Time Takes Time

As a polychronic person I never seem to have enough time. Probably because I'm doing so many things at once. Or aspire to do many things. Blogging here, craft making there, cooking, cleaning, sewing, letter writing, Facebook posting, home decorating, care giving, party throwing, gift giving, cultural event attending, donating, volunteering, dry cleaning, washing, tailgate market shopping, love making, daydreaming, yoga practicing, dancing, weight lifting, biking, swimming, running, tennis, ping pong, and card playing, gardening, reading, writing, budgeting, traveling, listening, napping, sleeping, lounging, movie watching, doing nothing, seeking, sighing, crying, smiling, laughing, worrying, oh and there's the job. How does that leave anytime for anything else? How could I possibly have enough time to keep up with any one of the things in the list as thoroughly as I want?

I'm determined to gain a better understanding of my polychronic nature. And I'm determined to explore time in all of its nuances. I've had a history project in the making for the past few years. In the making as in, in my mind now to be realized. It's a collection of dates that I encounter. Pieces of time that are important to others or important to me or just interesting footnotes from the past. My circular perspective will be flattened into a timeline that I can relate to and reference and hope to share with my family. Each point on the line will have meaning to me. It's my own story of world history, rather than a text book telling. Stay tuned...

Here's a chart of differences between the polychronic and monchronic.

Sacrifice, Ritual and Fire

What's more important, your career or your love interest?

It's easy for me to say my relationship with my husband is more important than a career. I've always had a hippie mentality and feel that love rules. I care about success but know that my happiness stems from social interaction, intellectual stimulation, good food and a comfortable environment. I am ambitious. I am hard working. I need a certain amount of money to facilitate the social activities, food purchases and environment that I desire. But would I give up on a good relationship with someone I loved for a significant career gain. No.

That means I'm willing to make sacrifices for my marriage. I am. Is that because I am a women? Are women in general more willing to make sacrifices for their loved ones? Do women tend to follow their men in their job pursuits? I would like to think that we compromise and I know that in my case we do. I think we are in our current location because of my job and preferences rather than my husband's. I believe that love is justifiable cause for moving to a new place and that above all else being together is what matters. But how do you reconcile a drive for career success with the need for significant companionship? It's not easy I guess, but I've never found the choice difficult to make. I know this is not the case for all of my friends unfortunately.

One thing that my love life and professional life have in common is ritual. Sitting at the dinner table engrossed in post meal conversation and storytelling makes for a superb end to any day. Making a cup of tea and sorting through email establishes calm and order at the beginning of  the work day, which is likely to be busy and demanding. Where are the rituals in our modern lives? Grooming? Spa treatments? Weddings, funerals, birthdays, religious holidays, vacations, thanksgiving....Maybe these are our contemporary rituals.

Fire still plays a role in many of these rituals. Fireplaces are lit for Christmas. Candles flare on cakes. Menorahs are lit. I don't think there is quite enough fire though. I do worry about the pollution caused by wood fires but I so enjoy a camp fire. So much so that I drink what I've dubbed "camp fire tea," better known as lapsong souchong, a black tea with a very smoky aroma. It's supposedly dried over a fire. Historically it was tea that absorbed the flavors of the fire during it's camel-back journey on the silk road. The flavor became in favor and the leaves were thus purposely dried by fire. Thanks to The Tao of Tea in Portland, Oregon for introducing me to this delicious drink.

Maybe we could all use a little more fire in our lives.

Come on baby light my fire.

Happy Snow Day

Had a snow day today, which I wanted. I got what I wanted. So I should have spent the day happy, right? Why is happiness so elusive? I think it's my to do list (not necessarily filled with important stuff). I even read a Martha Stewart quote that went something like this: "I start every day with a fresh to do list." So create the daily to do list from scratch. Don't let things hang over your head. That's easier said than done.

I've read several articles/videos during the past year with a happiness theme. How to achieve it. What is it. Who has it. I'll share them now so you too can think about happiness. My conclusions? You can't have it all the time. Sometimes it feels good not to be happy. It's best not to think about it too much. Don't depend on others to make you happy and don't let others take away happy feelings when you find them. And most of all, a happy stamp works really well for wrapping paper decoration for all occasions. The stamp I made a few years ago is invaluable and makes me happy. Happy.

TED Talk Happiness for Parents video
Simple Living or Simply Living?  NYTimes
Find your ~ing & a happier you
Having a happiness emergency? The Slate to the rescue.
Recommended reading from the Happiness Project
More Parenting & Happiness (or lack thereof)
Stumbling on Happiness video
A couple from Being (Speaking of Faith) on public radio:
Happiest Man in the World
Pursuing Happiness with the Dalai Lama

Oh, and let's not forget that long walks outside make me happy. And I'm going to resolve to start and end each day thinking happy thoughts.

More Mooncakes

Really, I suddenly feel like mooncakes are everywhere. Happened onto this website, eSobi, curious about the product. Right now I use google reader but maybe that's enough. Back to the mooncakes though--eSobi uses the Chinese Moon Festival as an example idea of how to put the app to use. And you must make mooncakes for the autumn moon festival.

I talked to a friend studying in China yesterday who said that she tried several varieties of mooncakes and that they are generally terrible. I mentioned the Haagen Dazs and she said that HD ice cream is extremely expensive. Possibly because milk is so hard to come by in China. She's been warned not to trust most milk that she finds on the shelves in Beijing. There's a delivery option that she's exploring.

On another Chinese note, the BBC has apparently been censored. This friend can no longer access the BBC online though she could a few weeks ago. This is referred to as harmonizing. Sounds off key to me. Salut.

Not just any day

A new year, a new decade, and a new blog. Time to change direction and generate fresh ideas. I will find inspiration in nature (hopefully fueled by daily walks) and will share my musings with those who choose to follow along. Throw in some green shopping, a locavore's appetite, and a bit of ocd for posts that are sure to please.

Cheers to you on this 1.1.11--a very good place to start. Elevens are lucky, right? And number 1 is well....

On a different note and on my mind since yesterday:
I've been curious about mooncakes since reading an entry about mooncake molds in Wallpaper last year. I've thought that mooncakes just might take hold as the new cupcake. Or they might be a good complement to my ice cream business (business dream that is). Mooncake ice cream sandwiches sound good?

Admittedly I don't know much about mooncakes. So my ears perked up when this story was told on Marketplace yesterday. Of course I learned that Haagen Dazs is already making mooncakes. Maybe I'll skip making the mooncakes and just get in on the black market of mooncake vouchers. Ok the ice cream business is probably a safer way to go. If only the Food Network would call me back so I can pitch my ice cream related t.v. show.

Time for a bath.