one of many

Today’s version of one of many blossoms I encounter on my (almost) daily walk from the office to Starbucks for a caffeine boost at the beginning of my day.

Seeing it helps me extend the perpetual dream that refuses to relinquish its hold on my sleepy brain – you know the one, some version or another of Bali Hai. We’ll see how long it takes my inbox and black tea to clear away the last bits of sand from between my toes.

How does the start of your day look?

So, it occurred to me to try finding beauty in the mundane and to share with you the little things I love about the spaces I inhabit every day and rarely honor with the respect and appreciation they deserve.

in the office and in the moment

Here is the engraved stone gifted by a friend, with its wise message;

the crammed pencil holder, hinting at my obsession with pens;

the plant that continues to thrive, despite my neglect;

one of my two windows, both of which actually open to allow for air and light;

the fruit co-workers frequently bring into work from their gardens, available to anyone;

the gaudy, fabulous pillow that perches on my office couch, which I finally made from old kimono pieces I’d gathered years ago.

When I’m present, I see the beauty in these simple things and in the life I’ve created for myself.

in the office and over exposed

When I’m not living in the moment, the world loses it’s color and everything get overexposed by critique and judgement.

I prefer to live in color. Don’t you?

Yesterday, I had a wee ranting session about the toxin nature of gossip in the work place.

Today, I spent half an hour critiquing American Idol – past and present contestants, the lengths of Paula Abdul’s eyelashes, the doughy physiques of various old rockers - with my office mates.

And it was the most engaging conversation I’ve had with these folks in all the (two) months I’ve been here.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Perhaps I am only a few episodes of reality television away from sniffing glue or buying a can of aerosol spray.

Advice?

If only money grew on trees.

Or came more frequently and fluidly from the activities I do which feed my soul.*

It’s the gossip that bothers me the most. The tense whispers. The snickers. The HOURS of inane conversation about this or that person. It isn’t all negative, per se. But it is just SO MUCH CLUTTER.

I already have PLENTY of clutter, folks!

Debating for 45 minutes the size of a belt buckle some dude wore on a reality show does NOT improve my life.

Pointing out the flaws of those with whom we sat in a meeting does NOT improve my life.

Clearly, it entertains many people. Perhaps, I am simply too self-centered to understand its merits. All I know is, it exhausts me to overhear it, it bores me to engage in it, and it has the stickiness of oil on a feather.

Now, if someone wants to talk about the tragedy of oil on feathers, I will gladly engage. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be a topic of interest for the office gossip girls.

What’s your take on a little gossip?

***

*Never fear. I am, indeed, working on this being more than an “if only,” with the help of Chris and Danielle and all of you. But it’s all happening at an annoyingly GLACIAL pace!