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Seasoned Living™
Fall 2009 |
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by Bret S. Beall |
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Seasoned. Adj. 1: flavorful, zesty,
interesting; 2: cured, tempered; 3: improved or enhanced
via experience; 4: colloq: of or pertaining to the
seasons.
Living. Noun. Maintaining life in a particular
manner or style; vitality.
BEING MINDFUL
TODAY AND EVERY DAY!
Through my work and play, I
interact with a lot of people from many different
backgrounds. I am saddened when I realize that almost
all of them share one quality, irrespective of their
individuality: they seem to be trudging, stumbling,
marching through their lives with blinders on, unaware
of the world around them. Because our world is such a
spectacular, wonderful place, I find myself on a crusade
of sorts to encourage others to become more aware, to
live more mindfully, to engage each day with more
intention or, as the Buddha stated about himself, to be
“awake.”
Writing this column is part of that
crusade. Everything I write, discuss, lecture about or
converse about with friends deals at some level with
living our lives more mindfully and with more
intention. I have found that the easiest way to begin
this journey is to pay more attention to the seasons,
and that is the subject of this essay. I am writing
about the seasons of my current home, Chicago, in the
Upper Midwest of the United States, but if you live
elsewhere, you can adapt the details to your own region
as you begin to be more mindful.
Autumn, my favorite season, has arrived. Most years,
I’m really excited about the arrival of autumn because
it is when cooler temperatures replace the humidity and
heat of summer. This year, we had a very cool summer,
which allowed me to be much more productive than I
usually am during the summer. Most importantly, I’ve
had no interruption to my creativity, which excessive
heat just sucks right out of me. I’m grateful, and I’m
mindful of the additional opportunities I’ve been
provided.
Perhaps what is making me happiest is the arrival of
tomato season. This year, with the cooler summer
temperatures, tomato ripening was delayed, and instead
of months of enjoying a variety of tomato salads,
gazpacho, and BLTs, I had to wait much longer to obtain
the peak of the tomato crop. I took advantage of that
peak by buying a peck of local Roma tomatoes and making
batches of my multipurpose ragu and roasted ragu for the
freezer so that I could enjoy those wonderful tomatoes
through the coming year. By being mindful of the
delayed tomato season, I didn’t end up making my ragus
with less-than-ripe tomatoes, which would have led to
less-than-delicious products.
I’m
planning a trip in October to downstate Illinois to take
advantage of one of my other favorite things about
autumn: the changing of leaf color. Of course, one
doesn’t have to travel to see the changing of the
leaves, IF one is mindful of the foliage around one.
When I take the bus each morning to my clients’ offices
downtown, I often read, but I try to keep on eye on the
world outside the bus windows, especially the trees and
shrubs and flowers; during the autumn, each type of
plant changes, and I try to catch the first gold, the
first scarlet, the first brilliant yellow. One reason
for traveling downstate is to view the golden fields
that flank the highway, and if the weather gets
especially chilly, I’ll be able to see the delicate
crystals of frost on the grasses in the median and along
the embankments.
It’s
one thing to see color change from a distance. It’s
quite another to slow down and stop to see the unique
beauty of each autumnal leaf. Just today I saw several
of my favorites, the bicolor leaves, the maples that are
green and gold at the same time, or red, maroon and
yellow simultaneously, lying on the ground. They’re
breathtaking, and make wonderful additions to my
autumnal tablescapes by adding a certain surprise as
they peak out from mounds of colorful gourds and squash
and “Indian” corn, creating effects that often cause
dinner guests to gasp. Pssst! Here’s the key to truly
successful decorating: just select décor items mindfully
and intentionally.
My autumnal tablescapes are
important because I need something beautiful to match
the food that I serve guests. There’s so much wonderful
produce this time of year that it is the perfect
opportunity to share that bounty with guests. Autumn is
also the time of year when I freeze as much produce as
possible from the farmers markets, so that I have the
most nutritious and most flavorful ingredients to use
throughout the remaining year, while supporting the
local economy when it is most important to do so. Being
aware of how one action can have far-reaching effects is
an important part of intentional, mindful, seasoned
living.
Alas,
soon the leaves will dry and fall to the ground, on
their way to becoming mulch, as the autumn segues to
winter. Winter has its own abundant charms, again if
one takes the time to pay attention and appreciate each
for what it is. One of my very favorite winter scenes
regularly occurs right outside my window: wet snow
clinging to the barren trees, turning them into arboreal
skeletons. When I’ve ventured outside during such
conditions, I’ve noticed that these white tree skeletons
form a canopy over my street. It’s beautiful, and while
it is wondrous to me, I sometimes also realize how many
people don’t ever notice the beauty of snow on trees as
they hustle from one place to another with their heads
down. And if they don’t notice the snowy trees, they
certainly don’t notice the frozen bubbles that are
sometimes captured as puddles freeze, or the last of the
autumnal leaves peaking out from the snow. I’m further
saddened to think they might miss those wintry gray
skies that sometimes merge into smoky blue with touches
of brown, or the ferocious waves coming off of Lake
Michigan to coat the shore with ice. There’s even the
shear bliss of watching frosty dogs joyfully playing in
the snow and brisk winter breeze. These are only a few
of the many sensational pleasures of winter that we can
enjoy if we are mindful of them.
Winter
eventually transitions into spring. By “transition,” I
mean that the temperatures go up, and then the
temperatures go down, creating a real seesaw of weather,
but it's exciting. After all, variety is the spice of
life. April showers bring May flowers, but those first
snowdrops, scylla and jonquils start to peak through the
relict snow of March. Soon the daffodils and hyacinths
erupt from the cool ground and burst into bloom. These
are followed by my favorite flowers, the irises, with
their rainbow of colors. As the days grow longer, the
light creates dramatic shadows through the trees whose
buds are swelling with flowers and pale green leaves
(cut some branches and use them as arrangements at home;
you’ll be amazed by their beauty, especially if you add
additional arrangements of various spring flowers). The
effects of light and darkness are so amazing in the
spring, because unlike winter, the springtime means we
are moving from the darkness into the light, and that
feels great. Yes, as the days become longer, there is
an overwhelming collective sigh of relief knowing that
the warmth is coming to relieve us from the bitter
cold. The birds join in by singing, wooing mates.
Soon, young squirrels are chasing each other around old
trees, experiencing the pure pleasure of playing. Take
a moment to watch those squirrels, and remember for
yourself how much fun it is step away from the daily
grind and just play.
Spring
is an ideal time for gardening, both indoors and out.
If you have indoor plants, spring is the time to take
cuttings and root them to either expand your own
greenery, or to share with friends so that they have
something to remind them of your presence. If you have
outdoor gardens, early spring is the time to start seeds
indoors so that you’ll have healthy seedlings to plant
outside when we know the weather will stay warm. I only
have a back porch for outdoor planting, so I wait for my
local stores to start selling a variety of ornamental
plants and herbs to fill my porch boxes and pots. Every
year I try something different, and that is an
intentional decision to experiment to see what looks
terrific on my porch. Maybe I’ll buy coleus, or
impatiens, or caladiums, or ornamental sweet potato
vines, or rosemary, or basil, or sage; these all come in
different shapes, colors and textures, so I can mix it
up even more. In fact, by being mindful of the change
in light on my north-facing porch due to the removal of
a large tree branch by my landlord, I felt empowered to
actually grow herbs where they wouldn’t grow before, and
I’ve enjoyed fresh flavors as a result.
Summer
brings additional shades of green. The pale young
leaves of spring mature into dark, rich hues. All of
the trees are leafed out, and the shadows create myriad
variations on verdant green. Flowers of every color
imaginable punctuate the greens of summer, and you can
enjoy them in their natural habitats, or bring them
indoors to enhance your home. Summer is also peak peach
season, and there is nothing more delicious and sensual
that eating a perfectly ripe local peach, and letting
the juices spurt in your mouth and run down your chin.
Or a plum. Or a nectarine. Or an apricot. Or try
grilling some of these summer treasures. Of course,
while you are grilling the fruit, you might as well
grill some of the other farm-fresh, local produce that
is available (like zucchini, and yellow summer squash,
and corn on the cob, and whatever else is available at
your local farmers market), and invite some friends over
for some bruschetta and a grilled veggie pasta, and some
homemade vanilla ice cream with grilled fruit. My mouth
is watering as I type this.
Many
people take vacations during the summer, but during
tough economic times, or anytime, consider taking
vacations closer to home, or even AT home, to see just
how wonderful your region is. To celebrate living in
Chicago for 20 years, I decided to spend every free
moment exploring every opportunity my city had to
offer. I explored architecture, museums, street
festivals, gardens, food markets, ethnic restaurants,
and sometimes just wandered through Chicago’s many
varied neighborhoods to experience the essential flavor
of each part of the city. I had so much fun, and
learned so much, that I’ve continued this practice, a
bit sheepish that it took me almost 20 years to make
this mindful decision. You can easily do this in your
region.
Summer
is literally the time to stop and smell the roses, so
please do so, before the flowers fade, and we once again
return to autumn.
So,
how can we truly be mindful of every day? Above, I’ve
described how to incorporate natural décor, local food
directly from its producers, gardening, entertaining and
travel into your lifestyle to force a certain
mindfulness into daily existence. My good friend,
nature/wildlife photographer extraordinaire Carol
Freeman, has a career that forces her to be mindful so
that she captures the subtleties of nature’s seasonality
with intention. Even if you are not a photographer, you
can appreciate Carol’s efforts by checking out her
calendars and other beautiful products at
http://www.carolfreemanphotography.com/
to help you
to live mindfully of the world around you every day. I
know they help me!
As I wrote in the introduction, the observations above
are for the greater Chicago region. If you live
elsewhere, start by going through this essay, and
replacing the details with specifics of your geographic
area. Then start adding in seasonal features that I
haven’t even begun to address. Maybe the summer is a
time when you get out and swim, or cycle, or go
boating. Maybe the winter is when you go ice-skating,
or skiing. Maybe the spring is when you color eggs for
Easter or Ostara; try some natural, organic coloring
agents to give your eggs a unique tint while being
mindful of the effect on the earth. And if you live in
the Southern Hemisphere, your seasons are just opposite
mine, so you can twist these observations any way you
like. Just do it mindfully, with intention.
The bottom line? Live in the
moment. This approach is perfect for seasonal living.
And living seasonally is the first step toward Seasoned
Living.
© Copyright 2008 Bret S. Beall. All Rights
Reserved.
Read Past "Seasoned
Living" Columns:
Fall 2009- "Being Mindful
Everyday"
Summer/Fall 2008 Celebrate Your Life Every Day Winter-Spring 2008 - "Your Personal Power Can Save the World"
Spring-Summer 2007 - "Spring Forward and Connect"
Winter 2006-'07 - "The Awe of Autumn and the Wonder of Winter"
Summer-Fall 2006 - "Tis the Season to Be Courageous"
Jan-Apr 2006 - "Life is a Lesson in Every Season"
Oct-Dec 2005 - "Honk if You Love Silence" July-Sept 2005 - "A Recipe for Balanced Living"
April-June 2005 - "Trash and Treasure"
Jan-Mar
2005 - "Life Reflection: Looking Into Mirrors"
Bret S. Beall, MS, PhD (Cand). As the CEO of GOD-DESS,
I help people live fantastic lives with minimal time,
effort or money. I have used my rigorous scientific
training to synthesize psychology, sensory input, and
logic, with global cuisine, décor, lifestyle concepts,
indoor gardening and travel for each individual in an
easy-to-understand, easy-to-create and easy-to-maintain
style. For more information, please visit my website,
www.god-dess.com,
or call me at 773.508.9208, or email me at bret@god-dess.com.
Let’s start at the beginning,
though. I was born in California’s San Francisco Bay
area and lived there until I was seven. During this
time, my family often took vacations to the seashore and
to the redwood forests. There, I first felt the great
interconnectedness of all life. At seven, I moved with
my family to St. Louis, Missouri, where I continued my
environmental interests (including growing houseplants).
When I was twelve, we moved to the Ozarks of southern
Missouri, where I lived on a farm and witnessed
intimately the cycle of birth, life and death. We raised
cattle, ducks, geese and rabbits, and I worked on our
neighbor’s pig farm; we also grew a variety of produce
and I first learned about preparing and preserving food.
It was also at this time that I truly began acting on my
interests in art, design and esthetics.
I did my undergraduate work in
geology at the University of Missouri - Columbia,
graduating with general honors and honors in geology; my
coursework included a typical array of liberal arts
courses (art, philosophy, history) along with the
sciences (geology, physics, chemistry, biology,
anthropology). By living in an off-campus efficiency, I
learned the basics of simple cooking and living. After
graduation, I went on to Masters and PhD work in
evolutionary paleontology at The University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor; my studies included geology, paleontology,
biology, ecology and evolution, all presented within the
framework of proper scientific methodology.
Ann Arbor has a terrific
Farmer’s Market, which inspired me and helped me to
act on my interest in ethnic cuisines and entertaining;
this had to be done on a budget (given my graduate
student salary) and efficiently (given my graduate
student time requirements). I satisfied my artistic
inclinations by doing extensive scientific illustration
to accompany my original research. Teaching courses and
speaking publicly at student seminars, at national and
international meetings, and at various clubs and
organizational meetings provided a level of excitement I
had not experienced previously as I shared the
information and data that I had collected. “Sharing”
was the key, I realized, and this is when the seeds of
GOD-DESS were planted.
I left Ann Arbor for
Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History to accept a
position as Curatorial Coordinator of Mazon Creek
Paleontology. My long hours working on both museum
responsibilities and my own research required living
both time-efficiently and cost-effectively. In a very
short period of time, I realized I did not want to spend
the rest of my life within the academic world. I had
already experienced a high level of international
success, praise and recognition, for which I am grateful
(including making it into the Guinness Book of World
Records, and having Johnny Carson make a joke about
my research on The Tonight Show). I
eventually left the rarefied world of paleontology. This
is when the seeds of GOD-DESS began to sprout and grow.
I spent the next decade in the
field of not-for-profit healthcare association
management, honing my skills in efficiency maximization,
streamlining, prioritization, customer service,
budgeting, organization, communication and
simplification, and applying the rigors of my scientific
training to the needs of my clients. My clients
experienced extraordinary growth and profitability.
Although my salary was better
than it was in academia, I still practiced my
cost-efficient living, including preparing meals at home
to eat at work. The hours were often very long, so
time-effectiveness and efficiency-management continued
to be important, if not vital. I traveled extensively in
my various roles (including organizational
representative, event organizer, executive manager, and
lecturer); often, I tacked on vacation time to
cost-effectively explore the various cities and regions
that I was fortunate to visit, which further enhanced my
travel planning skills. On my own time during this
decade, GOD-DESS grew into a fledgling company, relying
on the empiricism of my own experiences and my research.
After more than a decade of
helping my clients experience almost 900% budgetary
growth, 900% membership growth, 400% meeting attendance
growth, and enhanced visibility that cannot be
quantified, I knew it was time to become my own boss and
devote myself 100% to GOD-DESS.
I believe we are always in the
right place at the right time. Because of that belief,
everything that I do, whether paleontology, or executive
healthcare management, or lifestyle counseling, I do
well, to the absolute best of my abilities. A lifetime
of experience and research has now created GOD-DESS and
everything it can do for you. I am grateful.
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