Resting Versus Waiting

A few years ago I had the opportunity to travel to Sweden for a vacation. It was while traveling I came to study and examine my attitude regarding Resting vs. Waiting. At the beginning of my odyssey of travel I was only ...waiting to arrive at the airport, waiting to change planes and waiting to get my luggage off the carousel and to be taxied to the hotel. How much better and productive it was when I started my official resting phase.

Resting is Productive

I was resting when I sat at a city park bench with no other plans other than meeting a few friends for dinner later that day. I was resting when I took the ferry to the fortress on an outlying harbor. While resting I enjoyed the view, the people around me and myself. Conversely when I was waiting I was impatient, bored and restless.

Practice Resting Versus Waiting

Rest is an important skill which, when properly applied reduces stress and rejuvenates the spirit. My trip would have been even more rewarding if I had rested from the beginning instead of actively participating in waiting. I, unfortunately started with an attitude of "when I get there", rather than comprehending the journey is part of the trip.

Your Attitude Determines Your Success

Part of the successful process of resting is the subconscious or conscious decision we make to do an activity. I could have consciously chosen to rest instead of subconsciously making the choice to wait. It is really up to the individual to determine when to rest instead of wait.

Practice Resting Year-Round

It is now my determination to practice a resting attitude year round instead of only on vacations.

Applying this theory I can start resting instead of waiting while standing in line at the office supply store and when expecting a phone call. Only one area of warning, don't do this at traffic lights. Your slight delay due to resting will cause horns to honk and create more aggravation that the desired positive effect.

Fall's Festival

Fall is a time of thanks, reflection and review. As the leaves change and the days get shorter we seem to have more time to review our lives and take stock for planning our future. Unless of course, we are tired from raking leaves.

Fall, leaves, fall;

by Emily Jane Brontë (1818 - 1848)

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;

Lengthen night and shorten day;

Every leaf speaks bliss to me

Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow

Blossom where the rose should grow;

I shall sing when night's decay

Ushers in a drearier day.

Artwork courtesy of Kacei 2007 (c)

Resizing Your World

When in transition we often shrink our daily contacts down to the less stressful, more peaceful ones. We do this for self protection and to also help make our days calmer. Going through transition takes peace, quiet and often solitude.

Transition is a time to try new things and acquaint ourselves with new people and new ideas. Finding new people isn't always that easy but often times this is when we go back to our roots and seek out those who meant something to us in terms of friendship and personal and professional development. This needs to be done selectively and carefully. Missteps are abound here if you don't set personal boundaries with yourself on this adventure.

Resizing your world takes time and careful thought. Sometimes it time to shrink the contact list and other times it is time to grow and expand the list.

Whatever time it is for you, take it careful and slow. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day.

The Challenge of Change

Change is hard, change is never easy. The only thing constant of course is CHANGE.

Charles Kettering who was an American electrical engineer and manufacturer in the late 1900's said "The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress".

Goethe, the German poet and dramatist said "Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for change".

Given the insight of the ages, it is helpful to understand the steps involved in change. First step is problem recognition. Sometimes problems just arrive and hit us on the head. Other times, a nagging feeling gives us a sense of things to come.

The second thing to do when examining change is to identify the causes. What exactly caused this? Sometimes the cause is simple, other times a complex series of events created the change. The third step is going through the change. Change, when possible, is most often most comfortable when we implement it ourselves. Often case this is not what happens. Change happens then we change. Finally we need to evaluate the changes we have undertaken.

Change is a laboratory for self and organizational growth. Although we may fear it, it is best to embrace it and learn from it. Change is hard, change takes work but in the end we grow.

Being your own best friend

You can be your own best friend by:


Taking care of your mental, emotional and basic physical needs

Taking time out for yourself when you need it

Removing and extracting yourself from stress and overload

Being able to say no when you have had enough

Treating yourself as well as you treat others

Work on improving who you are on a daily basis

Asking for help and support from other friends when you need it

Being patience with yourself

Decision Making

Decisions making is what makes us human. We all make choices and take chances. I guess that is what makes us who we are.

Looking back on today, I did not have too many set choices or appointments. It was a day, relatively free, to do as I pleased. I was able to take a few phone calls, visit a few of my favorite blogs and venture into new territory, as well as catch up on some paper work.

Recess

Recess is a big part of your day when you are in elementary school. For some it can be a highlight and others a real chore. You get to run around, meet with friends or in some cases get a snack out from the lunch box. Schools differ on approach and I am sure if you studied recess patterns you would find broad interpretations of this special time.

In the classic office situation the recess is formally known as "break". It is a great time to walk around the building, just get away from your desk and go schmooze with a colleague who is also breaking. However not all individuals work in structured settings with defined breaks.

In adult life we need to make and take our own recesses. So no matter what we are doing in life, studying, caring(for loved ones - young or old), working or just living, we need to make a series of recesses in our own day.

For me my recess(es) occur several times throughout the day. In the morning I sip my coffee in quite solitude, in early evening I walk my dog, and late evening is reading an entertaining (FOR FUN ONLY) fiction book before bed.

The week of September 24 - 28, 2007 is Rescuing Recess Week -This special week is to encourage elementary schools to include recess in their day. Visit Rescuing Recess for more information.

Hooray for Recess!

Keep Green and Growing

Many years ago, a mentor of mine gave me a plant and said "Keep Green and Growing". This advice seems to speak to me especially at the start of each September. September, after all, is the month of sharpened pencils, fresh notebooks and the fresh start drive to learn something new.

Make education a part of your life by reading, exploring new ideas and trends. Sharpen your writing skills by evaluating your past written materials. Can you upgrade your writing or be more concise? Evaluation is as much a part of learning as is exploring new things.

In terms of growing and green, this September I began my taking some cuttings off my boxwood hedge, with the hopes of starting a new plant. I will get to see if it takes root and if my green thumb awakens.

Hip vs. Hipsters

The Beatnik Days are long past, but the Hipster Days are now midway to the end of being done.

I came across these three hipster featuring You Tube's - which can catch you up if you have missed this cultural time period.

The Hipster Olympics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAO4EVMlpwM

This one really nails the style, some of the interests and activities. It is campy but worth your time.

The Hipster Project

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlJOEYRDfiU

Irony, big words, and dry wit. The beginning gets more points than the ending but overall a nice piece of docudrama - mockumentary.

From the Hip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp8bZKJgEw8
Bounty hunter goes after the Hipster.

So what does this have to do with transition you may ask? I write this as Hipster Days are past their prime. After all, Hipsters must be in decline if this former suburban soccer mom can understand it. Now it can no longer be quite as hip.

Does this mean changes and transitions in the neighborhood - Williamsburg, Brooklyn?

Brevity - Short and Sweet

Yesterday, I stumbled across an advertisement for Sundance's institute seeking an editorial and publications coordinator. The amazing word that stood out was brevity.

Brevity is defined by Merriam-Webster's online dictionary as shortness of duration, shortness or conciseness of expression.

Keeping things short is the way of the future. No longer are we seeking Dickens's, three comma sentences. Think or read Bleak House for a real understanding. We have too much to read, or visually stimulate us each day at least during the working hours.

Whether it be written or verbal communications, keeping things short, is the way to go for the business world.

However, at my leisure I truly enjoy a long and lengthy book. I just reread Edward Rutherford's epic novel "London". If you haven't yet read it and have room to read, I highly recommend all 800 pages of it.

Visiting Type City

I came across this http://www.veer.com/ideas/typecity/gallery.aspx">site today and was truly mesmerized.

OK after a while the music started to lull me into stasis - (see the Wikipedia science fiction definition I intended, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stasis_%28fiction%29 )
but it was a great little "free" trip without packing a bag.

http://www.veer.com/ideas/typecity/gallery.aspx

The Type City site is accessed by a very small link at the bottom left. It says start here , I missed it the first time -and when I returned again I did go on the excursion. Don't forget to use your up and down and side to side keys. I suggest letting your fingers do a little musical dance and you will get to explore a wide expanse of work. This is a great way to take a break.

The Veer.com site, a New York advertising firm, has a wonderful collection of typefaces - one of their specialties. A visit reminded me of advertising and marketing days when you had used letterpress transfer sheets to create posters and signs.

Enjoy the adventure. Warning.....don't let the music get to you! Trust me, it will lull you to sleep, complacency or drive you over the edge.

Other sites to visit if you like info about typefaces http://www.typographia.org/ and if you like the concept of black and white visit this interesting website http://blackwhitebliss.blogspot.com

Remote Island ... Very Remote

It seems to me when we are going through the passage of change, we often want to run away. Run away to somewhere remote.

A month back I was catching up with family friends and was told about the remote Island of St. Helena. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Helena#Tristan_da_Cunha. One of their daughters has had a government assignment there for several years. This island is only accessible by boat at this time and it takes about five days to get there. There is however another short cut (if you can arrange it - it is very complicated) and that is to fly to Ascension Island and then take a 2 day boat trip from there.

It was interesting to visit Google Earth and locate both islands. St. Helena of course was the 2nd and final place Napoleon was exiled to. Look in the South Atlantic. Happy searching.

This of course led me to other pondering and I came across the 1000 day sail - maybe the most intentionally planned remote sail. See their web blog at http://1000daysatsea.blogspot.com

Clearing Out The Old Rolodex

Today I went through my kitchen Rolodex. It has been used less and less as I have become use to using my ACT software on my computer to look things up. It was a walk down memory lane with contractors for household services such as roof repair, painting and carpet cleaning.

It is amazing how in less than 15 years how much changes in the neighborhood. The closest Target at the time closed, and an even closer one opened. The local big box drug store changed hands three times - from a Payless to a Rite Aid to a Longs, Weinstocks changed to a Macy's, and the name of my children's pediatric practice changed. My card stack is now 1/5th the size.

I have still to go through my office Rolodex - the paper one that occasionally brings extreme excitement when my computer freezes up and I have to look up a phone number "manually". The joy of easy access...the visual thrill of seeing lots of contacts.

Driving on the Other Side of The Road

July was the month my family and I drove 1580 miles on the left side of the road. Traversing England, North and South was an interesting journey of different road signs, roundabouts and frequent - maybe too frequent - periods of time hearing When possible please make an authorized U-Turn. Our Hertz Never Lost(R) took a while to get use to - but then became a new crutch in this adventure. We had of course a complete supply of maps and many many printed pages of Map quest driving directions. These were only occasionally looked at as we began to trust the Never Lost. We have heard many stories of how Never Lost has taken drivers into fields and of course horror stories of these misadventures. But I was grateful for our Never Lost because it was the one who made navigational mistakes not I, not my husband. We had someone else to blame, scold or admonish. Ah what a wonderful thing - that Never Lost.

Taking off The Watch

For the last two months I have experimented with not wearing a watch. I have been a slave to "a watch" since the age of 11 when I first started to wear my silver and gray leather strapped Timex. Over the years I have transitioned through many others, several gold metal banded Seiko's, a black leather strap gold faced Hamilton and a silver strapped diamond accented dressy one.

This summer was the year of the fading white narrow band of skin that had adorned my wrist since the age of 11. Some how I made do. After all, my car has a clock, my computer and cell phone also have means of accessing the time. So I made it through the last two months without missing an appointment or deadline. My wrist, now fully tanned, looks good. The only thing I haven't got use to is not turning my head to the left to check the time. I image over time I could give that head turn up.

Will I continue this experiment? I don't think so - but I might wear my watch less now. Using it only for client appointments and days when I have lots of timed deadlines.

Why is it however when people retire they often get given a clock or a watch? I'll let you ponder that a while.

Senior Year and Change

I am writing this as my son is about to begin his senior year in college - senior year is one of anxiety, frustration and celebration. I remember the looming deadlines - both in my high school years and in the last year of college. It is tough! Why don't they make temporary sympathy cards for that?

Another "life" similarity might be when you are but 2 to 3 years from a scheduled retirement. The day after the last day looms in front of you with it's promise of freedom and the unknown. Does a plan make you feel any better? Or does it still make you anxious? Still in my mind a plan -- no matter how little is some relief. At least you have explored it -- not blocked it.

Change takes courage.

New Technology

Blogging is my most recent experiment with new technology. I realize bloggs are old hat for many of you - but for me seeing my words in electronic print on a nice clear screen is very exciting.

Now I am starting to research ways to update my skills - so do I honestly need to explore video production?

Leaps and Voids

I came across this site recently that explained the concept of "leaps" and "voids". Leaps are the period in your life when you take great strides in your life, whereas voids are the time when you are at a low. This is a spiritual site, one that I am not directly affiliated with, but the wisdom is profound.

Voids http://www.ancientcalendar.net/voidperiod.htm

Leaps http://www.ancientcalendar.net/leapperiod.htm

Unproductive Times

While working towards being productive is taking a step in the right direction. Working on being organized and expecting magnificent and tangible results are unrealistic during certain phases or periods of time. I think it helps us to acknowledge when we are in these unproductive times. This acceptance of the situation makes us or the client calmer and more relaxed. This new state of mind then sets the foundation for future productivity efforts.

Know to identify the Unproductive Phases of Life

Having a child in ½ day kindergarten and being the designated driver to pick up and drop off

Those 2 – 3 days waiting for definitive biopsy or health test results

Your third trimester during pregnancy

During a home remodeling project

A parent having 3 children under age 5

Immediately 1 – 12 months after having surgery

A new parent having just born or adopted a child

The year you handle a family, friend or relatives estate

The first 6 months to 9 months after a move

Six months to two years after the breakup of a significant relationship

Serving as primary caretaker to a chronically ill or declining family member

The year following the death of a loved one or friend

Transition Your Life

This Site is for testing ideas and thoughts before setting out on your next journey, whether it be a career change, new family, or even post retirement.

The goal of my site is to keep it simple, keep it short -- occasional postings under 300 words.