All in a word: Enjoy

My dear friend, Diane, at The Dew Drop Inn has a very special tradition. On New Year's Eve, she creates a magical bag full of important words written on small cards, words that come from the very depths of spirit and inspiration. She invites everyone and anyone to draw a word from the bag. The word is then yours to ponder, reflect, or just giggle at and toss aside.

I was thrilled to partake in this tradition again this year. I reached in and rummaged through the cards until my fingers found the small word meant for me. I read it, smiled, and let it ooze into my soul. I tucked it into my little black purse as we all headed out to a bacchanalian evening of dance, costumes, and art.

While on our California Coast trip two weeks ago, I reached into the very same bag only to pull out this...

 

How thrilled I was to find this word on August 3rd! (Or to have it find me again.) And the timing couldn't have been more synchronistic, seeing as I was on VACATION.

It gave me pause to think about all the ways I have lived up to my word so far during this grand year of 2011. Here is a list:

~ A terrifically delightful getaway at Carmel Valley Ranch, complete with moonlit tree swings

~ A luxurious stay at the Kirkwood Lodge for a weekend of snowboarding

~ Cozy dates on the couch with my sweet, streaming LOST (second time through for me)

~ Taking time to enjoy the beauties of the earth: An Andy Goldsworthy inspired unit with the first graders, hikes in the hills near my house, creating my backyard garden, morning walks with the pup

~ Cooking and baking (and eating!), often using fresh herbs from my windowsill

~ Renewing my meditation practice

~ Using my crazy ankle injury as an excuse to Slow Down, write a lot, and just plain rest

~ Experimenting with photography without harsh self-judgment

It's funny, but being tied to crutches for the past few months has really been one of the greatest gifts. I have slowed down in ways I don't think I would've just because I wanted to. I've said no to extra obligations that have been asked of me. I've taken naps when my body was tired. I've allowed myself to move through the world slowly, watching, enjoying each step of renewed strength.

Recently I heard someone describe the joy they got from smoking a morning cigarette. It wasn't the actual cancer stick they craved, it was the quiet moment on the back deck overlooking the garden with nothing but their thoughts and a bit of sunshine. How sad, I thought, that we don't allow ourselves this morning ritual without a reason. What if we insisted on a few moments to ourselves each day where we could stop, take notice, breathe...enjoy?

I'm as guilty as the next, getting caught up in the swirl of life. But having this word and these memories is encouraging me to keep that sacred time, especially now that the new school year is ready to ramp up at full speed. Morning Meditation is written in pen on my daily schedule, as well as permission to say no, and a reminder to take things slowly whenever needed. I give you all permission to do the same! 

What do you do to cultivate true Enjoyment in your life?

Relax and enjoy

We've made it to the final stop on our tour of the California coast--beautiful Cambria! More to come soon...but for now, this pic I snapped in Santa Cruz says it all.

Happy weekend, everybody!

Joy

 

Pleasure is always derived from something outside you, whereas joy arises from within.

~ Eckhart Tolle

{artists unknown}

Too much stuff

Okay, I admit it. I’m a collector. And a piler.

I think many teachers come by these traits naturally. It’s because we’re so creative, right? We can see the possibility for art projects in those weird pieces of plastic, just like we see the possibility of brilliance in wild, little James running amok in the classroom.

I have worked with managing STUFF for many years. And I have gotten better at it. Now it’s time to finish organizing this sweet, little cottage we currently inhabit. My primary goal is to get the studio (El Estudio!) in shape.

Here are some helpers I’ve found along my way over the years.

1. Julie Morgenstern - Organizing from the Inside Out

Her book still comes up first when you search for ‘organizing’ on Amazon. My biggest take away is her acronym for the organizing process.

S – sort
P – purge
A – assign a home
C – containerize
E – equalize (this is the only word I couldn’t pull out of my brain. no surprise that it’s the one I find most difficult to keep going—the daily maintenance.)

I had forgotten I had this book. A couple of days ago I was staring at the bookshelf, and the spine grabbed my attention. I figured I’d better take Julie down and see what wisdom I could glean this time around. Also, I like to be on a first name basis with my cleaning advisers. It makes the process feel less authoritarian.

2. Karen Kingston – Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui

Speaking of symbology, Karen talks about what your clutter represents in your life. She states that clutter can:

~ make you feel tired and lethargic
~ keep you in the past
~ affect your body weight
~ affect the way people treat you
~ make you procrastinate
~ cause disharmony
~ make you feel ashamed
~ put your life on hold
~ depress you
~ create excess baggage
~ dull your sensitivity and enjoyment of life
~ cause extra cleaning
~ cost you financially
~ distract you from important things

 

This list alone is enough to get me organizing. So why do people keep clutter? Here are two of my reasons: saving it for ‘just in case’ and ‘scroogeness.’ Both of these ideas show a distrust of the future and a belief in scarcity.

Scroogeness: “I must wring every last ounce of usefulness out of this thing before I can get rid of it, even though I haven’t used it in five years. Otherwise I haven’t gotten my money’s worth.”

If we change our belief system to trust that we will be provided for, we can let go of unnecessary space hoggers and smile when that new item comes our way just at the right time.

Still working on this. I feel a little itchy inside just thinking about it.

3. Lanna Nakone – Organizing for Your Brain Type: Finding your Own Solution to Managing Time, Paper, and Stuff

This book talks about our organizing styles the way Howard Gardner talks about his theory of multiple intelligences. Lanna classifies people into four different styles: Maintainers, Harmonizers, Innovators, and Prioritizers. She describes why people fall into each style based on their brain function, personality, and emotional style. (Click the link above to read more about this.)

My biggest take away: Pilers are often very visual people. Many pilers can pull out that one piece of paper within seconds when asked. They know exactly where everything is because they’ve memorized it visually. Pilers need to have things out in view because “out of sight, out of mind” is really true for them. But all this visual memorization is hard work! We can use our brain space more effectively. One suggestion she shares is to use wall files or vertical files instead of filing cabinets so that in-process work is visible yet not cluttery.

I have found these de-cluttering magicians indescribably helpful because they get to the heart of why people have the habits they do. Understanding the root of my cluttery ways allows me to acknowledge and let them go if I wish, developing new strategies. The contentedness I feel when a new space finally opens up is so energizing!

Do you have a favorite piece of wisdom that keeps you organized? Feel free to share!

First drafts

Opening the door,

light spills
 

early morning magic.

Glittery sparkleshine

comes from you alone.

I hear your words,
 

see your visions,
 

feel your dance
 

radiating wonder.

On my mind...

I'm a rule follower. I'm also very true to my word.

So when I say something like, "I'll post here every day until July 31st" it would take a major catastrophe to stand in the way.

Even if I feel stuck.

So far today I received a clean bill of health at the dentist, purchased a fantastico chocolate fudge cake for a birthday celebration tonight, and marveled at my newly blooming dahlia. I discovered some awesome new blogs and a new band. And I thought a lot.

from Arizmendi Bakery, San Francisco

"Dinner Plate"

Not every day can provide for a full essay on self-discovery or philosophy or education or anything else, without putting in some major hours. So it's time to build my chops in another genre called

SIMPLICITY.

(I even have the urge to write the word in fancy, scripty, swirly font. Darn it!) Realizing that I love writing and I love BIG projects has been important. And while I'm excited to share some more of my bigger ideas and contemplations, I also want to give them the time they fully deserve. It's important that we communicate just what we mean when we put our words out into the world.

I'm taking a breath and letting it all go. I'd love to hear about how other people have broadened their styles. Have you found it challenging to keep your ideas small and specific?