Category: General

Much earlier in the year I wrote about organizing.  In that writing I discussed how each month of the year we were going to pick a few rooms to focus on, so by the end of the year we had at least went through everything once.  So far, that is going ok, but I am feeling that sometimes I am just going through the motions.  Am I missing something that would make organizing more purposeful?

Then, I began to think about it.  Organizing is not the same thing as paring down or getting rid of things.  You can have a ton of stuff, and you can have it organized very well so it is easy to get to and is nicely stored for safe keeping.  But, until you start eliminating things, or processes, or unnecessary steps, you are not simplifying.  So, a question you have to ask yourself is this:  is my purpose to organize what I have, simplify what I have, or both?

Another word that sometimes gets thrown into this topic is minimalism.  Like the word implies, it is an idea that you live with less things, less activities, and so on.  Minimalism can include simplifying, but if you simplify something it doesn’t have to mean you are a minimalist.

So, after having these thoughts I realized that I am organizing most rooms but I am not getting rid of anything.  Organizing can be a good thing, but ultimately I would love to be able to get rid of things that we don’t need.  I think that we have tried to do that when we are going through rooms, but it doesn’t seem to happen very much.  I am hoping that as we move forward we can focus on eliminating stuff, and then organizing what remains.  To me, that would make for a more efficient use of our time and resources.

I am writing this entry right around Halloween, so it seems fitting that I should talk about the “witch hunt”.  In our trip to the Northeast a few weeks ago we made a stop in Salem, Massachusetts, which most people have heard about because of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692.  Although the town is now basically a suburb of Boston, it was definitely doing its best to promote its history, especially during the month of October.  Unfortunately, this well-known history is rather sad, considering around 20 to 25 people lost their lives because of the trials.

Ever since we have been in Salem I have been thinking a lot about the trials and about witch hunting in general.  I have read about witch hunting through thousands of years, and I am saddened but also incredibly intrigued about why they happened.  There are, of course, many theories out there – changes in the religious, political, or economic climate at the time, questions about mental illness in the parties involved, and a need for control by certain individuals are just a few of the ideas put out for consideration.

All of these theories are interesting, but to me the mental illness question stands out because of my interest in it.  Were any of the people accused of witchcraft mentally ill?  Were any of the victims and/or accusers of witchcraft mentally ill?  Of course, it is hard to look back and understand how it would have felt to live in those times, but part of me thinks that some of these witch hunts involved some type of mental illness that was not understood at the time.  Of course, today we use “witch hunt” for a lot of things, and unfortunately some people still suffer as a result of them.  Are the mentally ill still targeted and/or a part of the accusations?  My guess is yes, and we need to better understand why and how it happens.  In general, it would be amazing to get rid of all types of “witch hunts”, but I especially would like to make sure that a person’s mental well-being is taken into consideration of the events at hand.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

As I write today’s entry, we are in the middle of planning a family trip that is coming up very soon.  And, although I am excited about having the opportunity to go on another trip, the planning part is about to drive me crazy.  We have been going over details for hours and hours, and I just want to get flights, hotels, and a rental vehicle booked.  In my mind everything else can wait – if the basics aren’t covered, then to me there is no sense in figuring out what we will do when we are there.

I’ve talked about patience (including my lack of it) before, and here it is again.  Why can’t I just go with the flow?  Why is this driving me so crazy?  I think part of the issue is that I know there are lots of other things that need to be done.  I would like to get this out of the way so we can move on.  Is that so irrational?  Probably not, but I dislike how my impatience makes me feel.

In the end, I know we will get it done.  It may take what seems like forever, but it will get done.  This is yet another reminder of how I need to slow down and start learning from patience instead of dreading it and letting it overtake me.  How I do that, though, will definitely be a marathon and not a sprint.  Hopefully just being able to acknowledge when it is happening is a good first step.  This also seems to be a good indication that I need to step up on some mindfulness and meditation practices.  This is an area I will probably always struggle with, but at least I can recognize it.  This helps to me to work with it and not against it.

As I write this entry, we are in the midst of allergy season.  Ragweed is one of the worst culprits during the late summer season around here, and this always seems to be the worst part of the year for me.  I have a long history of ear, nose, and sinus problems, and I have had a long history with allergies too.  I was allergy tested several years ago, and basically I was found to be allergic to everything.  This made me laugh, because somehow I had been fortunate enough to survive all of this time without an anaphylactic reaction to anything, let alone everything.  As a result of the testing I ended up giving myself allergy shots for about a year.  After that I have seemed to tolerate allergy seasons better, but it also could be that I exercise and take care of myself better than I ever did too.

Looking at all of my history with allergies and sinus issues, this year seemed to be going very well.  I sneezed some and had some drainage, but it wasn’t really bothering me that much.  Lately, though, I have had to wake up at night to drain, and again, while it didn’t bother me it bothered my husband.  So, today I went to an ENT doctor to see if there was a reason for my more frequent draining.  Turns out I have a secondary infection from my allergies.  Wow!  I had no idea!  I wasn’t really feeling all that different, but I have probably been walking around with an infection for possibly a month now.  Boy do I feel silly.  Here I thought my allergies were the best they had ever been, and I’ve had an infection.  Geez.

Today’s incident has made me feel a major lack of self-awareness.  How could I miss this?  How could I not sense that something was off?  I’ll get over it, but I think I need to work on giving myself some grace here.  Sometimes things do get missed.  Luckily, a lot of times it doesn’t affect much.  I assume eventually I would have started feeling uncomfortable and would have figured I should seek some help.  For now, I can rest in the knowledge that sometimes I will miss things, and that doing so is part of being a perfectly imperfect human.

Are you familiar with podcasts?  While not a formal definition, I think of podcasts as shows that you listen to – somewhat similar to talk radio.  However, the variety of topics for podcasts is pretty wide ranging, and there is bound to be a podcast on a topic that you find interesting.  The other neat thing is that with today’s technology pretty much anyone can create and distribute podcasts.  It can be a great way to share ideas, opinions and advice with others.

Where can you find podcasts?  A lot of times I hear about them from email lists that I am on.  If you read books or magazines, they may direct you to podcasts.  Doing a simple internet search for a podcast on a topic of interest can also be done.  Regardless of how you do it, it usually does not take long to find a lot of podcasts that you would enjoy listening to (assuming you enjoy this type of activity).

Of course, the next question is: when do you listen to all of these podcasts that you have found?  That can definitely be tricky.  Depending on the work you do, you may be able to listen to them while you are working.  I don’t advocate this if it impairs your ability to work, but it might be an option.  You can listen to them when you are driving, but again only if it doesn’t impair your ability to drive.  You can listen to them when you are exercising.  You can listen to them when you are doing chores around the house.  That is one of the benefits to podcasts – there are so many different opportunities to listen to them.  So, take some time today to consider what role, if any, podcasts could play in your life, as they can be a great way to learn and enjoy the world around us.