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Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Meeting Expectations
January 8, 2015
— 8 Comments
cocktail that wants to be a poem
People walk through the doors of your expectations. This has been my belief for most of my life, and has proven to be a valid one. I have high standards, but notice how I am much more likely to apply them to others than to myself. I do set goals and make commitments, but not usually in a public way. This is why the #ROW80 challenge is perfect for me. I have set myself an expectation of working more creatively and do a daily bit to achieve that goal. I want to practice being more poetic in all aspects of life, so the drawing, photography and poetry are intended to build on themselves . I expect to become more observant in all aspects of my habitual life. There are already a few good results:
- I have kept my dream diary daily, concentrating on the words I associate with my dreams
- My daily drawing practice (digitally assisted) is enjoyable. I warm up for the day by making visual art
- I have written short poems to go with the art, inspired by the experience of creating it
- My attention has expanded to include all kinds of subjects for poetry that I had not considered
The addition of the art has made this exercise natural and easy for me. I have written poetry before, and even looked for art to use as inspiration. Making the art myself is a new and interesting way to tie my attention to a written project. Usually I write the prose, then add the visuals. Starting with color and form is a good way for me to see action and hue within the emotional tone I want to set. I have not attempted to draw anything realistic. My best work is not representational, but based on geometry and color. I am not afraid to try, and am considering going to the botanical garden and trying to do a depiction of the cactus section. Words to go with the cactus poem have been rattling around in my brain as a think about the idea. Although I do publish my work, the purpose of this venture outside my normal writing style is completely personal. I am not seeking adulation or followers. I am curious to see if my writing practice can expand and include more comedy, enlightenment, and beauty. So far, so good!! Now, for the poetry of others:
- I adore Dorothy Parker, and would love to emulate her style of poetry
- The U of A Poetry Center is holding a reading tomorrow night, and I may attend
- I discovered I like reading the Kindle on the exercise bike, so I plan to collect poets to read while I ride
- I will shop Amazon to discover the work of poets I do not know, and make a stop at the library
In general the poetic life is off to a fine start here. I have also started a food preparation calendar, which I think of as an extension of poetic thinking. I want my home life, my cuisine, and my fitness regime to reflect creativity and artful planning. The food preparation trip is actually a very good foundation because it concentrates kitchen time and frees me to wander off into the world of visual art and poetry. I have had some funny thoughts about food and drink poems I want to write. I think a cocktail series could be pretty funny. Asking “What would Dorothy Parker say?” is a fabulous prompt I am using. In my heart of hearts I want the ROW80 to turn me into a glib, sophisticated observer of the details of living. I don’t think that is too much to expect in 80 days.
cornbread that wants to be a poem
Mind Work/Body Work
January 6, 2015
— 1 Comment
Globe
There is no way to separate the effect the body has on the mind or the mind on the body. This intricate interaction is centered around self image, accurate or not. We may not see ourselves as we are. In fact, the yoga sutras begin by addressing this subject:
1.1 Now, instruction in Union.
1.2. Union is restraining the thought-streams natural to the mind.
1.3. Then the seer dwells in his own nature.
1.4. Otherwise he is of the same form as the thought-streams.
1.5. The thought-streams are five-fold, painful and not painful.
1.6. Right knowledge, wrong knowledge, fancy, sleep and memory.
This was written in Sanskrit and has been translated in many ways since Patanjali wrote it. This translation is by BonGiovanni. We learn by reading this ancient text how the mind works. It is very specific and detailed. Meditation is offered as remedy for confusion and lack of clarity of purpose. Westerners have flocked to yoga as the perfect fitness activity, enjoying all kinds of variations on yogic teachings. Here in the western hemisphere we have trouble integrating mind and body, consciousness with soul and spirit. We want to have landmarks and rewards for success as we progress. Yoga as a strictly physical practice, even if you include pramayama, or breath control, does not align with the purpose, which is to control the mind. If we are successful yogis we will not only dwell in our own nature, but we will be free of identifying with thought streams. This requires constant and uninterrupted practice. Thought streams arise from ourselves, from the opinions of others, from cultural belief, and from circumstances. To acknowledge them and let them go is a powerful and uplifting act. You are not your thought streams!! This idea is the basis of meditative practice. Learning to execute the perfect tree pose takes full concentration. Presumably there is no attention left for thought streams while you balance on one leg and stay aligned. Asana is not the only way to bring the mind into focus by using the body:
- Walking or running can be a kind of contemplation. Using a mantra while you move along can improve focus.
- Body work by a good therapist offers a healing, non-verbal way to leave the daily grind on the table.
- Bathing, steaming, soaking, or using aromatherapy reduces the level of stress, opening the door to bliss.
- Breathing is a simple, always available, way to bring your focus inward to keep your mind in order.
The easiest (and therefore perhaps the most difficult) breathing practice I know is just a simple counting of breath. Count to ten, marking each inhale and each exhale with a mental number. This seems so simple that you will be surprised how often you can’t make it to ten without the mind drifting off onto some thought form. When you observe the interruption, simply start again with a silent number one on the next breath. Don’t struggle with the thought; just let it go. Resume counting and breathing. Do you have a practice to focus the mind and keep it focused? Do tell.
#ROW80 Writing Challenge
January 5, 2015
— 11 Comments
winter writing challenge
I just read in a fellow blogger’s post about the ROW80 challenge. I have just started a practice to improve my writing by creating poetry and art. I had not planed to commit to a daily routine, but I am finding that starting the creative day by drawing, editing photos, and making visual art I am more likely to be observant for the day. Observant includes in this case a full attention to detail as I go through my life, and easy flawless observance of boundaries I have set. Since the group is making personal goals a shared conversation, observant will also mean that I pay attention to my fellow writers and the way they express themselves. This idea arrived at a most propitious time, since 80 days of tracking my goal of a more poetic life will give me a good jump start to a full time practice. I look forward to learning how other people contribute to this exercise.
Observe and Grow are the key words for my goal. I hope to grow my vocabulary, my skills, and my creativity by publishing art and poetry. By observing the world, as well as my dreams, I will find richer, more vibrant subjects. I tend to be a scribe, writing just the facts, and supporting the facts with some photo documentation. I still enjoy that, but feel I could do some story telling, humor, and abstract sound pieces if I develop my poetic sense. I want to see where poetry leads me. I am not seeking approval for the work as much as I am wondering what will happen when I apply myself.
For the next 80 days I will observe what happens when I write a poem each day. This is an adventure I will share. It will include:
- dream diary work to bring images into daily life
- reading poetry
- visiting the U of A Poetry Center
- developing photography and art to inspire my poetic sense
It is my desire to explore a different way of using the written word. I think it will open new doors for my self expression. I also believe my daily life will be enriched by looking for poetic subject matter. I publish my art and poetry on my Tumblr blog, The Flow.
winter writing challenge
Food Preparation for Better Nutrition
January 3, 2015
— 2 Comments
I have cleared out my fridge and started a food preparation calendar for 2015. My first inquiry into this popular practice started on Pinterest, where there are many enthusiastic plans to use time and ingredients more wisely. I notice that most of the preppers favor a style of doing the work on Sunday to have planned healthy meals all through the work week. This is brilliant for anyone with a 9-5 job Monday through Friday. I am lucky enough not to have one, so my goals are slightly different. I still want to concentrate the effort into a compressed time slot, so I save time on clean up and on presentation later. I plan to keep the cooking and cleaning to a bare minimum 4 days a week. I can afford to have 3 active preparation days, and spread out the tasks as well as the freshness. I also am dedicating a day to drink preparation. I have been making shrubs, bitters and other infusions. I want to expand my repertoire in the beverage department. There are so many fun recipes to try, and a tasty beverage stands on its own for a pick me up any time of day.
For the first week I have planned (subject to revision in the future):
- Sunday- Start sprouts. They are ready to eat in 3-5 days, so they will liven up the salad offering late in the week. This takes virtually no time. Make recipe decisions based on food on hand.
- Monday-Juice, beverage mixes, and salad bar. By mixing up a few new drinks and dressings new each week, this can be creative and educational.
- Tuesday-Soak beans and make soup- beans add texture and nutrition to everything, and soup is flexible
- Wednesday- Biscuit, muffin, or bread production. Create pickles and condiments. This is another area of cooking I enjoy, and want to make a regular habit of fermenting or pickling foods for healthy and more interesting cuisine.
The rest of the week I am planning to enjoy the fruits of my labors and find out how well I have estimated the proper amount for the week. I already love the organized fridge and the new outlook I am adopting from the food preppers. It is a solid way to improve the way I shop, cook, and eat. I like restaurants, but honestly I prefer pretty and delicious meals concocted by my own hand. I can suit my own whims and moods. The advantage of the food prep practice is having something healthy and ready no matter what happens. I believe it will remove stress and extra money from the whole process of eating. If you have an interest in leaning more about my new found hobby, I can direct you to some highly educational pins:
There is a plethora of information on this subject. I think it offers me a way to structure a long time interest, making and eating food, into a more elevated and pleasurable experience. I think I will learn a lot. Do you use a meal planning and food preparation schedule? This is a first for me. I am sure I will tweek it, but it is a superior way to look at diet.
Three Word Exercise
January 1, 2015
— 6 Comments
fruit salad
Chris Brogan has announced his 3 words for 2015. This annual challenge is an alternative to the classic resolution style. I have done it with success, and also done it when I forgot my words entirely. Like anything else, persistence is needed for results too occur. I am pleased with my own choices this year, patience, persistence, and poetry. They have meaning across the board to upgrades I aspire to make. I plan to use them liberally throughout the year. I also plan to use Brother Brogan’s words to apply to a specific change I am making in my household. There is no rule that says you can’t admire and swipe other people’s words if they suit you. His words work for my new world of menu planning. I have become convinced that improvisation is not the best way forward with nutrition. It has served me well, and I am healthy. I want to develop the skills and the results of managing our home kitchen like a chef with a restaurant. I know that planning and balance will bring lower costs and higher quality nutrition to our diet. We will waste less produce and use the freezer to make the most of what we buy. This new discipline fits perfectly with the words I am appropriating from Brother Brogan for this project.
His words are:
- Plan –I don’t know why I resist planning menus or food prepping. I believe it is a silly idea about authority and total creativity. I will not be less creative when I add the layer of planing, prepping, and shopping specifically for a menu. It is exactly like planning a travel itinerary carefully and precisely so that serendipity and improvisation can take place. I am devoting a calendar to the menu project, as I used to do with my travel agenda for the year. The trip to better nutrition has been launched.
- Leverage–My guru of this whole idea, Dr. Loretta Standley, publishes a very helpful and concise guide for healthy habits in her Activities of Daily Living segment. One of the six categories she covers daily is food prepping. I am pretty good with all the other 5 categories, and I see exactly why this is a great practice. The idea of cooking once and making many dishes to use/freeze leverages time, ingredients, and energy. On Dr. Loretta’s advice I am systematically clearing out the freezer and arming myself with labels to track the contents in the future. It is so simple, yet I have never done it. My favorite piece of advice on this subject she has given lately is All or Nothing—meaning either make the amount you will eat right now, leaving nothing to store, or have a plan (see word number one) to use and freeze the excess. Brilliant!!!! Why have I not done this???
- Fabric–This is where the effort and attention to balance create a strong, nutritious, gourmet experience. I enjoy trying new recipes and ethnic ingredients imported from elsewhere. By planning and leveraging my ingredients and my time I will make a structure that supports our health and well being. Chris talks about weaving strength into his business by staying healthy and fit. The menu planning and food prepping not only provide superior dining options at home, but free up time for other activities. It is an infrastructure that supports our health and fitness, as well as our time management. Planning and prepping are the warp. Creativity, availability, and improvisation are the weft of our 2015 diet.
Thanks, as always, for your guidance, Chris. I am happily applying your words to my advantage this year. I have loved your teaching since Trust Agents. I hope your words will be fabulous for you as well. All the best in 2015.
Image and Imagination
December 30, 2014
— 3 Comments
psyche
psyche
Each night our psyche brings us images in dreams. We connect with them and live within the dream during our sleep. Upon awakening we sometimes lose the dream images as we file that dream somewhere within our unconscious and decide it is not part of our true reality. Notice that we are within the dream while asleep, and then the images are considered to be unreal when we are awake. We live within a gallery of art and image, dramas with set and costume, in our sleeping world. Our awakened ego is concerned with gathering information and meaning rather than absorbing art for art’s sake. We wake up and enter the world with an explanation for everything. By dismissing the power of the imagination we loose the opportunity to individuate. We diminish our own imagination by interpreting our dream images rather than interacting with them.
We run two systems in our awakened world, an economic system and a therapeutic system. All of our activities are divided into economic obligations and challenges or curing our ills. We are concerned with “growth” of our personal economy or “healing” our wounds. It is easy to see the connections that contribute to the cyclical nature of this limited spiral. What is not so simple is to break these cycles. If our addictions are fed by information, image is converted by the mind into interpretation. The ego prides itself on its ability to interpret everything. Since the ego determines that it alone is conscious, all the rest of reality can be fit into the unconscious basket. The ego explains the image and then its importance is belittled. We cease to interact with it once it has an explanation. Imagery has no explanation. Art and image are animate and inherently charged with insight.
I intend to respect the imagery inside of me by embracing a more poetic view of life. By bringing focus to imagination and imagery I want to contribute to my own creativity. I will investigate how I can interact with my psychic and artistic life through practice. This intention can only be controlled to a certain extent, and it is not my hope to contain my psyche, but to explore it. It has a lot to say.
Trading Places at The Sonoran Glass School
November 21, 2014
— 2 Comments
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- auction pieces
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- auction pieces
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- auction pieces
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- auction pieces
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- auction pieces
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- in the shop
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- auction pieces
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- Bill Lesch’s first globe
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- Janos Wilder’s design
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- team makes globe
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- team makes globe
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- hot glass
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- hot glass
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- addition
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- teamwork
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- teamwork
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- teamwork
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- glory hole
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- close up
Last week I attended a very special event at The Sonoran Glass School in Tucson. The auction and live art in the making was designed as a fundraiser for the non-profit school. By inviting artists and others to design a piece of glass art to be executed by the students and faculty of the school they added an extra layer of creativity to the pieces. Lupin Murillo, a local broadcaster, designed a high heeled shoe with fancy trimmings. The fun really heats up when they auction the piece off before it is finished. The shoe was well received and fetched a nice price in the auction. The next live creation was done by a well-known photographer in Tucson, Bill Lesch. I had an excellent seat to see the forming of Bill’s globe. It was blown and shaped by the glass artists, with manipulations and creative decisions made by Bill. The collaboration had 4 people involved full-time in the making of the piece. Non-stop action and careful choreography was a real thrill to watch. I was sitting so close that I had to remove a layer of my outfit because I was right in the hot seat near the fire. It was exciting and unlike any event I have attended in the past. I will go again if they hold it next year. The food was catered by Blu, and was out of this world good. The items for auction were diverse examples of the breadth of glass art. I enjoyed seeing all of the work and meeting some of the artists. I am now interested in joining and taking some classes. The school is a great asset to our community. Our next flaming glass art event will be the Flame Off at the Fox Theater, the high point of Gem Show. If you have not seen a live glass event, I urge you to try one.
Menu Planning and Creativity
November 19, 2014
— 1 Comment
Black Sphinx dates
I recently reached the conclusion that I have never in my life done menu planning. I love to cook and be creative, and I also aspire to healthy eating. I own so many cookbooks they are running out my ears, and I am tuned in to all kinds of digital food situations including television’s Food Network. I have never examined why I don’t follow recipes and don’t do meal planning even though my food life is very big. I tweet about dishes and preparations with my friends at #Mmgd all year. We sometimes gather under that hashtag for twitter parties that include recipes and pictures. Some of us have met in real life, but all of us are food friends forever. Digital food is non threatening and completely calorie free.
I like to watch people make food at least as much as I like to eat it. Iron Chef was always popular at our house, as are many of the holiday specials traditional to this time of year. On weekends we take in all manner of victuals visually before we venture out to taste anything in real life. We follow our instincts and our mood to decide where to dine or which farmers market to attend. We have favorites but are always on the lookout for new places to try. We don’t like to overeat, but enjoy being very gourmet in our selections.
ripe calamondins
I now see that my aversion to menu planning has been an excuse to avoid realistic assessment of my diet. I eat well, and shop pretty well, but the specific desire to freestyle every meal I prepare is a real flaw. I have been pretending that I need to be plan free in order to reach my creative potential as a chef. Nothing could be less realistic. Chefs know how they will use ingredients and tightly budget to make the most of all the provisions they purchase. I shop with wild abandon and then later I must put it all together and avoid waste. I am going to shift the emphasis from improvisation on random seasonal ingredients to balanced menu planning. I will still have a wild card from the fresh produce in season and in abundance. I will not be entirely without my creative hobby, but will elevate my planning to a more strategic level. I will still be spontaneous, but for the first time I will be working with a plan. What a concept!! How do you like to arrange your food preparation, gentle reader? Do you follow a plan, or like to freestyle in the kitchen? Do you make up your own meal plans or take advise from other sources? Bon Appetite! May your days be tasty and bright!
Giving Thanks for Less
November 18, 2014
— 5 Comments
chiles from the garden
Tucson winter
I am pleased that our household is free to interpret holidays in our own way, which might include not at all. When I was younger I had many family gatherings at my house with heavy responsibility and expense. I am thankful that I am free of that kind obligation now. Good or bad, the traditions that my parents embraced are not my own. Bob and I live in a city with wonderful dining and entertainment options. We like the idea of supporting those local business owners who provide happy hours, dinners, and delicious lunches. We normally buy some gift cards this time of year when the restaurants offer discounts. It is a fun way for us to make plans to do something special together and save a few bucks at the same time. This year the restaurant we chose is excluding the use of the gift card on holidays and special occasions. At first I was miffed because we had planned to go on Thanksgiving. Upon consideration we realized we don’t even like to celebrate on the real day because it is always crowded with all the servers stressed. We will just go the night before or the day after the real holiday for our party and have the restaurant to ourselves.
This philosophy is catching on quickly here. Rather than bring out lots of decorations for the house I am doing a full deep cleaning and clearing of our home. We have very little space now because we have crammed things into every corner and cabinet. We love art, but can’t find a place to display what we already own. It makes no sense for us to acquire more. The most impressive and useful gift I can think of for our home is a serious removal of clutter and junk from top to bottom. We need a big haul to the Goodwill much more than any shopping trip for new items. We are not cutting corners on anything we like, want, or need. We just don’t want or need a busy expensive winter season. I am ready for the holidays because I don’t build any false obligations or social pressure.
Christmas cactus
Here at our house we celebrate by:
- sharing happy hour at home with friends
- making our own holiday hootch to toast the season
- avoiding driving
- filling our home with music and scent
- gifting small homemade items to a few people
I am thankful for my stress free life. Less is the best for me. Is there anything you could easily eliminate to make this time of year less stressful?
Tucson sunset
Inventing Retirement, Less is More
October 14, 2014
— 7 Comments
the long and winding road
antique alley
facade
Many people plan for retirement, but I did not. I just fell into it without intending to do so. I spent a lot of time taking care of my parents in their last years which taught me that planning and execution of retirement are two different things entirely. Saving and structuring investments is one way to plan, but there is another, perhaps more important issue, that retirement brings, which is identity of self. All of our professional and family lives we identify ourselves with the role we play at work, at home, or in our social groups. As we grow out of our careers or positions a crisis of knowing one’s self can be the biggest obstacle to happiness. Investments in markets pay dividends. Investing our energy into a persona that is a passing phase of our character can block the path to our understanding and fulfillment. When we are free of the pressure of maintaining the personas, or the facades, that people expect from us we are free to express ourselves artfully and generously.
I recently decided that designing new business cards gave me an opportunity to decide what I want to do next in my life. I pondered the idea of offering a service to spa owners to help them spy (private espionage) on their own operations. With so many different establishments calling themselves spas these days it seemed like a good way to start a new idea and make good use of my background. I took the idea with me on a short trip to consider the ups and downs of the plan. My weekend trip was busy, so I did not spend much time thinking about my new card or concept. I enjoyed the freedom of doing just as I pleased for a few days since I left the dog and my partner at home. On the drive home I listened to the audio book Falling Upward, by Richard Rohr. There was an obvious synchronicity between the material in the book and my idea to become a professional spa spy which became more clear as I considered what Mr. Rohr was teaching. He discusses the difference between getting old and becoming an elder. He uses the term elder in the sense of leadership, tribal or otherwise. An elder is in possession of wisdom which is shared with the tribe. An old person who has not released his life’s earlier personas and roles does not enter a state of wisdom of peace. Old people with anger and personal greed issues never pass into the realm of the elder, but remain in the building and striving part of life. I saw that making an attempt at retuning to spa businesses for any reason was really a trip in a backward direction. There are many good reasons I no longer work at spas, and it was smart to remember some of them before I decided to return to the same culture with expectations that I could improve the situation with my very important opinions. I was pulled back from the brink of a big mistake. There is no need to travel that road again.
I like to have business cards when I want to give people a way to contact me. I decided to print cards that have none of my former logos, as a way to break free from any past issues that might entangle me. I am not including my physical address on the new cards because I don’t need the world to know where I live. I included my twitter handle, @spafloating, my home phone number (my cell number is a secret from everyone), and the address of this blog, http://pamelamorse.com. I thought for a while about the title, since I printed a large batch and want it to last for a very long time. I used simply inventor as my title. The most exciting thing about being an inventor is not the fact that you have invented something. The coolest thing about being an inventor is that you can do it again if you so desire. I plan to invent the most artful and soulful retirement a person could ever imagine. I have been doing it already for years, so now that it is official I should flourish. What is your retirement plan, Gentle Reader? Have you thought of your retirement in terms other than financial investments?
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