You Are What You Eat

I was going through some old photos and came across this gem. I took this photo because I was fascinated by the mere fact that a whole chicken was packaged in a can. I also wanted to know what "chicken ready" meant. It never ceases to amaze me what Americans will eat. I've eaten my fair share of shady food, but in recent years, I am becoming much more aware of what I'm putting into my body. Sure, it helped to read 'The Omnivore's Dilemma' and 'Fast Food Nation', but I really believe I am what I eat. Everything in moderation certainly applies, but I don't think I miss meat very much. I'm pretty content without eating meat every day. It's surprising how much I don't miss meat considering how much meat I consumed growing up in the Midwest.

New Adventures

I went to South Lake Tahoe this past weekend. I took some nasty spills skiing and bruised myself even more learning how to snowboard, but I have no regrets. The air was crisp and clean and the snow was simply beautiful. As I was going up the ski lift, snow began to fall. It felt so good to have snow flakes on my face, but what was most apparent was how quiet it was. Even with people all around me, I was at peace. Life is funny. I'm so careful about making huge life decisions (business school not withstanding), but don't hesitate when it comes to trying something new like snowboarding. I think it was a number of factors, but I think it was being in a new environment and feeling less pressure to perform for anyone that gave me the courage to be adventurous. I was at peace with myself because I wasn't trying to impress anyone and was truly being content with myself. I need to remember this philosophy more often at sea level.

Gratitude

At work today, someone mentioned that he shared a Thanksgiving toast with his family last week. He went on to say that he wanted them to know that he was fortunate to have their love and trust and how it meant a lot for him to share the holiday with them. What am I grateful for? That's far too open-ended a question for me to answer, but I did reflect on why I am, in general, a grateful person. 


When I wake up each morning, I take a second to be grateful that I have a chance to live another day. When I see a beautiful sunset, I am grateful that I have the eyes to witness such an amazing view, the heart to appreciate it and even more grateful to nature for creating something for me to enjoy. I don't consciously do this, but I realize I am fortunate to be able to feel gratitude. I used to take things for granted and would focus more on the stress and anxiety and other negative things in my life rather than counting my blessings. I knew I wasn't really going to achieve happiness if I continued having this kind of mentality. I challenged myself with this one goal: to daily write down something I was grateful for. I have to admit that I didn't take it seriously at first, but then I began to see the benefits. I was finding that I had more than one blessing I wanted to share each day and that I was grateful for so much in my life. 


I read an article in the Wall Street Journal last week regarding gratitude; it's actually pretty good and you can read the full article here (thank you, Wall Street Journal, for your enlightening articles):


"Adults who frequently feel grateful have more energy, more optimism, more social connections and more happiness than those who do not, according to studies conducted over the past decade. "


It's so true. You can never be too grateful! I am grateful I have a functioning brain even if it makes me think too much and definitely drives me crazy. 

Order of Operation

I have had a lot on my mind lately. Much of it has to do with what I need to do to be more successful (read: assertive) in my life. A friend has told me I'm simply going through growing pains and as much as I accept this as what is happening, it doesn't make it any easier to accept these changes. He offered me something to read that I found surprisingly relevant. Here's an excerpt:

"Mission tactics is the term used to describe the exercise of command authority by a leader. Mission tactics places the relationship of command, control, and communications in proper perspective by emphasizing the predominance of command. This emphasis on command, rather than control, provides for initiative, the acceptance of risk, and the rapid seizure of opportunities on the battlefield. Mission tactics can be viewed as freedom of action for the leader to execute his mission in the way he sees fit, rather than being told how to do it. Mission tactics reinforced by the knowledge of the higher commander's intent and focused on a main effort establishes the necessary basis for small-unit leadership."

Yes, I've been reading military techniques and although much of it is a bit much for a civilian like me, a lot of it is sensible and logical. I'm not suggesting that I need to enlist in the Navy to be happier in my life, but I can appreciate when something is intricately planned. And then I had a realization. Perhaps that's the root of my problems: I am too planned. I need to learn to let go and just let things happen. C'est la vie, non?

Exclamation marks and commas

I realized today that I still had this blog and after reading through my old posts, have decided to start anew. So, in my attempt to "cope with trauma": welcome back, old friend.

I learned two things since yesterday:

1. I do not appreciate being locked in a room with 50 other co-workers and asked to "share my feelings". There's nothing quite like being called to an urgent meeting only to find out that it's not really a meeting, but a therapy session. Apparently we all needed help to "cope with trauma" and sitting together blubbering over one another was going to somehow miraculously make us feel better. I'm happy to report that no one shared their feelings and yet we all still seem to be functioning quite well, thank you very much.*

2. Exclamation marks and commas are vastly underutilized. Then again, so is the semi-colon...

*Don't get me wrong, I think therapy can be very helpful, just not when it's sprung on you like a trap!