In a few short days, 2011 will come to a close and the new year will begin. Naturally, there is reflection. Passing time is like a rearview mirror of sorts; a window back into our lives that is cast wide open when we want it to be.

With each passing year, time feels to move quicker. I wonder why that is. Perhaps it is because we find ourselves trying to live amidst a world in warp-drive. Or maybe the journey out of childhood dulls the senses and clouds our ability to get lost in the innocence of the moment.

Regardless, I wanted to share a few things that I’ve reflected on these past few weeks:

Know-How

At the start of the year, I set out to learn a few things intentionally. Building out my self-sufficiency “tool kit” is important in my eyes — and believe me, I have a long way to go!

• Seed Saving — This was high on my to-do list. Learning to save the seeds from what we’re growing in the garden is a win-win on so many fronts. From saving money to becoming more self-reliant, learning how to propagate what you’ve already invested in is a throw-back skill worth reviving. A busy summer of Little League Baseball (I coached three teams) didn’t allow me as much time to devote to this as I would have liked, but I did manage to harvest and prepare seeds for some melon, sugar snap peas, asparagus, and even a hosta for one of our flower beds. The book I learned from is Seed to Seed: Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Gardeners (not an affiliate link).
• Preparing Foods from Scratch — Most of this came out of our two-week 125-mile local food challenge. Preparing certain kinds of food from scratch (as opposed to buying them already made in the store) allowed us to know exactly what went into it and gave us the opportunity to learn a few more self-sufficiency skills. It didn’t hurt that with a little investment of time, you saved some money in the process. Here are some recipes we used: yogurt, ghee, bagels.

Insights

For me, insights represent more internalized learning than external. They stem from a particular in-the-moment experience and leave a meaningful imprint on your being.

• Living in the NOW does not mean that all your life’s work must also happen NOW. Plans need time to unfold and come to fruition.
• Learning to look at life through another person’s eyes gives you an important perspective on any experience. This is particularly true in parenting.
• Nature is the lens through which we can observe simple perfection in action. It is the true mirror of what the human experience should reflect.
• Bad habits cannot be allowed to continually define you. You cannot hang the proverbial coat of your being on them. They must be broken and buried, especially when very important people are counting on it.
• Only the empty vessel can be filled; interference will block signals from coming through; baggage will keep you from traveling light and free. (Various metaphors for the need to shed what is unnecessary in our lives in order for more important, more fulfilling things to carry us.)

Favorite Finds

I love how new “discoveries” happen. You’re searching for one thing (or not searching at all) and there it is — something or someone who opens your senses a bit more to the world around you. Here are a few that you might want to check out too.

• Favorite New Blogger — Hands down, this is Ben Hewitt. He’s an author, blogger, activist, off-the-grid-living family man who I heard speak at this year’s Bioneers by the Bay Connecting for Change Conference. Ben’s writing is simple and powerful, fueled by perspective and experiences that challenge the status-quo at every turn.
• Favorite New Author — I mostly read non-fiction and admittedly have a tough time making it all the way to the end of a book because I read so slowly. But not the case for author Daniel Pinchbeck. While he’s written for the likes of Esquire, The New York Times Magazine and Rolling Stone, it’s his book-length writing that captured me. I recently wrapped up 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl — his amazing exploration of the various prophesies, scientific research and cultural exploits around what many feel is a forthcoming evolutionary step in consciousness. His writing is deep yet hip all at the same time.
• Favorite New Music – A few months ago, we discovered Spotify, a (free and legal) music service that completely rocks. There hasn’t been an genre, artist or album we haven’t been able to listen to. My two new favorites: This Will Destroy You (amazing acoustic/electric instrumentals) and William Fitzsimmons (ranks up there with Ray LaMontagne for song writing). Because of Spotify, I’ve begun a new round of CD purging. Why keep them?

What’s next? I am thinking through what is in store for 2012 — on the home front, here at The New Pursuit, with my other writing, in our community, etc. After nearly two years here, I feel it’s time for a facelift of sorts. I would love any feedback you have on the site and my writing. Feel free to leave a comment below or send me a note. Thanks for your candor and continued support.

Wishing you well in the New Year,
Bill

[image: collette v]