Bit By Bit by Mother Mother
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
August Rush - Buddy Guy
I'll be seeing Buddy Guy at the Hollywood Bowl later this month. I'm loving this one...
"Damn Right, I've Got the Blues"
Monday, August 12, 2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Friday, August 9, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
Sunday, August 4, 2013
August Rush - The Opening Act (Young the Giant)
Welcome to August Rush!
This month's goal is all about music! I'm not sure what shape this month will take. I'm going to design it... right... now... as.... I ... type ... this...
This month's goal is all about music! I'm not sure what shape this month will take. I'm going to design it... right... now... as.... I ... type ... this...
- Find a new song every day for a month. (ask friends!)
- Play piano. Every day. At least one song.
- Go see live music at least once per week.
- Visit the Grammy Museum!
Done. Plan in place.
First new song: featuring Young the Giant. How have I not noticed them before?
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
July Rides Recap
The original goal: A road trip every weekend in the month of July
I had been looking forward to "July Ride" since I first set the intention back in January. I wanted to make sure that I was exploring the world by road and taking trips (now) rather than postponing (until some indeterminate time).
The Portland trip was amazing (flying rather than driving) and the World Domination Summit exceeded expectations. More on that soon...
But my other road trips were overtaken by work that overflowed into my weekends. It's an unhealthy habit to let work take over my life, but I love my job and it's so easy to let it spill over into my personal time. Mostly because my work is so meaningful that it feels personal - doing my part to protect the ocean.
I digress.
So, I flaked on my road trip plan! In week three, I could still hear the call of the open road and I knew I didn't have the time in July to fully respond. Then it hit me... why take short, quick, turn-around road trips when what I really wanted was to drive forward, into the wide open world of the unknown, and to truly explore unconstrained by time and limits!
The new goal: THE GRAND CANYON!
Isn't this one of the ultimate road trips? I was inspired and booked my time off and reserved by hotels that same day. And, travel hacking gave me most of my hotels for free! Thanks Chris Guillebeau!
The trip won't be in July, but it will be a grand road trip and one I can't wait to start! One month away! I haven't been to the Grand Canyon yet so it's the perfect adventure. I'm also staying a few nights in Sedona.
As with most of these monthly goals, I set a course, an intention. Some months, the goal is met as planned. Other months, I may veer off in another direction. But every month, I experience a life I wouldn't have lived had it not been for this plan to live with deliberate intentions. Feeling grateful.
The call of the open road...
I had been looking forward to "July Ride" since I first set the intention back in January. I wanted to make sure that I was exploring the world by road and taking trips (now) rather than postponing (until some indeterminate time).
The Portland trip was amazing (flying rather than driving) and the World Domination Summit exceeded expectations. More on that soon...
But my other road trips were overtaken by work that overflowed into my weekends. It's an unhealthy habit to let work take over my life, but I love my job and it's so easy to let it spill over into my personal time. Mostly because my work is so meaningful that it feels personal - doing my part to protect the ocean.
I digress.
So, I flaked on my road trip plan! In week three, I could still hear the call of the open road and I knew I didn't have the time in July to fully respond. Then it hit me... why take short, quick, turn-around road trips when what I really wanted was to drive forward, into the wide open world of the unknown, and to truly explore unconstrained by time and limits!
The new goal: THE GRAND CANYON!
Isn't this one of the ultimate road trips? I was inspired and booked my time off and reserved by hotels that same day. And, travel hacking gave me most of my hotels for free! Thanks Chris Guillebeau!
The trip won't be in July, but it will be a grand road trip and one I can't wait to start! One month away! I haven't been to the Grand Canyon yet so it's the perfect adventure. I'm also staying a few nights in Sedona.
As with most of these monthly goals, I set a course, an intention. Some months, the goal is met as planned. Other months, I may veer off in another direction. But every month, I experience a life I wouldn't have lived had it not been for this plan to live with deliberate intentions. Feeling grateful.
The call of the open road...
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Northbound with a Guru Taxi Driver at the Wheel
Today is the first of four "July Rides" and the longest of any of my trips. I'm in the airport now waiting for my flight to Portland for the World Domination Summit.
What am I looking to gain by taking overnight or day trips every weekend for a month?
On the surface, it gives me the chance to see new places and finally make it to places that I never seem to make a priority. That is part of the driving force between all my monthly goals - to not let time just slip away. To set direction. To create. To ship. To live a pro-active life rather than a passive life.
On a deeper level, it is part of my lifelong search for meaning.
These goals place me in places and situations I wouldn't be otherwise, and it is in these places that I most often find meaning and wrestle with the concept of purpose and of truth - existentialism at its finest.
In the cab this moring, I found myself quiet and introspective. Slowly the taxi cab driver started to coax me into a conversation. I was relunctant at first, deep in my own thoughts and recovering from the hustle of running out the door on time. But soon enough, this guru taxi driver led us into a beautiful conversation of meaning and truth. Here are a few of his wise comments...
He also said we work too much. When we have a free day, we mostly "relax" at home. My thought is this and it haunts me as of late: But what kind of life is this? To work. To work. To recover for a day, then return to work.
I love my work. I can list hundreds of reasons why I love my work.
But am I walking instead of running?
What am I looking to gain by taking overnight or day trips every weekend for a month?
On the surface, it gives me the chance to see new places and finally make it to places that I never seem to make a priority. That is part of the driving force between all my monthly goals - to not let time just slip away. To set direction. To create. To ship. To live a pro-active life rather than a passive life.
On a deeper level, it is part of my lifelong search for meaning.
These goals place me in places and situations I wouldn't be otherwise, and it is in these places that I most often find meaning and wrestle with the concept of purpose and of truth - existentialism at its finest.
In the cab this moring, I found myself quiet and introspective. Slowly the taxi cab driver started to coax me into a conversation. I was relunctant at first, deep in my own thoughts and recovering from the hustle of running out the door on time. But soon enough, this guru taxi driver led us into a beautiful conversation of meaning and truth. Here are a few of his wise comments...
- Happiness is a choice.
- We see the mistakes our parents made, but we can change. We can turn it around and make better choices.
- A baby sits. A baby learns to crawl, then crawls. A baby learns to walk, then walks. A baby learns to run, then runs. There is a time and a season for everything. (reminds me of Maya Angelou's "When we know better, we do better."
- When we talk to each other, we both learn. Without talking, nothing happens.
- We must avoid those that are negative. They will influence us and take away our happiness.
- It is not how often you fall, but how you get up (and how you help others get up)
He also said we work too much. When we have a free day, we mostly "relax" at home. My thought is this and it haunts me as of late: But what kind of life is this? To work. To work. To recover for a day, then return to work.
I love my work. I can list hundreds of reasons why I love my work.
But am I walking instead of running?
Monday, July 1, 2013
July Ride
This month's challenge: to take a trip out of town every weekend. Tackle one direction (North, South, East, West) each weekend of the month to see and experience something new.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
Minimalism continued...
This is now past the point of ridiculousness.
Why do I have so much stuff that I never use, wear, or or even like!
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Ten more items out the door!
Sometimes an unexpected item in the back of a drawer can bring back a flood of memories. The emotions can be intense when letting go of items that symbolize so much more. The momentum of ten items a day is keeping me moving forward, thankfully!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Minimalist Project
In additon to these boxes, and a lot of the contents within, I also (finally) let go of my compost bins (I set the worms free!), two giant pieces of plywood, and everything else that was cluttering my side patio.
Clean. Done. Simple.
Friday, June 21, 2013
The process continues...
It is hard to part with some of these items. They are beautiful and sentimental! But I never use them. So I saved parts of each collection (one wood bowl and one olive dish) rather than the whole set that I never use.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
The unexpected bonus
Every month I embark on a new challenge, there is always an unexpected discovery. I should have guessed this would happen, but being that I love to shop (clearly), I just didn't see it coming. With all this purging (10 items a day!), I have no desire whatsoever to shop or buy anything new this month. We had our charity ball last Saturday and rather than buy a new dress, I just wore a gown from a few years back. Instead of feeling like I was missing out, I felt good making the right minimalist decision. And, I'm saving so much money by not making any new purchases!
Walking gently on this Earth. Ignoring the lure of conspicuous consumption. Living simply
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Ten items from the wine drawer
I'm so thankful I set-up this challenge to be ten items per day. I found ten items (more if you count each item separately) by just going through one small drawer. Letting go, ten items at a time!
Monday, June 17, 2013
Letting go of sentimental things...
A few blogs that consider this same dilemma:
http://www.theminimalists.com/sentimental/
http://www.becomingminimalist.com/how-to-simplify-your-stuff-and-honor-your-memories/
http://mnmlist.com/how-to-let-go-of-possessions/
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