Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement. 

The Japanese actually have a word for it-Kaizen. Margaret Rouse describes Kaizen as, “an approach to creating continuous improvement based on the idea that small, ongoing positive changes can reap major improvements.”

As I considered this idea, and did a little more digging I learned that this philosophy has to do with believing that everything can be improved. The logical conclusion would be that just because the status quo is working doesn’t mean that it couldn’t actually be better. 

What I found ironic, though, was that just minutes before writing this post I voted in our local school board election, and used a completely different way of thinking. I went ahead and voted for an incumbent reasoning that since things were going well in my school district why would we need a change?

You know the old adage, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” Now I’m not saying that change just for the sake of change is always the best course of action. However, the more I thought about it the more I began to think that maybe bringing in some new blood onto the school board might not have been such a bad idea. 

 Sometimes it takes a fresh pair of eyes to look at something in a new way, and being open to change is one way to bring about improvement. 

Through Kaizen this improvement is not accomplished over night with broad brush strokes, but rather it is done through a series of small steps. These incremental steps can be less intimidating than radical change. 

Sometimes when we are too quick to change things people have a tendency to dig in their heels. Even though something might actually be a better way to do something, we still cling to the belief that, “we’ve always done it this way.”

As much as I like to convince myself that I’ve got it all figured out I’m kind of glad that I really don’t. Allowing myself to question my actions helps me to continuously grow in knowledge and wisdom. 

It will be interesting to see the results of the election. Will more people have thought like me or will there be more willing to take the small steps of Kaizen in hopes of improving an already “good enough” status quo?

Doing Nothing

Doing nothing. 

How many of you are comfortable doing nothing? 

Productivity seems to have been hard-wired into many of us, and for some claiming at least one productive activity a day alleviates the guilt we might feel for doing nothing. 

However, there actually may be a value to doing nothing, when it comes to our state of mind. I suppose you could literally sit there all day doing nothing, but you’d probably find it almost impossible. Back when I used to proctor the STAAR test we were given strict orders that the only thing we were allowed to do was to monitor the children who were taking the test. 

After hours of this you find yourself going a little stir crazy. I remember once attempting to make as many words possible in my head with the word Walmart whose letters were on the plastic bag holding one of the student’s lunch. 

The only place I’ve really ever been able to sit and do nothing was at our farm. Most of the time I need to be doing something with my mind, but the serenity I found just sitting there was like no other. 

The country is a peaceful place, but not necessarily a quiet place. As you slow down to the rhythm of what surrounds you, you begin to hear the sound of a gentle breeze as the leaves rustle in the trees. The sound of birds chirping, bees buzzing, cows mooing, and even the abrupt bray of a donkey are all available to those who allow themselves to soak it in. 

Add to this a sunny, blue Texas sky, with fluffy white clouds, and a perfect temperature in the seventies, and you have your own little slice of heaven!

Maybe the idea of doing nothing has more to do with not being so locked into all the “shoulds” of the world. Maybe doing nothing really is more a state of mind allowing us to choose our own down time, and not always thinking we have to be doing something. What is “nothing” for me might be completely different for you. 

Perhaps Winnie the Pooh said it most eloquently when he said, 

“Don’t underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”

The Myths of Creativity

The myths of creativity. 

Sometimes when we think about creativity we might envision someone living a more Bohemian lifestyle. You know someone whose dress and choices appear more unconventional than the average person. 

However, we would be wrong if we thought this was the only way to live a creative life. One of the myths of creativity is that there is only one type of creative person.

As it turns out, we all are creative in our own way. In fact, this is another myth that we are often told, that only some people are creative. This was the subject of a book by David B. Goldstein and Otto Kroeger, Creative You: Using Your Personality to Thrive. 

Because, we all “see the world in our own way, and we act accordingly,” creativity is going to look different for each of us. One of the mistakes we make is thinking that there is only one way to be or do something. 

I’ve always considered myself to be a creative person, but at the same time I never felt I fit the stereotype of an artist. I prefer order, and structure, and really don’t like getting my hands messy. 

I would be unable to function in a cluttered studio with everything amiss. I don’t usually think too much out of the box, and live my life in a pretty conventional manner. And yet, I’ve always been drawn toward words, imagination, art, and information. 

In their book Goldstein and Kroeger use the sixteen personality types of the Myers-Briggs personality assessment to support that creativity abounds in all types. 

As an INFJ I am naturally a planner, and for me this actually contributes to my creativity. According to the authors, “Creativity doesn’t need to be spontaneous.” The Judging feature of my type actually performs better with some boundaries. 

I find this to be true in writing my blog. Although, I’m always on the lookout for inspiration, if I didn’t give myself the parameters of publishing three times a week, I might not actually follow through. 

Another myth about creativity is that it only has to do with the arts. I see creativity every day in my grandson as he problem solves how to maneuver his world. Just the other day he figured out a very clever and creative way to get his Tonka truck unstuck, and back to working order. 

Each time someone substitutes an ingredient in a recipe, or stretches a dollar, or comes up with a way to reuse something around the house they are being creative. Each person who has pulled together a birthday party using limited resources is a stunning example of creativity at its best. 

You don’t have to be a revolutionary or even counter-cultural to be a creative person. I used to think if I was a little more edgy in my dress than I would come across more artistic or creative. Except, my only problem was as Gretchen Rubin likes to say I’d feel like, “I was wearing a costume.”

What I’ve learned, though, is to be more in tune to my own nature, and not try to be someone I’m not. Being yourself is the first step toward allowing your own personal creativity to manifest itself. 

Don’t allow the myths of creativity to hold you back. Embrace your own creative flavor. 

How does your personality allow your creativity to shine?

That Darn Poison Ivy

That darn poison ivy. 

Sometimes unless we have actually experienced something ourself we might not really know what someone else is going through.

Of course, we can always show compassion, kindness and empathy. However, if we have experienced the same thing, then we really have a better chance of truly understanding someone else’s pain. 

This became obvious to me a few years back when I got poison ivy for the first time clearing brush at our farm. Now although, I was in my fifties, I had somehow managed never to have contracted it before. 

Now, my poor husband had told me tales of his childhood bouts of poison ivy, and even as an adult it was almost a summer right of passage for him at our farm. It’s not that he didn’t know what to look for, but rather it always seemed to be hiding somewhere when he was out clearing brush or fixing fences. 

I always showed some level of concern, but since he’s a pretty tough guy he never really complained all that much. It seemed more like an inconvenience than anything else. 

That is until the spring I got it. Let’s just put it this way. I was MISERABLE and ended up making two trips to the doctor, as it had spread, and lasted for months. I don’t know how in the world he never seemed to complain about the incredible itching that poison ivy brings. 

I’ve avoided it like the plague since then, and pray it never returns. Today, if someone mentions they have poison ivy my heart goes out to them because I truly understand how really miserable it is. 

In life I have sometimes been quick to pass judgement without really knowing what someone else might be going through. I think it might be better to let my poison ivy experience be a reminder to be more empathetic toward others. 

What Are You Waiting For?

What are you waiting for?

“Some people wait all week for Friday, all year for summer, all life for happiness.”

Joshua Becker

I actually began this posting a few days ago with a little different perspective. That is until I watched with sadness as Norte Dame Cathedral burned before my very eyes. It became apparent that I would not ever be seeing the full cathedral in all her glory. 

To be honest, I’m not really a bucket list type of person, and although I would have enjoyed seeing it in person, I would have been okay if I hadn’t. 

However, what it did reinforce was that we can’t live our lives waiting for some elusive date or event. Each day is what we are given. Some days may be remarkable, but most will not, but that is okay. 

Rather than waiting for the weekend or retirement we have to be protective of how we are going to spend the time we have now. We have the opportunity to find happiness in the ordinary, and the mundane. 

Being open to the blessings often hidden right before our eyes allows us not to have to wait for happiness. Although, anticipation can bring a happiness of its own, we can’t allow tomorrow to over rule today. 

I pray that some of the cathedral can be saved, and that someday I might actually visit the city of lights, but until then I will be content with the blessings each day brings. 

Mr. Fix-It

Mr. Fix-it.

I made a mid-week visit last week to see my daughter and her family. When I arrived my grandson was excited to show me his two new goldfish, Cookie Monster and Jack. 

The two new family members were making their home in a water trough out in the pasture. As luck would have it the younger grandson was still napping, and the sound on the baby monitor was not working. His mother explained that he would have to wait until younger brother woke up. 

Not to be delayed by a sleeping brother, he quickly announced that he could fix the monitor. He snatched it from his mother’s hands, and began making his way to his bedroom, all the while saying something about needing a hammer. 

His mom and I chuckled, and she told him to bring both the hammer and the monitor back to the living room for supervision. He returned promptly hammer in hand, and sat down on the couch between us, and got to work. 

He seemed quite confident in what needed to be done to correct the problem. He placed the small antenna back in position, and began to gently hit it with the wooden hammer he had retrieved from the workbench in his bedroom. 

Again Brittany and I held back our amusement until suddenly we heard the sound machine in the baby’s bedroom. What did you know, my three year old grandson had fixed the baby monitor with his tiny wooden hammer, and ingenuity!

Both Brittany and I burst out laughing at the sheer absurdity of the moment. My grandson had identified the problem, chosen the proper tool, and had solved the problem all in a matter of moments without skipping a beat. 

With working baby monitor in hand we stepped out to visit the two goldfish, who were doing fine at the moment, but unbeknownst to us would only be one later that afternoon. Oh, the circle of life manifested through life on the ranch. We’ve got our fingers crossed that the surviving fish was Cookie Monster, and not Jack as he seemed to be the favorite.  

I must say after realizing the monitor was working I hadn’t laughed that hard in ages. I venture to say there were tears in my eyes at that moment. Laughter and three year olds are good for the soul. 

Making an Impact

Making an impact. 

I have a friend who consciously each day looks for an uplifting message to post on Face Book in an effort to change the culture of the day. Social media has a way of bringing out both the best and the worst in us. 

Not having to actually look someone in the eye emboldens us to say things we may never have actually said in person. I’ve been guilty of this myself. 

Writer Whitney Hopler reminds us: “If you want to make a powerful and lasting impact on the culture, you’ve got to do more than just consume it, critique it, condemn it or copy it.”

As I thought more about my friend’s impact on the culture around her I couldn’t be more inspired to emulate her example. Be a light for others in a world often consumed with negativity. 

A New You

A New You.

As a young teen I spent many an hour pouring over a self-improvement book by Emily Wilkens entitled, A New You. Now because I did not own the book I had to resort to checking it out from my local library. I must have checked that book out a hundred times keeping my fingers crossed that this time it would result in a total transformation.

Today that same book, which is now out of print is listed on Amazon as starting at $500.00.  Coincidentally, I thought at the time that its worth was priceless because it seemed to hold the key in my thirteen year old mind to beauty and popularity. 

What I didn’t realize about that treasured tome was that it would start a life-time habit of perusing the Self-Help aisle looking for that elusive “perfect” book that would somehow solve all my insecurities, and doubts. 

What I have learned about myself along the way is that my personality type is the perfect storm for self-help books.  Always living in my head, reflecting and ruminating over and over again, plus loving to read, I realized that I’d been on a decades long quest to figure myself out. 

Now ironically at almost sixty-three I’ve pretty much come to love and accept myself, quirks and all. However, Im finding myself a little bummed that none of the self-help books seem to apply to me anymore. What used to be one of my favorite things to do, browsing through the stacks of a library or book store, is coming up short as I walk away empty handed. 

Not to be disheartened, though, I have found that my love of fiction seems to 
have returned, and my attention span for novels is improving as well. I’m going to credit my book club, and the accountability factor for “forcing” me to finish a book in a timely fashion, and reminding me how much I love to read. 

Now in full disclosure, I did resort to the cliff notes for our last book, the classic Little Woman. I just couldn’t bring myself to read it. I don’t know what it is about literature, but it’s never been on my radar as enjoyable. Perhaps for this reason I chose history as my minor and not English. 

I guess the good thing about this tale of woe is that if for some reason you are questioning whether or not you are good enough, or need some self-help, just give it about fifty years and all should be good!

Postscript: Several years ago I visited the library of my youth, and was disappointed to find that the book was no longer on the shelves. I can only imagine the allure it must have had for other young girls, and can’t help but feel a little responsible for wearing it out. 

Abstainer vs Moderator

Abstainer vs moderator. 

Why is it that I’m a rock star when it comes to losing weight, however, a complete loser when it comes to maintaining that weight?

I think the answer for me is that maintenance is all about moderating, and I’m just not good at moderation. I do much better abstaining. 

Samuel Johnson states this so eloquently when he says, “Abstinence is as easy to me, as temperance would be difficult.”

Case in point, the bowl of chips at a Mexican restaurant. If I make the decision ahead of time to just not eat any I’m fine. I spend my time sipping on my drink, and chatting until my meal arrives. Easy peasy.  Not even once do I find myself tempted to snack. However, if I go without a plan, and take that first chip it seems torturous for me to stop. 

For some limiting the chips to just a handful works, but for me it just makes me want them more. 

For the last year I’ve been struggling to maintain my weight loss. Although, somehow I’ve managed to keep my gain in check, by doubling down if my weight is up too much, I find myself discouraged at my inability to maintain my loss. 

I know that statistics show that for most people weight gain after a loss is inevitable. Not only is this discouraging to me, but it also makes me sad. Each day as I reach for something I shouldn’t, I beat myself up for doing so. 

I know I’d be so much happier if I could just figure it all out. I’m beginning to think that maybe I just might have come across what might work better for me. 

Gretchen Rubin in her book of habits, Better Than Before, writes about how knowing whether you are an abstainer or a moderator can make a difference, and how knowing this about your nature can help you to be more successful in meeting your goals.

I’m beginning to think that just abstaining from mindless snacking might just be what I need to do. When I allow myself to go into the pantry to get that first “snack” I open the floodgates to continue snacking the rest of the day. 

It really doesn’t matter if I’m actually hungry or not, it’s just that I struggle to snack moderately. This doesn’t mean I’ll never eat a chip again, but rather than snack on a bag of chips, I just need to include them as part of a meal when appropriate.

By setting these parameters I think I’ll have more success staying at a weight I am comfortable with. Beyond just wanting to “look good,” I truly believe that maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent chronic illnesses that can effect our quality of life as we age. 

So I’m giving it a go, and abstaining from mindless snacking. I’ll let you know in a few weeks how it works for me. 

What are you, an abstainer or a moderator? 

Process vs Product

Process vs product. 

My three year old grandson spent the night with us this weekend while his mother celebrated her birthday with her high school girlfriends. I had picked up a set of watercolors for him to try out, but he and Chuck had other ideas. 

We ended up pulling out some craft paints, and they began painting rocks. The grandson had a blast. When it was said and done, he had painted four various sized rocks, and would have continued painting if there had been more time.

He used a combination of paint brushes and Q tips. In fact, I think he basically tried every paintbrush we owned before he was through. 

He began with the primary colors, and continued to request new paint colors all the while mixing them. As you might well image, by the time he was through, the rocks were a lovely shade of gray because eventually if you keep mixing that’s pretty much what you’ll end up with!

Of course, Chuck and I encouraged him along the way not judging the product that was resulting. Ironically, Chuck had spent an equal amount of time carefully crafting an intricate design of his own in typical Chuck style. The two artists’ creations couldn’t have looked more different. 

However, always the student of life, I couldn’t help but be charmed by the work of the youngest artist, painting happily while his tongue stuck out, all the while in deep concentration. 

It made me realize how lucky a little three year old is not to be burdened by the constraints of product. At this age the process overrides any worry of judgement or criticism. 

As the two painted away I enjoyed the moment being along for the ride. 

The Next New Thing

The next new thing.  

10 Keys to Happier Living by Vanessa King lists a happiness idea that sounds simple, but in reality might not actually be. 

She states that, “Not wanting what we don’t have,” is a key to happiness. I have to agree, but sometimes it is difficult to get there. 

In talking to my brother the other day we had to agree that we had reached an age where we weren’t always thinking about the next new thing. I can remember a time in my life when that wasn’t so, when I found myself comparing my home to others, and wondering if it was enough?

I kept thinking that if I could finally move into a larger home than I would have arrived. Ironically, when deciding where to live this time smaller looked more appealing. The reality of keeping up with more square footage wasn’t something I aspired to anymore. 

King reminds us, “One factor that is toxic to our levels of happiness is constantly comparing ourselves to others and wanting what we don’t have...”

Learning to be content in life might just be a recipe for happiness. It’s not that you can’t ever aspire to have more, but rather being content in the moment helps you not to waste your precious time wishing for something you don’t have. 

We live in a world of comparison, and the next new thing. Social media makes it blatantly obvious what others are doing, and falling into the comparison trap just won’t bring you joy. 

Focus on your daily blessings, and let them bring you happiness. 

Brave Enough

Brave enough. 

One of my teacher friends, Rachel, stepped into a completely new position this year, and according to her, “To say this year has been a learning curve is a huge understatement. I learn something new everyday!”

She then included the words of Jon Acuff, “Be brave enough to be bad at something new.” I admire Rachel taking on something new this far along in her career. In many ways it would have been easier to do what she knew and was really good at, however, she bravely went back to school to learn something completely new. 

It seems that we are hardwired to stick with things we already know, even though the unknown might actually benefit us in the long run. It’s the whole “enemy that you know” scenario. 

Although, I never left teaching I did branch out to teach different grade levels including a special reading program, and even a two year stint in middle school. Although, at times I found myself returning to something I had taught before, I never regretted stepping out of my comfort zone to try that something new. 

Being brave as we have learned is not the absense of fear. Rather it’s doing something in spite of the fear. Allowing ourselves that learning curve is the secret to trying new things. 

This can be harder if we’ve based our identity on being “perfect.” I like the concept of not living the same year twice, and taking advantage of new learning that comes along your way. If there is something you have been considering doing allow yourself the grace to become a beginner again.