Discipline and the 4 Tasks

Last week I met a woman who talked about her anxiety regarding entering the college program of her choice.  She took an exam and expected to hear the results in a week or two.  While we were talking, I remembered a commitment I made to myself when I was laid off from a job.  It was a difficult period of waiting.  I wondered each day whether I should continue to strive for a job that utilized my skills and education or work for work sake.  I had to find a way to keep the faith and my spirits up. 

So I devised a plan to maintain my sanity.  It involved doing 4 things faithfully daily.  The days I kept this promise to myself I felt a sense of control and purpose. 

Here is my list:
1.  Do something related to finding employment
2.  Do some form of exercise (walking, Insanity, weight training etc.)
3.  Reach out to a friend (call, email, write letters)
4.  Organize something (a drawer, the spice rack, the pantry, etc.)

Looking back, it was a good time.  I put many things in order and made decisions about priorities--spent  time with my kids and worked to simplify my life. 

So now I find myself thinking of my next 4 disciplines.  Not because I am out of sorts or in a time of crisis, but because I recognize it is healthy to practice discipline.  Promises to oneself are sometimes the most precious. 

Here is my new list:
Each day....
1.  Do some form of exercise
2.  Meditate (eat mindfully, pray, body work etc.)
3.  Lean into my vision and goals (create vision board, ponder with focus)
4.  Connect authentically with another (with patience, attention, intention)

Quite a different list.  Speaks to my desire for depth lately.  

Pantry Challenge

Ok, are ready!  It is time to eat everything in the pantry.... 

No, not all at once!  

We endeavor to actually eat what is already in our pantry and not go grocery shopping until we do.  For one month (and more if this goes well), we plan to get creative.  We have some interesting things in the pantry.  Take a look below:

We will need to go to the grocery for things like milk, eggs, and things that may compliment a specific recipe.  Most recently when I did the pantry inventory, I ventured to use some unique items including, apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, wheat germ and adobe seasoning.  All of which have not see the light of day for some time now. 

You may be wondering how we used these interesting items (glad you asked ;-): stir- fried orange chicken, broccoli cheese strudel and adobe rice with sausage--yum!

So why embark on this adventure?  I suppose because we can.  So many times I look in the cupboard and say we have nothing to eat.  It is time to prove myself wrong.  There are some interesting things in there and with a little planning, we can make some tasty stuff. 

With busy schedules and hunger in the belly as soon as we hit the door of the house after a long day, it is often hard to "see" the possibilities in the fridge and cupboard.  By taking a little time, doing an inventory and planning recipe, I think we will be ahead both in the pocketbook and in the stress department.  I find that my life goes much smoother when there is a plan in place. 

Travel Gear

I thought I would share and idea I came up with in order to travel light. Above is a contact lens carrier. In it I put cleanser (L) and moisturizer (R) for my face. It is handy and easy to bring along and great for at least 2 overnight stays. Just a thought.

Garden Mapping

Yes, that is right, we have a garden map-- and it makes me happy. Not only am I happy knowing where things are, but I love thinking about what else can be put in the garden. A certain joy comes about when I venture to think about it.

I have had a desire for a garden map for some time now. I actually bought the house for the opportunity to experience the garden (no kidding) and I have waited with anticipation for the chance to get my hands in the dirt. Anticipation grew with each compost load we dumped over the winter, imagining nutrients going right into the soil; now as I crumble the deep, dark soil between my fingertips I just know it is teeming with goodness.

Last year, our first year here, was an experimental garden- a lovely garden to be sure - a garden dug on the fly (we moved in to the house in June and started digging late in the season). Much of the food we produced held some mystery for us. Is this a parsnip, or a turnip? Are these greens for eating or greens that support a root plant? Not sure, well let's eat it all. We also experimented with seeds from an heirloom seed company that came in a variety pack. The seeds overall were great- there were just a few that did not quite meet our discriminating tastes.

This year, however, we had the advantage of starting early, knowing what to expect from the seeds and had rich composted soil to work with. We started by planting a cool weather garden and have had lettuce now for about 4 weeks. And, the lettuce we planted, tastes great. Frank planted a second round of lettuce in another section of the garden, so we will probably benefit from lettuce all summer long. Actually, thanks to his passion for gardening and his initiative we should have many things early in the fall season to eat.

We have done a little better with labeling and no need to mention: WE HAVE A GARDEN MAP! So, we actually know that this particular plant is arugula and this one is kohlrabi, and that one is carrots planted with spinach. All good. Now all we have to do is to figure out how to cook/eat kohlrabi and other interesting varieties.

Soon, I can turn my attention to the other areas of the yard and start dreaming (and planning for) harvest. There will be canning and freezing and saucing and blending and ............... EATING!

Organization, Laziness or Both?

Of late I have been thinking of ways to stream line the every day circumstances in life. In my work, a theme with clients is bubbling up. Person after person is dragging and feeling the energy drain and I realize that doing everyday chores can take a bunch of that energy and if you are not organized, it can seem daunting. At times I have felt this overwhelmedness and quite frankly Scarlet- I don't like it! So, my brain, the way it is wired, will ponder and process ways to make things easier, more efficient, or more cost effective until a solution comes.

Underneath this all though is the true desire in me to be lazy.

Agatha Christie writes:

I don’t think necessity is the mother of invention – invention, in my opinion, arises directly from idleness, possibly also from laziness. To save oneself trouble.

I want to save myself and others trouble. So I have collected here a few ideas that I have learned over the years to make life easier. If you have any tips, add them too--we can all benefit from your knowledge.

Food

1. Create a weekly meal plan. My sister DeeDee has done this so well. She includes a shopping list and recipes for a nights worth of meals. She has three weeks planned out and rotates them throughout the year. The methodology is great and her meals are tasty. Worth a try. Click here for a sample of her weekly menu.

2. Cook ahead. If you are like me, you get home and are hungry for food right away and look blankly at the refrigerator. And, inevitably, I will sigh and say we have nothing to eat- when really we do, but I am feeling lazy. So, I spend some time cooking when I am not rushed and I can enjoy the experience and store the food for future use. Then when I get home, I microwave or reheat items over the stove and Presto! a nutritious meal.

3. Eat left overs. Have left over day, clean out the fridge, get creative. It feels good because you are not wasting food and it helps you take stock of what you need or still have for future meals.

Clothing

1. Set out clothes at night. We have spent many a morning where the kids are wondering what to wear, switching clothes out, putting them in the dirty bin (when they are not dirty) and overall mayhem when you should be in the car on your way to work. Too much hassle for a morning! If you really want to feel organized, purchase a sweater organizer and have your kids pick out clothes for the week. This can work very well. Have them include underwear and socks too, so all they have to do is go to the organizer, pick a set of clothes and get on with your day.

2. Purchase thrift store clothing, have kids pick sets of clothes that can be considered outfits. Kids grow so quickly and pop out of their clothes before you know it. Why not save a bunch of money and have the kids go crazy shopping in the store? You can get a lot of outfits at the thrift store within a reasonable budget.

3. Donate clothes that do not fit to Volunteers of America or another good place. Clothes that do not fit just take up space and complicate things when trying to set out clothes for the morning.

These are just a few ideas and I may post more at a later time. I know you folks out there have found other ways to economize and simplify life. Please share your thoughts. Inquiring minds want to know!

Christmas 2007- Organization at it's finest!