Well, and now back to the books!

As I was saying a few posts ago, I came across two books during my week off, one called Finding Sanctuary and the other, the Four Hour Work Week. I said that there were similarities between them which might seem odd since one is about monastic steps for everyday life, and the other about escaping the 9-5 world. However, both have in common a philosophy for simplifying our lifestyles in order to decrease stress and get greater satisfaction from our lives.

When Cliff and I first went to Othona it was to get away from it all with a vague nod to spirituality. We were both very stressed out. It was very easy to blame it on our jobs and the lifestyle here in southern England but in Finding Sanctuary, Abbot Jamison asks the question, 'Why have you allowed yourself to get into this state.' It's very easy to dismiss that question. How could it be me? I don't want to live like this. Then again, I do and did have choices and I can find another way to live and yes, I suppose after much denial, I have to admit that I got in this mess all by myself!

(To be continued!)

Before I talk about books...baby bedroom photos!

Three Cheers

Three cheers! Tonight, I finally hit 4.3 on my blood sugar level. Nothing else to say really. I do intend to write more about the two books that I read over my break. I'll also write about my two new cats!

Two Books that have prompted me to changes

I suppose that it is rare that a book changes your life. It is more likely that you were ready for the change and the book just gave you a little push. In the last two weeks, I have had two pushes from books I have read. In a way the two books are similar. The first I discovered at Othona during our 5 day visit this week. I was in the library trying to avoid writing, when my attention was caught by Finding Sanctuary: monastic steps for everyday life by Abbot Christopher Jamison. A few years ago there was TV series in the UK which followed 5 men who entered Worth Abbey for 40 days and 40 nights of living the monastic life. I never watched it but I heard good things about it and I have always been interested to know more. Worth Abbey is Benedictine and about three years ago I followed a bible study book about the rule of St. Benedict. So, I imagine that I was predisposed to be interested in this book. I won't go into the details today of how it affected me but I will say that it has given me pause to reflect on the stresses of life and how to obtain real sanctuary from them.
The second book is called 'The Four Hour Work Week' by Timothy Ferriss. If you had the chance to look at the YouTube video of the interview with a banker (from the Southbank Show) in a previous post, you might also have followed the link to the blog where I found it. Timothy Ferriss is the author of this blog which I initially looked at because he had some interesting things to say about learning language. As it turns out, he has interesting things to say about a lot of other subjects as well.
What do these two books have in common for me? Ah well, more of that tomorrow!

The Credit Crunch

I found a very interesting blog today while looking for information on deconstructing language to help students have a better understanding of how a language works. It's called www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog and on it I discovered this video about the credit crunch. It's interesting that this skit from the Southbank Show should have been recorded over 6 months ago! Funny and worrying at the same time!

To a baby shower and back

It's heartening to know that in our increasingly anti-child world of the United Kingdom, women continue to gather together to give each other support at one of the most wondrous but equally anxiety creating moments of our lives. I've just come home from Wales where I went to shower for Naomi (our oldest daughter who is about to have a baby). I don't think showers are all that common in this country (or in Wales either) but as with other things North American they are increasing in popularity.

A year ago I might have said that a 'shower' had out lived its origins in the wilderness, pioneer days of the United States and Canada. The west has become so materially wealthy that you might think twice about passing on used baby clothes, equipment or toys. In fact, a friend of mine and his partner had twins about two years ago. When she was given second hand toys, she sent them to Oxfam. In the present economic climate, that might not have happened. People are again seeing the value in sharing, re-using and making do. I don't know whether nor not people will see this as a positive thing or just as a blip in life. However, there will be those who realize the importance of reducing our impact on the world. We don't need to be greedy. Happiness only comes from possessions when our lives are otherwise empty. That doesn't mean that we should live totally without in order to find fulfillment but we can find a sustainable balance.

How off track I have gone from the shower! It was fun to be there with several new mothers, three who might one day become mothers and three who were now grandmothers (or about to be...me). I don't know if 'fun' is the right word but it will do for now. We shared food, played a few games (part of the bonding process, I suppose) and talked about having babies through the ages! Naomi now has some tips, which she will probably forget and have to be reminded of later, and some lovely presents. She is also probably beginning to realize that for the next little while, the baby will be the star attraction in her life.

Some things are hard to give up!

I don't eat biscuits anymore. Actually, I didn't eat that many before but it was nice to have one of an evening with a cup of tea! Last night I came home from work and made myself a cup of tea. I was suddenly overcome by the overwhelming desire to have a biscuit. I thought, why not have one? It would just be one and I have been a very good girl! No, stop, I thought, as I started to open the package. You're not even hungry! And think what you'd be putting into your body! Do you really want to do this. Well, actually I did but I also realized that what I missed most about biscuits was their flavour! Perhaps, I thought, you could just smell one of the biscuits and then lick it. Disgusted with myself, I put the package back in the cupboard, took my tea in hand and left that evil place. Sigh!