Son of a gun, we'll have big fun, on the bio

No, that isn't a typo.  I have been asked to create a "bio" for distribution to all staff and students at my new employer.  This is not the sort of task I relish.  Do I write in first person, third person, what?  Maybe I should use the royal "we." "We are especially pleased that we should be welcomed into the Globe University family." Should I be chummy, or professional?  Can I be both?  Since I've never done this sort of work before, how do I describe myself in a way that will instill confidence?  "Uh, yea, I know I've never actually DONE this kind of thing??? but, I can TOTALLY do it."  All I can do is hope that my husband's confident manner has rubbed off on me a bit.  He has the delightful ability, at the drop of a hat and if asked, to tell anyone and everyone within earshot about all the great things he has done and been.  For him, confidence flows like water over the side of a plugged eaves trough during a hurricane. 

For me, although I am very confident in my abilities and competence, expressing that verbally is a toughie.  My good-girl, Catholic upbringing keeps reminding me to tone it down...don't be a braggart. "Never forget that you did get a C in gym class."

It isn't always easy assessing ourselves.  I always tend to be too tough on myself. If I'm not careful, I'll measure myself against my own mind's eye version of who I could/should be, rather than acknowledging what I've learned and become. How do I take a good look at myself, sum it all up, and share that with others?

Where is the balance?  My old pal the Dalai Lama of course has something to say on this point:
To say that humility is an essential ingredient in our pursuit of spiritual transformation may seem to be at odds with what I have said about the need for confidence. But there is clearly a distinction to be made between valid confidence or self-esteem, and conceit - which we can describe as an inflated sense of importance, grounded in a false image of self.

Ok, so we know there is a balance point somewhere.  Somewhere between delusion and self-flagellation there is the spot where we feel good.  The spot where we know ourselves.  We have knowledge, experience, wisdom, and talents.  Focus on those, knowing that there is always more to learn, and always room to grow!

So, enough stalling...time to write that bio!

Free to Be, You and Me

I find it amusing that this song has been resurrected for a current television commercial (also interesting to note that the company using the song is currently in the spotlight for funding less-than-"free to be" political candidates, but I digress).  I remember listening to the whole Free to Be, You and Me album as a kid in the '70s.  I think that today this phrase is worth remembering.  There is so much fear in the world today.  Free speech issues arise on a regular basis, bigotry still abounds, and people don't know where to draw the lines.  Sometimes we overreact and lash out, just perpetuating the fear and confusion.  Maybe we could lighten up.

Now, my intention today was to write a very lighthearted blog about individualism.  I don't really want this to be a political forum, but rather a slice of life.  So, here we go. 

As Americans we like being individuals.  We choose our jobs, fashions, places of worship, and favorite restaurants.  We like to think of ourselves as unique persons.  And, as Mister Rogers always said, we are special.  "I like you just for being you."  Still makes me tear up.  After a hard day, nothing beats his soft voice reminding us that we are fine, just the way we are.

Now and then, however, we come across someone a bit more...heightened...than the everyday special.  I am specifically thinking of a street musician we saw this summer in Barcelona.  We were there as part of a long trip through several countries, and this guy still stands out as one of my favorite Europe memories.  There is a place in Barcelona called Parc Guell.  It was originally supposed to be a high-end housing development in the early 20th century, but it failed.  Now it is a park.  Architect Antoni Gaudi applied his skills to create buildings and seating areas reminiscent of Dr. Seuss.  In one of the many grottos of the park, we found this musician of whom I speak.

The didgeridoo is a weird and primitive-sounding instrument from Australia.  I personally like the sound, but it may not be for everyone.  But this guy was inspired to make himself stand out even more.  "I don't want to be just like all the OTHER didgeridoo players, for cryin' out loud.  I want to be SPECIAL."  With an Ernie puppet on one hand and a...something?...puppet on the other, a recorded beat/bass track, and his dideridoo,  this dude was truly special.  I can best describe the music as Aborigini/Rave/House.  I actually really dig it.

Since this is Saturday, I'm keeping it short.  Take a moment to think of the truly special folks you know, people who make you smile a bit just because they're here with us.  Maybe reach beyond your own comfort zone a bit and try something new and fun, just for the heck of it.  And, if you like, watch my friend from Barcelona strut his stuff.  Have some fun, people, and keep smiling!

Sabbatical Spring, Sabbatical Summer

Many of you who know me know that I have been looking for a job for the last six months or so.  Not just any job.  I was looking for that vocation that would nourish my soul and intellect, allow me to share my gifts, and also provide for my physical/material needs.  I have spent the last ten years working in whatever position I found myself, just to pay the bills.  It was time to step aside from the path on which I'd been treading.

Sabbath, sabbatical, rest.  That's what I needed, and I am so grateful to have been granted it.  My wonderful husband supported my need to rest.  All the years of unhappiness at work, the feeling that I had never reached my potential, the lack of respect...all of the things that can wear on one over the years...these were allowed to heal.  The chipmunk in the morning, the chickadees in the afternoon, and the wind through the trees all day long became my main companions during the daytime.  I breathed, stuck to an exercise program, ate well, and rested.  My mind began to settle.  Ah.

The first two months I busied myself on house projects: installed a new kitchen floor, painted every room, landscaped the yard.  The next three months I decided it was time to really look for paid work, and I spent anywhere from two to seven hours a day on that effort.  Frustrated, unhappy with what I found, wondering how long I could go without an income...all of these were at the forefront of my job search. 

Then, one day about a month or so ago, I decided to really stop.  I sat myself down and asked, "What is it you really want to do?  Forget about the jobs that are out there...what do YOU want?"  Now, I am the type of person described as a Scanner by Barbara Sher.  This means that I am a seeker who tries many different things, and often has trouble settling on one because there are so many other exciting choices!  "If I do THIS, then I won't be doing THAT!"  What this also means is that I put a lot of pressure on situations to be perfect.  Time to drop that mumbo jumbo.  Back to the question I asked myself, "What is the essence of what you want?"

1.  I like to mentor and help others.  "But I don't want to be a counselor or therapist." Stop worrying about what you don't want!
2.  I want a position that allows me to move within the community, rather than sit at a desk all day. "Those jobs don't pay much!"  Breathe. 
3.  A position with respect, where I may use my skills and creativity to forge new directions.  "That takes years...you'll have to do a job you don't like if you want to get to that point with any employer." Sigh.
4.  I like the higher education environment. "But you don't have a graduate degree...all those jobs require graduate degrees and you can't afford to just go to school now."  It's OK, keep going.
5.  Maybe I'd like teaching adults.  "Good luck with that...see #4."  Just stop, already.

Great.  I've outlined what I'm looking for, and quieted my inner critic.  Breathe, enjoy the summer days on the deck, see friends, trust.  That's the biggie...trust that it will be.

So, I trusted.  And trusted.  And then one day, I found a position that called to me. Keep trusting.  "But they are requesting a Master's degree!"  Trust, apply for the job, and trust some more.  Long story short, yesterday I was awarded the position below...are you ready?

Director of Career Services for Globe University main duties
1.  Mentor students as they search for jobs after completing their degrees.
2.  Network with the business community by meeting with companies, attending functions, and hosting events, spending no more than 50% of time in the office.
3.  As the school just opened, you will be in charge of setting the direction of the Career Services program at this location, answering only to the Director of the School.
4.  Globe University has been around since the 1800s.  Bachelors' degree is fine (I did get the job, you know) and guess what?  You can get your Master's degree for free here as an employee.
5.  Teach the capstone Professional Development 250 class to those about to graduate.

I really can't say much more, now, can I?  Let me leave you with this quote, and encourage you all to stop, breathe, and listen to yourself.  Your dreams are already reality...you just may not see it yet.


"If busyness can become a kind of violence, we do not have to stretch our perception very far to see that Sabbath time – effortless, nourishing rest – can invite a healing of this violence. When we consecrate a time to listen to the still, small voices, we remember the root of inner wisdom that makes work fruitful. We remember from where we are most deeply nourished, and see more clearly the shape and texture of the people and things before us."
— Wayne Muller (Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives)

Gallileo and Sherlock Holmes

I have just finished reading two biographies of Galileo.  The first, Galileo by James Reston, was excellent and offered historical and scientific insight into the great man. The second book, Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel, focused more on his personal experiences, family, and friends.  The real tragedy of the Galileo story, from a personal rather than scientific standpoint, is that he was accused of suspected heresy.  Galileo was a man who devoutly believed in the Catholic Church.  His two daughters were nuns, although mainly because they were illegitimate and thereby unable to marry.  In particular, his daughter Suor Maria Celeste provided him with spiritual, intellectual, and moral support.  His forced appearance before the Inquisition angered and saddened him.  All along, he believed that he was supporting his faith while creating a new way of approaching science. The Inquisition begged to differ.

Interestingly enough, a friend recently posted a Sherlock Holmes quote on his Facebook page that brought to mind Galileo's struggle:  ‎"What you do in this world is a matter of no consequence; the question is, what can you make people believe that you have done."~Sherlock Holmes (A Study in Scarlet)  Hm.  Galileo suffered censure and house arrest for the rest of his life after the Inquisition decided he had erred.  They didn't believe he intended anything other than shaking the foundation of the Church.  Sherlock Holmes, another man with extraordinary intelligence and ego, agrees that how things look is more important than how things are.

But, wait.  Does this mean we should go through life trying to make ourselves look like something we're not?  Should we be pandering to the current mood (or mode) of the day rather than living authentically?  What, exactly, are we supposed to do now?

There is no doubt that we will be misread, misunderstood, and possibly maligned during our brief time here on earth.  We really have very little control over what people think about us, although most of us try to at least live in some sort of accord with others.  If we constantly worry about how we are perceived, we become ineffective and inauthentic...and self-centered.  It isn't easy, just being here.  I believe that the best we can do is to try not to be jerks, try to help out, and be eager to learn.  

We have a duty to try.  Just try...to make life a little better for others, to be grateful, and to accept the lessons that present themselves to us daily.

The Dalai Lama, a favorite of mine for his gentle and practical wisdom, sums it up:

We can't be useful to ourselves unless we're useful to others. Whether we like it or not, we're all connected, and it is unthinkable to be happy all by oneself. Anyone concerned only by his own well-being will suffer eventually. Anyone concerned with the well-being of others takes care of himself without even thinking ...about it. Even if we decide to remain selfish, let us be intelligently selfish - let us help others.


So, there it is.  Be happy by helping others be happy.  It really does make the world a better place, and you won't have to worry about how you look.

10 a.m. is chipmunk time

I have a sassy chipmunk.  He lives under my front walk.  Each morning at 10 a.m. he hops up on the decorative driftwood on my stoop and chirps.  And chirps.  For a good five minutes straight, he will tell his story to the world.  Here is a photo of him (taken through the window screen, so a little hard to see). 

Is he happy?  Angry?  Just making noise?  What? 

This reminds me of my favorite episode of the old TV show Northern Exposure.   The doctor's mother comes to visit, and she is a non-stop talker.  Talk, talk, talk.  The Inuit character Marilyn likens her to Ukatangi before he became the eagle (see below).  Then, one day, she hikes to the top of a cliff.  Busy watching the eagles that she loves as they soar, she trips and falls.  Instead of plummeting to injury and death, however, she floats to the ground unharmed.  She becomes quiet and reflective, in stark contrast to how she was before. 

Maybe we can all learn from this.  How many times do we allow ourselves to be caught up in our own agendas, our schedules, our tasks?  Do we ever stop to see how we fit into the whole?  In the Oneida world view the eagle has holistic vision.  He sees the whole, the entirety of the world, unlike the hawk who sees only his target.  I believe that many of our societal ills result from a loss of perspective.  Our worries and cares fill our minds, leaving little room for wonder and understanding.  How much more peace would we experience if we only stepped back and saw the world from the eagle's eyes?  Let's find out.

My pledge for today: be the eagle, not the hawk.  Enjoy the story and music below, friends, and be the eagle if only for a day!
 http://en.kendincos.net/video-jftvflrn-ukatangi-the-talker-original-song.html

Ukatangi

The eagle wasn’t always the eagle. The eagle, before he became the eagle, was Ukatangi, the talker.
Ukatangi talked and talked. He talked so much, he could only hear himself. Not the river, not the wind, not even the wolf.
The raven came and said, “The wolf is hungry. If you stop talking, you will hear him. The wind, too. And when you hear the wind, you will fly.”
So Ukatangi stopped talking, and soon heard the wind rushing by. In the quiet, he could hear the directions of its currents, swiftly lifting and falling. The music of the wind changed Ukatangi’s nature, and he became the eagle.

The eagle soared, and its flight said all it needed to say.
 

Chickadee Karma

Some days the chickadees just seem happier than others.  Now, don't get me wrong...chickadees live up to their reputation as being among the cheeriest of creatures.  It just seems that today they are outdoing themselves.  A little on the ADD side, they are my favorite little friends just now.  Tree branch...deck railing...tree branch...deck floor...table...chair...deck rail...and then, finally, they pop over to the "white trash birdbath" on my deck.

The WTBB is a once-beautiful lemon verbena given to me by a friend.  Let's just say that the Ayn Rand school of plant care leaves something to be desired.  I even wrapped Tibetan prayer flags through its branches, hoping that any past life evils the plant had incurred to arrive at its present state would be mitigated.  Not so good.  So, onto the deck it went in a last-ditch effort to bring it back to life.  Nada.  Well, it is sort of big and heavy, so I didn't get around to moving it.  Heavy rains fully saturated the soil so now it is essentially a bunch of dead branches in a giant flooded pot, garnished with colorful prayer flags, quite torn and weathered. 

But, perhaps, is there hope for the WTBB?  A saving grace?  Back to the chickadees.  They love the WTBB.  Hopping up and down the branches, sipping water from the flooded pot, cheerfully chirping away...every day they enjoy the sad karmic state of the verbena.  It is my firm belief that the chickadees are honoring the plant's life in its death.  Has the verbena gone on to be reincarnated as a lush, thriving jungle plant in Costa Rica?  Or perhaps become a well-pruned rose?  Who can truly say?

One thing I know for certain: chickadees + WTBB + summer mornings = the good life.

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