we are on the cutting edge of convergence. This morning on The Infinite Mind Radio they interviewed Peter Whybrow American Mania about hypomania. They were trying to define when hyperactivity becomes a problem and what happens when the entire culture becomes manic. How creativity is involved and even the genetic component was explored. My favorite topics.
I know it is not a pleasant thought to plan waking at 7 a.m. the Sunday after Thanksgiving, but it'll be worth it next week. They are discussing empathy. Another one of my favorite topics! Start taking those naps now!
I know it is not a pleasant thought to plan waking at 7 a.m. the Sunday after Thanksgiving, but it'll be worth it next week. They are discussing empathy. Another one of my favorite topics! Start taking those naps now!
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Authentic Happiness
I'm working on my research paper for my coaching program and have been rereading Authentic Happiness by Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman. Authentic Happiness I found this paragraph near the end of the book and I want to share it with you.
"Could it be that positive emotion, then, has evolved to motivate and guide us through win-win games? When we are in a situation in which everyone might benefit - courting, hunting together, raising children, cooperatiing, planting seeds, teaching and learning - joy, good cheer, contentment, and happiness motivate us and guide our actions. Positive emotions are part of a sensory system that alerts to us the presence of a potential win-win. They also set up an action repertoire and a mind set that broadens and builds abiding intellectual and social reasources. Positive emotion, in short, build the cathedrals of our lives."
"Could it be that positive emotion, then, has evolved to motivate and guide us through win-win games? When we are in a situation in which everyone might benefit - courting, hunting together, raising children, cooperatiing, planting seeds, teaching and learning - joy, good cheer, contentment, and happiness motivate us and guide our actions. Positive emotions are part of a sensory system that alerts to us the presence of a potential win-win. They also set up an action repertoire and a mind set that broadens and builds abiding intellectual and social reasources. Positive emotion, in short, build the cathedrals of our lives."
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Who turned out the lights?
The days are unfortunately getting shorter and darker going into the holidays. That, combined with our busy schedules, what with trying to get everything done, is a volatile combination. Check out When Your Body Gets the Blues for their advice about getting enough light into your life during these harried times. They are very thorough and answer all the questions I have always wondered about, like whether windows filter the "good" light. There is a great description of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The symptoms are too common to mention. We can use everything that is out there in our arsenal for staying chipper during this coming season of festivities.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Update On Simple Living
Well, the update on the "Transforming Your Relationship with Money" program is here! I've been having a blast going through the CD's and workbook. It is set up so I do my review questions from the previous session and then the preview questions to the next session before I listen. Joe Dominguez is hilarious and a great reason for me to get my homework done, so I can hurry up and get to the next session.
I'm up to session 9 of the 12 and am noticing the effects already. I'm more relaxed about my income and much more realistic about what I want, need and already have. There is less emotional charge in the areas of income and spending, so I'm not feeling crazed anymore. Officially I start the online group at the end of the month, so this is just the beginning. Visit Simple Living Network for details about how to sign up.
I'm up to session 9 of the 12 and am noticing the effects already. I'm more relaxed about my income and much more realistic about what I want, need and already have. There is less emotional charge in the areas of income and spending, so I'm not feeling crazed anymore. Officially I start the online group at the end of the month, so this is just the beginning. Visit Simple Living Network for details about how to sign up.
Monday, October 10, 2005
What do Kurt Vonnegut, Samuel Clemens as Mark Twain, Timothy Treadwell as Grizzly Man and Bob Dylan have in common?
Well it certainly has been a week of input! I didn’t plan it this way, but some themes have revealed themselves in these 4 stories.
In the core of each story, is a person who truly does not fit any mold and bumps up against the collective desire to speak from the same voice. They all see things in a very unique way and simply cannot fit into the uniform society craves. Even the left, the protesters, youth culture, environmentalists and folk singers come across as quite rigid in the presence of these unrestricted souls.
I’ve heard Kurt Vonnegut speak twice, seen the Werner Herzog movie, Grizzly Man, watched lots of the PBS Bob Dylan film by Martin Scorsese and finally the life of Samuel Clemens on also on PBS.
What I did notice in each of these stories was a superficial displeasure and rebelliousness when these 4 fella’s were restrained, boo’ed, speaking things or playing a style of music that the public wasn’t ready to hear. On a deeper level, they were and are on a mission to speak their truth in an uncensored way and implied in that act is an optimism and hope for humanity. Why else bother, especially with the scrutiny that they were faced with?
At the Q&A that followed the Grizzly Man movie, it was fascinating to see how many audience members needed to declare Treadwell crazy and dismiss him. I mentioned the "Fast, Cheap and Out of Control" movie, especially the lion tamer's story. (See my last post). There were several people, including myself, who understood that living with grizzly bears every summer for 13 years was beyond our comprehension. We were inspired that he lived true to his vision. We also saw the love he had for the animals and his ability to communicate and live among them. Judgments be damned! I encourage you to check out some of these “living outside the box” folks. Listen and be inspired.
In the core of each story, is a person who truly does not fit any mold and bumps up against the collective desire to speak from the same voice. They all see things in a very unique way and simply cannot fit into the uniform society craves. Even the left, the protesters, youth culture, environmentalists and folk singers come across as quite rigid in the presence of these unrestricted souls.
I’ve heard Kurt Vonnegut speak twice, seen the Werner Herzog movie, Grizzly Man, watched lots of the PBS Bob Dylan film by Martin Scorsese and finally the life of Samuel Clemens on also on PBS.
What I did notice in each of these stories was a superficial displeasure and rebelliousness when these 4 fella’s were restrained, boo’ed, speaking things or playing a style of music that the public wasn’t ready to hear. On a deeper level, they were and are on a mission to speak their truth in an uncensored way and implied in that act is an optimism and hope for humanity. Why else bother, especially with the scrutiny that they were faced with?
At the Q&A that followed the Grizzly Man movie, it was fascinating to see how many audience members needed to declare Treadwell crazy and dismiss him. I mentioned the "Fast, Cheap and Out of Control" movie, especially the lion tamer's story. (See my last post). There were several people, including myself, who understood that living with grizzly bears every summer for 13 years was beyond our comprehension. We were inspired that he lived true to his vision. We also saw the love he had for the animals and his ability to communicate and live among them. Judgments be damned! I encourage you to check out some of these “living outside the box” folks. Listen and be inspired.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
In case you missed this one......
Director Errol Morris made a tiny, little movie in 1997 that slipped under the radar. I was reminded of my love of naked mole rats recently and then this movie. We are all a little crazy (especially this author) but these guys are really into their passions, so do we call it crazy? Fun and thought provoking. I love and recommend all of his work!
Here's the official synopsis:The film interwoven the stories of four obsessive men, each driven to create eccentric worlds of their dreams, all involving animals: Dave Hoover, a lion tamer who idealizes the late Clyde Beatty, and who shares his odd theories on the mental processes of wild animals; George Mendonça, a topiary gardener who has devoted a lifetime to painstakingly shaping bears and giraffes out of hedges and trees; Ray Mendez, who is fascinated with hairless mole-rats, tiny buck-toothed mammals who behave like insects; and Rodney Brooks, an M.I.T. scientist who has designed complex, autonomous robots that can crawl like bugs without specific instructions from a human controller. As the film proceeds, thematic connections between the four protagonists begin to emerge: the lion tamer and the topiary gardener look back at ways of life which are fading from the scene; the mole-rat specialist and the robot scientist eye the future, envisioning creatures that may someday replace the human race.
Happy Birthday to Charlie Parker (our African Grey parrot) and to my sister in OR!!
Here's the official synopsis:The film interwoven the stories of four obsessive men, each driven to create eccentric worlds of their dreams, all involving animals: Dave Hoover, a lion tamer who idealizes the late Clyde Beatty, and who shares his odd theories on the mental processes of wild animals; George Mendonça, a topiary gardener who has devoted a lifetime to painstakingly shaping bears and giraffes out of hedges and trees; Ray Mendez, who is fascinated with hairless mole-rats, tiny buck-toothed mammals who behave like insects; and Rodney Brooks, an M.I.T. scientist who has designed complex, autonomous robots that can crawl like bugs without specific instructions from a human controller. As the film proceeds, thematic connections between the four protagonists begin to emerge: the lion tamer and the topiary gardener look back at ways of life which are fading from the scene; the mole-rat specialist and the robot scientist eye the future, envisioning creatures that may someday replace the human race.
Happy Birthday to Charlie Parker (our African Grey parrot) and to my sister in OR!!
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Simple Living Network
This is the home of it all! Unclutter, get your relationship to money in order and live in s sustainable way. And it's simple. Visit Simple Living Network for lots of tips, support, resources and study groups. I just signed up for the one called "Your Money or Your Life". I'll let you know how it goes. I think simplicity is the antidote to the culture that keeps pulling us away from our deepest values for quick rewards and pleasures. I am doing an experiment and turning off the TV and radio for a month and just listening to jazz. I feel calmer already after only a couple of days and will gradually focus on what I can give back with my new found time and energy. Stay tuned!
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
In Loving Memory
I want to honor Dr. Harold Kristal, my teacher and mentor and primary founder of the Metabolic Typing Nutrition Program. He died last week in California and will be missed by all the people that experienced his warmth and open spirit. He took the best of all those scientists in the field who went before and combined it into one inclusive system. His focus has always been on how to serve each individual the best. He would take the time to design a specific program for each person who came to him and would fill people with hope and optimism about their health issues. My husband and I both went to his clinic and were honored to have been seen by him. As a teacher, he wanted to spread his Metabolic Typing protocol near and far and he shared his approach to diet freely with hundreds of healing practitioners. His work will go on through us and I will dedicate my efforts to his legacy.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Sport's Mind
Having just completed the 20th anniversary celebration of my first two triathlons, I am a very different person then I was 20 years ago. I am enjoying being fit enough to breeze through these big athletic projects. These days, I am smelling the roses as I go along and yes I am slower but strength and stamina are my new targets.
I decided now is the time to introduce Sport's Mind Earlier in the summer I did a teleclass with Jeffrey Hodges, the originator of this program. What I liked was the flexibility of his approach and how similar it is to what I am coming to understand works best in coaching. Jeffrey puts the emphasis on what successful athletes have used to help them get the results they want and adapting this to the level of each of his clients. These are mostly internal stratagies in areas of motivation, goal acheivement, concentration/focus, anxiety management, self confidence, outlook and attitude, and finally the vision. What I mean by flexibility is the ability to go beyond judgements about "how it is supposed to be done" and creating your own goals within the larger context. This can be as rewarding as doing a "great time". There are many approaches to our athletic goals. Being fit, for example, is mine. Fun may be yours. Go for it!
I decided now is the time to introduce Sport's Mind Earlier in the summer I did a teleclass with Jeffrey Hodges, the originator of this program. What I liked was the flexibility of his approach and how similar it is to what I am coming to understand works best in coaching. Jeffrey puts the emphasis on what successful athletes have used to help them get the results they want and adapting this to the level of each of his clients. These are mostly internal stratagies in areas of motivation, goal acheivement, concentration/focus, anxiety management, self confidence, outlook and attitude, and finally the vision. What I mean by flexibility is the ability to go beyond judgements about "how it is supposed to be done" and creating your own goals within the larger context. This can be as rewarding as doing a "great time". There are many approaches to our athletic goals. Being fit, for example, is mine. Fun may be yours. Go for it!
Monday, August 08, 2005
Infinite Mind Alert - Multitasking
If you missed yesterday's show 8/7/05 you can still listen on line. The Infinite Mind Radio Dr.Peter Kramer and the other reporters clarified the health consequences involved in multitasking and how it ultimately hurts productivity. I especially liked the description of Charles Ives's ability to count in all sorts of rhythms at the same time. Being a bass player, as part of the rhythm section, I can't even imagine his talent.
Dr. Meyers discussed the pre-frontal cortex in our brains during multitasking. One important idea that he clarified is that we need to talk to ourselves in order to perform certain tasks. Anything that interfers with our own inner voices, like conversations on a cell phone, interrupt our self-talk when trying to get something done. This is why driving and talking on a cell phone is the equivalant of exceeding the alcohol limit for driving. WOW!
I'm still not suggesting you wake a t 7 a.m. on Sunday mornings, but these shows are well worth the listen.
Dr. Meyers discussed the pre-frontal cortex in our brains during multitasking. One important idea that he clarified is that we need to talk to ourselves in order to perform certain tasks. Anything that interfers with our own inner voices, like conversations on a cell phone, interrupt our self-talk when trying to get something done. This is why driving and talking on a cell phone is the equivalant of exceeding the alcohol limit for driving. WOW!
I'm still not suggesting you wake a t 7 a.m. on Sunday mornings, but these shows are well worth the listen.
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