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Category Archives: Simplicity
(Not Really) Satisfying
I just heard an ad for raspberry cheesecake flavored Yoplait. Like so many food ads it’s always about satisfying (forbidden, midnight etc.) cravings with something sweet, indulgent and “satisfying.” But eating food which is engineered specifically to keep you eating … Continue reading
Posted in Food Advertising, Food Memories, Simplicity
Tagged engineered food, food advertising, processed food, yogurt
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Graduation Words to My Son
Writing about Mr. Rogers and his commencement speech reminded me of the words I spoke to my oldest son at his high school graduation party, when we were sharing memories of him and wishing him well. I’ve re-read those words … Continue reading
Posted in Simplicity
Tagged graduation, high school, le petit prince, mensch, mr. rogers, Saint Exuprey. little prince
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Bowing to Our Neighbors
When my sons were small they loved watching Mr. Rogers. I can’t say I loved watching Mr. Rogers, though I was thrilled they did because he was so kind and the show was so calm. But when Mr. Rogers died, … Continue reading
Posted in Mindfulness, Simplicity
Tagged community, holy, kindness, love, mr. rogers, neighborliness, sacred
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Violence of Technology
Building on the previous post and how we do violence to ourselves through “well-intentioned” over-commitment, this is a brief consideration of the violent consequences of technological approaches driven solely by expediency and efficiency. When measuring human success, we use terms borrowed from technology, words and … Continue reading
Well-Intentioned Violence
My weeks away from here have been consumed writing a grant due May 30th. This grant money replaces federal money recently cut from our program, so there’s a lot of pressure to succeed. Intense periods periods of work test the … Continue reading
Posted in Mindfulness, Simplicity, Work
Tagged joy, meditation practice, picasso, simplicity, success, thomas merton, valerie spain, work
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#3 Execute: A Feeling of Strength in Reserve
To pursue the disciplined pursuit of less, Greg McKeown says successful people use routine and ritual to focus on the essential. Artists in all disciplines intimately understand the power of routine. In 2006, Twyla Tharp called creativity a habit in her book, The Creative Habit, and … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, Mindfulness, Simplicity, Work
Tagged disciplined, disciplined pursuit of less, greg mckeown, less, picasso, simplicity, twyla tharp, valerie spain
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#1 Explore and Evaluate
I’d like to review Greg McKeown’s work for this and the next few posts. He distils his essentialism advice to 3 points: Explore/Evaluate Eliminate Execute In order to get to the essential and discard the unessential McKeown suggests constantly narrowing the … Continue reading
Posted in Mindfulness, Simplicity, Work
Tagged essentialism, greg mckeown, simplicity, simplify, valerie spain, work
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Go to the Kitchen
Michael Pollen goes into the kitchen to cook, and finds answers to pressing health, environmental, social– even spiritual– problems. “…what is the most important thing an ordinary person can do to help reform the American food system, to make it … Continue reading
