Celebrating reverence for nature

I’ve always felt a kind of reverence for nature – a deep respect, love, and honor for its awesome beauty and the spiritual connection it provides for me. Thirty-two years ago my boss at Wildlife Camp in the mountains of N.C. used to talk to the campers about three R’s of camp: respect, responsibility, and reverence. I always loved listening to her explain the term reverence to those pre-adolescents.

Keith and I were invited by a new friend to paddle from New Pass to Mound Key and back today. We accepted the invitation, and six of us launched canoe and kayaks early this morning, paddled the bay waters for an hour and a half, hiked Mound Key, and returned. The weather was perfect – sunny, just warm enough, and calm. We saw birds, shell animals, stingrays, and lots of cool plants. On the return trip we even encountered a pod of manatees swimming, playing, just being.

During the trip, each person in our group took turns exclaiming how beautiful the day was and what a fabulous excursion we were having. We laughed and chatted, pointed out bald eagles, watched ducks and ospreys, discovered cool tropical plants, and enjoyed each moment for what it was. But the thing that struck me most about the whole trip was how each person in our group, at one point or another, revealed through words or actions their sincere reverence for nature, for Mother Earth, for the gift of being able to be out and enjoy the wind and water and creatures that inhabit them.

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That reverence comes from experiencing a personal connection with nature, from understanding that we are a part of and connected to all that surrounds us, and from taking time to relax, enjoy, and appreciate all of its beauty. Today, as we paddled, I could sense each person’s reverence for and connection to the natural world. I could see it in their faces and feel their energy and joy all day long. At one point on our return paddle, one of our group members, Leo, said, “I feel bad for all the people who decided to stay home and sit on the couch today. They missed out on all of this!“

I agree, Leo. It was a day to revere…

So, today, I celebrate reverence for nature in all her glory. (And new friends – thanks, Klaus!)

Today, I celebrate Worden Farm…

Today, we had the great pleasure of attending the annual member potluck at Worden Farm. About 60 CSA members gathered at the farm to share food and stories and enjoy the place where their food is produced.

Members got to tour the farm aboard a tractor-pulled wagon with farmer Chris giving commentary on how the vegetables are grown. Then we shared in a feast provided by the CSA members themselves. Everyone was asked to bring a dish to share, and there was an abundance of good food – much of it prepared using vegetables from our weekly shares of food grown right there on the farm.

It was a beautiful, cool day. Kids played on the big sandpile, members chatted and shared stories, and Still Friends provided beautiful music through it all.

Last fall I had the great pleasure of volunteering on the farm one day a week, and I miss it and the people there very much. So, today was extra special for me to return to the farm and feel at home. Thank you Chris and Eva, not only for providing good food for our tables each week, but for nurturing this sense of community and friendship among the farm membership.

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Thank you Keith Hanson for the photos….

1000 miles in 2012 – the beginning…

And on the seventh day… she walked.

It’s the 7th day of January 2012, and I’ve set myself a little personal goal of walking, running, biking, and hiking 1000 miles this year.

That means I have to average 19.24 miles each week. Not a hard goal if I commit to a serious bike ride each week, but tougher (time-wise) if I try to get it all in just walking on the road or treadmill at the gym. If I don’t get to 1000, it’s no big deal. But having that goal pushes me on those days when I really just want to sit and veg instead of strapping on the shoes and getting active.

So, where do I stand at the end of week one – seven days in? I walked, hiked, and did the elliptical for 21 miles. That’s on target…Next week is a busy one at work with a couple of evening events – we’ll see how much the ol’ body can get motivated and make the time to do the miles during week two…

What gets you motivated to stay active and keep in shape?

Today, I celebrate…a winter sunrise…

It got cold here in southwest Florida yesterday. A blast of Siberian air came roaring down from the northwest, and the skies cleared and the air stilled. When morning dawned, there was frost everywhere and clear, crisp, cold air to breathe in… a startling and welcome change from our 95 degree/90% humidity summer days.

So, today, I celebrate a winter sunrise…

Sunrise over CREW

Today, I celebrate…

My big goal for 2012 is simple. Make every day a celebration. No matter what happens, how I feel, or what’s going on in the world around me, I will find something to celebrate in some way every day. It doesn’t have to be a big deal – indeed, most often the little moments are the best ones anyway. And every now and then, when the mood strikes, I’ll post about my daily celebration.

Today, I celebrate a little moment in family history…

Some months ago, my mom handed me a cassette tape and said, “I don’t know what to do with this. Do you know how to convert it to digital?” That tape has been on my desk for the past few months, getting shuffled around with all the paperwork – until today. I finally found all the right equipment and software and converted it to an mp3 file.

Nana Roses and mom, in the kitchen

I enjoyed listening to my grandmother’s voice as she was interviewed by a family friend in about 1996, just a few years before her death… this is my mom’s mother, whom I affectionately called Nana Roses (her name was Rosena and she was born in 1904). She talked about a variety of things on the tape, but I loved the part where she discusses her recipe for “Dark Cookies” –  also known as molasses cookies…be sure to listen for her comments about measuring ingredients and done-ness, and the merits of using lard. Take a listen:

“Ah…. the richness of lard…” hehe

I wonder what she would say about my vegan snickerdoodles?

Let’s go make some cookies in honor of Nana Roses…

(Oh, and mom, the whole tape is now digitized and on it’s way to you via US mail.)

A Fitting End to the Year 2011

Image via Wikipedia

2011 has been a great year for outdoor and physical activity for me and Keith. I’ve biked, hiked, walked, and tread-milled over 700 miles this year. Keith has lost 30+ pounds and has lowered his heart rate significantly. We try to get outdoors as much as possible to enjoy our workouts. So, it was only fitting that we spent the last day of 2011 exploring a new (to us) wilderness area by bicycles and on foot – the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, about 25 miles north of Okeechobee, FL.

This 54,000-acre park is in the south central part of Florida, is home to many rare and endangered plants and animals, and has over 100 miles of multi-use trails for hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and campers. During our five hours there, we biked some and hiked some and found the absolute absence of human sounds to be the most amazing part of the trip. No car sounds, no plane sounds, no voices… just the wind and a few animals as they scurried through the prairie and woods or splashed into water as we approached.

I expect we’ll go back, and maybe do an overnight camping trip to take advantage of the darkest skies we’ll probably ever see in South Florida, far from any city lights…

In the meantime, here’s a peek at our day as we trekked the quiet trails of Kissimmee Prairie Preserve…and Happy New Year, everyone! May it be a year of good health and physical fitness for each of you (I think I’ll set my activity goal for 1000 miles in 2012).

‘Tis the season – for locally grown food

Our week 2 share of vegetables

I know, I know… ’tis the season to be jolly and all that, but for me this is the best season of the year for another reason…food. Locally grown, organic, Worden Farm vegetables to be exact. It’s snowing “up north”, but here in southwest Florida, we have waited all the long hot summer and fall to get to now – the winter growing season when we get to eat the best locally grown, organic, healthy, tasty vegetables!

We are members of the Punta Gorda, FL-based Worden Farm CSA – a community supported agriculture farm membership program. Last year I had the extraordinary opportunity to volunteer one day a week on the farm, planting seeds and helping the Wordens and their awesome apprentices grow food for hundreds of families in southwest Florida.

This year, as we’ve done for the past four years, we are enjoying the fruits of their labor, getting a box of vegetables (our share) each week from December through April. The thing I love about the Wordens is that they are not just farmers growing vegetables – they are a farm family that is building community through food production, sustainable practices, workshops, tours, farm feasts, and sharing.

This year, since Keith and I have both committed ourselves to a more plant-based diet, we are finding it much easier to use all the vegetables we receive in our share box each week. So far this season, our boxes included arugula, avocado, beets, broccoli, cilantro, eggplant, kale, lettuce scallions, tomatoes, bok choy, celery, fennel, green beans, kohlrabi, peppers, turnips, and Swiss chard… and we have delighted in the bounty.

There’s just something amazingly wonderful about preparing and eating food that is good and that you know is also good for you and the planet. Because there is always such a variety in our box, we’ve tried to create some new ways to prepare and enjoy all the great food. Here are a few of the dishes we’ve made from the vegetables in our shares so far:

Arugula-Pear Salad – on a bed of fresh arugula, add sliced pear, grapefruit sections, dried cranberries and walnuts. Top with home-made cashew-peanut citrus dressing.

Fennel-Bok choy-Swiss Chard Chicken – Brown chicken thighs. Saute slices of fennel bulb, bok choy and shredded swiss chard with olive oil and garlic. Add to chicken. Add some white wine and vegetable stock and simmer till done.

Tofu-Veggie Stir-fry – Press and drain firm tofu, then marinate chunks in mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, & Ponzu sauce. Brown on all sides. Remove from pan. Stir-fry chopped bok choy, scallions, swiss chard, eggplant, and carrots. Add tofu chunks and marinating sauce. Serve over cooked brown rice or bulgur.

Swiss Chard Frittatas – Beat 4 eggs. Chop and saute Swiss chard, banana peppers, onion, & mushrooms. Add egg mixture. Cook until just beginning to brown. Flip. Cook till egg is firm. Serve with slice of toasted, fresh-baked whole wheat bread and orange slices.

If you aren’t a CSA member yet, but want to try Worden Farm produce this year, you can find them at the farmer’s markets in St. Pete, Sarasota, Punta Gorda, or Naples.  Or, come visit us, and we will gladly whip up a meal for you!

Steve Jobs’ Eloquent Story about Death

Image by acaben via Flickr

Millions of  people are posting, tweeting, and commenting about the extraordinary life and death of Steve Jobs today. His death yesterday is a shock to some and a wake-up call to others. Whatever the case, it seems everyone has something to say about him. Listening to NPR on the way home from work today, I got to hear some excerpts from his 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University. It was eloquent, poignant, real. His story about death really made me stop in my tracks and think. These words, these thoughts, that he left behind are as important – if not more so – as all the Apple products he brought us.  I thought they were worth sharing here:

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart….

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true….

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

You can see and read the whole speech here.

Our First 30 Years…

This weekend, we’re celebrating! Why? Because thirty years ago on September 19th, 1981 I married the love of my life.

Happy Anniversary, Keith!

Three years after we were married we boarded a plane headed to Denver, CO and the flight attendant asked us if were on our honeymoon. We  told her no, we’d already been married (to each other, in fact) for three years. And then we just grinned at each other.

Some time later, friends who were contemplating marriage asked us, “How do you know it’s right? How can we be sure this is the one?”. All we could say, was “You just know. You don’t believe it. You know it.” When someone questions a belief, it makes you wonder. When someone questions something you know to be true deep inside, there is no shaking it.

For 30 years Keith and I have known that our marriage was right. That each of us was the one for each other. Even through all the changes in our lives – and there have been many – that deep core knowledge that we belong together has been unshakable. As friend after friend got divorced over the years, we simply and purposefully renewed our commitment to each other. During the past few weeks I’ve taken time to read back through some of our old journals, letters, and holidays cards. Here are some of the phrases I found that we had written:

1980′s:

“Our time together [traveling] has renewed our commitment to each other.”

“Difficult decisions helped us grow stronger together.”

“A child’s laughter, a new baby have made our love more intense.”

1990′s:

“The only thing constant in our lives right now is that we are still happily married – a major accomplishment and a wonderful gift.”

“We are lucky to have each other.”

“The most important things in our lives are each other.”

“When things get crazy, the three of us make time to appreciate each other and the world around us.”

“We are lucky to have each other to keep us balanced. We keep each other focused on what’s truly important.”

2000′s

“Through it all, we continue to build a love stronger than ever.”

“Perhaps our greatest gift is that we each give and receive each other. To enjoy the journey together is a blessing.”

“I go to sleep and wake up with the person who makes all these days extraordinary.”

As the years go by and we grow older together, we are finding more peace and happiness in each moment together.  Our gifts are the moments we share, even when doing the most ordinary things. I am so lucky to have Keith. And for that I am truly grateful.

Keith, I can’t begin to tell you how glad I am to still be married and so much in love with you after all these years… but these guys do a pretty good job of it, so… here’s to you, my love…

Now… let’s go play!

Being a Bee

Today is my birthday. When I was born, my parents named me Debra (nicknamed Debbie). Years ago I was curious enough to look up the meaning of my name – “bee”. According to the Parents Connect website, it was the 12th most popular girl’s name between 1950 and 1960, which would explain why there were four Debbie’s in my elementary school class, I guess.

Once, I bought a coffee mug that had my name on it with a description of the traits a person named Debbie was supposed to possess. It included things like “doesn’t sit still”, “flits from place to place or project to project”, “always busy”…  So there’s no wonder that I have spent most of my life doing just that. Setting goals, working toward them, planning, doing,  always looking for the next opportunity or challenge to keep me moving forward. I’ve changed jobs 15 times in 32 years. I’ve accomplished a lot, but I’ve missed a lot, too. Simply because I’ve lived up to my name and been a “busy bee”.

Sitting still has always been a challenge for me – unless I’m lost in a really great book. And watching a movie for 2 hours straight – forget it! I get up and walk around or go do something else every 20 minutes or so. Sitting at a computer and creating or writing happens – because the brain is working, I guess. But sitting still and just “being” has alweays been an elusive concept for me. I have always been a “task-master” at heart and will put getting the job done before anything else most days.

Lately, though, I’ve been giving this sitting still idea a chance, trying to defy my name’s fateful meaning – through deliberate practice. I’m working on being more mindful of every move I make, every task I do. It has allowed me to slow down and appreciate very ordinary tasks in a way that is extraordinary and enlightening. It’s amazing to me the things I notice now when I slow my movements and my mind and live each moment more fully.  Somehow, getting everything done today isn’t as important anymore.

Enjoying each moment and all that it has to offer is much more rewarding. The senses are heightened and little things become more pronounced,  meaningful – the colors of a rainbow, the smell of a honeydew cut open, the softness of the cat’s fur, the sound of each note of music in a song. Through more deliberate quiet time, breathing, relaxing, slowing down, sitting, being mindful, even smiling meditation – I live in a whole new world.  These days I’m more likely to stop and smell the flowers than flit from one to the other without a thought or care.

I still have along way to go before I am really good at just being, rather than always doing, but I’m getting there. And the journey is pure joy. So, here’s to mindfulness and presence – defying “the bee” in me. It’s time to live life one moment at a time because, as Socrates, the Peaceful Warrior says: “There is only now”.