The Zetetic Gamin

Like sand through the hourglass...

2010-07-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

I've been busy lately, so many projects and ideas. People to see, things to do, you know how it goes. My ADHD has had my hyper focused on a couple of different projects, which is great for the projects, not so great for the other parts of my life. And in the middle of all this, anything I had resembling a normal sleep-wake schedule wandered out the window.

And now I'm exhausted.

One of the hardest things for adults with ADHD to control is their tendency to mismanage time. We're not good at estimating how long a task will take, are kings and queens of procrastination and if something interests us, can stay on that task for considerably longer than we should, ignoring everything around us. We're easily attracted to the pretty & shiny, so we are often convinced to change a perfectly smart plan for something new without considering the consequences.

People, ADHD or not, are often resistant to the idea of a schedule and a planner because it can feel like you're sucking the spontaneity out of life and tying yourself down so tightly there will be no room for creativity and joy. And I'll admit to being a bit nervous about that. The thing is, I can't keep on like I am. I lose track of valuable things - friends, opportunities, car keys. I run myself ragged and end up sick and unhealthy. And when new opportunities present themselves, I have a difficult time making smart decisions because I have no way of fully understanding my options.

I haven't figured out a great way to handle this yet, so I'm going to use the month of August for a 31 day focus on time management. Between now & Sunday I'll be setting up a system, using what I know about myself and my habits to create something that works with my brain rather than against it. And then I'll spend 31 days getting good at using it and trying not to tweak things unless absolutely necessary. It's more important to me to stick to the habits for a month than to make sure I have perfect systems.

I'll let you all know what I'm doing, and post updates as I go along. I know ADHD folk certainly don't have a monopoly on mismanaged time, so hopefully what I learn will be helpful to you as well. In the meantime, is there some trick or technique you use to keep yourself on track day to day? What hasn't worked for you?

"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you." ~ Carl Sandburg

Designing Woman

2010-07-28T08:00:00.001-07:00

Just a peek at an Art Nouveau-inspired crochet pattern I'm working on. I'm not absolutely sure the design is in it's final form, but so far I like how it's coming together.

What it's really all about...

2010-07-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

This blog is about life - passions, pet peeves, high points and low points. It's about being conscious, not in that I-just-had-a-great-cup-of-coffee way*, but in an all-around-allow-me-to-suck-the-marrow** kind of way.

I believe we cannot afford to be numb. We cannot afford to blindly allow the powers that be to make our decisions, dictate what is cool, or tell us the "right" way to live our lives. We cannot afford to drift along, hoping something interesting will happen.

We create our own lives. We have the ability, the power, and the obligation to ensure that we create something beautiful. We are gifted with these lovely big brains and an enormous wealth of resources - we have to use them.

In this space, I will share my beauty with you. And I expect you to share yours in return.

"You are not here merely to make a living. You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world. You impoverish yourself if you forget this errand." ~ Woodrow Wilson

* Although, we should not belittle the power of the perfect cup of coffee. Um, hello?!
** Those of you at a loss with this reference should check out Dead Poet's Society.

Simple Carrot-Coriander Soup

2010-07-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of soup, even in warmer weather (although not when it gets hot, that's just silly). Here in Santa Monica, we enjoy mild temperatures much of the year, so veggie soups show up pretty frequently. We were inundated with an abundance of carrots from our CSA earlier this spring - way more than could be eaten in a week, especially since I tend to forget you can just eat carrots. You know, as a snack. Believe me, I understand this is an odd thing. :)

Anyway... I decided to make a soup with them. Simple and creamy, something that would let the fresh flavor of the carrots really shine. The recipe is written for a small amount, but could easily be doubled or tripled, and the soup freezes really well. Be sure to include a squeeze of lime or lemon before serving - it really makes it special!

CARROT CORIANDER SOUP

1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 large garlic clove, minced
1-inch piece fresh ginger, minced or grated
1 tsp coriander
pinch cayenne pepper
3 baby Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed (about 3/4 cup)
6 medium carrots, sliced (about 4 cups)
2 cups mild vegetable broth or water
1/4 cup light coconut milk
salt to taste
for garnish (optional):
1-2 Tbsp. cilantro
lime or lemon
add'l coconut milk

In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the garlic, ginger, coriander and cayenne. Saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add the carrots, potato and broth or water. Raise the heat to high and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and let simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the vegetables are very soft.

Remove from heat and puree with a stick blender (or in batches in a regular blender) until smooth.

Place the pan back on the stove over low heat and stir in the coconut milk. Season with salt and additional cayenne as desired and warm through.

Ladle into serving bowls and garnish with the chopped cilantro, a drizzle of coconut milk, and a squeeze of lime or lemon juice.

Makes 3 servings.

Ahimsa

2010-07-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

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Ahimsa is a Sanskrit term meaning "the avoidance of violence." For people who ascribe to this philosophy, it is often thought of as active compassion or dynamic harmlessness. Those who practice ahimsa believe that a life of compassion, love, and selfless service will overcome our "bestial nature."

For me, ahimsa is about putting into the world what I hope to get out of it: love, compassion, and mercy. It is about thinking only the best of others; it is about a life free of hate, lies, and contempt. It is about practices that enrich not only my life but the lives of those around me. It is living in the now, considering the future, and learning from the past.

I also consider ahimsa a dynamic, evolving practice - that is, there is no one way to "do" ahimsa, and we each take steps as we see them to become more loving, more compassionate, and more merciful. As we learn and have experiences, we adapt. We adjust our thinking, our behavior, and our hearts to become more in tune with those around us.

For a lot of folks, ahimsa sounds a lot like being a doormat. I suggest it is no such thing. It takes courage to show compassion in the face of hatred. It takes power to rein in one's negative instincts and practice peace. It takes a strong person to stand up for another being.

We will never be perfect. The practice of ahimsa, however, brings a love into the universe that nurtures every being - certainly a worth pursuit for all of us.

Simple Pleasures

2010-07-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

There is great joy in life and phenomenal sadness, but we live most of our lives in the between space. In the interims between celebration and panic it becomes easy to lose our sense of wonder and joy. We go through the motions, forgetting to look around us. We don't see, we don't feel.

This blog is first and foremost about countering the numbness.

It's about ritual and comfort and little thrills. The beauty found in the completely mundane. The pleasure of good company. The minute joys and sorrows that enrich our lives, if we only remember to look for them.

Life is complicated and harried and overwhelming. These seemingly insignificant things root us in the here and now, providing a solid foundation to build upon. They are quickly lost, but oh so very necessary.

"I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex." ~ Oscar Wilde

Just what is a Zetetic Gamin anyway?

2010-07-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

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It seems logical to spend a little time on just what I am about, and what I hope to accomplish with this blog. This is definitely a multi-post thing, so we'll just take one piece at a time, starting with the name.

The word zetetic is an rarely used term with Greek roots, meaning to seek. When applied to people, it means a skeptical seeker of knowledge. Gamin is an Old French for street urchin.

"The Skeptical Street Urchin" might seem a bit odd for a blog, but I'm alright with that. I'm an avid learner, but rarely take new knowledge at face value. And I've always been a bit of an urchin, even if I never lived on the street.

So that's it - the Zetetic Gamin. I hope you enjoy this space as much as I do.

Daily Rituals

2010-07-22T14:53:00.000-07:00

"Ritual is the way you carry the presence of the sacred. " ~ Christina Baldwin

I'm a big proponent of ritual, for several reasons. Rituals provide an anchor in the hustle-bustle crazy of our everyday lives. The right rituals connect us to ourselves, to the world around us, and to our spirituality.

And some rituals just make sure we're well caffeinated in a lovely and tasty way. For me, this happens at Intelligentsia in Venice. Most days, it looks like this:

Soy latte, warm & luscious.

The second coffee of the day must be iced (sometimes the first is as well, depending on the weather). My preference has been for an Angeleno - an iced latte with a shot of vanilla simple syrup. Cold and just a little sweet, with the hint of vanilla, it's perfect for hot summer days.

Some days, the waking up is harder than others, and the table ends up looking like this:

In my defense, I had help with this one!

Morning coffee is one of those things I have trouble doing without, not for the caffeine hit but for the anchor it provides my day. As a writer, I don't have a lot of structure - a coffee run first thing gets me up and moving and ready to go. I think through my plan for the day, discuss with my partner, and can move into the crazy knowing that one thing in my day did what it's supposed to do.

What rituals anchor you?

Wit & Wisdom

2010-07-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

"I say, let's have happy clothes. You could reply that's frivolous in this troubled world, but do you really think dressing like an existential nun with suicidal thoughts is going to solve Bosnia?"

~ Louise J. Esterhazy