Month: November 2017

Public Radio

In my last entry I talked about the appreciation I feel when I come home.  I also noted several things I miss when I am away from home.  One thing I would add to that list is satellite radio.  Whether it is in the car or on the internet, I am a huge fan of satellite radio.  There are so many great parts about it – no commercials, and there is such a variety of channels that you are bound to find a station that you like.  On this trip, we did not have satellite radio, and there was a definitely a void there for me.  However, we did stumble upon something else that now has me intrigued – public radio.

National Public Radio or NPR – something that I have admittedly shunned in the past because it seemed too old and too classy for me.  Talk radio has not really been my thing in the past, and to me NPR was at the top of that category.  However, as we made our way through New Hampshire and Vermont last week, we started listening to Vermont and New Hampshire Public Radio as well as National Public Radio.  And, as weird as it sounds, I have to admit I was intrigued.  I haven’t looked into it yet, but it seemed to me that public radio was a lot of podcasts put together.  Of course, public radio was around before podcasts, but I am liking the idea that I can learn something from public radio.  I am also thinking that I can find NPR on my satellite radio as well.  Turns out I might really enjoy something that I haven’t taken the time to actually find out what it is.

I am excited that I might have stumbled upon something interesting and new to me.  Does that ever happen to you?  I hope so, because it is definitely one of the nicer events that can happen in our lives.  Here’s to more interesting discoveries for everyone!

Home

As I write this entry, my husband, son, mother, and I have just returned from an 8 night, 9 day road trip across a lot of New England.  To be exact, here are the states we visited: Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.  It was a lot to see and a lot to do, but no doubt it has created a lot of new memories for us to share.  Of course, soon it will be time to get back to reality, but for now there is this little precious time where it is just nice to be home.

Home.  Sometimes it seems like a great thing, other times it doesn’t.  But, for me, home is usually pretty awesome to me after living out of a suitcase for awhile.  I miss being able to stretch out and have everything in its place (well, as much as you can for having a toddler in the house).  I miss sleeping in my own bed.  I miss my toddler sleeping in his own bed and having his space.  I miss the sense of belonging I have when I’m at home.  I am sure there are more things I could mention, but you get the idea.  Things that I seem to take for granted when it seems like the weeks or months are pretty much the same.  I get a whole new appreciation of home when I leave it.

How about you?  “Home” can mean different things to different people, and sadly, home may not always be a happy place for some.  However, if home is a good thing for you, what are the things you love about it?  What are the things you miss when you are gone?  Are there ways you can further appreciate what home gives you?  I know that today this last question is definitely something I plan to consider.

The Meaning of Marriage

Lately, I have been reading and thinking about marriage.  I am by no means an expert on it, but I have been married 2 ½ years now, so at least I can say that.  Of course, I see some people saying that quantity, especially at 2 ½ years, doesn’t mean much – how about the quality?  For most of us, I would assume that when it comes to marriage the quality piece is more important to people than the quantity side.  But what does that mean?

That is one of the topics I have been thinking about.  What makes a good marriage?  What makes it last AND makes it meaningful?  Do we even have an agreed upon definition for quality here?

My assumption is that there are some generalities, but again, that is an assumption.  Overall, I think what a marriage means varies both between and among couples.  Do I view my marriage as something that adds to my happiness?  Do I attribute some meaning to my marriage?  Do I look to my marriage to fulfill certain needs and wants?  How about my spouse?  Does he or she have similar or conflicting views on what the marriage means to him or her?  Admittedly, these are some deeper questions that I am not sure I have spent much time on – not that I don’t have deep feelings about it, but have I ever really thought about the meaning that I assign to my marriage?

I find these questions intriguing, and I would like to spend some time reflecting on them.  Of course another caveat is that I am sure the answers may change over time – marriage, as far as I see it, is a dynamic thing.

How about you?  If you are married, how do you feel about it?  What does it mean to you?  What does it mean to your spouse?  If you are not married, what meaning do you assign to it?  I challenge you to look deeper and consider what this relationship means from your point of view.

Music Therapy

Within the last week of writing this entry, the musician Tom Petty died.  This is not the first, nor will it be the last musician whose passing has left me with some sadness.  It is definitely not on the level of losing a family member or someone close to me, but it creates this weird feeling that does bring me down somewhat.  Even though I don’t know any famous musicians on a personal level, there are quite a few that feel like old friends because of their music.  Their music helped shape my history – the good times, the bad times, and everything in between.  They are part of the soundtrack of my life.

As a result of his passing, over the last few days I have been listening to some Tom Petty, and it has brought back some great memories of earlier times.  And it has been nostalgic.  There is some sadness there, but there is also some happy reflections on a simpler time.  A time of my youth.  And, there is also the promise of sharing this with my child, which in fact we have already started to do.

There is something about music that is therapeutic to me, and I am sure a lot of people would agree.  There is even an official music therapy practice that is used to help treat people.  What is it about music that can heal?  I am sure there are many textbooks and papers to explain, but personally I don’t have a great answer.  I just feel it, and because I feel it, I know it.  It is one of those few things in life that I just know.  Musicians unfortunately come and go, but the music they leave behind can heal and transform.  They can also contribute to the soundtracks of many lives, and that can be therapy for so many of us.

Meetings

Meetings.  Does the word itself make you cringe?  Of course, there are a variety of meetings out there –  recreational group meetings, civic group meetings, informal social meetings, work meetings, and probably other types that I am not thinking of here.  Some of these meetings can give us pleasure and a sense of purpose.  Others probably seem like a way to just go through some motions.  Is there a way to make meetings, especially the ones that seem pointless, more meaningful?  Here are some additional questions that I have to address this topic.

First, do we ever question if the meeting is necessary at all?  Are there really any items to discuss or address, or is the meeting simply being held because it has always been held at a certain time and place repeatedly?  Could items be addressed by a quick email instead?  Asking these simple questions could eliminate some meetings right off the bat.

If the meeting is found to be necessary, can it be scheduled for a shorter amount of time?  Can it be held less frequently if there are no items to discuss?  These questions can help to reduce the frequency and/or duration of meetings.

Next, how about the quality of the meeting?  Is there an agenda to keep the discussion focused?  Does each agenda item alot a specified amount of time for discussion and/or action?  You might argue that if there is no agenda, you do not need to attend the meeting, but that decision up to you.

In the end, I challenge everyone to think about the meetings they attend.  Does the meeting feel necessary to you?  Does the meeting have a focus to it?  Depending on your evaluation, can you decline going to the meeting?  Perhaps you can save and enjoy some time by taking a closer look at the meetings you attend.

Daily Grind

Do you ever feel like you are doing the same thing over and over again throughout your days or weeks?  Does your job seem monotonous?  Do your other responsibilities seem to be the same?  Do you feel like you are just going through the motions day after day?

Sometimes the daily grind can feel boring.  Nothing seems to change.  It is just the same ol’ same ol’.  When I start thinking like this, there are several ways I try to look at it so I can change this attitude and move on.  Here they are:

1.Sometimes I think that boring is better than having a change that would be upsetting or depressing.  I would rather have a regular day then hear bad news about anyone or anything.  While this may not be the most positive way to think, it can help.

2.I can be more mindful and find things that are different and/or that are beautiful little moments that make up a day.  Sure, it may feel like your usual daily grind, but there are parts of it that are great every time.  Some examples for me are moments with my son and husband.   And, if you really look into it, every day is truly different in at least some small ways – some examples can include what you are wearing and what you eat, among others.

3.I can purposely add more variety into my days.  Maybe I take up a new hobby that I work on during any breaks that I may have.  Maybe I find a new book to read.  Maybe I find an old friend to contact.  There can be many ways to change up at least parts of your day and give it more flavor.

How about you?  Do any of these ideas appeal to you?  If so, how might you implement it?  With just a little thought, your daily grind can be more appealing.

Lessons Learned

Recently I was involved in a walk for a charitable cause.  Not only did I walk, but I also volunteered to help with the event.  Overall, it seems to have gone well, but there were a few items that need to be addressed if we decide to do it at the same place next year.  As I was volunteering and walking, I was making a mental note of “lessons learned”, and then later on that day I wrote them down so I could remember them for future discussions.  “Lessons learned” seems to be something I hear about a lot these days, and I think it can be helpful for improving and growing in many areas.

To me, lessons learned are those things that didn’t go well or didn’t go as well as you had anticipated.  Perhaps they are even things that you failed to plan for ahead of time.  However you define it, I like the idea of lessons learned.  We don’t call them mistakes.  We don’t call them failures.  We look at them as ways to improve and do better the next time.  My initial example is related to the walk I helped with, but lessons learned can be applied anywhere.  Starting a new eating plan?  Starting a new exercise routine?  Starting anything new?  Tweaking or changing an existing routine?  All of these things, plus many more can include lessons learned.

And, while lessons learned is important to identify what might need changes, another piece is that you have to actually do something about it.  It is not enough to simply identify what didn’t go so well, but the key step is deciding what you are going to do about it.  So, the next time you are looking at an event or routine of yours, think about what could be better.  Then, decide what you can do to make that happen.  Lessons learned can be a great way to work on incremental improvement.

Individualized Medicine

In my last entry, I discussed noticing the growth of online summits.  A theme from many of these talks is the concept of individualized medicine, and that is something I want to discuss further.

What is individualized medicine?  I don’t present a formal definition here, but it is essentially what you would suspect – medicine that is based on an individual.  It is not a “one size fits all” approach to treating someone.  Treatment plans are created that focus on the individual’s history, diagnosis, preferences, values, and so on.

While some of these treatment strategies are not necessarily available yet, there are some ideas about what individualized medicine will entail.  An example is using medication.  At this point, most people will get a dose that is prescribed to everyone, say 25 mg a day of a drug.  But, what if the person only needs 8 mg a day to show a benefit?  What if they need 42 mg a day?  What if the drug doesn’t work for them at all?  Individualized medicine will take this into account.

Another aspect of individualized medicine is realizing that a treatment that helps one may not help anyone else.  In this respect, people may receive the same diagnosis but may experience different treatments.  Of course, creating these individualized plans will no doubt take more time, and I am hopeful that this will lead to fewer and more meaningful appointments throughout the day.  Of course, someone has to pay for it all, but again I am hopeful this is the way to go.

Overall, it is exciting to see the discussion and steps that are being taking towards individualized medicine.  Although we are all alike in many ways, everyone has unique genetics, behavior, and biochemistry (among other things) that should be taken into account when being treated for an illness or disease.  I look forward to seeing this concept continue to progress.