The Past Versus the Future

I didn't attend my 20 year high school class reunion this weekend.  The timing of this event landed, most unfortunately, about six days after we moved to Seattle and 4 days after I started a new job.  With all of the driving, flying, packing, etc. it just ended up to be too much to justify yet another trip and all of the expenses that go along with it.  So, I did not RSVP and I did not go. 

Over the course of the weekend, I found myself thinking about my classmates, hometown and the reunion gathering with both sadness and a little regret.  Memories of fun times mingled with a certain odd and lingering melancholy.  Unable to put my finger on my nagging feelings, I've wrestled with a notion that stretches beyond mere interest in being part of the celebration and catching up with everyone.  Truth be told, many of the people from high school that I would want to keep in touch with, I already do via Facebook.  I don't like that I missed out, but this pain in my heart isn't really about that. 

No.  Mine seems to be much more of an existential angst.  A pull and tug between past and future and I'm living somewhere in the in-between.  My soul feels unsettled by all this new and different.  As humans, I'm convinced we are all moored to the familiar places and people we've grown close to and accustomed to.  Someone recently told me that it is our habits and routines that provide us with our self-identify.  What happens when we no longer have the known frame of reference and we have to carve a new set of rituals and routines?  An identity without an anchor is a tough, tough thing.  Then, it is followed by the pull of a history of who I once was.  The remembrances of past consciousness cuts jaggedly across the quest for a reinvention of sorts.  I'm not who I was.  I'm not yet who I want to be.  I am.  I'm not.  Who am I?

I realize this probably all reads like some crazy Nietzsche-type rambling.  I get it.  I also realize this too shall pass.  It is momentary and fleeting.  In two weeks, two months, two years, my ego will once again be intact, my soul once more anchored and my identity fully formed with fully ingrained habits and routines.  Ahh, relief.  To feel comfortable and whole.  But, with this wholeness comes the dull and itchy sense that discomfort leads to growth and self-discovery. Ok, and now I could pull in a whole Harry Potter reference of soul's in separation and cursed objects and well . . . I'll just end it there. 

Maybe this is the way it always goes.  The past remains in constant and continual battle with the future.  Both of them pull at you but is it possible to exist comfortably in both states at the same time?  

Enough Nietzschean angst for the night.  I need to go watch Entourage. 

My Bestest beyond all the Restest.

This is ghost/visiting writing Dee coming at you from the interwebs.....I know, I haven't written in a long, long while.

Ok, so this blog is supposed to be about "MY BESTS" and the truth is, I haven't even written about one of my BESTESTS BESTS!

My sister and I, like most siblings, have had our ups and downs. We have fought, made up, fought again, had differences of opinion, and had so many belly laughs along the way that it would be impossible to count them all...even if you had an abacus. It is hard to be a sister. I have surmised that it is probably the most complicated relationship in my life. We can be hard on eachother at times...but....there is so much love there. I don't think there is anyone in my family who has supported me more throughout my life than my sister has. She is the only one who has been with me through it all.

I was very sad to see her leave Minnesota. I don't think I told her that, but I should have. I should have sat her down and said that I didn't appreciate her enough when she was in close proximity to me. I should have told her that I wanted more laughs that make us pull over to the side of the road because we can't drive through the tears. I should have told her that the little things about her, like her nods of understanding during a long talk over a cup of coffee, mean the most to me. I guess I just always thought that she would be here ready to hang out whenever we could find a chance. Now that I have to hop a flight to see her and she is farther away from me....well, I get all welled up just thinking about what I haven't said to her.

Even though I will miss her, I am SO EXCITED for her next great adventure. She is doing what I want to do. She is doing what most people want to do in this life. She is throwing out her net into uncharted seas so she can discover what is there. She is taking a plunge (and she isn't even plugging her nose!) into the deep, looking for more. It is wonderful. It is brave. I am so very proud of her. I want her to find meaning and joy and adventure in this new life. I want everything for her that you can want for someone that you love so very much.

I want everything for her. EV-VER-EEEE-THING.

I am booking my ticket, Sweet Friend, for a long talk and a cup of coffee. I can't wait to see you again!

Road Trippin

Mr. Oz, lil doggy Ozy and I are road tripping to our new home this week.  We are taking a big step and moving to Seattle, WA.  Good-bye harsh Minnesota winters and hello drizzly and cloudy temperate climes.  The whole moving thing has been one interesting ride thus far and I'm sure it will only get more interesting as the days and weeks ahead.  But, as some of you can attest to given your personal proximity to me over the course of this past year . . . it was time for a change.  Life's far too short to live in "we should's" and "what if's."  Best to drink up life like water shooting out of a garden hose on full blast.  There have been several events in the recent months that have caused me to pause, take stock of my own happiness and reflect more deeply on who it is I am and who it is I want to be.  All of this soul searching has led me to a new path of exploration, personal growth and a strong desire to break out of my comfort zone.  While it will likely be challenging, I think it will also be liberating.  I think this quote/story from Wayne Dyer does a nice job of summing up some of my thoughts on the topic:

The Bushman in the Kalahari Desert talk about two "hungers."
There is the Great Hunger and there is the Little Hunger.
The Little Hunger wants food for the belly; but the Great Hunger,
the greatest hunger of all, is the hunger for meaning...
There's ultimately only one thing that makes human beings deeply and profoundly bitter,
and that is to have thrust upon them a life without meaning...
There is nothing wrong in searching for happiness...
But of far more comfort to the soul...is something greater than happiness
or unhappiness, and that is meaning. Because meaning transfigures all...
Once what you are doing has for you meaning, it is irrelevant whether you're happy
or unhappy. You are content—you are not alone in your Spirit—you belong.

— Sir Laurens van der Post from Hasten Slowly, a film by Mickey Lemle

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Wayne-Dyer-on-Ambition-with-Meaning#ixzz1TH9qSgJL

So, with that . . . off we go!  

The last few weeks have been crazy.  I left my job of 5+ years with a really awesome company and wonderful colleagues and friends.  I accepted a new job with another cool company working on a fun brand in a category that I absolutely love.  Mr. Oz and I got our home ready to put on the market, we took a house hunting trip and are in the midst of packing up for our journey to the Pacific Northwest.  Whew.  

As this blog is all about documenting My Bests, I guess I feel compelled to say that Minneapolis is certainly a big ole Best for me.  It is just a wonderful city filled with a relaxed and progressive vibe, great art, tasty food, beautiful scenery, hard-working and down to earth people and, well, I just love it.  It's tough to leave, but am hopeful that I will find another BEST in Seattle and can then lay claim to living in not one, but two, amazing cities.  Oh how I will miss this place.  Of course, I will continue my blogging adventures from my new locale and will include my new-found favorites and, if need be, my not so favorites.  

One really neat aspect of taking a long road trip is compiling the tunes and various audio books we plan to listen to on the 22 hour ride out.  Mr. Oz and I have sifted through many options for the perfect road trippin entertainment.  Here is what we have so far:

The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan -- some fantasy yummy with mystical creatures thrown in for good measure

Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell  -- Oh Sarah, you zany historian you.  

Unconditional Confidence: Instructions for Meeting Any Experience with Trust and Courage by Pema Chodron -- Pema is a Buddhist teacher who specializes in expanding consciousness through meditation and positive thought.  Seems perfect. 

Cryptonomicon by Neil Stephenson -- this is a sci-fi book that has been on my must read list for some time now but haven't gotten to it. 

I think we have plenty if you throw in a few podcasts here and there, but am open to other suggestions you might have.  Any others I should consider? 

Linchpin

I've been reading the book Linchpin by Seth Godin and find myself highlighting a lot of the passages.  So many pearls of wisdom . . . Seth writes a lot about the importance of being remarkable.  Work, he proclaims, should be the employee's "art."  It is about moving beyond mediocrity and investing more emotion.  It is about going well beyond just showing up and, instead, making waves.  Very inspiring stuff.  Here are just a few of the passages I've made not of so far:

"The cause of the suffering is the desire of organizations to turn employees into replaceable cogs in a vast machine.  The easier people are to replace, the less they need to be paid.  And so far, workers have been complicit in this commoditization.  This is your opportunity.  The indispensable employee brings humanity and connection and art to her organization.  She is the key player, the one who's difficult to live without, the person you can build something around."

"Consumers are not loyal to cheap commodities.  They crave the unique, the remarkable, and the human.  Sure, you can always succeed for a while with the cheapest, but you earn your place in the market with humanity and leadership.  It's certainly possible for a shopper to buy food more cheaply than they sell it at Trader Joe's.  But Trader's keeps growing, because the combination of engaged employees, cutting edge products and fun brings people back.  Even people trying to save a buck.  The cheap strategy doesn't scale very well, so the only way to succeed is to add value by amplifying the network and giving workers a platform, not by forcing them to pretend to be machines.  The fickle nature of price-shopping consumers is bad news for many companies, the companies that tried to be the cheap at all costs, because now they must figure out how to make a profit from expensive, unique disobedient employees.  Those are the only two choices.  Win by being more ordinary, more standard and cheaper.  Or win by being faster, more remarkable and more human."

I like the idea of our own humanity pushing us to deeper connection not only with those around us, but also with our own sense of purpose in our professional lives.  Thank you Seth. 

Authentic Narrative

Just because I like this . . . 

“Story is the underlying basis for our lives—the underpinning that guides our actions,” says futurist Duane Elgin, author of Awakening Earth. “Authentic narratives empower us to see the big picture of the human journey and a clear pathway ahead. Instead of a time of despair, this is a time of transition and there are ‘beacons of hope’ drawing us into a promising future. 

Language Revolution Yo

Language is a living thing.  It morphs and bends, builds and undulates.  New words are born and some words die.  Some are twisted to work in different ways, in completely unique forms and uses.  With this in mind, I'm determined to be a language revolutionist.  My quest -- to spark a wave not unlike the bouncing beach ball wave that happens in stadiums during large sporting events.  I want to identify a new word that takes off and alters the very fabric of society.  Seriously.  This is my dream. 

I will, from time to time, try out my new words on y'all.   While I want your feedback, what I REALLY want is for all of you to adopt my new language and spread it far and wide.  I want to hear it on the streets and on t.v.  I want Matt Lauer to use it on the Today Show and Tre Park and Matt Stone to include it in an episode of Southpark.  C'mon.  We can do this!  Inventing language . .  yipee.  

OK, so here are a few for you to chew on.  

Glug.  Not a new word, I know.  But consider using it in a different way . . . as a noun.  So, when you go to the 7-Eleven and get a Big Gulp or you buy one of those 24 ounce sodas.  That is called a Glug.  Used in a sentence, "I drank a whole glug of that Dr. Pepper this afternoon and now I have to pee."  Glug as a noun is an awesome word.  

Maybe it would be more palatable if I put it into a bigger context?

Walking into a coffee shop, I approach the counter and order.

Me:  "Hi, I'd like a glug of non-fat latte with hazelnut please?"

Coffee shop employee:  "What?  Excuse me?  You want what?"

Me:  "A glug . . . you know, the biggest size you've got.  The kind of drink you can just chug and glug." 

Coffee shop employee:  "Ahhh, yes.  A glug.  Got it.  I will now change my menu and call our large size, a glug."  

Me:  "Thanks!"

You in?  

Here's another one.  We've all heard of a Blackberry, right?  Not the fruit.  The smart phone thingy that business-people types use to send emails and check stock reports and stuff.  Of course, some refer to the Blackberry as a crackberry due to users' seeming addiction to the technology and instant access.  I see your crackberry and raise you a Dingleberry.  We need to start referring to Blackberrys as Dingleberrys people.  I won't go into all my reasons why, but I think it works.  It hangs.  It dangles.  It dingles.  It's like that thing you can't shake. 

Thank you for your consideration.  Remember, you heard it hear first.  

My business cards with new title of "Language Revolutionist" will soon be printed. 

Apparently Australians Are Known for Their Licorice

Did you know that Aussie's are really good at making licorice?  I wasn't aware of this until very recently when I was out doing some shopping with my friend J-Hawk.  She bought a bag of some "fancy" licorice and offered me a sample.  OMG.  It was divine . . . intense fruity smell, soft and pliable texture, flavorful burst of strawberry in my mouth.  My interest was piqued.  I grabbed the bag and saw it claimed to be the finest of Australian licorice.  Now, I know the Aussie's are great at many things including Olympic swimming, Crocodile hunting and throwing shrimps on the barbie.  I had never heard of their prowess at making confections and sweet treats. 

My favorite brands, thus far, are Kookaburra and Darrell Lea.  In my research, I found that Darrell Lea has been making licorice since 1927 AND it is fat free and low in salt.  See below for excerpt from online review in case you don't believe me: 

Since 1927, Darrell Lea has been creating delicious and unique soft eating liquorice for Australians. The finest ingredients are combined to produce a soft treat that is 98% fat free and low in salt. Liquorice, with its nourishing qualities, is great to enjoy any occasion and Darrell Lea soft eating liquorice is best enjoyed straight from the bag.

Hey, it has nourishing qualities.  Yeah it does.  

I absolutely love discovering things like this.  Makes me feel like I'm on the cutting edge . . . a trendsetter who is way "in the know."  Unfortunately now I am addicted to the stuff.  Every time I go to the store, I look for this delightful Australian licorice. I have a stash at my desk at work, in my car and at home.  Word must be getting out and sales must be up as I've seen more and more stores carry the candy.  However, the down side of this is also more out-of-stocks.  Just today I was in Target and where there were once six facings of Darrell Lea licorice, all I saw was empty space.  Target was completely OUT.  Gone.  None.  What did I find instead?  Market Pantry 'Aussie-style chewy candy.'  Target is making their own Australian licorice, er, "Aussie style."  It's not really Australian you see.  It only pretends to be.  Poser.  

Ok, Ok.  I bought it.  It tastes good.  Dammit. 

Oh and Wiley Wallaby also makes an Australian Style licorice.  Also tasty, but manufactured in Perham, MN.  

If I worked for Twizzler, I'd be looking into the secrets of Aussie licorice making ASAP.  Those Aussie's must be stealing share. Who knew the licorice category could be so competitive?

Thank you Australia.  I salute you.