Remember those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books? The ones where you’d read several pages, then you got to decide: turn to page 42 if you open the mysterious door, or turn to page 67 if you take a sharp left and run as fast as you can. I enjoyed those books, not because of how well written they were or the exciting plot — half of them didn’t have one — but because I loved the feeling I had making my own choice. There was no single way, but many versions of an ending, and I got to choose. I think friendships should work the same way. Where we get…
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30 Ways to Live a More Analog Life
Through the Lens of the Nine FacetsIn a world that grows more digital by the day, many of us are quietly longing for something slower, simpler, and more tangible. An off-screen, analog life invites us to cherish our time, our relationships, and the ordinary moments that make up a well-lived real life. It’s about putting our hands on real things, being fully present where we are, and choosing experiences that nourish our soul. Using the structure of the Nine Facets, here are 30 ideas to get you started — no wifi required. EXPLORE Slow down and actually arrive somewhere Map your curiosity and plan a trip with a paper map. Literally circle five places on a…
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It’s Not the Lily, It’s the Light!
A friend and I recently visited the de Young Museum in San Francisco to see the “Monet in Venice” exhibit. As always, Monet’s art touched something inside me. This day was no exception. Maybe because I’m focused on savoring my life, I noticed things I hadn’t before. The curator’s notes discussed Monet’s “enveloppe” concept of painting. As Monet himself put it: “I want to paint the air which surrounds the bridge, the house, the boat — the beauty of the air in which these objects are located, and that is nothing short of impossible.” Monet recognized that the object isn’t where the aliveness is — it’s in the envelope around…
