Inspiration and the pursuit of happiness

There is no possible way that you won't be inspired by the art in Maira Kalman's blog entry for today.

Just let it all out

Sometimes, you just need to vent.  Preferably, in Finnish.



If you prefer English, and/or are from Chicago:

Creative Dining: Idiot-Proof Onion Chutney

1 large onion, finely minced
1 teaspoon or more of regular or smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon (or to taste) of chili powder or cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
few dashes of Tabasco sauce
juice of one lemon

Combine all ingredients and let sit for thirty minutes, or overnight, to allow flavors to blend.  Serve as a condiment with Indian dishes.  This is particularly good with samosas, naan bread, rice, and to add extra flavor to curries.

How to: change your mindset to succeed with BIG projects

What is a 'BIG' project?
Anything new that feels overwhelmingly, stomach-twistingly, try-not-to-look-it-in-the-eye BIG to you: learning a new language, sorting out your finances, writing a dissertation, raising a child, trying a new sport, losing weight, ending a relationship, moving to a new city, and so on.

If you are working on a BIG project, sometimes you run into obstacles but feel you can't talk about them because:

a) you are afraid people might discover you are a fraud
b) you feel like you are supposed to know how to solve those problems
c) asking for help is a sign of weakness and failure
d) at your age you should already know how to do that
e) other people don't seem to need help
f) any other reason that basically amounts to showing vulnerability

A BIG project feels like if you stop doing it for even one moment, then your progress will stall, but if you do need to stop and rest for a moment then you feel guilty. But at the same time, you might sometimes procrastinate and avoid doing it because it is HARD and frightening and new, which just fuels a nasty cycle of guilt, exhaustion and resentment. Yet you still need to get it done - maybe your career or your life literally depend on it.  How on earth do you deal with that?

According to Drs. Karen Shue and Carol Dweck, the answer is to change from a Fixed Mindset to a Growth Mindset.

The difference between Fixed and Growth mindsets

According to Shue and Dweck:

"The Fixed mindset is one that believes our abilities and talents are pretty much set from birth and it is up to us to use those gifts effectively (or risk being 'underachievers'). It assumes that we just 'are' a certain way and we need to maximize our innate talents and minimize our weaknesses."

"The Growth mindset assumes that we are 'becoming,' always learning, and that we can always improve from wherever we currently are if we are only willing to accept that effort is needed and willing to provide that effort."

What does that mean?

In other words difference between the mindset lies in
*separating your identity from the project
*learning from your mistakes rather than being paralyzed by them
*being stronger than your ego and asking for help from those with experience
*realizing that of course you might hit a snag or two, you've never done this before!

Both Dweck and Shue point out that, obviously, changing your mindset is not like changing your socks. But how do you change your mindset?

Six Ways to Change Your Mindset

1. Suck it up the first time and just go ask.
It won't feel good. It might feel downright bad. But before you make things worse, just bite the bullet, put on a clean shirt, stand up straight, and go ask someone who might be able to help solve the problem. If they can't (which should immediately show you that you're not the only one), ask who else might be able to.

2. Remember that other people typically like being asked for help.
Helping feels good. Being asked to help with something feels even better because it means that someone else came to you with an issue that they think you might be able to solve, or at least provide insight into. Get off your own ego-train and go make someone else feel good.

3. Who you are is not linked to the outcome of your project.
Your project is not your identity. You are way more than that, especially if your project is part of your job.  Succeeding at everything immediately isn't part of your identity either. Your identity is infinitely broader than that, and not so fragile that it can be destroyed with one project anyway.

4. Remove the word 'failure' from your vocabulary.
Replace it with the word 'process.' The best possible example here is Thomas Edison - and he says it far better than I can. Everything that you learn shows you how to do it more efficiently and elegantly the next time.

5. Keep on keepin' on, even when you don't really want to.
Persistence is the key, according to Calvin Coolidge. Christine Kane says that showing up is just what you do. You made your decision, now stick to it - even a little movement forward is better than nothing at all. If you're really feeling averse to working on it today, try SARK's microvement worksheet.

6. Give yourself regular Time Off.
Even though you show up every single day, schedule yourself some Time Off each week to make sure you stay energized and focused. You need Time Off to take a break, have chocolate chip cookies/pepperoni pizza/a bath/time on your own/a chance to sit quietly or whatever it takes to remind yourself of how much goodness there is out there and why you want what you do. You have officially earned your break by showing up every single day. So during your Time Off your guilt can just go sit in the corner and sulk, because you know that right after your Time Off you are back on the case.

Resources

*Read the original mindset article here - scroll down to 'Dissertation Mindset'
*Sign up for the monthly newsletter at All-But-Dissertation Survival Guide
*Carol Dweck's Mindset page
*Karen Shue's UnDissertation blog and website

Some days you gotta dance

Last week a flashmob dance spectacular broke out at London's Liverpool Station -  keep an eye out for the 'Thriller' moves!



And, the public's reaction:


Because, some days, you gotta dance...especially at about five to five on Friday...

Getting there...

So...

I've basically recovered, and I did not lose my voice, which was a big improvement over the events of the last several years.  But I still haven't managed enough energy to get to the gym, practice yoga, cook, or anything else but commute and put in a full day's work.   After that, I just flop onto the couch and move only to head to bed at the same hour as seven-year-olds.

I'm hoping for significantly more blog action on the weekend.

Turn ons include sparkle, romance, and beating the system

To keep things sparkling, Darcy and I have a standing arrangement of regular Dates With A Capital D. But these aren't just the Friday-night-dinner-and-drinks sort of dates; they are far more varied and satisfying than that. We have a few guidelines:

*The time period must be declared "On A Date" by the organizer, as different from regular time spent together.
*Dates can take place at any hour of the day, any day of the week, with any activity.
*Dates should be held at least once per week.
*Responsibility for organizing and paying for the dates alternates.
*Getting out of the house is good, but staying in is not bad.
*Active, athletic dates are excellent.
*Be creative in order to enjoy the maximum out of your money.
*Any way to beat the system and save money is a turn-on.

Ideally, you should be able to do everything you want to do, but for less than full price except for special events, activities and locations. Create as much sparkle as possible without spending much money. Save a little now to splurge a little for the Big Dates and Weekend Mini-Breaks. Use your imagination, think outside the box, take advantage of offers, and don't assume that dates have to be held on Fridays or Saturdays.

Last time, he surprised me with two-for-one tickets to Australia on a Wednesday and requested that we cook fajitas at home, paying me the highest compliment by saying that my fajitas were better than those at the Mexican restaurant next to the cinema where we would have otherwise eaten dinner. Total cost of date: £7.75.

This week it was my turn, so I decided to take us out on a Monday to see the Cambridge 800th Anniversary Light Show, have cocoa and cookies before a special preview of Frost/Nixon, and follow with a late supper at the spiffy Cambridge branch of Pizza Express in the historic Pitt Club building.

Holy sparkling lifestyle, Kiki!  That must have cost a fortune!  How do you justify that?

The light show was a free town event.  I also snagged free movie tickets from See Film First, two-for-one vouchers for Millie's Cookies for the pre-show snack, and a kickass two-for-one, most-expensive-main-is-free Pizza Express voucher.
   

Here's our breakdown:  
£0.00 Light show
£2.69 Pre-show snack of two cocoas and four cookies at Millie's (full price: £5.38)
£0.00 Film (would have been £15.30, if it had already opened here, which it hasn't)
£17.40 Two starters, two mains, and a drink at Pizza Express (would have been £26.95; £30 if they hadn't been out of campari for my campari and soda)

Total cost of date: £20.09/$28.10

Cost of date without vouchers: £47.63/$66.60 (£50.68/$70.86 with campari and soda - and that's just because the dollar is at $1.39 to the pound today.  It's usually closer to $1.50!)

Nothing like saving money to put an extra sway and swagger into your sashay!

Caught the bug...

As always happens in the wintertime, I've caught my annual Throat Thing. This time, it's a bit milder than some of the previous monsters that have left me voiceless for days, but it's still enough to send me home from work with a fever and swollen tonsils. I also had my first experience with the NHS, and that turned out pretty okay despite what everyone says about British healthcare. Free healthcare is good.

As is homemade guacamole, which I'm having with homemade lamb broth for lunch. Vitamins, minerals, monounsaturated fat, fiber and all sorts of goodness in avocados have to be good for illness. Plus, it has been at least six months since my last guac fix. That's no good for an Avocado Queen like myself.

Fevers typically make me hallucinate, so I'm going to sign off before the pink sparkly scallops start dancing around the room in their tutus. I think they're wearing red keds too.

Celebrating miracles

It's a rare and wonderful day when the international news media leads with a positive and upbeat story, such as the veritable miracle of US 1549. In honor of this fantastic event, in case you are rusty on your airline safety procedures, or if you just need a laugh on this Friday afternoon, here is the perfect airline safety announcement for you...

How do you say 'bibbity bobbity boo' in Chinese?

One of the oldest versions of the Cinderella story is Chinese, first appearing in the late 9th-century text, Miscellaneous Morsels from Youyuang 酉阳杂俎 by Duan Chengshi 段成式 (d. 863).

Ye Xian is the daughter of a scholar who has two wives. When her mother and then her father die from a local plague, Ye Xian is forced to become a lowly servant and work for her father's other wife (Ye Xian's stepmother) and her stepmother's daughter. Despite living a life burdened with chores and housework, she finds solace when she ends up befriending a beautiful fish in the pond. With golden eyes and scales, the fish is the reincarnation of her mother, who now watches out for her. 

Angry that Ye Xian has found happiness, her stepmother kills the fish and serves it for dinner for herself and her daughter. Ye Xian is devastated until a spirit appears and tells her to bury the bones of the fish in pots at each corner of her bed. The spirit also tells her that whatever she needs will be granted if she talks to the bones.

The local spring festival takes place, where many young women will have the opportunity to meet potential suitors. Not wishing to spoil her own daughter's chances, Ye Xian's stepmother forces her stepdaughter to remain home and clean their cave-house. After her step-family has left, Ye Xian is visited by her mother's spirit again. Her mother tells her to dig up the pots containing the fish bones and Ye Xian finds fine clothes, including a cloak of kingfisher feathers, jewelery, and a pair of golden slippers to wear to the festival.

Ye Xian dons the clothes and goes to the festival by foot. She stays and enjoys herself until she realizes her stepmother may have recognized her and leaves, accidentally leaving behind a golden slipper.  When she arrives home, she hides the clothes in the pots beneath her bed again. When her step-family returns, they discuss her stepsister's marriage prospects and also mention a mysterious maiden who appeared. They are unaware that it is Ye Xian they are speaking of.

The golden slipper is found and traded by various people until it reaches the hands of a nearby King.  Fascinated by the shoe's small size, he issues a search to find the maiden whose foot will fit into the shoe and proclaims he will marry that girl. The shoe eventually reaches the cave-house of Ye Xian, her stepsister and stepmother try to put on the shoe and fail. The shoe ends up fitting Ye Xian's foot perfectly.

In an attempt to dissuade the King from marrying Ye Xian, the stepmother declares that it was impossible for Ye Xian to have been at the festival. She saw the maiden who owns the golden slipper at the festival, the fine clothes she wore, and also mentions that Ye Xian was at home the entire time. Ye Xian proves her wrong by bringing out and putting the clothes she wore at the festival and the other golden slipper. The King, awed by Ye Xian's beauty, affirms that he will marry her. The stepmother makes a final attempt to dissuade the King from marrying her stepdaughter by accusing Ye Xian of stealing the maiden's golden shoe. To punish Ye Xian's step-family for their cruelty and dishonesty, he forbids Ye Xian from bringing them to live with her. They spend the rest of their lives in their cave until they are crushed by a shower of flying stones.

(Story of Ye Xian)

Nothing like my carrel in the dungeon...

On the left is the building I work in, with its fantastic library on the right. My office is full of light, air, and beautiful views onto a gorgeous back garden from floor-to-ceiling glass windows. As soon as the garden starts blooming, there will be pictures of that as well!

Humility 301 (Graduate Level Course)

(Meditation on Humility and Compassion, Part III)

As part of my fellowship, I'm required to present a text-reading seminar.  All the fellows sit down together for 90 minutes, and the presenter goes over a Classical Chinese text s/he has been working on line by line, sentence by sentence, with the group.   Let's highlight a few of the possible sources of stress opportunities for growth, shall we?

1. Classical Chinese is unpunctuated.
2. Classical Chinese grammar is completely different from Modern Chinese grammar.
3. Reading calligraphy is not like reading printed materials.
4. An Emperor wrote my text.
5. Have I mentioned that Classical Chinese is unpunctuated?

My text is an inscription that appears on two paintings, the smaller of which seems to have been a partial study for the larger.  The strange thing is, although "my" Emperor wrote all over practically everything in his art collection, he typically didn't write on the type of paintings I work on, so the fact that he did write on one is a big deal. (Blahblahblah, more dissertation rationale with dates, names, examples, original thought, contributions to the field, and so on.)  So the inscription needs translatificating.

Objectively speaking, this is an excellent chance for scholarly input on a key piece of my project.  It has never been translated before, and no one has ever even made the connection between the inscriptions on the paintings.  I am not a native Chinese speaker, and receiving input, corrections and suggestions on characters I can't even transcribe can only make that chapter better.  It is the ideal intellectual opportunity just as much as a course in humility.  Standing up and saying, "I'm not perfect, I make mistakes, and I'd like your help in correcting them.  I can separate the professional from the personal, and not take your criticism as a personal attack."  Please register for this course under Humility 301, for graduates only (no auditors allowed).

But that doesn't mean even the thought of it doesn't freak the knickers right off me.  They want me to stand up in front of a group of smart people whose Chinese is WAY better than mine and make mistakes galore all in the name of scholarly community?  People who will criticize and point out errors and show where I've failed, and then imply that I'm just a fraud in a spiffy pair of specs?  No way!  Who in their right mind would do that?!?

But maybe I'm just used to the American system.

When the librarian told me about this seminar, I must have blanched into a horror-stricken expression, because he immediately said, "No no, it's very relaxed and useful, people give very constructive comments.  It's not like in America where they rip your head off before you've even opened your mouth."

My first mini

On Sunday, I became the proud owner of my first miniskirt. 

Maybe it was just a whim.  Maybe the mirrors were tilted at that angle that makes you look long and lean.  Maybe the God of Sales smiled on me.  Maybe I was just finished thinking my legs weren't good enough for short skirts.  Maybe body confidence finally showed up for duty.  Or maybe all the running, ellipticizing, cycling, yoga, hiking and so on is finally paying off. 

Because suddenly, I put on a short skirt, and it looked good.  And I bought it.  And today, I WORE it.

It's the same style as in the photo, but in plain black, ideal with opaque black stockings and tall boots.  The buttons keep it from being Just Another Plain Black Skirt, with a touch of the nautical and none of the pseudo-kilt feel of the sample on the model.  (I couldn't find the exact same skirt online, but the only difference here is the fabric.)
 
This is not a micro-mini, by any means.  But the skirt is a good few inches above the knees, and there is even more distance between the bottom of the skirt and the tops of my boots.

For a girl who has spent the last twenty-odd years wearing mostly wide-legged trousers and long skirts to "camouflage" grapefruit-esque knees and wobbly thighs, this is huge.  Who feels like celebrating with me? 

10 reasons why Darcy is superfantastic

Darcy has been extra-sweet and wonderful lately, so please indulge me for a moment while I share some of his superfantasticness with you.

1. He bought mudguards for my bike immediately after my first commute in the rain.

2. He encourages my excitement about seeing the major English tourist sites, like Stonehenge.

3. He ensures I have enough solo time and space for the creative things I like to do.

4. He says that if I'm cooking, it only makes sense that he does the dishes.

5. He is intent on helping me stretch my money as far as it will possibly go.

6. He always tells me he is proud of my small daily professional accomplishments.

7. He recycles, repurposes and avoids waste like a fiend.

8. He schleps the lion's share of groceries back from the market.

9. He does whatever he can to help me achieve all the goals on my 1001/101 project.

10. He makes sure that I am warm, dry, safe, and comfortable in any situation.

How to create 1930s Shanghai glamour

Darcy took me out to see Australia last night - and boy, what an epic!  Sweeping scenery, soaring soundtrack, cattle drives, the Stolen Generations, World War II, and a reprehensible villain to top it off. 

But what really caught my eye were the costumes, created by Baz Luhrmann's wife Catherine Martin.  When Nicole Kidman's character had to dress more elegantly, her costumes often had a distinct "1930s Shanghai" aesthetic to them that is discussed in this slideshow. 

The basic lines and structure of the cheongsam, also called a qipao, have remained essentially unchanged for decades, and for good reason.  There is just something about a high collar, princess seams, and curve-skimming tailoring that oozes class, taste and glamour regardless of the decade.  But there are some tricks to making sure you do end up looking glamourous in a dress like this:
 
*Perfect fit is crucial.  It should be body-skimming, but not so tight that you bust your seams when you sit down.  If there is too much loose fabric around the waist, the curvy silhouette will be ruined.  Conversely, if the dress is too tight across the bust, it will flatten you out and again - ruin the silhouette.  Bottom line: if the dress does not fit perfectly off the peg, have it tailored. 

*Make sure the collar is neither too tight nor too loose.  If you find yourself perpetually tugging at the collar to loosen it, of have to wear it unfastened, it is too tight.

*Side slits can be tricky - sometimes there is only one, sometimes there are two, and sometimes there are none at all.  Make sure that when you sit, you smooth your dress down over your hips to make sure you don't reveal too much thigh.  Go barelegged if possible to avoid showing off the tops of your stockings below the slits.  If you are uncomfortable with the height of the slits, again - take your dress to a tailor and have them stitched together an inch or two to boost your confidence.

*If your dress is made from a bold, eye-catching color or fabric, limit your jewelry to just simple stud earrings.  Long earrings do not pair well with a high-collared dress.  If your dress is a solid color, you can add a sparkly brooch for some visual interest, but keep the earrings minimal to highlight the collar area of the dress.  Avoid necklaces - they distract from the dress, and can get tangled on the closures.

*Don't theme your entire outfit as "Chinese."  This is not the time to bust out your charm bracelet, handbag and hairclip that all have Chinese characters on them.  A little bit of Shanghai style goes a long way, and your dress has just the right amount.  Any more would be too much.

*Keep your hair sleek but soft.  If you have long hair, twist it gently back into a low bun or chignon but make sure the front frames your face.   If you have short hair, style it simply in a way that suits your profile.  The idea is not to distract from your dress, but to treat your hair as a key accessory.

*Makeup should be simple and clean, but without sacrificing glamour.  Classic bold matte lips, the tiniest brush of rouge, and minimal eye makeup is ideal - the same Hollywood classic look that is now in fashion.  Avoid heavy eyeliner and blush, and overly glossy or frosty lips. 

*The key words to remember when trying to create 1930s Shanghai glamour with a cheongsam or qipao are fit and simplicity.  If your dress does not fit properly or if your makeup or hair are too distracting, then the entire effect will be ruined.  Take the time and plan well in advance to ensure your dress has the perfect fit.  Don't fuss too much over your hair and makeup.  Less is truly more!
  
       

Squirrel for dinner

If you read the New York Times food section and wondered if Squirrel Nutkin's grey cousin had made it onto our plates here in Cambridge, the answer is no.  But it is an intriguing idea, so if we do run across squirrel paté, squirrel pasty, or squirrel pie, I will be sure to let you know!  In the meantime, if anyone else finds it on a menu or sees it available somewhere, please drop a line - I'd love to try it.

Ten ways to cultivate humility

(Meditation on Humility and Compassion, Part II)

What prompted this consideration of humility and compassion was an encounter with great arrogance and condescension.

When faced with arrogance and condescension, my initial response is essentially to knock back a mental tequila shot and start throwing punches. But in my commitment to responding rather than reacting to stimuli, I am trying to not express my initial defensive gut reactions to allow for a positive response that is more faithful to being the change I want to see in the world.

I realized that if I expressed my internal reaction out loud, I would be guilty of the same arrogance and condescension to which I was reacting.

To counteract that, I've developed ten ways to cultivate humility. The first five are ways to cultivate personal humility on a small scale in your everyday life, and the last five encourage a large scale, more global sense of humility.

Five ways to cultivate personal humility

1. Accept compliments with grace and thanks, but put them away immediately and move on.
Refusing or naysaying compliments tells the compliment giver that you think they are wrong, and that decision is not yours to make. But nor should the compliments puff you up into a feeling of superiority. Accept compliments gracefully, then file them away and change the subject - preferably to one that the other person can speak on.

2. Offer sincere compliments based on the person rather than the product, and follow with a question.
When complimenting another person, do so because of the person themself rather than what they do. Instead of saying, "these cookies are delicious," say "your cookies are always so crisp and light - how do you get them to turn out that way?" Rather than saying, "good idea for the party," say "your idea for the party is so creative, how do you envision the decorations?"

3. Write a 30-second gratitude list.
Grab that scrap of paper or sticky note on the corner of your desk and take 30 seconds right now to scribble down what you are grateful for that you are currently experiencing. Mine included a hot cup of tea to warm cold fingers, an extra sweater for warmth, a large window onto a beautiful garden, and the wealth of a fiver in my pocket to pay for a burrito for lunch.

4. Count your fingers and toes.
Losing even one finger would make everything you do more difficult, and losing even one toe would decrease your balance. If you have all ten fingers and ten toes, you likely take them for granted. Stretch them out now, count them silently to yourself, and then try typing without using your pinkies. You don't think about those little fingers much, but typing suddenly becomes much more grueling without them.

5. Realize the role of your tongue.
A friend of mine lost his entire tongue to cancer at the age of 75. An erudite American, professor of economics at a Japanese university, is now trying to re-learn how to speak - in both Japanese AND English - without the use of his tongue. Losing a tongue also meant losing his taste buds, and has caused eating to become an extremely slow and laborious process. We don't consider just how much work our tongue does: it does not just lie there passively all day. The next time you speak, sip, chew or try to work a popcorn kernel out of your molars, consider how important your tongue is.


Five ways to cultivate global humility

1. Eat a bowl of plain watery porridge for breakfast and dinner, skipping lunch.
Whether that means rice, oats, millet or whatever other grain for you, try going a whole day on just two bowls of gruel. Sound a little too Dickensian workhouse for you? Better that than nothing at all. Tip: adding more hot water to the gruel helps fill you up...temporarily.

2. Consider what your life might be like right now if you lived in Gaza.
Simply reading the front page of any major international newspaper reminds us just how lucky we are not to be living in a war zone with the constant threat of explosions, invasions and assassinations. You, too, could be a civilian casualty.

3. Make dinner for less than one unit of your local currency (dollar, pound, euro, yuan, etc.).
Thousands of people the world over are living on that amount of money or less per day, much less per meal. Your diet would experience a sudden and drastic drop in variety, quality and quantity – but there are those who go without even that much so that their children and loved ones can eat.

4. Go two days washing only with cold water from the sink.
First off, consider yourself lucky for simply having a shower or bath with instant and plentiful hot water. But try staying clean and positive with only cold water and a sponge bath in front of the sink - no soap, shampoo, cleanser, nothing. And no lotion or cream to protect or soothe your skin, which includes lip balm. You will rapidly see the effects, especially in cold weather.

5. Turn the heat in your home down to the lowest setting for a day or two.
Set the thermostat high enough so the pipes won’t freeze, but low enough that the internal temperature drops considerably – say to around 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit, 10-13 degrees Celsius. If you currently live in a place where it is winter, your house will cool down very quickly, and it won’t take long before you are huddled under a blanket wearing gloves, hats, and several layers indoors. Try living that way for at least an entire 24-hour period.

1001/101 #50: Blog once daily for a month

People who blog or journal every day inspire me with their dedication and consistency.  I envy their commitment and diligence even as I aspire to developing those very same qualities. 

This particular goal has not been easy for me to accomplish.  It has taken massive willpower some nights even to crank out a few sentences, especially because my research and writing has priority during the energetic daylight hours.  It would be incredibly easy to stop daily blogging right now, when daylight only lasts from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., and spend the evenings curled up on the couch zonked out in front of old episodes of West Wing.  But because it would be that easy means it has not become a habit yet, as flossing and taking vitamins has become.  For that reason, I'm extending this goal for a second month in an effort to nurture my underdeveloped qualities of consistency and commitment.

Thanks to all the people who took the initiative to tell me much they enjoyed the daily blogging - you are a large part of why this is continuing!

Creative Dining: Spiced Spinach with Squash and Sultanas

150 grams raw baby spinach
spoonful of plain yogurt
1/2 small butternut squash, peeled, cubed and steamed
small handful of sultanas or golden raisins
ground ginger
garam masala

Sauté spinach in small amount of olive oil until fully cooked down.  Puree cooked spinach together with yogurt.  Saute cooked squash cubes, sultanas/raisins, ground ginger and garam masala to taste until squash is lightly browned on the edges.  Add the pureed spinach to the squash and raisins and heat through.  Serves two as a side dish or one as a main dish.

Ingredients for Humble Pie with Compassionfruit Compote

(or, Meditation on Humility and Compassion, Part I)

Today we'll be brainstorming the ingredients for making humble pie with compassionfruit compote. Why are humility and compassion discussed together so often?  Is there an inherent relationship between them? Why do they appear in so many different religions, philosophies and ethical systems? How can each of these terms be defined and understand? This is the beginning of an interactive multi-part series, so please leave your thoughts on humility and compassion in the comments!

---

"Humility means knowing our own limitations and flaws and stopping ourselves from assuming that we know absolute truth or are entitled to treat other people as objects or make decisions for them."  (Here at the Ethical Spectacle.)

Lessons in the Art of Humility and Compassion

"Compassion is a two-way street."  (Frank Capra)

Inner Strength - Humility and Compassion 

"Compassionate action involves working with ourselves as much as working with others."  (Pema Chodron)

Compassion in Action

The humility of devotion that is part of Hanumanasana

French Lesson

Ne cherche pas midi à quatorze heures.

"Don't make things complicated." 

(Literally, "don't search for noon at two p.m.")

Words to live by, no?

2008 Year in Review

2008 was a complex and challenging year, but also extraordinarily illuminating.  All the moving around has streamlined my life into only the non-negotiable possessions and comforts.  At the same time, it has also made me more innovative in repurposing those things and deciding whether something else won't serve just as well.  Beginning a relationship with Darcy has shown me what needed to happen before that could be possible.  Living in China during a major food scare and developing achilles tendonitis has made me re-prioritize my health at a much higher level than before.  A revived yoga practice with phenomenal teachers has ingrained the mantra "release what does not serve you."  Professional deadlines have taught me to work more efficiently even as I have learned the physical and temporal limitations of that work.  The recession has encouraged a budget trim even as I increased my savings.  My 1001/101 Project has given me a three-year plan of major goals that evolve as time passes and experiences develop.  All of these changes have resulted in increased creativity on all fronts, which has made life terrifically fun and satisfying overall.

And now, the recap!


Professional
*Passed my Ph.D. general exams to officially become ABD
*Nominated for two teaching awards by a student who inspires me
*Recognized the signs of depression in time to help a student
*Won a Mellon fellowship
*Wrote two dissertation chapter drafts
*Re-conceptualized the unifying inquiry behind my dissertation topic
*Unearthed a painting that was presumed lost
*Gave a paper at a major international conference
*Designed and taught my own university-level course
*Made an executive decision about what careers I do not want

Travel
*Lived in Boston for six months
*Lived in Manhattan for two months
*Spent two weeks in Somerset
*Visited Taiwan for the first time
*Lived in Beijing for three months
*Cycled 55km around south China with Darcy
*Hiked nearly 100km in total along sections of the Great Wall
*Moved to England

Financial
*Saved up a stout 2009 European Travel Fund
*Fully replenished my Emergency Fund
*Invested in Vanguard 500 at fire sale prices
*Developed a complete budget with full expenditure tracking
*Thanked my lucky stars that I am debt-free with cash to spare

Personal
*Began a relationship with Mr. Darcy
*Learned that I can live contentedly out of one 20-kilo pack, one carry-on, and a personal item
*Spent quality time with my family at my brother's wedding
*Learned how to shape my workdays for maximum efficiency
*Lost 20 pounds
*Developed a consistent workout schedule
*Re-committed to a consistent yoga practice
*Ran four miles around my favorite Central Park route
*Learned how to treat and prevent achilles tendonitis
*Developed on an insistence on fresh, pure food with full ingredient knowledge (i.e. no melamine)
*Celebrated the New Year at a 'Twisted Disney' party
*Accomplished 13 full goals from my 1001/101 Project:
      8. Have new pages added to my passport (American Embassy, Beijing; 11.21.2008,)

     11. Tour a cheese cave (Murray's Cheese Shop, Greenwich Village; 7/19/08)

     34. Take vitamins every day for one month (Beijing; 10/6/08)

     44. Kiss under mistletoe (Cambridge, UK; 12/19/08)

     48. Re-name the blog (The Prosecco Life; 7/25/08)

     57. Have a friend come visit me while overseas (Beijing; 9/24/08)

     63. Pare skin care down to cleanser, scrub, day &night creams, eye cream (Beijing; 9/10/08)
     64. See a Puppini Sisters Show (Southbank Centre, London; 12/28/2008)

     72. Make my own facial mask or body scrub (Beijing; 12/15/08)

     76. See a free event in Central Park (Flamenco San Juan; 7/22/08)

     83. Invest in Vanguard 500 (Beijing; October 2008)

     89. Develop a basic core routine and do it daily for a month (Beijing; 12.15.08,)

     93. Have a Thai massage (Bodhi Sense, Beijing; 11.21.2008)