The Book of Doing

As I am want to do, I was looking at used books at a local thrift shop.  I was wanting my own copy of Moby Dick and I just had a feeling that there might be a discarded, hardly read copy from someone's English class.  Eureka.  Found one in pristine condition.

I also happened upon this little gem:  The Book of Doing:  Everyday Activities to Unlock Your Creativity and Joy  by Allison Arden.  She reminds the reader that  we have turned joyful pursuits into chores. "We've minimized the value of what these acts of personal creation can fuel in our society: the perspective, centeredness, and sense of accomplishment they give us. ....In the same way we have allowed technology to infiltrate every area of our lives, we must allow our creativity and passions to infuse our daily activities."  Amen sister!

And so, dear reader I offer to you some of the suggestions from her book (and a few of my own).  Perhaps 2017 can be the year that you try and engage in some type of creative doing.  It doesn't have to be the beret-wearing, scarf-tossing artist (accent on the second syllable).  Doing can encompass anything, as Ms. Arden states, "Creating, making, mastering,  perfecting, helping, inventing, initiating, experimenting, learning, drawing, changing, constructing, reading, moving, trying, challenging, testing, building, writing singing, dancing, hosting, cooking, painting tasting, sharing, smelling, imitating, playing, enjoying, being, giving,  

"It is not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do that is the secret of happiness." ~J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan.

Here are some suggestions:

• Master how to say "hello", "please" and "thank you" in five different languages  (once you have done that, go on to completely learn a language- at least be able to communicate if you travel)
• Remove the words, "never", "can't", and "stupid" from your vocabulary (think of other frequent words you might use and try to change them up)
• Add a new word to your vocabulary each week (https://www.vocabulary.com/ is an online "game" for learning new words)
• Train to participate in a something-a thon ( marathon, bike-a-thon, bowl-a-thon, etc.)
• Be inspired by a dish you love from a restaurant and try duplicating at home
• Taste a slice of pizza from every shop in town- rate it  (bring friends and/or family along.  If pizza is not your thing- try ice cream, same type of sandwich, coffee or tea)
• Look at the world through a camera lens (literally  as you see things through new angles and then figuratively as you view the same ole, same ole in a different light)
• Learn to play chess
• Go to a farm where you can pick your own fruits and veggies. (make something with the harvest)
• Craft something special out of a sentimental piece of clothing (favorite t-shirts into throw pillows or quilts)
• Change something "unmovable" ( your birthday, a room, your hair, your point of view)
• Build something out of a natural material- preferably if you "find" the material on a nature walk (last year I made a bamboo fence to contain our raspberries)
• Pick and celebrate quotes that Inspire you  (pin them up around your desk, mirror, by the kitchen sink)
• Memorize a poem or scripture  (you'll never know when that gem will need to be recalled)

The point of all these suggestions is to get out there and do something.  Something that feeds your soul and opens you to new possibilities. Something that can stimulate one of your five senses.  As you do your activities, try to enjoy the experience.  I am going to try this year.  What about you? 

One man's weed...

In NYC, one sees it all. On our latest trip we walked through a farmers' market in Union Square.  They were selling the usual- fruits, veggies, organic beef, cheese and flowers. At the flower stall there were lovely bunches of gladiolus, zinnias and a small container of "Asters, $5 a bunch".  I did a double take when I saw the asters.  They looked like the weeds that are growing in one of my gardens.  I had been meaning to pull it but haven't yet.  

Just goes to show you- what one person calls a weed, another calls a bouquet.

Guess that is true to life.  What one person deems necessary another calls frivolous.  What one person calls beliefs another calls lunacy. What one person calls a problem another calls an opportunity. 

What the asters remind me is that I should always try and maintain a different perspective.  They are a reminder that there are always two, possibly more sides to a situation, problem or story. Sometimes it takes a different view to look upon something with fresh eyes and to see a different value.   

I have decided not to pull up those asters and see if they spread.  In checking my Stokes Nature Guides: A Guide to Enjoying Wild Flowers book there is a whole section on asters.  The name comes from the Greek word, "star" and they are part of the Composite family.  In my eagerness to pull them out, I didn't even research or find out any more information about these so-called "weeds".  I am glad that I payed attention. I just might just get a lovely and unexpected bouquet out of them.  

What about you?  Are you seeing a situation, problem or story with the same set of eyes? Do you need a new perspective to bring a different value to it?  Do you need some more information before you make a judgement? What are the opportunities in your challenges?   How can you rethink the weeds in your life?  Are there weeds in your life that are bouquets in someone else's?

No Guarantees For Sunshine

As I was riding my bicycle in a steady rain on Sunday, I was reminded that there is no guarantee for sunshine.  Out of curiosity I did Google "where do they guarantee sunshine?"  Surprisingly there are some entities who will.  Priceline has a sunshine guarantee for booking at certain locations for a minimal amount of time.  An UK outfit, Oliver's Travels has a guarantee that they can destroy rainclouds so that you will have a perfectly sunny day for your outdoor event. Of course it will cost you $150,000 but 24 hours before your big event they will fly planes through the clouds above your event area dispersing a chemical called silver iodine.  The clouds will burst into rain so presumably the next day will be beautiful.  Sounds like a hoax to me and makes me wonder about the environment.

Basically there are no guarantees with weather. So, if there are no guarantees for sunshine, wouldn't the converse be true?  There are no guarantees for rain?  Why do we have the tendency to think that it will rain more than be sunny?  Shouldn't it be equally true?  One could argue that there is always a possibility of rain, but I would argue that there is always the possibility for sun.

When we are honest about it, isn't it good to have the variety of weather?   I am sure my San Diego, California friends would differ, but I think I might get sick of sun if that is what I experienced all the time. ( I know, hard to believe I would even think that, much less put that thought on paper due to my love of the sunshine.)

Rain has so many positive attributes: provides water for the earth and all its inhabitants; washes away air and soil impurities; provides a thriving environment for plants; molds and shapes the environment, etc. Certainly when one has rain, clouds and damp, day upon day, it can get depressing.  Although I know individuals who love that type of weather and thrive in it.  They look forward to rainy days.

Because there is no surety for sunny days, we should not be surprised when the rainy ones occur. Yet, when they do, like this past Sunday, we have a choice- be totally bummed out about it and scurry around to change plans or just go for it and continue on. I am glad that we pressed on and decided to ride.  If we had changed our plans, we would've missed out on the shared experience.  It was memorable and we will always be able to say that we did it. 

Are you going through a patch of rainy weather?  Does it seem like the sunshine in your life will never break through the clouds?  Hang in there.  Just as surely the physical clouds roll by and the sun rays shine forth, your troubles will pass. 

I am trying to look at life with the sun/cloud perspective:  I know that rainy days will occur and that they are needed.  But, there are just as many possible sunny days too.  And isn't that good?