FROM THE WINDING BACKROADS
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TheCowsSayHello | GREETINGS FROM THE WINDING BACKROADS |
| Issue 1 June 2006 |
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When I was a kid, I used to look forward to every Saturday at 12noon. The cartoons would be over. (All evil overlords defeated). The "video clips" would be over. (The world was safe from gold lame for another seven days). And I'd set myself up with my meatpie in front of the teev and enter my Saturday-lunchtime-perfect-world. As I'd shift into my Saturday reality, I would join an eclectic band of travellers whose mission it was to "seek out new life" and "boldly go where no man has gone before". Materially and socially, the voyagers on the Starship Enterprise had it all (technology to die for and advanced cultural and racial harmony - as long as the boss was a white human male). But to my delicately forming eight-year-old mind, they embodied "life is about the journey" more poignantly than any self-help book I've read. So I invite you to join me on this journey. Slip off the superhighway to success for a moment to explore the winding backroads. Come smell the flowers [ahh beauty]. Come smell the coffee [ahh waking up]. Feel the grass under your feet and come talk with the cows. You never know who you may discover.
The Cows Say Hello JUNE The past month has been about... four-hour work days... calmness, stillness, peace... balancing the enthusiast and the critic...writing...business action groups...writing... conversations and stories...being home...new businesses getting legs.... rediscovering Jeanette Winterson... keeping the flow... planting the winter vegie garden...
The Cows Say Hello QUOTE "It's only through another person that you discover who you are." Jeanette Winterson I've been pondering this one lately. What do you think?
The Cows Say Hello LIFE About four years ago, in the first edition of my first ezine I wrote about an amazing woman I'd met called Barbara Brewster. (You can read what I wrote about Barbara in that first edition of zC3 Zine here). I didn't know it at the time but this experience was instrumental in my moving to the Sunshine Coast (rather than my northern NSW destination of choice). And in saying yes to the opportunity offered me at the time, a whole new world opened up. So it is with a wry grin that I have to tell you that after three and half years I caught up with Barbara in this past week. She was presenting at a local business women's breakfast, and again, she was saying exactly what I needed to hear. Laughter, playfulness, spontaneity, living the fullness of our lives - this is what it's all about. Barbara's got a couple of workshops happening on the Sunshine Coast over the next month or so - "Power of Play" and "Rambunctious Writing". And her new book is due out shortly as well. You can check out all the details at http://www.barbarabrewster.com
The Cows Say Hello WORK? Apparently, we have just celebrated (?) 150 years of the eight-hour-day. Along with not sending children down the mines, our evolved society has bestowed the "norm" of a sub-forty hour working week. (Unless you run your own business, work multiple casual jobs, or worship at the shrine of workaholism). Well I thought it was time to lower the bar in this workday limbo. No more eight hour days for this chick. It's four hours a day or nothing. And in its "introductory period" this new working arrangement has seen a few "nothing" days. You see, it's actually been a little bit more challenging than turning off the computer at lunchtime. Admittedly there are Ellen and Oprah encouraging me in my new lifestyle from the little black box in the lounge room, but geez I've had to learn to speed read email. It's either that or unsubscribe from the thousand mailing lists I'm on. But it seems to be working. I'm definitely getting a whole lot more done. (Yeah, go figure!). And while Caro claims she is jealous, she admits that she is impressed by my newfound focus and results (and the variety of household tasks that now get done in my siesta time). But seriously, what the "four hour day" has opened up for me is the space to think, to create, to let things incubate - and from this space passion, enthusiasm, clarity, and a certain peace have emerged. Go the "four hour day"!
Living in a material world? Book me in... Most of you know that I used to own a bookshop. And strangely, I still love books. And even stranger still, I have a lot of them. And so it's come to pass that our household has been crying out for more bookshelves for ooh, about three years (since we moved to the coast really). And the "bookshelf" plan has changed over the years from crafted wooden displays to cheap-as-chips-lets-just-get-them-off-the-floor options through to the current plan. Which is ... me making them. I've got the plans. I know what I need. I've run the logistics past "he who knows how things hang together". I really just have to do it. But, the project sits, as they say, on the drawing board.
Well, imagine my delight when I found this homage to the reader, the Bibliochaise, (designed by photographer, Richard Avedon, and produced by Italian design co, Nobody and Co) ... Of course it doesn't invite you to sit... but its unexpected function (and let's admit it, its Japanese design aesthetics) make me want to gaze upon it for hours... I have to make it... wish me luck...
The Cows Say Hello MOOSIK Aah... Kate Bush returns Kate Bush is one of those artists whose music has intersected with my life at significant points. Whether it's the wistful 17-year-old calling out for Heathcliff in her classic Wuthering Heights or simply the driving tempo of Running Up That Hill, I like Kate. Admittedly, she's gone through periods that even I've backed away from slowly, going "Ooh, a bit weird", but overall it's been a good relationship. Then this recently released double CD - Aerial - came into my life. And has been played, and played, and played. It's beautiful, uplifting, moving, wise. It's a driving CD as well as a working CD as well as a at-home CD. I would never believed that I could get engrossed in a tune about Pi - yes 3.14... Pi. Mathematics, the mundane, life. It's all here. Who else could use a washine machine as a metaphor for human relationships? Splishy Sploshy? Yes. Wishy washy? No. Give it a few listens (and it may take a couple) and let me know what you reckon.
The Cows Say Hello FILIM Trashy Thursday with The Queen Like Whoopi Goldberg before her, Queen Latifah is my "right-on black woman idol" whose movies I always watch. Unfortunately my enthusiasm for the former queen of rap, now bankable actor, doesn't always match the, um, quality of the films in which she stars. At the moment she's at balance point with me: Chicago, Bringin Down the House and Set It Off make up for having to endure Taxi and Beauty Shop (and a whole host of others she's had minor roles in). So... on the basis of a two-for-one offer I dragged Caro to see her latest, Last Holiday for our Trashy Thursday Film. And ... what? ... well... I had a lot of "sheepish grinning" to do upon exiting the theatre. Oh well. It had it's moments. My fellow life coaches will LOVE it. Why? Because it's all about a woman who lives her life in a box, finds out she's not long for this world and goes and lives it up (and in the process finds out what's really important to her - awww!). (And it's not darned depressing and sad like that "My Life Without Me".) So, final analysis: I thought it was an okay way to spend a couple of hours.
The Cows Say Hello FOOOOD Bakin' in the bush - Brownie fever
Oh, and I can recommend these, slightly warmed and with ice-cream. As Homer would say, "Arrrrgggglllll". (or something like it)
The Cows Say Hello SENSEI Sensei Sez: Words from the
wise kitty [in haiku] It is very big
The Cows Say TOODLE-PIP Winter's
here. (It was 2.5 degrees here last week. What is with that??) Until
next month... ps the cows say hello!
The Cows Say Hello is published monthly by Trish Weston. The Cows Say Hello’s objective is to share a little bit of the hoopla of amazing stuff that comes into my world while I'm out here talkin to the cows. The Cows Say Hello is written and collated by Trish Weston. Everything in it is her opinion, with a smattering of facts to make it hold together. If you have any suggestions or comments please feel free to email trish@worklifedesign.com.au If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe, please go http://www.worklifedesign.com.au/ezines.htm ©
Copyright 2006 moo |
