Ode to a Spoon
"Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have."
--Rabbi Hyman Judah Schachtel (1907-1990)
I have to admit it, I love spoons. I love their round shape. I love their cheerful shine. I love how perfectly they fit into your mouth when you eat something smooth like ice cream or pudding or even when you eat something tummy warming like hot soup.
I love spoons because they are functional as well as beautiful. Eating breakfast cereal just wouldn't be the same experience without them. I enjoy using them very much and always opt for a small, round, silvery spoon anytime it makes sense.
One day, my husband came upon me silently admiring a beautiful sugar spoon from our new 'fancy' silverware collection. I was thrilled with how the bottom of it was artfully shaped like a sea shell. He thought I was nuts.
I realized I feel this way about lots of object in my world. I admire platters, vases, paintings, rugs, blankets, curtains, you name it. Am I materialistic? I suppose on a certain level I am. Here's my philosophy on stuff: I take great pleasure in appreciating the personal possessions that grace my life.
I have profound gratitude for the convenient services my belongings regularly provide me. I even thank them occasionally (when no one is around). I really do appreciate all they do for me and recognize that I could just as easily not have the privilege of their presence in my life.
Along those lines, I make efforts to use them. I no longer horde my favorite things in a closet only taking them out once or twice a year, living in fear of their potential demise. These are beautiful objects! Who am I to hide their splendor from view? They deserve every opportunity to be appreciated.
Should something meet an untimely end, I am sad. But I also thank them for their loyal service for as long as they existed, and use their passing as an opportunity to bring another beautiful, dutiful item into service.
Now, having said this, I do not purchase $1000 spoons or $500 ceramic vases. If one is prepared to replace broken items one must be operating with one's own financial comfort zone. However, ask yourself: would you rather own an expensive item that you rarely enjoy or own something within your financial means that you enhances your life days on end?
I am offering, I suppose, a slightly different view of materialism. It's a different way of looking at the objects in your world, one where you have a mutually beneficial relationship with them.
I know, you're thinking, "she's really gone off the deep end this time." But honestly, this perspective encourages you to notice the beauty surrounding you and the conveniences you enjoy and be grateful for them. This in turn brings positive feelings into your life, what I call Material Contentment.
The next time you eat with a nice spoon or sit on a soft sofa, take a moment to realize how lucky you are to be the guardian of such an object. Has it been loyal in service to you? Have you shown it respect and admiration in return?
Today is a great day to start talking to inanimate objects. Why not begin by saying "Thanks" to your favorite piece of silverware?
Deirdre McEachern's passion is helping her clients achieve their dreams. She believes strongly that you can find a career you enjoy, express your natural talents and have a life!
Are you looking for a quick solution you can do on your own time? An e-Course is just what you need. "Seven Steps to Finding a Job You Love" e-Course is for anyone trying to find a career which they enjoy and expresses their natural talents and wants to do so at home and at their own pace. Click on the this link to find out more http://www.vip-coaching.com/seven_steps.htm
 Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:07:34 GMT Report: Samsung working to acquire SanDisk - San Jose Mercury News San Jose Mercury News - AP Samsung was reported Friday to be considering buying Milpitas-based SanDisk, whose revenue has diminished and stock has plummeted in recent months due to the saturated flash-memory market. SanDisk Shares Soar on Samsung Interest SanDisk Shares Surge as Samsung Considers Acquisition (Update3) Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:19:13 GMT Gates outacts Seinfeld in Back To The Future - CNET News
CNET News - Which is why Crispin Porter Bogusky, the agency responsible for the otherworldly new Microsoft TV spot featuring the clowning Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, is already happy. Microsoft's Renewed Vista Strategy You Thought Vista Was Bad? Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:01:52 GMT Jenkins: Murray willing to play the spoiler - San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle - (09-06) 18:24 PDT New York -- Andy Murray must feel very alone just now. He's a long way from his native Scotland. He's carrying the hopes of British tennis, but the London press would really prefer him to be English. Federer beats Djokovic to reach US Open final Split stadiums for US Open semis ruffles crowd Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:44:27 GMT Dodgers overtake first place - MLB.com
MLB.com - By Michael Schwartz / MLB.com LOS ANGELES -- Manny Ramirez's five RBIs propelled the Dodgers into first place in the National League West for only the second day all season Saturday after a 7-2 win over the D-backs at Dodger Stadium. Ramirez, Billingsley lead streaking Dodgers into first place Dodgers move into first place Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:14:26 GMT Palin and McCain’s Shotgun Marriage - New York Times
New York Times - By FRANK RICH SARAH PALIN makes John McCain look even older than he is. And he seemed more than willing to play that part on Thursday night. An Apostle of Alaska 'Sarah Palin Is Wasilla': Town Stands Behind VP Pick Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:18:29 GMT European space probe completes asteroid fly by - Reuters
Reuters - BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Space Agency obtained on Saturday the first images of an asteroid 360 million km (224 million miles) from earth, part of a space mission which scientists hope will help them understand the origins of the planets. Rosetta spacecraft takes asteroid photos Spacecraft flies by remote asteroid, camera stops Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:13:31 GMT Movies opening this week - San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News - By Mercury News "Burn After Reading" (R): The Coen brothers follow "No Country for Old Men" with a dark comedy about two inept gym employees who get hold of a CD-ROM containing a CIA operative's memoirs. Toronto Review: The Coen Brother's Burn After Reading Pitt Rocks to Madonna Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:56:32 GMT Amazon RSS |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Q. Right after I accepted my new position, the manager... Read More Tough words... but I truly believe that folks who make... Read More Are you a new graduate with little or no work... Read More Practicing Empathy A vital part of your networking skills is... Read More One of the most emotionally crippling aspects of unemployment is... Read More A student loan helps you get through college. Then you... Read More Are you interested in inside sales as a career? Inside... Read More Medical billers and coders are in high demand among the... Read More After completing their translation training programmes at higher professional education... Read More You're interested in becoming a nurse. How do you get... Read More Over 70% of single employees will become romantically involved with... Read More In a recent survey of over 662 career seekers, some... Read More How good are you at standing up for yourself?Do you... Read More Q. "I wasn't happy with my last performance review. Should... Read More (Percussion sounds emanating from who knows where while you listen... Read More Downloading a free resume template can be so alluring. No... Read More Your personal appearance is a critical component of that all-important... Read More Obviously, there are RIGHT ways to move UP the ladder.... Read More A trade show is a great place to network, look... Read More Applying for work is stressful, no matter the circumstances. Even... Read More How will you respond when you're asked the following two... Read More Most job seekers know that an unprofessional appearance will count... Read More Excerpt of Death By Workers' Compensation"The Bleeding Rose"In this Excerpt... Read More Sometime last summer I decided to host a pity party... Read More Are you in this situation? You and your boss just... Read More
Adsense
websites
Career Strategy When Your Boss is a Bully
Career Change Is Not For Wimps! 3 Powerful Steps to Do Work You Love
No Experience? No Problem!
Networking Masterclass - Part 1 - Practicing Empathy
Unemployment Survival: Taking Back Control
What Students and Parents MUST Know about Student Loans
Inside Sales Jobs: A Job Worth Seeking?
Medical Billing And Coding Profession
How to Become a Successful Freelance Translator
So You Want To Be a Nurse When You Grow Up?
A Workplace Romance Can Be Detrimental to Your Career
Layoff Survival Guide - Do You Have The Career Management Horsepower It Will Take To Survive?
Speak Up: Your Job Is At Stake!
7 Tips to Deal With a Bad Performance Review
Create A Rappin? Resume
Free Resume Template: Beware!
Job Interviews: Plan Your Appearance to Make a Great First Impression
Youre Bright And Talented -- TooT Your Own Horn --
Job Search -- One of the Secrets of a Trade Show
Job Hunting Tips: Accepting Judgment
Interview Quicksand
Six Factors That Can Cost You the Interview/Job
Death By Workers Compensation
Whiners Need Not Apply
How Well Do You Manage Your Boss?
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
De-Bunking The ?Follow Your Bliss? Myth
Hello Fellow Seekers!I don't know about you? but I'm pretty... Read More
How Hedgehogs Hire
In my last column, I explored Jim Collins' "hedgehog" principle,... Read More
Career Transitions: Creating Complementary Careers in a Day
Down-sized? Outsourced? Burned-out? Wizened up? That's what I said. Wizened... Read More
How to Conquer Job Hunting Apathy
Jack, downsized from his last job, was frozen in a... Read More
Building Your Army of Supporters: How to Build Strategic Relationships in the Work Place!
Once you have accomplished your task of getting in the... Read More
10 Ways to Speed-Up Your Job Search Effort
Today everyone knows at least one person who has lost... Read More
9 Secrets to Career Success
Are you miserable at your job (or what you are... Read More
Free Resume Examples: Untold Wealth In 10 Minutes!
Doesn't every job search start with Google?Way back in another... Read More
How to Become a Successful Freelance Translator
After completing their translation training programmes at higher professional education... Read More
Job Interviews and The Secret of Selling Yourself
A very effective and persuasive tactic when selling something is... Read More
Avoiding 10 Deadly Interview Mistakes
Too many job seekers set themselves up for failure before... Read More
Mid-Life Crisis: Its Not Just for Men Anymore!
A recent story in Career Journal begins:"The "midlife crisis" has... Read More
Seven Ways to Say You?re Fired and What to Do When It Happens to You
Today's employers scramble for creative ways to advise employees of... Read More
Telecommuting Resumes
Your resume needs to outline your skills and experience, as... Read More
Job Search Blurts
I coined this word to draw attention to the nervous... Read More
Resume Outline - Add Structure & Flow to Your Resume
Building your resume, based on a resume outline will give... Read More
An Unexpected Career Direction
My starting point was how to draw on 25 years... Read More
Avoid Mistakes and Gaffes in Your Job Resume
Having mistakes and gaffes in your job resume spell disaster... Read More
Revitalize Your Recruiting for 2005
Happy New Year! The forecasts are in agreement: Hiring is... Read More
Managing Change -- Endings Are Just Doorways to New Beginnings
Every May we celebrate Mother's Day-a time to tell mothers... Read More
Great Salary Negotiation Tips
11 Commandments For Smart Negotiating1 - BE PREPARED. The... Read More
How to Pick the Best Career for You: Part 3
Marketing-with-Intent precisely drives you to your target and with greater... Read More
How to Make Your Career Change Easier
Despite what your grandmother told you, life is not supposed... Read More
The Ripple Effect of Fear
Unemployment carries a lot of emotional baggage for most of... Read More
Business Careers: Keys to Moving on from Retrenchment
You may be astonished to realize that retrenchment may occur... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |