Voluntary Simplicity: concluded

I never concluded with my favorite quotes from the Voluntary Simplicity book by NWEI so here they are:

Chapter 5: Living Simply on Earth

“Most of us get almost all the things we need by buying them; most of us know only vaguely, if at all, where those things come from; and most of us know not at all what damage is involved in their production. We are almost entirely dependent upon an economy  of which we are almost entirely ignorant. … To build houses here, we clear-cut forests there. To have air conditioning here, we strip mine the mountains there.  To drive our cars here, we sink our oil wells there. It is an absentee economy.”

This quote may come off as very pessimistic. What are we supposed to do? But I think it’s worse to be in denial or ignorant than to feel the weight of our problems. By paying attention to the consequences of our actions and our purchases, we can start down the path to being more responsible, one step at a time. I heard recently that there’s a patch of garbage floating out in the Pacific Ocean that is the size of Texas! It can be seen from space! The way we’re consuming and using resources clearly has its effect. Something’s got to change.

“I suggest that each of us strive to fall in love with our own daily life. If we are not loving the life we live, we need to change it, right now, today.”

This quote stood out to me as well. I often focus on having a meaningful life in the grand-scheme-of-things way: my career, big accomplishments, changing the world. But here it says to fall in love with your “daily life.” One thing this series of readings reminds me to do is find joy in the little things, in the journeys, in the time between big accomplishments, in daily life. I confess I am not always in love with my daily life because I’m too focused on the future or I don’t use my time wisely. How much fuller could my life be if I had more appreciation for what would otherwise seem ordinary? If I didn’t zone out on the way to my “next thing”? And I like how no-nonsense this author is if you aren’t in love with your daily life: Change it. Right now. No excuses. Life is too short to wait for circumstances. So that’s something I will be working on is making those changes in my attitude and my day-to-day activities so that I can truly say I am in love with my own daily life.

Work in Progress

By most people’s standards I’m pretty easy going and laid back.  However, due to life circumstances and happenstances like moving, and doing a workout challenge, being intentional about gift-giving, learning how to be a better husband, my natural tendency to be a people pleaser and accommodator, and my God given personality of being sensitive and emotional, there tends to be seasons (such as now) in which am confronted head on with the things I think of as weaknesses (or things I would like to work on myself personally). Specifically I have come to see that when pressed with a deadline or thinking that I am caring or thinking of others, I often find myself to be inflexible with my own plans or way of doing something, or, on the flip side, I just give up completely and don’t follow through. A good example of this is my theory on how to answer calls on my cell phone.

If you have ever called me you might have realized that I don’t answer the phone as often as I probably should or would like to. The reason for this is not that I don’t want to talk to you, it’s just that I hate answering the phone and not being able to give my full attention or devote my time to that person calling (I know, the people pleaser in me). I believe that if it’s extremely important they will either leave a message or call back again immediately.  My intention is to call the person back when I have the time to have a solid conversation with someone. Of course I know this logic is flawed, extremely flawed, especially when I mean to call someone back after they left a message and I don’t for awhile saying that, “I couldn’t find the time”. Again, this a good illustration of me not changing my way of thinking, and of course not being a good person by calling people back sooner.

Of course since my life also seems to play out in themes. P90X (which, for whatever odd reason, I decided to start during the holiday season) has also been a perfect compliment in my life to help me to see that I need to continue to work on these areas. As I mentioned in previous updates, part of the struggle with p90x is keeping up the motivation to continue, especially when you are stressed and tired. But it was a challenge that I undertook, that I agreed to, and on the days that I don’t want to work out, it is so easy and tempting to just not. Sometimes, I will also find myself giving up in exercises rather than putting more effort into it.  As my aunt said to me recently, “Actions speak louder than words” and while I agree with this, actually doing what you say you are going to do is not necessarily easy, for anyone.

So here is my gift to my friends and family this Christmas: I am going to continue to work hard to answer my phone and return calls in a prompt fashion. I’m going to honor important relationships with love and with flexibility, meaning: being willing to grow and let people encourage and support me, even if it is difficult. But most importantly, I will not let myself give in to complacency and the perception that this “work in progress” (thanks to Gwyneth for this title) is for show. Instead I will use this time in my life as a real opportunity to honor the gifts, blessings, and people God has given me by being authentically and truthfully me, even if that means it will take some time.

On another note, one thing that we have completed is operation “Move the Changs”. We have moved from our friends’ house (whom we will miss) to a small, fun, and manageable apartment in North Portland. For pictures of the craziness that was this weekend, see the before and after pictures below:

Advent Conspiracy

As Christmas approaches, we want to share these videos from adventconspiracy.org, which played an important role in changing our perspective on Christmas giving.  It’s about spending less but giving MORE.  More relationally, more meaningfully, more intentionally.  Here’s what Advent Conspiracy says:

“The story of Christ’s birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.

So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists.

And when it’s all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas?

What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?

Welcome to Advent Conspiracy.”

“Time is the real gift Christmas offers us, and no matter how hard we look, it can’t be found at the mall. Time to make a gift that turns into the next family heirloom. Time to write mom a letter. Time to take the kids sledding. Time to bake really good cookies and sing really bad Christmas carols. Time to make love visible through relational giving. Sounds a lot better than getting a sweater two sizes too big, right? Need a few ideas? Just click here and see what others have done to give more during the advent season.”

Day 27: Update and Results

My results after 27 days:

Well everyone, the streak is alive at 27 and nearly 1/3 of the way completed with my P90X challenge and I’m excited to share that the results so far look as good if not better than the picture above. Of course I’m just joking, but not really, well..I don’t look like Bruce Lee and don’t imagine that I will after the challenge is done, however, I wanted to share two pictures that show some results in the area of flexibility:

Before the start of the challenge:                            Day 27 of the challenge:

Now my goal is not necessarily to become more flexible, but this is a huge perk and I’m sure that this will be good for me in the future.

This past week has been the extremely difficult. While it’s been great to see and feel some results, waking up at 5am to work out is taking its toll. I’m finding that its hard to wake up (especially with the cold winter settling in) and by mid-day I am crashing (specifically around 2:30pm).

While sleep is an important factor of success, I’m also starting to notice that diet plays a big role in our health, (duh!) especially when doing a program like this. I haven’t really changed my eating habits or really know what I should be doing (I’d welcome any advice). I don’t think I’m getting enough protein, I think I’m still eating to much sugar and fats (love my fries), and probably not drinking enough water as I should. Again, my results is not to lose tons of weight or to become a body builder. However, I wonder what my results would be if I changed my diet (I guess there’s still 60 days too).

I noticed that my motivation this week was severely tested. As you become stronger, more flexible, and more comfortable with exercises, I have found that it is difficult to increase intensity and easy to find ways to cheat your way through exercises that you know will be difficult. There’s a temptation to go through the motions but more importantly, avoid the hurt or discomfort, but its important to fight through this in order to be successful. To just be complacent, to not work hard is essentially giving up which defeats the whole purpose of the challenge and actually hurts me in the long run. It teaches me that it’s ok to be lazy. It’s one thing to stop if you tried to work hard and you cannot do it. It’s another thing to not try or intentionally give up.

Overall, I’m pretty stoked that I’ve completed an entire month, a little overwhelmed thinking that there is still two months to go. Yet, I am encouraged by little victories like being able to stretch down to the floor, able to wake up at 5 in the morning when the weather is below 32 degrees, and working out especially on the days (and there are many) when I don’t feel like it. I am thankful for Michelle for waking up early to exercise with me or  the way she speak words of encouragement to me when I wake up. But most of all, I’m just glad that I haven’t given up because again, if you know (the old) me, doing something-anything- intentionally for even a couple of consecutive days is a challenge, let alone 27 days….

For this week: Core, Cardio, Chest-Shoulders-Triceps-Ab Ripper, Yoga, Legs-Back Ab Ripper, Kenpo, Stretch

Thanks everyone for the encouragement.

A Long Overdue Post

I was struggling last night working on a post about being thankful. I looked over the words and felt sick and uninspired by my written garbage. To be honest, I just felt it wasn’t very truthful and it wasn’t very me.

We just watched the movie “Julie and Julia” (a movie I didn’t think I would like so much) that shared the lives of two remarkable women. I was impressed by their stories (won’t spoil the movie) that in good times or bad, we must be who we are, do what we love, and above all, do what my dad has always said to me, “Just be thankful.”

I left the movie reflecting and convicted that often, I am not as grateful for the life I have as I should be. I wonder if I tell and show the people who are most important to me that I love them enough, I wonder if they know. I wonder about the people who I haven’t spoken to in years, or loved ones that have passed on, whether or not they knew how much they mean to me. Of course I also think about those that have also hurt me, whether they knew or not, if they know how much they affected my life, the memories I cannot forget, the forgiveness that was hard to find. And finally, I think of those that I have hurt, and whether they know how sorry I am, whether I meant to hurt them or not.

Yet, I am constantly reminded by others and God that in my life, that all of it, the good and the difficult, is my life. Each hurtful comment, each hug of support, each difficult choice, each hair on my head lost, each treasured and also painful memory makes me who I am, and while there is a lot I am not proud of, I do find hope in where I am now and I truly am thankful for my life and the people in it.

I want my Dad’s words of “Just be thankful,” to be my mantra and life goal. I think of the other movie I saw today, “UP”, (it’s vacation….you are allowed two movies on vacation). I am deeply touched how they showed that no matter how painful it is to lose someone you love, that the gift is to treasure every single moment.

Thank you God for the life I have lived so far, please help me to be thankful for all of it, and for whatever is to come. Please help me to be thankful and show my gratitude everyday for those that I love and for those that are difficult to love. Thank you for movies like “Julie and Julia” and “UP”, and thank you for making me, me.

I leave you with one of my favorite poems that truly speaks to me about who I am, and what I would say if someone wanted to know about me.  Thanks William.

 

Ask Me

Some time when the river is ice ask me

mistakes I have made. Ask me whether

what I have done is my life. Others

have come in their slow way into

my thought, and some have tried to help

or to hurt: ask me what difference

their strongest love or hate has made.

 

I will listen to what you say.

You and I can turn and look

at the silent river and wait. We know

the current is there, hidden; and there

are comings and goings from miles away

that hold the stillness exactly before us.

What the river says, that is what I say.

-William Stafford

 

ps. I really appreciate everyone’s support with my P90X challenge. Day 19 and still going strong… J

Making A Living: Voluntary Simplicity cont.

Chapter 3: Making A Living

“We must take time to dress for our jobs, commute to our jobs, think about our jobs at work and at home, ‘decompress’ from our jobs.  We must spend our evenings and weekends in mindless ‘escape entertainment’ in order to ‘recreate’ from our jobs.”

“How many people have you seen who are more alive at the end of the work day than they were at the beginning?”

“For most human history people only worked for two or three hours per day.”

“We’ve begun to lose the fabric of family, culture, and community that gave meaning to life outside the workplace. … Because life outside the workplace has lost vitality and meaning, work has ceased being a means to an end [financial support] and become an end in itself. … Our jobs now serve the function that traditionally  belonged to religion: they are the place where we seek answers to the perennial questions: ‘Who am I?’ and ‘Why am I here?’ and ‘What’s it all for?’”

“Having the financial independence to walk away rarely triggers people to do just that.  The reality is, making money is such hard work that it changes you.  It takes twice as long as anyone plans for. It requires more sacrifices than anyone expects. You become so emotionally invested in that world- and psychologically adapted to it- that you don’t really want to ditch it.”

There is this paradox between not letting your job be the center of your life and finding a job that you “come alive” doing.  With the amount of time we spend at our jobs (see first quote), it seems we should find something we truly enjoy doing.  But at the same time, our jobs aren’t necessarily supposed to be the one source of our satisfaction, nor the source of our identity- they’re a means for us to enjoy the rest of our life (assuming we have time and energy left to enjoy it).  I found a lot of “food for thought” in this chapter, and I welcome your comments and reflections.

Time: Voluntary Simplicity cont.

Chapter 4: Do  You Have the Time?

“Our task is to balance the many roles we play and refrain from volunteering to understudy everybody else’s.  It can be tough to say no, especially to causes we recognize as worthy.  The goal is to realize that, since we can’t help with everything, our time and stamina need to go into what truly speaks to our hearts.”

“The time you spend preserving your health  is like time invested in a savings account: you’ll get it back plus interest.”

“How much time do you choose to spend with electronic companionship?” (i.e. TV, internet, video games)

“If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have dessert and a cup of tea, I will be equally incapable of doing these things joyfully. With the cup in my hands, I will be thinking about what to do next, and the fragrance and flavor of the tea, together with the pleasure of drinking it, will be lost. I will always be dragged into the future, never able to live in the present moment. The time of dish-washing is as important as the time of meditation.”

Time is an interesting subject for all of us, I think.  As someone who is “a planner” and an “achiever,” I am constantly spending my thoughts on the future.  Pushing forward,  working toward, planning ahead. It’s a struggle to be present to the moment I’m in. Our time is such a precious thing because it passes without hesitation, like a strong current, and it doesn’t come back. Am I spending my limited time on what I’m passionate about? Am I using my limited time to invest in meaningful relationships or in TV shows? Am I joyful with what I’m doing now or am I always looking to the next thing?

“The Challenge” Update: Review of Week 1

They say that after doing P90X for 90 days that you’ll be in shape to climb  Mt. Everest. Great. While I doubt that is true, it still sounds cool. That’s definitely not the goal though. Anyways, week 1 has come and gone, still feeling good, and still able to get up early to work out. Here’s some thoughts after the week:

1. It is kind of a luxury to “work out” –  To find the time to work out is difficult, especially if you are working a typical 8-5. You either have to work out before or after work and depending on your commute and other commitments, this can be tough.

2. Set realistic goals – For many of the work outs I can’t do each exercise. In fact I have to take many breaks while the people on the video plow through. I think the most important thing I learned from Michelle is to not give up and just jump back in when you can. I’ve often just given up but this week, knowing I have 83 more days to go, I just have to believe that you start slow and get better and better.

3. Results are slow and steady – I keep asking Michelle if she sees any noticeable results to which of course she just laughs. I’ve only done 7 days (not to mention haven’t changed too much of my eating habits). What do I expect to see??? I will tell you this though, I feel stronger, more flexible, and overall just better in general. I’m hurting on the days after but I just see that as a sign that I’m working decently hard enough.

4. Yoga, totally sucks and is super awesome all at the same time – I would like to apologize to all the people I made fun of for doing Yoga. It’s the hardest part of the program and probably one of the most beneficial. If you haven’t tried any type of Yoga, I strongly suggest it.

Well….7 days down, 83 days to go. Thanks for the encouragement and support, especially to those of you who understand that by 9pm these days I’m wiped and not going to be a good contributing member of society at that point. If you are following along with the P90x schedule, note that it’s the same as last week

Voluntary Simplicity

This is the title of a short discussion course by the Northwest Earth Institute I recently got to participate in with some college students.  Even if you can’t participate in a discussion group at some point, I highly recommend the reading materials for Voluntary Simplicity (which you can order off their website). I can’t think of a better way to express the things I’ve learned from this course than offering a few quotes from the book to speak for themselves.

Chapter 1: The Meaning of Simplicity

“Simple living is about making deliberately thoughtful choices. The difference is that you are fully aware of why you are living your particular life, and that life is one you have chosen thoughtfully.”

“Life is occupied in both perpetuating itself and surpassing itself; if all it does is maintain itself, then living is only not dying.” Simone de Beauvoir

Chapter 2: Living More With Less

“Americans today [compared to the 1950's] own about twice as many cars per person, eat out more than twice as often, and commonly enjoy big screen color TVs, microwave ovens, home computers, air conditioning, Post-it notes, and gobs of other goodies. Materially, these are the best of times. … Since 1957, the number of Americans who say they are ‘very happy’ has declined slightly, from 35 to 30 percent. We are twice as rich and no happier. Meanwhile, the divorce rate has doubled, the teen suicide rate has more than doubled, and increasingly our teens and young adults are plagued by depression.  … We were excelling at making a living but too often failing at making a life. We celebrated our prosperity but yearned for purpose.”

To be continued…

The Challenge (P90X)

For many of you who know me, you know that I am an idea guy. While some of my ideas are pretty creative (at least I think they are) and some might be considered good or even great, I do have a pretty good streak of idiotic or crazy ideas. This “Challenge” is probably one of them.

What is the “Challenge”?: Starting Monday, November 9th 2009 to Monday, February 7th, 2010 I will be doing the lean version of the P90X workout plan. Essentially, everyday, I am committing to workout for about an hour a day. Many of you might be thinking, “Meh, what’s so hard about that?” For you, maybe not so hard, for me, definitely a challenge:

1. Time: Many people don’t work out, simply because of time…an hour a day (at least) is a pretty big commitment. With commuting each morning, work, and then weekends usually busy, just finding some down time is a struggle already. Finding the time to work out, to add another hour of committed time is going to be difficult. Right now, it’s looking like early morning workouts or right after dinner….

2. Motivation: I wish I could just say that I would like to be healthy. Sadly, that’s not good enough motivation for me. It should be. It isn’t. For this challenge, Michelle and I have put into place personal incentive to motivate me. Of course, proving to myself that this is something I can accomplish is huge (remember, I couldn’t even do my pushups and situps challenge everyday for a month). Finally, the health and looks benefit is icing on the cake (I’m hoping after this I’ll feel and look better) .

3. Finally, the “Challenge” is a test of discipline, which most of you know is something that I lack. As an idea person, when one idea fails, you just think of something else to replace it. I never really thought that I had a problem, but after meeting, falling in love, and marrying an amazing woman who thrives on discipline, it dawned on me (another idea/thought) that maybe there was a lot to life that I was missing out on simply because I never followed through, I didn’t take the right approach, or simply, I just gave up. As a team we were able to finish two half-marathons in the last two years, feats that I never thought, ever, that I could accomplish or do (in the years prior, the longest run I did was a mile and a half in high school).

So, I could really use your support during these next couple of months. Hold me accountable, ask me how I am doing. I promise you, we will post results. Heck, if you have P90x and want to do the program with me, here is what the first three weeks look like:

Monday: Core

Tuesday: Cardio

Wednesday: Shoulders and Arms, Ab Ripper

Thursday: Yoga X

Friday: Legs and Back, Ab Ripper

Saturday: Kenpo

Sunday: Stretch

For those of you who don’t have it, you can search for it on You Tube, get a copy, or even just commit to working out each day for 90 days. Either way, the “Challenge” (really not as dramatic as I am making it) has begun….